Can the Hawkeyes launch themselves into College Football Playoff contention?
Happy prediction Friday, Hawkeye fans!
Tomorrow is the day you've all been waiting for for some time - a colossal matchup at Kinnick Stadium between No. 14 Iowa and No. 5 Ohio State on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS).
After careful consideration, here's how I see this battle playing out.
Where/When To Watch
Matchup: No. 5 Ohio State (3-1, 1-0) @ No. 14 Iowa (4-0, 1-0)
Scheduled game time: Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa
Weather: 68 degrees
TV: CBS
Announcers: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), Jenny Dell (sideline)
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network (Gary Dolphin, Pat Angerer)
Student Radio: KRUI (Collin Carrithers, Cole Krueger)
The Pick
Before we talk about the actual football game, let's begin this pick by talking about the electric atmosphere we're about to witness inside Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. This is easily Iowa's biggest home game at least in five years (No. 3 Iowa vs. No. 4 Penn State in 2021), and you probably have to go all the way back to the 2006 showdown between the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes to find a more important game in Iowa City. Iowa fans have waited for this game since the schedule came out in February, and the buzz in this city is palpable right now. College GameDay returning for the first time in 20 years has only increased it.
The crowd might be the only advantage Iowa has on the gridiron, though. Though it blew a 20-point fourth quarter lead at Texas a few weeks ago, Ohio State still might be the most-talented team in the nation. The Hawkeyes are going to have their hands full against the Buckeyes, but the one thing Iowa will always have? Heart.
That competitive grit was evident in the thrilling comeback victory over Michigan last weekend, and the Hawkeyes will certainly need it to keep pace with an explosive Buckeye offense.
Speaking of offense, how will Iowa stop Jeremiah Smith? Smith is not only the best wide receiver in the country, he may just be the best player in the entire sport. Not only is he fast and an excellent route runner, his 6-foot-4, 222-pound frame makes him a dangerous threat in 50/50, red zone situations.
Smith is likely going to make a few big plays in this game, but what concerns me the most is Iowa trying to get pressure on Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. The Hawkeyes are never going to be a blitz-first team under Phil Parker, but have you seen how accurate Sayin is? He's not much of a running threat, but Iowa has to get pressure on him if it wants to stay in this ballgame.
I think the Hawkeyes will get to Sayin a few times, but I don't think it's going to be enough. Iowa is going to cover the spread and move the ball against a shaky Ohio State defensive front, but the Buckeyes just make a few more big plays to pull away for a victory.
Prediction: Ohio State 27, Iowa 17
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
