University of Wisconsin redshirt freshman offensive tackle Josh Oglesby had been waiting for a game like this.

 No, it wasn't just the chance for Oglesby to get his first extensive action in a game, which happened due to the right knee injury suffered in the second quarter by left tackle Gabe Carimi.

 While Oglesby was pleased with how he performed, he was just as excited for redshirt freshman tailback John Clay. The two game in together and are close friends.

 "He's one of those guys, every time he touches the ball, you stand up, because you're just waiting to see what he's going to do with it," Oglesby said. "It's not a surprise to see what he does. You come to expect it from him because he is so talented."

 The coaches finally gave the fans what they had been begging for, which was more of Clay. He got just four snaps in each of the last two games.

 Clay responded and was the Badgers' leading rusher in their 20-17 loss to Ohio State at Camp Randall Stadium. He had 10 carries for 69 yards (6.9 average), while starter P.J. Hill had 16 carries for 63 yards (3.9 average).

 Moreover, Clay sparked the Badgers' only two touchdown drives, with all his carries coming on those drives. He had six carries for 33 yards during the 91-yard drive in the second quarter and four carries for 36 yards in the 63-yard drive in the fourth quarter.

 It was hard to tell who had the bigger reaction when Clay ran the ball, the fans or his teammates.

 "I felt my teammates were getting real involved and congratulating me on each run and being right there, saying, `Good job,' and, `Just keep doing it,' " he said. "The crowd played a big part, cheering after we got a first down and positive yards, so that was pumping me up to do more."

 He did more on the first play of the fourth-quarter drive, running around left end and  then hurdling free safety Anderson Russell on a 14-yard run.

 "I know people like to tackle people my size low," Clay said. "When he was going down low, I knew he was going to try and knife my legs, so I just jumped over him."

 The coaches had limited Clay's playing time in the past because of occasional mistakes and missed asignments. But he showed improvement there, too, picking up a blitz on one play.

 The most important thing to Clay was getting those fourth-quarter carries at a crucial time, when the Badgers took a 17-13 lead.

 "That just shows I've made progress on my plays," he said. "They are trusting me now on my offensive scheme and picking up blocks. So, yeah, it's good."

 Clay stood to be one of the heroes, had the Buckeyes not come back to win with a late touchdown drive. But he continued to show why he deserves more playing time in the future, even sharing the backfield with Hill for two plays.

 "I'm just studying film and asking questions," he said of his progress. "That's all I can do is just see what I can do to help myself better."