Ohio State coach Ryan Day is making sure the Buckeyes’ visit to Iowa comes with a message that reaches beyond the field.
Ahead of Saturday’s matchup with the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium, Day sent a letter on behalf of Ohio State football to kids at the Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. In it, he told them, “All of us at Ohio State Football want you to know that we are thinking about you.”
Day used the letter to connect the Buckeyes’ program values to the moment, writing about competition, unity and the idea of giving your best right where you are. He said Ohio State’s culture is built on “FIGHT,” explaining that it means every day is a “FIGHT” to be the best version of yourself.
He also pointed to the strength it takes to deal with difficult circumstances, telling the children, “It is about facing challenges with courage, trusting the people around you, and continuing to move forward one day at a time.”
The letter continued with a simple message of support: “We know you are facing challenges that take real strength.
You do not have to take on everything at once. Focus on the current step, the current day and the people who are there to support you.
We hope you can feel the support of Buckeye Nation as you continue your journey, and we look forward to waving to you all on gameday!”
Day closed by mentioning the Hawkeye Wave, the Kinnick Stadium tradition that began in 2017. At the end of the first quarter, both teams and their fans turn toward the children’s hospital and wave to the patients inside.
Day was part of Ohio State’s staff in 2017, when the Buckeyes last played at Iowa and took part in the tradition.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Delivered The Kind Of Road Win Fans Needed
Ohio State went into Kinnick Stadium and delivered the sort of response win its fans had been waiting for, beating Iowa 31-14 and handing the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season. The Buckeyes controlled the game on both sides of the ball, piling up 484 total yards while keeping Iowa to 238 and a paltry 39 rushing yards, which made this feel less like a tense road test and more like a statement about the gap between the two teams.
Jeremiah Smith was at the center of it, turning the trip into one of those performances that travels well beyond the box score. He finished with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, giving Ohio State a dynamic edge whenever it needed one and helping offset a couple of turnovers forced by the defense. For a team that needed a clean, convincing road result, this was exactly the kind of night it was looking for. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Just Put Ohio State Fans On Notice Again
Jeremiah Smith kept the Buckeyes moving in Iowa City, turning a road test against the Hawkeyes into another showcase for Ohio States passing game. The freshman wideout tied the Ohio State touchdown record while finishing with 11 catches for 206 yards and two scores, a performance that helped push the Buckeyes to a 4-1 start and add another layer to what has already become a must-watch season in Columbus.
Smiths latest breakout only raises the stakes for what comes next, because Ohio State now heads back home to face Maryland with its young star drawing even more attention. For a team that has spent the early part of the season trying to establish its identity, his ability to create production anywhere on the field has become one of the biggest reasons the Buckeyes keep looking like a contender. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Earned The Big Ten Spot Fans Wanted Most
Week 5 brought a clearer picture of the Big Ten race, and Ohio State came out of it looking like the conference team fans expected to see at the top. The Buckeyes handled Iowa in a game that carried more weight than a typical early-season road test, adding a quality win to a rsum that is starting to separate from the pack as the league standings and the national picture begin to take shape.
The rankings around them still have plenty of movement left, with Indiana continuing to push forward, Oregon and UCLA drawing attention for different reasons, and Michigan still trying to sort out its own path. But Ohio States recent momentum is the kind that can hold up as October approaches, especially if the Buckeyes keep matching style points with results in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]