Iowa’s ground game has been a work in progress through the first four weeks, and the next test arrives in a hurry with No. 5 Ohio State coming to town.
The Hawkeyes have leaned on the run the way they always do, but the production hasn’t matched the identity against their two Power Four opponents, Iowa State and Michigan. Last week in Ann Arbor, Iowa managed only 58 rushing yards, one of its lowest totals since the Nebraska game in 2024. The Hawkeyes also were without LJ Phillips, who was off the injury report but did not play.
For Kirk Ferentz, the fix isn’t about one player suddenly flipping the script. It’s about the whole operation tightening up.
“It usually takes a little better blocking and a little better running,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “That’s everyone.
There’s no mystery to it. There’s ebb and flow every season.”
Michigan’s front made life difficult, but Ohio State brings a different kind of challenge - and maybe a different kind of opportunity. The Buckeyes lost a batch of key defensive talent to the NFL last season, including two defensive linemen drafted in the first two rounds in Arvell Reese to the New York Giants at No. 5 overall and Kayden McDonald to the Houston Texans at No. 36 overall, along with linebacker Sonny Styles, now with the Washington Commanders as the No. 7 overall pick.
Even with that turnover, Ohio State hasn’t been easy to move on. Illinois rushed for 199 yards against the Buckeyes last week at 6 yards per carry, and Texas posted 170 rushing yards at 4.6 yards per carry in Week 2.
That’s enough to make Iowa’s offensive linemen take notice.
“They’re pretty similar to Michigan in that they’re really good athletes and that they’re extremely talented,” offensive lineman Trevor Lauck said. “It’s going to be another great challenge for us.”
The Hawkeyes still haven’t had much chance to see their running backs operating at full strength together. The only time Iowa had its top two backs on the field in tandem was the first half against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5 before Phillips got hurt. Running backs coach Jay Norvell has said the room includes different styles, and part of his job is figuring out when each one fits best.
Ferentz said Iowa usually uses three backs in a game, and that was the case last week with Kamari Moulton, Xavier Williams and Braeden Jackson. Moulton led the way with 44 yards, while Jackson’s role continues to grow as a kick returner.
“I think every game’s different,” Norvell said Sept. 23.
“I don't think you can go into a game and have a specific thought process about that. Part of that will be the flow of the game … Everything that's happened to you in a game, you use that.”
No one has really seen Iowa’s full backfield package this season, which makes this matchup against a top-15 opponent a little more interesting. But the outcome will still hinge on the same basic formula: the offense functioning as one unit.
“That’s the biggest thing,” tight end Addison Ostrenga said. “Just trusting each other, trusting the scheme and our fundamentals. Everything from there will take care of itself.”
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