Sunday, October 6, 2024

Buckeyes oust Iowa 35-7

    Emeka Egbuka caught three of Will Howard's four touchdown passes as Ohio State pulled away in the second half to earn a convincing 35-7 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Horseshoe in Columbus.

Howard scored the only rushing touchdown to complete Ohio State's scoring.

Ohio State improved to 5-0 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten, and will face their toughest opponent to date next Saturday night against unbeaten and third-ranked Oregon in Eugene.

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1) Ohio State's defense was devastating against the Iowa offense, which isn't stellar but they have an excellent running back in Kaleb Johnson, who finished with eighty-six yards on fifteen carries.

Johnson's average was over five yards a carry but it's slightly inflated with one rush of twenty-eight yards.

2) Sonny Styles had a slow start to the season but I thought Styles played very well against Iowa and was a key player in holding Kaleb Johnson in check.

Styles is a work in progress as he learns the linebacker position but there are going to be some excellent times as he matures.

3) Ohio State led only 7-0 at the half even though the Buckeyes moved the ball consistently through the half.

4) That happened as Iowa stopped Ohio State on a fourth and one, Will Howard was intercepted once, and Jeremiah Smith fumbled after a long gain.

Those are little things that will need to be touched up but it did allow Iowa to stay competitive in a half that OSU essentially controlled.

5) Jack Sawyer's third-quarter strip-sack of Cade McNamara was the key play in the game.

Ohio State scored on the first possession of the second half and Sawyer's sack and turnover quickly led to another score and the rout was on.

6) And it's time for our weekly Jeremiah Smith highlight with full Dick Enberg "Oh My"!

Smith is in the corner of the end zone and as he leaps, the Iowa cornerback in great coverage, pins Smith's left arm against his body, so Smith just jumps into the air and grabs it anyway with his right hand.

Incredible!

7) Emeka Egbuka grabbed three scores and Iowa had their share of difficulty covering him as well.

Egbuka isn't nearly as spectacular as Smith but he's going to be a fine pro.

8) Really liked the grey jerseys.

Normally, I'm not a fan of the alternate togs but these were okay once in a while.

9) Yes, Will Howard threw an interception but he completed twenty-one of twenty-five and was involved in each score-I'm good.

10) Howard also has rushed for a touchdown in each of the last four games.

11) Oregon will be a tough out on the road and the Ducks are certainly capable of winning but I watched their game against Boise State, which went all the way down to the wire in a 37-34 Oregon win and Ashton Jeanty rushed for 192 yards and three scores.

Jeanty is a special back but Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson certainly aren't plowhorses.

I think OSU runs the ball well on the Ducks and opens things up for the best wide receiver group in the nation and allowed them to notch a close win in Eugene. 




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