Iowa football vs. Ohio State score updates, highlights analysis (Oct. 5, 2024)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) — 17.5-point underdogs — were vastly outmatched in their 35-7 loss to No. 3 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0).

Ohio State finished the game with a 412-226 advantage in yardage as the Buckeyes looked dominant in almost every facet in the second half. It snapped Iowa’s streak of 32 consecutive games of allowing fewer than 400 total yards.

After a fairly competitive first half — Iowa’s halftime deficit was only 7-0 — Ohio State broke away with a pair of scoring drives early in the third quarter and did not look back.

Ohio State star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had two key receptions on what turned out to be an 86-yard opening touchdown drive.

Smith first simply outran Iowa’s secondary on his way to a 55-yard gain. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard went back to Smith on the next play and the former five-star recruit made a one-handed, 4-yard touchdown catch.

Ohio State had another opportunity to strike after Jack Sawyer hit Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara from behind and forced a fumble. The Buckeyes’ Cody Simon recovered, setting up a 19-yard drive that culminated with a 4-yard Howard touchdown run.

In a matter of minutes, Iowa’s deficit ballooned from a manageable 7-0 to a menacing 21-0 hole. By the end of the third quarter, it grew to 28-0 when the Buckeyes turned a McNamara interception into Howard’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka.

Howard finished the game 21-of-25 for 209 yards. He had four passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and only one interception.

Ohio State also ran the ball almost at will, picking up 203 yards on the ground while averaging 5.1 per carry.

Ohio State went to the red zone five times and turned all five trips into touchdowns.

The one bright spot for the Iowa defense was its two forced turnovers in the first half — a fumble both forced and recovered by Jay Higgins and a Sebastian Castro interception. Without those two plays, the game could have been out of reach much sooner.

Meanwhile, Iowa’s offense — in the top 10 nationally before Saturday with 250.3 rushing yards per game — struggled mightily on the ground.

The Hawkeyes finished with 116 rushing yards while averaging 4.3 per carry. Only 47 came in the first three quarters. Iowa star Kaleb Johnson finished with 86 yards on 15 carries. Iowa’s one touchdown came on his 28-yard run in the fourth quarter with the game already well out of reach.

— John Steppe