What’s at stake
Iowa will be the toughest test yet for the Buckeyes, who has blown out every opponent so far. Last week, Ohio State went to East Lansing and beat Michigan State 38-7 in the first Big Ten contest of the season. Except for a one-point loss to Iowa State on Sept. 7, the Hawkeyes also have won by comfortable margins. On Sept. 21, they downed Minnesota 31-14 behind the running of Kaleb Johnson, who is second in the nation in total rushing yards. The Buckeyes are undertaking a rigorous two-game stretch, following up Iowa with a top 10 matchup with No. 6 Oregon at Eugene.
Key matchup
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith vs. Iowa CB Jermari Harris. Smith is every bit the playmaker he was advertised to be when he arrived as the No. 1 national recruiting prospect. His one-handed catch for a touchdown against Michigan State illustrated the point. Harris is the highest-rated cornerback by Pro Football Focus among players who have appeared in more than two games. He has two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.
Players to watch
Iowa: Johnson already has rushed for 685 yards and nine touchdowns in four games this season. The Hamilton, Ohio, native ran for a career-high 206 yards and three TDs at Minnesota on Sept. 21. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in each of the Hawkeyes’ games so far.
Ohio State: WR Emeka Egbuka has 21 catches for 362 yards — two yards fewer than Smith’s total — and two touchdowns. Against Michigan State, he had seven catches for a team-leading 96 yards and a touchdown.
Facts & figures
Iowa and Ohio State gave split their last two meetings. The Buckeyes prevailed 54-10 at Ohio Stadium in 2022. Five seasons earlier, the Hawkeyes stunned then-No. 5 Ohio State 55-24 at Iowa City. … Iowa has lost eight straight games at the Horseshoe. … The last time Iowa beat Ohio State twice in a row was 1922-23. … Ferentz tied Chicago’s Amos Alonzo Stagg for second with his 199th Big Ten victory on Sept. 21 at Minnesota. He trails only legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes (205). … Johnson is the first Hawkeye since Mark Weisman in 2012 to have four straight 100-yard rushing games. … Iowa has 200 or more rushing yards in each of the first four games, a first since 2013.
