Ryan Day got a little playful after Ohio State’s 31-14 win over Iowa, and the joke came with a clear message: Julian Sayin can do some wild things, but there’s still room to clean up the decision-making.
The Buckeyes shook off a slow start and took control in a second half that never felt close. Jeremiah Smith was the engine, the headline, and the problem Iowa never solved. He finished with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, once again looking like the best player on the field.
One of the biggest plays also gave Day a chance to poke at his quarterback’s choice.
"What I didn't figure is that he was going to, Julian was going to throw into triple overage, and he still caught it for a big play. That was not a great read, but a ridiculous throw and a ridiculous catch."
Sayin has clearly made Smith the centerpiece of the passing game, and that has worked just fine so far. Ohio State has leaned hard on its star receiver, and Smith keeps rewarding that trust.
The flip side is obvious, though: the Buckeyes still need another reliable option in the passing game. Maybe Smith’s performance makes that feel less urgent than it sounds.
Day would still prefer his quarterback to stay away from triple coverage, even when the target is Smith. Getting the ball to him as often as possible is one thing. Forcing it into traffic is another.
Even with that, Ohio State’s passing attack remains one of the best in the country. Sayin has shown he can fit throws into tight windows, but the Buckeyes would obviously rather not have to live on the edge quite that much.
The schedule is about to get a lot tougher, too. This was the opening act for a brutal stretch in the Big Ten, with three of the next four games coming against ranked teams. Two of those are road games, with Indiana and USC still ahead.
Ohio State climbed to No. 5 in the polls, making it the highest-ranked Big Ten team in the country. The Buckeyes are ranked ahead of Indiana even though the Hoosiers are undefeated, and Indiana beat Ohio State last year in the Big Ten Championship.
For now, the formula is simple enough: keep feeding Smith, keep winning, and keep letting the rest sort itself out. If he keeps producing like this, Ohio State has every reason to believe it can keep rolling.
In Other News...
Ryan Day, Ohio State Accused Of Creating An Ugly Fox Standoff
Dave Portnoy says the buildup to Ohio States trip through FOXs Big Noon Kickoff orbit turned into something far messier than a standard TV disagreement. The Barstool Sports founder claimed the Buckeyes and Ryan Day objected to his presence from the start, with complaints reportedly made to the Big Ten and FOX as the network tried to manage a pregame-show situation that was never especially subtle to begin with.
Portnoy also said he was blocked from accessing Ohio States stadium and later told by FOX to stay home from a scheduled appearance because the Buckeyes would not cooperate if he showed up. For Ohio State, the episode adds another awkward layer to an already closely watched relationship with one of college footballs biggest media partners, even as the full chain of decisions behind the standoff remains the part everyone is still talking around. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Can Turn Homecoming Into A Bigger Big Ten Problem
Ohio State comes into homecoming weekend in a familiar spot, riding a convincing 31-14 win over Iowa and setting up another Big Ten test against Maryland. The Buckeyes have already handled one physical conference opponent, and now they return home with the kind of matchup that usually asks more about focus than talent. Maryland arrives with plenty of pressure attached, and Ohio State is favored to keep its strong start rolling.
Mike Locksleys situation adds another layer to a game that already matters in the standings. The Terrapins uneven season, along with the broader body of work under their coach, has made his position a talking point, and another lopsided result would only intensify that conversation. For Ohio State, the task is straightforward enough: take care of business and avoid giving a struggling league opponent any kind of foothold on a weekend meant to feel festive. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Won But These Buckeye Mistakes Wont Fly Much Longer
Ohio State handled Iowa 31-14 and kept its Big Ten footing secure, but the win came with enough sloppiness to leave the Buckeyes looking less polished than the final score suggested. False start penalties on Gabe VanSickle and Austin Siereveld broke up drives, and the pass defense drew scrutiny again with interference flags involving Devin Sanchez and others, a reminder that even in a comfortable result the details still matter for a team with bigger goals ahead.
The same was true on special teams, where Connor Hawkins missed a field goal and added to a night that had more frustration than the scoreboard would indicate. Coaching choices and some inconsistent officiating also became part of the conversation, but the broader point was hard to miss: Ohio State can keep winning this way for a while, yet the margin for cleaning up those recurring mistakes is shrinking. [Read more 🡒]