No. 5 Ohio State heads to No. 14 Iowa on Saturday with a lot still to prove away from Columbus.
The Buckeyes are 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play, and the road hasn’t been kind so far. They’re 3-0 at Ohio Stadium, but their lone trip away from home ended in a loss at Texas. Now comes another test, and this one feels like a different kind of grind.
Ohio State is coming off a 42-19 win over Illinois at home, while Iowa arrives after pulling off a dramatic 20-19 win at Michigan on a touchdown as the clock hit 0:00. That result pushed the Hawkeyes to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten.
Saturday’s matchup at Kinnick Stadium is the kind of game both teams can use to build momentum, but only one leaves with the win. The Buckeyes have taken the last two meetings and five of the last six, though the memory of the one Iowa win still hangs around. That loss came in Iowa after Ohio State had just rallied past Penn State, and the Buckeyes were beaten 55-24.
There’s also plenty riding on what comes next for Ohio State. This game opens a brutal stretch of four ranked opponents in five games.
After Iowa, the Buckeyes face No. 18 USC and No.
5 Indiana before returning home to play No. 15 Oregon.
It’s a run that will go a long way toward defining their season.
Before the Buckeyes make the trip, Bucknuts asked its staff for thoughts on Iowa, Ohio State’s start, and the matchup ahead.
Patrick Murphy sees a classic Iowa team: disciplined, physical, and hard to drag out of its comfort zone. “This is a good team that doesn't do anything flashy, but it typically forces the opponent to play its style.
So, a typical Iowa team. The Hawkeyes want to play old-school, grind-it-out football and are better than nearly every team in the country at it.
Phil Parker 's defense remains as good as any in the country, given the talent, because of his scheme and the discipline they play with. I'm not sure how to feel about this offense, but they seem to do enough on that side of the ball to make Iowa tough to beat.”
Steve Helwagen had a similar read on the Hawkeyes, pointing to a team that keeps finding ways to win. “They are a good and resilient team.
This is what Iowa typically looks like. They are always a tough out.
For them, this is their Super Bowl and a chance to move a step closer to that elusive first College Football Playoff berth.”
In Other News...
Julian Sayin Sends Ohio State Offense A Clear Warning Before Iowa
Julian Sayin left the Illinois game sounding more like a quarterback settling into the bigger picture than one looking for a quick victory lap. He pointed to the offense's steady progress, the value of keeping drives alive with his legs, and the growing comfort level around him as young receivers continue to take on larger roles. Jeremiah Smith has been a central part of that mix, and Sayin also credited the veteran offensive linemen for helping stabilize things up front as the Buckeyes keep building.
The next test comes with another road trip, and Sayin made it clear those spots demand sharper execution and a little more maturity from everyone involved. Iowa is the kind of place where the margin for error can shrink fast, and Ohio State's quarterback knows the offense cannot treat this as a finished product. The message from Sayin was simple enough: the Buckeyes have come a long way, but the real work is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Still Has One Passing Game Issue Jeremiah Smith Cant Solve
Jeremiah Smith has been everything Ohio State could have hoped for in the passing game, and then some. The offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, pointed to the wideouts exceptional production, with Jeremiah Smith leading the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns, while the Buckeyes continue to lean on him as the centerpiece of the aerial attack.
Still, the passing game has one lingering question beyond its star. Ohio State is trying to establish a reliable second option, with Devin McCuin currently sitting as the teams second-leading receiver, and coaches and players have kept stressing that the offense will need more than one target to keep evolving. The message from inside the program is clear enough: the Buckeyes are pleased with the production they have, but they also know the next layer of consistency has to come from somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has One Huge Chance To Make A National Statement
Ohio State heads into a rare early measuring-stick game with a chance to leave no doubt about where it stands nationally. The Buckeyes have looked sharp enough to build real momentum, and the next step comes in a difficult road setting where every possession matters and every explosive play carries extra weight.
Jeremiah Smith remains one of the biggest reasons this game has taken on added intrigue, even beyond the team stakes around him. With the matchup set against unbeaten Iowa and its stingy defense at Kinnick Stadium, Ohio State will also be watching how Julian Sayin handles the moment and whether the defense can create the kind of turnovers that turn a good win into something louder. [Read more 🡒]