The Iowa Hawkeyes faced a tough challenge as they took on the Ohio State Buckeyes, suffering a 35-7 defeat in Columbus on Saturday. Following a bye week, Iowa entered the game hoping to pull off an upset against the highly-ranked Buckeyes in front of a massive crowd at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State struck first, completing an 88-yard drive with a touchdown pass from Will Howard to Emeka Egbuka. Iowa had a chance to respond but missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, leaving the score at 7-0 at halftime. Despite strong defensive performances, including a fumble recovery by Jay Higgins, Iowa’s offense struggled to find its rhythm.
The second half saw Ohio State come out strong, with Jeremiah Smith making an impressive one-handed touchdown catch, extending their lead to 14-0. Iowa’s Cade McNamara faced difficulties, losing the ball twice and throwing an interception against a relentless Buckeye defense.
The Hawkeyes managed to score when Kaleb Johnson rushed for a touchdown late in the game, but it was not enough to overcome Ohio State’s dominant performance. With the loss, Iowa’s record fell to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play. Coach Kirk Ferentz expressed confidence in McNamara’s potential despite the challenges faced during the game. Iowa will look to regroup as they prepare to host Washington next Saturday.