Full Breakdown
Ohio State Beats Iowa 31-14, Propelling Jeremiah Smith to Record-Setting Milestones
By Drooid · · How we work
Game Summary
On Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, No. 5 Ohio State defeated No. 14 Iowa 31-14. Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 20 of 27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. His two long connections to senior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith—12-yard and 57-yard scores—accounted for Smith’s 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State amassed 484 total yards and held the ball for roughly 17 more minutes than the Hawkeyes, who were limited to 238 yards. Iowa’s points came from two field goals and a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Braeden Jackson.
Recent Context
Iowa entered the contest after a 20-19 win over Michigan, a game decided on the final play. The Hawkeyes had previously shown resilience, escaping with narrow victories over Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa despite modest rushing outputs. However, against the Buckeyes, Iowa’s ground attack faltered, gaining only 39 yards on 21 attempts (1.9 yards per carry) while Ohio State rushed for 160 yards. The loss marked the first time since 2016 that Iowa allowed more than 30 points at home.
Key Players
- Julian Sayin — Quarterback, Ohio State: Delivered a highly efficient passing performance, highlighted by a 57-yard touchdown to Smith.
- Jeremiah Smith — Wide Receiver, Ohio State: Recorded 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the Buckeyes’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards (3,381) and receiving touchdowns.
- Hank Brown — Quarterback, Iowa: Completed 12 of 27 passes for 132 yards before exiting in the fourth quarter after a hard hit; did not return.
- Jeremy Hecklinski — Backup Quarterback, Iowa: Provided a brief spark, completing all five of his passes on Iowa’s sole scoring drive.
Statistical Highlights
- Passing: Sayin 324 yds, 3 TDs; Brown 132 yds, 1 INT.
- Rushing: Ohio State 160 yds; Iowa 39 yds (1.9 yd/attempt).
- Receiving: Smith 11 catches, 206 yds, 2 TDs; McCuin 1 TD catch; Iowa’s leading receiver not specified.
- Time of Possession: Ohio State held the ball for roughly 17 minutes longer than Iowa.
- Records: Smith’s 36 career receiving touchdowns surpassed the previous Ohio State record of 35 held by Chris Olave. He also moved into a tie for the Big Ten career touchdown-catch lead at 36, matching the mark set by former Michigan star Braylon Edwards.
Impact on Rankings and Awards
The victory improved Ohio State’s Big Ten record to 2-0 in conference play and kept the Buckeyes unbeaten overall. Iowa fell to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the league, dropping its chance to finish the season undefeated. Smith’s performance reinforced his presence in Heisman Trophy discussions, with analysts noting his dominance comparable to past elite receivers such as DeVonta Smith (2020) and Julio Jones.
Outlook
Ohio State’s next game is a home matchup against Maryland, while Iowa travels to face Washington in Seattle the following Friday. Both teams will look to address the strengths and weaknesses highlighted in Saturday’s contest—Ohio State’s balanced aerial attack and Iowa’s need to revive its rushing production.