No. 14 Iowa gets its next big measuring stick in Week 5, and this one comes with a heavyweight feel.
The Hawkeyes will host No. 5 Ohio State in Iowa City, a top-15 matchup that carries a lot more buzz than the average early-season showdown.
The Buckeyes still control the all-time series, but Kinnick Stadium has already shown it can flip the script on a top-five visitor. The last time Ohio State came to Iowa City in 2017, the Hawkeyes rolled to a 55-24 win.
Oddsmakers, though, aren’t buying an upset. Iowa enters as a 14.5-point underdog, with Ohio State listed at -14.5.
On the moneyline, Iowa sits at +500 and Ohio State at -720. The total is 46.5, with the over at -104 and the under at -118.
That number reflects what Ohio State has looked like through the first month: explosive and dangerous, especially through the air. Quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith have powered an offense that has been lethal in three of the first four weeks, and that puts Iowa’s secondary right in the spotlight.
Smith is the name Iowa has to keep in check. He shredded Illinois for 217 receiving yards and four touchdowns in Week 4, and if that kind of night repeats, the Hawkeyes will be in trouble early. Iowa’s defense has been solid across the board, but this is a game where the passing attack figures to be the first test and the biggest one.
There is a blueprint, at least in part. Texas showed it in Week 2 by making life difficult for Sayin.
Smith still produced, finishing with 164 receiving yards and one touchdown, but the Longhorns limited everyone else. Sayin was held to 8.7 yards per pass and a 53 percent completion rate.
If Iowa can keep the Buckeyes from hitting those big passing plays, it gives itself a real chance to hang around.
That starts with Deshaun Lee and the rest of the secondary, but it also depends on whether Iowa can get Sayin out of rhythm. The Hawkeyes struggled to pressure Bryce Underwood in Week 4, though Sayin brings a different challenge because he is not as much of a dual-threat. Iowa has to keep him in the pocket and force uncomfortable throws.
The other side of the ball matters, too. Iowa needs to get its running game going again after back-to-back poor performances. Hank Brown and the passing game found something late against Michigan in Week 4, and that needs to carry over if the Hawkeyes want to stay within striking distance.
Iowa is still getting better each week, and the belief here is that the Hawkeyes make this one tighter than the spread suggests before surprising Ohio State in a close one.
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 🡒]