Jayden Montgomery didn’t waste any time after Iowa’s 31-14 loss to Ohio State. The veteran linebacker walked into the locker room and tried to steady the room, not let one bruising afternoon in Kinnick snowball into something bigger.
“Walking into the locker room, I just told everyone to keep their head up. This is one game; it doesn't define us. And then I also mentioned that we’ve got a short week, so it's going to…
That message matters because Montgomery has become one of the voices this team listens to. The fifth-year player wasn’t always in the spotlight; before last season, he was mostly a reserve. Now he’s a starter, and the respect that comes with that climb gives his words some real weight.
That’s especially important right now. Iowa came into the Ohio State game riding a wave of buzz, with “The Pat McAfee Show” and “College GameDay” on campus and a top-15 matchup setting the stage.
Instead, the Buckeyes showed exactly why they’re ranked No. 5 in college football. Julian Sayin and Ohio State’s offense picked apart the Hawkeyes, and Iowa’s defense surrendered more than 400 yards for the second straight week.
The offense didn’t do much to balance things out, either, aside from a late touchdown drive led by Jeremy Hecklinski. For Iowa, the challenge is immediate: a Friday trip to Seattle to face Washington. There isn’t much time to sit in the disappointment, and Montgomery made that clear.
He told teammates to keep their heads up, called on them to remember that one loss doesn’t define the group, and stressed that the short week means they have to buy in even more. In other words, this can’t linger.
That’s the tightrope Iowa is walking now. The season is still young enough to correct course, but the margin for error is shrinking fast.
If the Ohio State loss sticks around too long, it could turn into something uglier. The program doesn’t have the luxury of a normal week to reset.
The fix, at least on defense, starts up front. Iowa hasn’t been able to consistently pressure the quarterback, and that showed again against Sayin, who had plenty of time to throw. The Hawkeyes had some success when they blitzed, so that may need to become a bigger part of the plan against Washington.
Personnel changes could also be on the table. Joseph Anderson made the most of limited snaps against Ohio State, finishing with a sack and a tackle for loss.
Bryce Hawthorne has been Iowa’s best defensive lineman, but he hasn’t gotten enough help from Iose Epenesa, Will Hubert, and Kenneth Merrieweather early on. Anderson and transfer Kahmari Brown have both flashed when they’ve been on the field, and the rotation may need to reflect that.
It’s not a small issue. Iowa replaced all four starters on the defensive line after last season, and that inexperience has already shown up in a big way.
When the front four can’t get home, the defense has to lean more on blitzes from linebackers and defensive backs, something Phil Parker doesn’t usually want to do. The talent is there at linebacker and in the secondary, but those groups can only do so much if they’re constantly asked to cover for the line.
That’s part of why safety Zach Lutmer piling up tackles is a warning sign, not a good thing. It suggests he’s having to creep forward to help out against the run and pressure issues.
Parker is the one with the real answers, and he’s far smarter than any armchair coach. But after Iowa gave up 429 total yards to Michigan and 484 to Ohio State, it’s obvious something has to change.
No one is sounding the alarm yet. If the same problems show up again against Washington, though, that tone could shift in a hurry.
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 🡒]