Hawkeye Football: Instant Reaction Iowa Overmatched by Ohio State 31-14

Iowa City, IA - October 3, 2026 - The Hawkeyes found themselves in an early hole against the Ohio State Buckeyes, as a fumble by Brown on the first play of the game allowed OSU to recover at their own 14-yard line. From there, it was clear that OSU's lethal passing duo of Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith had college football's most accurate thrower in their grasp.

Sayin completed 20 of 27 passes for 74% efficiency, and Smith amassed 206 yards, with the record-setting season continuing. Iowa attempted 32 passes to OSU's 21 rushes, but ultimately couldn't keep up with the potent passing game. Iowa managed 199 yards passing, but it was clearly insufficient to maintain consistent scoring and defensive pressure.

While Iowa did end the day with 39 rushing yards, it was not enough to overcome the vulnerability of their rushing attack against Ohio State's defense. Deshaun Lee and Zach Lutmer suffered injuries during the game and were not able to continue. Post-game comments from coach Kirk Fertentz indicated that some players were experiencing cramps, leaving Iowa a short week to prepare for their next opponent.

Special teams performed well overall, with Boston Everitt downing two punts inside the 20-yard line, including one at the three-yard line. Caden Buhr was 2/2 on field goal attempts, with a notable 48-yarder. However, a missed kickoff allowed OSU to start at the 35-yard line. In a season where Iowa was expected to navigate through a gauntlet of tough opponents, the first three games could offer a realistic expectation of 4-2.

Nevertheless, Iowa now faces Washington, a team that may not be as formidable as initially anticipated, as they head into their frontloaded schedule with a potential 4-2 record and the chance to reach 5-1 before their bye week.