Ohio State’s win over Iowa already looked solid on paper. After what the Hawkeyes did to Washington on Friday night, it looks a whole lot better.
The Buckeyes beat Iowa 31-14 last weekend in Iowa City, and the game stopped being competitive in the second half. Jeremiah Smith kept building his case as the best player in college football, and Ohio State walked away with a road win over a ranked opponent.
That mattered then. It matters even more now.
Iowa went into Seattle and handled Washington 41-24, a result that turned the Buckeyes’ victory into a stronger line on the résumé. The Hawkeyes leaned on Kamari Moulton, who ran for 208 yards and powered the offense in a way Iowa usually doesn’t. That was a sharp contrast to what Ohio State did to them a week earlier.
Against the Buckeyes, Iowa managed just 39 yards on 21 carries. Ohio State took away the Hawkeyes’ run game and never let them settle in. Even with their backup quarterback playing most of the second half in Columbus, Iowa’s offense looked much different against Washington, where that same backup played the full game and lit up the Huskies.
The bigger picture is simple: Iowa may still have a path to a strong finish. The Hawkeyes could end up 10-2 or 11-1, and if that happens, they would be in the College Football Playoff. That would only make Ohio State’s win look better.
None of that changes the Buckeyes’ own job. Ohio State still has to keep winning to make this all count, and it can only take one more loss if it wants to be safely in CFP territory. The schedule is brutal, but there still hasn’t been a three-loss team that made the Playoff.
Since that collapse against Texas, Ohio State has played like the best team in the country. Smith has driven the offense, and the defense has done a strong job against the run since the Illinois game.
The Buckeyes are expected to be favored the rest of the way, with next week’s trip to Indiana the one possible exception. That game could depend on how IU looks against Nebraska, since the Cornhuskers are undefeated.
Ohio State will also be chasing revenge in that matchup after the Big Ten Championship game, where it lost 13-10 after missing a game-tying 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Kicking remains an issue, so the Buckeyes would prefer not to let things get that tight again.
For now, though, Iowa’s win over Washington only strengthens what Ohio State already has.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Have A Cheaper Way To Watch Todays Game
For Ohio State fans trying to follow todays game without leaning on cable, the options are more crowded than ever, but also a little more manageable if price is the main concern. The latest rundown of college football streaming services points viewers toward a handful of familiar platforms, including DIRECTV MySports, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Fox One, each offering a different mix of live channels, trial periods and monthly costs.
What makes this weeks viewing puzzle interesting is that the cheapest route is not always the most obvious one, especially when channel access can vary by service. For Buckeyes fans, the real challenge is matching the broadcast with a package that actually carries it, which is why the best value option may depend less on name recognition and more on which platform gives the easiest path to the game without forcing viewers into a pricier bundle. [Read more 🡒]
Former Michigan Star Just Reignited The Debate Ohio State Fans Love
Jake Butt briefly reopened one of the most familiar arguments in college football when he suggested in an interview that Michigans 2023 national championship carries an asterisk because of how the sign-stealing scandal has colored public perception. The former Wolverines tight end later took to social media to clarify that he believes those championships were real and earned, but the initial remark was enough to stir up a debate Ohio State fans never seem to tire of revisiting.
For Buckeyes followers, the timing only adds another layer to a rivalry that already lives on edge, especially with Michigan now trying to steady itself through coaching changes and uneven play since Jim Harbaughs departure. Even as Butt walked back the sharper edge of his comment, the larger issue remains unresolved: how much the scandal has damaged the way outsiders view a title that the program still claims as legitimate. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Freshman RBs Shrinking Role Now Carries A Bigger Concern
Legend Beys role in Ohio States backfield has already been sliding, and the freshman running back has not appeared in the last two games after seeing only limited action earlier in the season. For a program that keeps a close eye on the development and availability of every scholarship player, a young runner disappearing from the rotation is notable on its own, especially when the Buckeyes are trying to sort out depth behind the established options.
The bigger concern is what has been happening away from the field. Bey was reportedly cited for speeding and allegedly evicted from his apartment for nonpayment of rent, adding another layer of uncertainty around a player whose playing time has already been shrinking. It is still unclear whether those off-field matters are tied to his reduced role, and the coaching staff has not confirmed any connection, leaving the situation open as one more item to monitor around the Buckeyes. [Read more 🡒]