Off-Script Ohio: Iowa recap, defensive turnaround and what comes next
· Yahoo Sports
Ohio State took care of business against Iowa on Saturday, winning 31-14 and getting back on track in a big way after a concerning defensive performance against Illinois. Cole got the exact score right, so naturally we had to talk about that first.
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The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after Kenyatta Jackson Jr. recorded a strip sack that was recovered by Christian Alliegro. Two plays later, Julian Sayin found Devin McCuin over the middle for a touchdown, and Ohio State never looked back.
The offense struggled at times to finish drives, but Ryan Day’s ability to win the “middle 8” once again proved to be one of his biggest strengths. Ohio State scored a touchdown in the final 10 seconds of the first half before adding 21 unanswered points after Iowa had cut the lead to 10-6.
Who played well?
Julian Sayin was once again excellent, while Jeremiah Smith continued to make his case as one of the best receivers in the country. The Jacksons also had a big day, with Ja’Kobi, Bo and Kenyatta all making an impact. Qua Russaw and James Smith were two of the Alabama transfers who stood out, while John Walker and Eddrick Houston continued to show why there are high expectations for Ohio State’s defensive line.
Simeon Caldwell also played well, and Cam Calhoun appears to have firmly established himself as the clear backup at strong slot corner over Dominick Kelly. Jordan Thomas also got into the game.
A much needed defensive performance
After Illinois put up 500 yards of offense, there were plenty of questions about Ohio State’s defense heading into Iowa. Those questions were answered pretty emphatically.
The Buckeyes held Iowa to just 238 total yards, forced a fumble and interception, went 5-for-11 on third down and, most importantly, held the Hawkeyes to under 40 rushing yards. That was the biggest takeaway for us. Ohio State looked much more physical up front and much more comfortable defensively.
Other games around the CFP
There was plenty happening around the country this weekend.
- Minnesota at Michigan
- Penn State gets blown out by Northwestern
- Alabama at Mississippi State
- Missouri at Florida
- USC at Washington
- Maryland at Nebraska
And yes, we had to talk about Northwestern. Why in the world is Chip Kelly there? That said, with the new stadium, the money coming into the program and the resources around Penn State, we’re making a bold prediction: The Wildcats will play in a Big Ten Championship Game within the next five years.