Iowa has already shown it can flip the script once on the road, and now the No. 14 Hawkeyes get a crack at doing it again at home against No. 5 Ohio State on Saturday in Iowa City.
The setup feels familiar in all the best ways for Iowa. Last week, the Hawkeyes walked into Michigan and walked out with a 20-19 win on the final play of the game, when Hank Brown hit Reese Vander Zee on a 16-yard touchdown pass. Brown, now in his sixth career start and first on the road, led a 91-yard winning drive and gave Iowa the kind of late-game answer that can change how a team sees itself.
That performance only adds to the buzz around a Hawkeyes team that is 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. It also brings back memories of 2017, when Iowa last hosted Ohio State and buried the then-No.
3 Buckeyes 55-24. That result kept Urban Meyer’s team out of the College Football Playoff, and it remains a talking point in both programs.
Brown’s task gets tougher against an Ohio State defense that has not looked like a finished product. The Buckeyes gave up 199 rushing yards and 6.0 yards per carry to Illinois last week in a 42-19 win, and they also allowed seven runs of at least 10 yards. Through four games, Ohio State is giving up 114 rushing yards per game, which ranks 45th nationally.
That’s a number Iowa will notice. The Hawkeyes are rolling on the ground at 215.5 rushing yards per game, 27th in the country, with Kamari Moulton leading the way. Moulton has 284 rushing yards, a 7.3-yard average, and two touchdowns.
"I think it takes all 11 guys," said Brown, who played sparingly at Auburn (2023-24) and transferred to Iowa before the 2025 season. "I've got to do a good job of getting us in the right play and checking into whatever, based on what they're giving us, how we're going to best attack it and then just executing. It takes 11 guys, receivers, obviously offensive line, and running back, seeing the holes and making the right decision."
On the other side, Ohio State will have its hands full with an Iowa defense that has been stingy from the start. The Hawkeyes lead the nation in scoring defense at 8.0 points per game and rank 10th nationally in total defense at 239.8 yards per game. They’ve given up only three touchdowns.
So this one could be decided up front. Ohio State’s offensive line has to create room for Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson while also giving Julian Sayin enough time to find Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes’ top receiving threat.
"We have a big one coming up. It's going to be big in the trenches," Ohio State left guard Luke Montgomery said.
"I have the utmost respect for Iowa, as well. It's going to be a lot of fun.
I've never played there. I've never been there and I've heard only great things."
Smith may not get the same kind of single coverage Illinois tried to use against him last week. He made the Illini pay anyway, finishing with career highs of 12 catches, 217 yards and four touchdowns.
There is one more piece of history hanging over this matchup: Iowa has beaten both Michigan and Ohio State in the same season only once, back in 1962, when both wins came by 28-14 scores.
"This is a big opportunity for our team to go into a tough road environment against a very good team and go get a win," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "That would certainly build a lot of momentum for our season as we move forward."
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