Ohio State is bringing a new look to Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. showdown with Iowa, and the Buckeyes will do it in the all-white “subzero” uniforms they unveiled before the season.
The switch fits the setting. Iowa is likely to be in all black, while the crowd will be dressed in black and yellow stripes, so Ohio State’s white-on-white set should stand out in a tough road atmosphere. It’s also one of the team’s new uniform options this year, alongside all-scarlet and all-black versions that the Buckeyes have not worn yet.
The Buckeyes already made one notable uniform tweak before the season by bringing back the gray sleeves to their standard look, a change Ohio State fans had wanted for years. That move has given the team a sharper appearance all season, and now the program is rolling out another one of its new designs for a major game.
This matchup also comes with plenty of football questions attached. Ohio State is heading into a hostile environment, but it won’t be the nightmare of a night game. The Buckeyes have already dealt with a difficult setting this year, and if not for the worst fourth quarter in program history, they would be undefeated.
Iowa, meanwhile, arrives after beating previously undefeated (allegedly) Michigan on the final play of the game, when it caught a touchdown pass in the corner. The Hawkeyes bring a strong defense and a ball-control offense, which means Ohio State will have its hands full.
That makes the Buckeyes’ recent defensive and offensive issues impossible to ignore. After the collapse in Austin, Ryan Day and the coaching staff made adjustments to keep something like that from happening again. Ohio State still hasn’t had a true fourth-quarter test since then, though the fourth quarter against Illinois was strong.
Stopping the run is still a major concern after the Buckeyes gave up 199 rushing yards against Illinois. If that happens again against Iowa, Ohio State could be in trouble, because the Hawkeyes would be able to chew up the clock and lean on their defense.
Day knows that has to be cleaned up, and the Buckeyes have clearly spent the week working on it. They also need to run the ball better themselves. Still, this feels like the kind of game where Ohio State may keep feeding Jeremiah Smith.
If that happens, Smith has a chance to break Chris Olave's career touchdown reception record. In those cool-looking uniforms, that would be a fitting way for Ohio State to introduce the subzero set.
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 🡒]