Iowa is about to run into a full-blown Ohio State problem.
The Buckeyes don’t just bring one dangerous unit or one headline name. They bring answers everywhere.
If the passing game isn’t enough, there’s a ground attack. If the offense stalls, the defense can still take over.
For the Hawkeyes, that makes this a much bigger test than simply trying to survive one star.
At quarterback, Julian Sayin gives Ohio State a steady hand and plenty of upside. He has completed over 72% of his passes and has thrown 10 touchdowns against one interception.
Some of that comes from getting the ball out quickly to playmakers, or just giving Jeremiah Smith a chance to make a play. Some of it comes from Sayin’s own talent, which is obvious from the numbers.
Either way, Iowa will need to mix up pressures and coverages to keep him from settling in.
The Buckeyes can also lean on the run game, and Bo Jackson has been efficient enough to make that a real concern. He is averaging nearly six yards per carry and, according to the source, is doing it without having to strain much to get there. That kind of balance keeps a defense honest, and Iowa cannot afford to get stuck chasing both sides of the game plan for long.
Then there’s Smith, the kind of weapon that changes how a defense has to think. He is fast, strong, has great hands, and looks every bit like a future NFL star. Iowa will likely throw multiple defenders at him, maybe even two or three at a time, but the priority is simple: don’t let him take over the game by himself.
Ohio State’s edge presence adds another layer. Kenyatta Jackson has the traits to become a star at the next level, and he could make life miserable for Hank Brown in the backfield. Iowa held up fairly well against Michigan last week, but this matchup brings another level of difficulty.
And on the back end, safety Earl Little Jr. gives the Buckeyes a versatile presence. He leads the team with 23 tackles and, at 6 feet and 200 pounds, isn’t oversized for the position.
Still, he has shown he can impact the passing game too, with four interceptions last season. Iowa will need to keep track of him as well.
All of it adds up to a roster that can beat you in more than one way. That’s what makes Ohio State so difficult to deal with - and why Iowa has its hands full.
In Other News...
Iowas Upset Shot Vs Ohio State May Come Down To These Hawkeyes
The buildup to Iowas matchup with Ohio State has naturally centered on how the Hawkeyes can keep the Buckeyes uncomfortable long enough to make it a game. A lot of that conversation starts with Iowas own playmakers, from DJ Vonnahme to Braeden Jackson and Anthony Hawkins, because if the Hawkeyes are going to threaten an upset, it likely has to come from an offense that can do just enough to complement the defense.
The challenge only gets steeper when you look at Ohio States wide receiver talent, which can force Iowa to defend every inch of the field. Still, this is the kind of game where the Hawkeyes can hang around if the right names show up at the right time, and the real question is whether those players can turn possibility into something more against one of the countrys toughest teams. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Still Has One Big Problem Heading Into Ohio State
Iowas offense has spent much of the first month of the season trying to find traction on the ground, and the issues have shown up most clearly against the tougher fronts on the schedule. The Hawkeyes have not had their top two running backs on the field together much this year because of injury, which has left the rotation unsettled and made it harder to establish the kind of run game Iowa usually leans on.
Ohio State comes in as a different kind of test, even if its defense has given up plenty of rushing yards in recent games. That opens the door a bit for Iowa, but it also puts the focus right back on the Hawkeyes biggest question: whether the backs can finally get healthy and give the offense the balance it has been missing. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa DBs Face Their Biggest Stage Yet At Ohio State
A trip to Ohio State has a way of turning every snap into a test, and for Iowas defensive backs it arrives with a spotlight that can reshape a seasons worth of perception. Deshaun Lee, Tony Diaz and Zach Lutmer are set to be central figures in how the Hawkeyes handle one of the Big Tens most demanding receiving groups, with Jeremiah Smith standing out as the kind of matchup that can expose mistakes and reward discipline in the same breath.
For Iowa, this is about more than surviving the game plan. If those young defensive backs hold up against the Buckeyes, it gives the Hawkeyes a better chance to keep the field manageable for the rest of the defense and stay in position on the offensive side of the ball. If they struggle, the pressure on Iowas whole operation rises quickly, which is why this stage feels bigger than a single Saturday in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]