That was a statement win for Ohio State, and it came in one of the places that has given the Buckeyes trouble before.
Iowa’s national reputation never quite matches the reality. People outside the Big Ten tend to treat Kinnick Stadium like a sleepy stop in the middle of nowhere, but Ohio State knows better.
That building has been a problem for the Buckeyes over the years, and the 2017 mess still hangs over it. It’s also a place with its own edge - the wave, the sick kids, the pink locker room, all of it wrapped into a setting that can feel a lot less friendly than it looks.
The Hawkeyes also arrived with a résumé that deserved respect. They were 4-0, they had not finished worse than 8-5 in the last 11 years, and they had been ranked in the top 25 in six of those seasons. They were coming off one of their biggest recent wins, a buzzer-beater against Michigan, and their crowd was ready for the biggest home game in years.
None of that mattered much once Ohio State settled in.
The Buckeyes handled Iowa 31-0, and the final score barely captures how one-sided it became. It was a little choppy early, but the idea that Iowa was going to suddenly manufacture enough offense to keep pace with the Jeremiah Smith show never really felt real.
The Hawkeyes did not reach the end zone until the game was long decided and their backup quarterback was in. Ohio State’s defense, meanwhile, showed some bite for what felt like the first time all season.
That matters as much as anything coming out of the game. Ohio State’s offense can grab the headlines, and Smith can make every game feel like it has its own spotlight, but the more encouraging development was on the other side of the ball. After some criticism in recent weeks, the Buckeyes left with a road win over the undefeated No. 14 team in the country, and they outgained Iowa by 250 yards in a game that felt even more lopsided than that number suggests.
If there was one clear takeaway, it was this: the defense, especially up front, took real strides on Saturday.
In Other News...
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Just Added Another Chapter To Ohio State History
Jaxon Smith-Njigba turned Ohio Stadium into a showcase on Saturday, piling up 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns as No. 5 Ohio State handled No. 14 Iowa, 31-14. It was the kind of afternoon that reminded everyone why the Buckeyes have long been a factory for elite receivers, with Smith-Njigba producing the kind of big-play outing that can change a game in a hurry.
By the time the dust settled, Smith-Njigba had moved into first place in Ohio State history in receptions, receiving touchdowns and receiving yards, adding another line to a program record book already crowded with stars. Julian Sayin helped make it possible, completing 20 of 27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, giving the Buckeyes a passing performance that kept Iowa chasing from start to finish. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Can Turn Homecoming Into A Bigger Big Ten Problem
Ohio State heads into homecoming weekend still carrying the momentum of its 31-14 win over Iowa, and Maryland is next on the schedule with the Buckeyes expected to keep rolling. The matchup gives Ohio State a chance to protect its place in the Big Ten race while also putting another conference opponent in a difficult spot on a festive weekend in Columbus.
Maryland arrives with a lot more pressure attached than the usual road trip, which is part of what makes this game worth watching beyond the spread. Mike Locksleys program has been struggling again this season, and another rough outing against Ohio State would only deepen the questions around where things are headed for the Terrapins. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Got A Harsh Reminder Of The Gap They Face
Ohio State left Iowa with more than another conference win after Saturdays 31-14 result. The Buckeyes latest showing was enough to push them to the top of ESPNs FPI rankings, another sign that the national machine in Columbus is rolling early and creating separation from the rest of the Big Ten pack.
Jeremiah Smith was at the center of it again, turning the trip into a showcase performance and further underscoring why the Buckeyes are built so differently right now. Iowa got a reminder of the gap it still has to close, while Ohio State kept adding to the sense that its ceiling is rising with each week. [Read more 🡒]