No. 14 Iowa brings more than just an unbeaten record into Saturday’s matchup with No.
5 Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 and 1-0 in the Big Ten, and they’ve got a handful of traits that make them a real problem in one of the conference’s biggest games of the season.
Start with the ground game, because Iowa doesn’t lean on one runner - it spreads the work around. Kamari Moulton is the lead back and has been productive all season, piling up 284 yards on 39 carries with two touchdowns.
But he’s far from alone. Braeden Jackson, Xavier Williams and Nathan McNeil have all logged more than 120 rushing yards, and quarterback Hank Brown adds another layer as a runner.
It’s a true four-headed attack.
There’s also a passing-game weapon worth watching. Tony Diaz has given Iowa a real target at receiver, something the program hasn’t consistently had for a while.
He’s caught 20 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown, and he was especially important in the comeback against Iowa State, when he finished with eight catches for 95 yards. That kind of production means he’ll get tested by Jermaine Matthews and Devin Sanchez in this one.
The Hawkeyes are also coming in with a fresh jolt of momentum after last week’s trip to Ann Arbor. Iowa beat No.
18 Michigan 20-19 on a walk-off touchdown drive, with Hank Brown guiding a 91-yard march and hitting Reece Vander Zee for a 16-yard score as time expired. It was the kind of finish that can swing a team’s mood fast.
Then there’s Kirk Ferentz, who has been on the sideline at Iowa since 1999 and keeps stacking milestones. He is the longest-tenured head coach at the FBS level, owns the most wins in Big Ten history, has the most bowl wins in the league, and remains Iowa’s all-time wins leader. He also reached his 200th career win at Iowa in 2024.
And of course, there’s the Hawkeye Wave. Since 2017, the crowd of more than 70,000 has turned to wave to the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital at the end of the first quarter. It’s become one of the most recognizable traditions in college football, and it remains one of the most moving scenes in the sport.
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 🡒]