BUCKEYES BUZZ: The Buckeyes' 20-17 victory at Wisconsin was one bruising contest. Almost three full days after the game, fullback Brandon Smith said he and his teammates were still sore.

"Everybody's feeling a couple bumps and bruises, a couple of muscle aches," he said. He attributed all the black and blue marks to two teams "running more straight at each other, banging into each other."

Case in point, WR Dane Sanzenbacher and TB Dan "Boom" Herron both sustained concussions due to violent collisions during the game. When coach Jim Tressel announced the winner of the defensive "hit of the week," he joked that Wisconsin might have had at least a couple better candidates.

Sanzenbacher and Herron will be out a minimum of a week with their head injuries.

Several players who missed the Wisconsin game will likely miss this week's 3:30 p.m. kickoff at home against Purdue.

Freshman OL J.B. Shugarts (shoulder), LB Austin Spitler (concussion) are doubtful for Saturday's game. There was no update on TE Rory Nicol (ankle).

SCARLET, GRAY AND GREEN: Ohio State's recycling program has collected more than 150 tons of recyclable material at Ohio Stadium over the last 11 home dates.

More than 16 tons of recyclable materials were gathered during the Troy and Minnesota games. In the 2008 season alone - in just four home games - the total is over 42 tons.

The program exceeded expectations in its inaugural year in 2007 by amassing 119 tons, including 81 tons inside Ohio Stadium.

While all waste is collected together in Ohio Stadium and sorted, fans have contributed to the success outside the Horseshoe. At each home game, tailgaters receive white plastic bags to encourage collection of bottles, cans, paper and cardboard.

TRESSELESE: On play-calling inside the Wisconsin 20: "I'm trying to think. I'd have to sit down and look at it on the film. Our red-zone day, typically where we study ourselves and our opponents, is Wednesday. I was just looking at a little bit of Purdue in the red zone ... and they're going to blitz you. And so according to what you think you're going to see and sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong, according to how you execute, sometimes it looks like it was a good idea, sometimes it doesn't. And I guess the reality is, the ones that worked, those were good decisions and the ones that didn't, should have changed the call."

BE LIKE JOEPA: Asked about the play of OL Steve Rehring, Tressel said he saw limited action for an unusual reason.

"Rehring only got in a dozen or so plays ... he missed an 11-play drive," Tressel said with a grin. "He had to go to the restroom, and so he probably would have played closer to half of the time, but he missed an 11 and then he missed like a 10-play drive."

A reporter said, "That's a long bathroom break" to which Tressel responded, "Well, there were multiple."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)