College football is a weird, beautiful mess. One week you’re the king of the world, and the next you’re wondering why you spent four hours on a Saturday watching your team get systematically dismantled in a stadium that feels like it’s vibrating. That’s basically the vibe of the Iowa Hawkeyes Ohio State matchup we saw in October 2024.
Columbus is a tough place to play. Everyone knows that. But there was this flickering hope among the Hawkeye faithful—mostly fueled by Kaleb Johnson’s monster start to the season—that maybe, just maybe, Iowa could muck things up enough to keep it interesting. For thirty minutes, they actually did. It was 7-0 at halftime. A defensive slog. A classic Kirk Ferentz "let’s see who blinks first" kind of afternoon.
Then the second half happened. Ohio State didn't just blink; they opened their eyes and realized they were significantly faster and more talented than everyone else on the field.
The 2024 Reality Check in the Shoe
If you just looked at the final score of 35-7, you’d think it was a blowout from the jump. It wasn't. Iowa's defense, led by the ever-reliable Jay Higgins (who finished with 14 tackles, because of course he did), was absolutely flying around in the first half. They forced a fumble, they got an interception from Sebastian Castro, and they generally made Will Howard look human.
But then came the third quarter. The Buckeyes scored touchdowns on four straight possessions. It was like watching a dam break.
Will Howard finished 21-of-25 for 209 yards and four touchdowns. He wasn't just throwing; he was dissecting. And Emeka Egbuka? Forget it. Three touchdown catches. He and freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith—who made another one of those "how is he real" one-handed catches—simply outpaced a secondary that had been very solid up until that point.
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Honestly, the most frustrating part for Iowa fans had to be the turnovers. You can’t give a team like Ohio State short fields. Cade McNamara fumbled twice and threw a pick. When you give the Buckeyes the ball at your own 19-yard line, you’re basically asking for a touchdown. They obligingly provided several.
Why the Gap Feels Impossible to Bridge
Historically, this hasn't exactly been a "rivalry" in the sense of a back-and-forth battle. Since 1922, Ohio State has won 49 times. Iowa? Just 15. There are three ties in there, too, back when college football still allowed the most unsatisfying ending in sports.
The struggle is basically a philosophical divide.
- Ohio State recruits for the NFL. They want speed, verticality, and 5-star athletes who can win a 1-on-1 matchup at any moment.
- Iowa recruits for the "system." They want developmental guys, tough linemen, and a defense that doesn't break until it absolutely has to.
When the system works, you get 2017. Everyone remembers that 55-24 thumping in Iowa City where Nate Stanley threw five touchdowns and unranked Iowa basically ended Ohio State’s playoff hopes. That was the pinnacle. But in 2024, the talent gap was just too wide. Kaleb Johnson, who entered the game as one of the most prolific backs in the country, was held to 86 yards on 15 carries. Ohio State’s defensive front, featuring Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, just didn't give him any room to breathe.
Recent Matchups at a Glance
| Year | Location | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Columbus | Ohio State | 35-7 |
| 2022 | Columbus | Ohio State | 54-10 |
| 2017 | Iowa City | Iowa | 55-24 |
| 2013 | Columbus | Ohio State | 34-24 |
The 2022 game was even uglier than 2024. That was the game where Iowa’s offense was so stagnant it felt like they were playing in quicksand. Six turnovers. It was the kind of game that leads to offensive coordinator changes. Oh wait, it actually did.
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The Jeremiah Smith Factor
We need to talk about the kid. Jeremiah Smith.
Coming into the 2024 Iowa Hawkeyes Ohio State game, everyone was talking about him. Usually, a freshman gets some hype and then settles into a "contributor" role. Not Smith. His 3-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter was a masterclass in body control. He used one hand to haul in the pass while using the other to keep Iowa's Deshaun Lee from making a play.
It’s those kinds of plays that make you realize why Ryan Day is so comfortable. When the scheme fails, he has a guy who can just... catch the ball anyway. Iowa doesn't really have that guy. They have Luke Lachey, a fantastic tight end who led the team with 39 receiving yards in that game, but a tight end isn't going to outrun a Buckeye secondary.
Looking Toward the Future
So, what does this mean for the next time these two meet? Probably in 2025 or 2026, depending on how the Big Ten’s new "no divisions" schedule shakes out.
The Hawkeyes are in a transition period. Kirk Ferentz isn't going anywhere yet, but the offense is trying to find a post-Petras/McNamara identity. They’ve got talent in the backfield with guys like Johnson, but until the passing game can threathen a defense like Ohio State’s, the Buckeyes are going to keep stacking the box and dare Iowa to throw.
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On the other side, Ohio State is essentially in "Natty or Bust" mode every single season. Their 2024 run ended with a National Championship over Notre Dame, proving that the win over Iowa was just another stepping stone for a roster that cost a reported $20 million to assemble.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're betting on this game or just trying to sound smart at a bar, keep these things in mind:
- Turnovers are the only stat that matters: Iowa’s wins in this series come when they are +2 or better in turnover margin. If they lose the ball, they lose the game.
- The Kinnick Magic is real: Don't judge the Hawkeyes' chances in Columbus the same way you do in Iowa City. The atmosphere at Kinnick Stadium under the lights is a legitimate 7-point swing.
- Watch the Trench Battle: Ohio State’s offensive line struggled early in the 2024 game. Iowa’s defensive line is elite, but they get tired if the offense can't stay on the field.
To really understand the Iowa Hawkeyes Ohio State dynamic, you have to look at the recruiting rankings from the last five years. Ohio State is consistently top 5. Iowa is usually in the 25-40 range. The fact that Iowa even keeps these games close for a half is a testament to their coaching, but the second half is where depth and raw speed usually take over.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal this spring. Iowa needs a vertical threat at wide receiver if they ever want to punish the Buckeyes for crashing the line of scrimmage. Without that, we’re likely to see a lot more 35-7 scores in the future.