Just two plays into the game, it looked like Ohio State might make things ugly for Iowa fast. It took a bit longer than that first drive would have you believe, but thanks to some big plays at key moments, the Buckeyes rolled to a 31-14 win over No. 14 Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.
While the Hawkeyes kept things close until well into the third quarter, there were plenty of highlights for Ohio State on both sides of the ball, including multiple turnover recoveries from the defense, in what was ultimately
a huge road win for the Buckeyes and another record-breaking day for wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Quarterback Julian Sayin went 20-for-27 with 324 yards and three touchdowns on the day, as the Buckeyes answered some outstanding questions about their identity this season.
A strong start for the defense
The first half was a mixed bag for the Buckeyes, but there’s no question they got off to a strong start. Less than one minute into the game, Ohio State’s defense made a big statement on a play that could not have gone better for the Buckeyes.
When Iowa quarterback Hank Brown dropped back on 2nd and 8, Buckeye defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. came through with a sack for a loss of 13 yards — and also managed to punch the ball out of Brown’s hands, forcing a fumble. Linebacker Christian Alliegro was there to recover the fumble, giving the Buckeye offense the ball on Iowa’s 14-yard line. OSU quickly capitalized, with Sayin finding wide receiver Devin McCuin in the end zone on a 15-yard pass two plays later.
Jackson, who exited the game toward the end of the first quarter after getting twisted with Iowa tight end Addison Ostrenga, returned on the first drive of the second quarter.
Given how close the first half was, the Silver Bullets coming up so big on the opening drive ultimately gave Ohio State strong momentum early, keeping Iowa off the board and giving OSU an early lead.
Jeremiah Smith breaks two school records
If the Buckeyes were inconsistent at times — particularly in the first half of Saturday’s game—there was nothing inconsistent about Jeremiah Smith, whose record-breaking season continued. By the end of the first half, Smith had amassed 111 yards and a touchdown on six receptions, tying Marvin Harrison’s school record of most games with 100+ yards at 15. By the end of the second half, Smith was all alone in the record books with two new honors: Most career touchdowns and most career receptions.
One of his most critical receptions today came on the Buckeyes’ final drive of the first half. OSU held a narrow 10-6 lead after missing a field goal and being forced to punt on the following drive. With momentum seemingly shifting in Iowa’s favor, it was crucial that OSU get some points on the board before halftime.
Smith got the job done on an impressive 12-yard catch-and-stretch play, extending his arm across the plane of the goal before his body landed, tying Chris Olave’s school record (a record he broke outright later in the game) for career touchdowns and giving the Buckeyes a 17-6 lead heading into halftime.
By the end of the game, Smith had amassed 206 yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches, breaking both Olave’s career touchdowns record and the school record for career receptions, previously held by Emeka Egbuka.
His second touchdown, which came on 2nd and four midway through the third quarter, was a wide-open reception on a 57-yard bomb from Sayin, putting the Buckeyes up 24-6. They’d never really look back. Before the season is up, Smith’s numbers might be so untouchable he never looks back either.
Jaylen McClain with the interception
Safety Jaylen McClain has been, in many ways, an underrated contributor for the Buckeyes, a trend that continued against the Hawkeyes in a big way. On a critical third-quarter drive for the Hawkeyes—immediately following Jeremiah Smith’s second touchdown — Jaylen McClain came up with a huge play for the Buckeye defense, picking off Brown on a 27-yard throw. Brown was hurried on the play by defensive tackle John Walker.
McClain’s interception came with 2:52 left in the third quarter, giving the Buckeyes the ball back on their own 30 and protecting their 24-6 lead as they rolled into the final 15 minutes of football. It was exactly the kind of money play the Buckeyes need from their defense as they look ahead toward a brutal stretch of their schedule.
Ja’Kobi Jackson finds the end zone
Ohio State’s rush attack has been inconsistent at times, but Ja’Kobi Jackson had a strong showing against Iowa, who boasted a top-20 rushing defense heading into Saturday’s game. Jackson finished the day with 72 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
He capped it off with a seven-yard touchdown run to put the exclamation point on the Buckeyes’ win, making it 31-6 early in the fourth quarter.
