No. 14 Iowa has a chance to turn Kinnick Stadium into the center of the college football world again when No. 5 Ohio State comes to town for the first time since 2017.
It’s a top-15 matchup with real playoff and Big Ten Championship implications, and it lands with extra weight because Iowa is coming off a top 20 win over Michigan last week. Ohio State, meanwhile, arrives looking to answer for the historic Hawkeye upset from nine years ago.
If Iowa is going to pull it off, the challenge starts with Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes’ top receiver and Heisman Trophy favorite is going to make plays; the real question is whether Iowa can keep those plays from becoming backbreaking ones.
Smith put up four touchdowns and 217 receiving yards against Illinois by himself, and he figures to test the Hawkeyes’ secondary, especially with defensive back Tyler Brown out this week. Limiting his damage after the catch could be one of the few ways to slow the avalanche.
Iowa also has to find something on the ground. The Hawkeyes’ rushing attack hasn’t been consistent enough against Power Four competition, but this week they do have both Kamari Moulton and LJ Phillips healthy, even though Phillips hasn’t played since the season opener.
That matters because Ohio State’s defensive line has already shown cracks against the run, including giving up more than 100 rushing yards to Illinois at home a week ago. If Iowa can get its backs rolling, it gives itself a better shot to stay in striking distance deep into the game.
That’s the larger theme here: force Ohio State to work for all 60 minutes. Kinnick has a way of making life miserable for top teams, and Ryan Day knows that firsthand from being there in 2017 as an assistant to Urban Meyer.
Iowa doesn’t need the game to be pretty. It needs it to be stubborn, physical and close long enough to drag the Buckeyes into the kind of fourth-quarter fight that has flipped big games in the past.
The Buckeyes will make things difficult for Iowa. Iowa has to do the same to them.
As for the prediction, Ohio State is hard to bet against after its response to the Week 2 loss against Texas. Still, as was said last year before Iowa’s game against Indiana, don’t be surprised if that turns out wrong.
In Other News...
Iowa Just Landed Another Huge Piece For Jan Jensens Frontcourt Plan
Iowas womens basketball program added another major frontcourt building block when top-25 2027 prospect Khalia Hartwell committed to the Hawkeyes. The four-star center, who is ranked highly by the 247Sports Composite, picked Iowa after trimming her list to two schools, giving Jan Jensen another promising piece for the post as she keeps shaping the roster in her own image.
Hartwells decision also fits the pattern Iowa has been riding under Jensen, with the Hawkeyes continuing to stack elite recruiting wins in the wake of the programs recent momentum. For a team that has made frontcourt strength a priority, landing a player with Hartwells profile only adds to the sense that Iowa is building with both immediate ambition and long-term balance in mind. [Read more 🡒]
Ben McCollum Just Gave Iowa Fans A Program Pride Moment
Ben McCollums appearance on the Pat McAfee Show offered Hawkeye fans a little reminder that the schools biggest programs can still feed off each other in a meaningful way. The first-year Iowa basketball coach spoke warmly about the connection between football and basketball in Iowa City, using the platform to highlight the kind of program pride that resonates with a fan base that cares deeply about both sides of the building.
McCollum also made clear he has a real appreciation for Kirk Ferentz, praising the football coachs genuineness and coaching ability while looking ahead to Iowas matchup with Ohio State. It was the kind of cross-sport support that plays well around here, and it gave Iowa fans a tidy off-court moment to enjoy while the attention shifts toward what comes next on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Caitlin Clark Buzz Adds Drama To College GameDay In Iowa City
College GameDay is headed back to Iowa City for the first time in nearly 20 years, and the buildup around the Hawkeyes game against Iowa State has only intensified with one missing detail still hanging over the broadcast. Less than 24 hours before the show, ESPN had not announced a celebrity guest picker, which is enough to get people around the program talking, especially with a matchup this big and a crowd that will be ready for a scene.
Caitlin Clarks name naturally enters the conversation because of her local ties and the buzz that follows her wherever she goes, but there are reasons her appearance is far from a given. She is coming off a recent playoff exit, has dealt with some performance struggles, and there has been past friction with the shows host, which leaves ESPN with a contingency plan in place if she does not show. Even without that reveal, the buildup has given Iowa City an extra layer of intrigue on a weekend already carrying plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]