IOWA CITY - After Iowa’s first loss of the season, Jayden Montgomery made sure the message in the locker room stayed pointed forward.
“This is not going to be the end of the 2026 Iowa Hawkeyes,” Montgomery said. “One week doesn’t define us. Last week didn’t define us; this week doesn’t define us.”
That was the tone after No. 20 Iowa dropped its Oct. 3 game to No.
5 Ohio State, 31-14, at home and slipped to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes ran into trouble on both sides of the ball, with the offense never finding a steady run game and the passing attack going through stretches of inconsistency.
On defense, Jeremiah Smith became a problem for Iowa, especially after halftime.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz said he liked what he saw from his team’s fight, even if the Buckeyes separated from the Hawkeyes in the second half.
“I thought our effort, our investment was good in the game. We couldn't match up there in the second half.
So, credit to them,” Ferentz said. “It hurts to lose anytime you do anything, especially when you've got a bunch of guys that are invested, so I know how they're all feeling.”
Now the focus shifts fast. Iowa heads to Seattle for a Friday night matchup at Washington, with kickoff set for 8 p.m.
CT. It’s a short week, which leaves little room to dwell on what happened against Ohio State.
Montgomery said the team’s immediate response has to be about resetting quickly.
“Walking into the locker room, I just told everyone to keep their head up,” Montgomery said. “I also mentioned that that we got a short week, so it's going to require a lot of effort, a lot of buy-in, more buy-in than a normal week, and we're going to have to come out ready to go.
“We can't sit and harp on this all week because, we’ve got another game.”
Even with the loss, Iowa still has plenty in front of it. The Hawkeyes have shown they can win against Power Four opponents, even when all three phases aren’t clicking at the same time. Ferentz said the season is far from a panic situation, particularly when it comes to the run game.
“We'll keep playing like we always do, we'll keep working on it. We work on every segment, run, pass, and things either go together or they don't,” Ferentz said.
“Over time, it's kind of like statistics and rankings; we'll all know more here in Week 7, Week 8. If it's a panic situation, I'll let you know.
“But right now we're not where we want to be; I'm not denying that at all.”
Ferentz also pointed to the work being done behind the scenes, saying the players are pushing to improve.
“All I know is in sports, you worry about what's in front of you,” Ferentz said. “…These guys are working hard, they're trying to please, and they are pleasing for the most part.
They improved in one area this week during the week, which was impressive. So at least they're hearing, and they're trying to get better.”
In Other News...
Iowa Got One Encouraging Development After A Brutal Night At Ohio State
Iowa left Columbus with the kind of loss that can linger, falling 31-14 to Ohio State after a rough night on both sides of the ball. The Hawkeyes had to navigate more than just the scoreboard, too, as three starters went down during the game, adding another layer of concern to an already difficult trip.
Kirk Ferentz offered at least a bit of relief afterward, saying the injuries to Hank Brown, Deshaun Lee and Zach Lutmer are not expected to be serious. Iowa also got a small lift from backup quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski, who came in and guided the teams only touchdown drive, a modest bright spot on a night that otherwise belonged to the Buckeyes. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Got A Frustrating Reality Check Before Washington
Iowas trip to Ohio State turned into a sobering reminder of how thin the margin can be against the sports elite. The No. 14 Hawkeyes came away with a loss after struggling to get much going on offense, with quarterback Hank Brown throwing an interception before leaving the game with a mild sprain, while the defense had a hard time slowing down a Buckeyes attack that kept finding answers.
Jeremiah Smith was at the center of it, piling up 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns while also moving into Ohio States all-time lead in receptions and tying the program career touchdown record. For Iowa, the more immediate concern is what the performance and the injuries mean heading into Washington, where the Hawkeyes will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid carrying this frustration into another big matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Let Ohio State Hang Around Until One Problem Took Over
Iowa had Ohio State in a game for long stretches at Kinnick Stadium, even as the Buckeyes left with a 31-14 win. The Hawkeyes did a respectable job slowing the ground game, holding Ohio State to 3.4 yards per carry on 47 rushing attempts, and for stretches the defense gave the home crowd reason to think the upset was within reach.
Jeremiah Smith changed the feel of the night. The Ohio State receiver repeatedly found space downfield, finishing with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and Iowa never found a clean answer once the Buckeyes decided to lean on him. The Hawkeyes also had chances to tighten things up, but penalties and mistakes kept them from turning those openings into real pressure on the No. 1 team. [Read more 🡒]