Ohio State heads into Kinnick Stadium with plenty to prove, and the matchup with unbeaten Iowa offers a clear chance to make a loud statement. The Buckeyes are coming off a blowout win over Illinois and have climbed back to fifth in the polls after their 20-point fourth-quarter collapse against Texas dropped them as low as seventh.
A big reason for the optimism is Jeremiah Smith. After torching Illinois for 12 catches, 217 yards and four touchdowns, he enters this game one touchdown catch shy of Chris Olave for the all-time Ohio State lead.
Iowa brings the nation’s top scoring defense to the table, allowing just eight points per game, but Smith has already shown he can break through elite coverage. Texas had trouble handling him in the first half, and Iowa has even ruled out a couple of defensive backs, which only strengthens the case that Smith gets there early.
The prediction here is that he breaks Olave’s record in the first half, which would mean at least two touchdown catches.
Julian Sayin should also be in position to keep the passing game rolling. Ohio State has leaned heavily on the air attack through the first four weeks because the run game has not been reliable, and Sayin has handled the load well.
He is averaging over 300 passing yards per game and has 10 touchdown passes against just one interception. Against Iowa, the expectation is that he throws for at least three touchdowns, because that remains Ohio State’s most dependable path to points.
On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes’ defense has had its own issues. Illinois ran for 199 yards against them, and Ohio State has not been getting enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Turnovers have also been hard to come by, with the Buckeyes forcing only six this season, tied for 35th in the country with several other teams. Still, there’s a belief that this game could tilt their way in that department, especially if Iowa is chasing late and has to press.
The call is that Ohio State forces two turnovers.
If those three things happen, the Buckeyes should have every chance to leave Iowa City with a win.
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 Is Pushing Early In A Crucial In-State Recruiting Battle
Ohio State is still leaning hard into the 2028 class, and the Buckeyes have added another name to the board with a scholarship offer to Dion Edwards, a defensive back from Tyner Academy in Chattanooga. Edwards is already regarded as one of the classs better prospects, and the offer fits the programs usual pattern of getting in early on defensive backs before the recruiting race gets crowded. The Buckeyes are also preparing to host defensive tackle Jamarcus Johnson on an unofficial visit, another sign that the staff is keeping close tabs on a highly ranked group of underclassmen.
The in-state angle remains just as important, though, because Cincinnati Princeton running back Jordan Hall has trimmed his list to Ohio State, Missouri and Penn State. Halls decision window is already set for Oct. 23, giving the Buckeyes a clear deadline in a battle that matters well beyond one recruitment. For a program that builds heavily on winning Ohios top talent, every step in that process carries extra weight, especially when the competition is down to the final three. [Read more 🡒]