No. 5 Buckeyes Grab Ranked Win over No. 14 Iowa

Saturday, October 3

Iowa City, Iowa

3:30 PM

Ohio State

4-1 , 2-0

Iowa

4-1 , 1-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Ohio St.	10	7	7	7	31
Iowa	6	0	0	8	14

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No. 5 Buckeyes Grab Ranked Win over No. 14 Iowa

10/3/2026 8:02:00 PM | Football

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With Saturday’s win at No. 14 Iowa, No. 5 Ohio State improved 29-4 on the road since the start of the 2019 season, the most wins out of any team in the country.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The No. 5 Ohio State football team (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) defeated No. 14 Iowa (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten), 31-14, on Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Buckeyes earned their 49th victory in the series and now hold a 49-15-3 all-time record against the Hawkeyes. When both teams are ranked, Ohio State has won each of the last eight meetings and owns a 16-4 all-time record.

Ohio State improved to 29-4 on the road since the start of the 2019 season. Its 29 road victories during that span are the most in the country.

Entering Saturday, Iowa was 14-3 at home since the start of the 2024 season, with its only losses coming against No. 9 Oregon and No. 11 Indiana in 2025, as well as Iowa State in 2024. Additionally, Ohio State's 17-point victory marked the largest by a road team at Kinnick Stadium since Purdue won by 17 points in 2021.

The Buckeyes amassed 484 yards of total offense, including 324 passing yards, and scored four touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith continued his standout season with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

With his two touchdown receptions, Smith broke the program record for career receiving touchdowns, passing Chris Olave's previous mark of 34. Smith is also closing in on the Big Ten career record of 39 touchdown receptions, set by Braylon Edwards (2001-04). Additionally, Smith's 11 receptions moved him past Emeka Egbuka (2021-24) and K.J. Hill (2016-19) to become Ohio State's all-time career receptions leader. With 207 career catches, Smith needs seven more to enter the Big Ten's top 10. He is currently seven receptions behind DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) and Isaiah Williams (2019-23), who are tied for 10th with 214 career receptions.

Smith also recorded his 15th career 100-yard receiving game, tying Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23) for the most in program history.

Junior quarterback Julian Sayin completed 20-of-27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, tailbacks Ja'Kobi Jackson and Bo Jackson combined for 142 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Ohio State totaled four tackles-for-loss, two sacks and three pass breakups. Qua Russaw and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. led the effort. Russaw recorded five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack, while Jackson Jr. recorded his first career strip sack, which led to a Buckeye fumble recovery by linebacker Christian Alliegro.

Next, the top-five Buckeyes return to Ohio Stadium for Homecoming against Maryland. Ohio State owns a 9-0 all-time record against the Terrapins, including a 5-0 mark in Columbus. The Buckeyes have scored at least 37 points in each of the nine matchups and have averaged 55.1 points per game in the series.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

HOW IT HAPPENED

On the first drive of the game, senior defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. recorded a strip sack that was recovered by senior linebacker Christian Alliegro.
Following the turnover, junior quarterback Julian Sayin found senior wide receiver Devin McCuin for a 15-yard touchdown pass to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead.
Iowa cut the Buckeyes' lead to 7-3 with a field goal before Ohio State responded with a 56-yard drive capped by a 28-yard field goal to extend its lead to 10-3.
On the ensuing possession, Iowa capped its third drive with a field goal to trim Ohio State's lead to 10-6.
Ohio State took a 17-6 lead with 12 seconds remaining in the first half when Sayin connected with junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith on a 12-yard touchdown pass.
- The touchdown reception tied Smith with Chris Olave for the program record of 35 career receiving touchdowns.
At halftime, the Buckeyes held a 259-133 advantage in total offense.
On Ohio State's third drive of the second half, Sayin found Smith for a 57-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 24-6.
- The Buckeyes covered 75 yards in five plays on the scoring drive.
- The touchdown reception gave Smith 36 for his career, making him Ohio State's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns.
Following the Ohio State touchdown, senior safety Jaylen McClain intercepted a pass on Iowa's ensuing possession.
- Ohio State entered the fourth quarter with a 24-6 lead after outgaining the Hawkeyes, 119-28, in the third quarter.
Fifth-year tailback Ja'Kobi Jackson opened the fourth quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run to extend the Buckeyes' lead to 31-6.
- The rushing touchdown marked Jackson's fifth consecutive game with a touchdown this season.
The Hawkeyes capped their first fourth-quarter drive with a rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to cut the Buckeyes' lead to 31-14.
Ohio State then possessed the ball for the remainder of the game to secure the 31-14 victory.
- The Buckeyes outgained the Hawkeyes, 484-238, in total offense.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Saturday at No. 14 Iowa, Smith finished the game with 11 receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
- He now has 207 catches and is Ohio State's new leader in career receptions:

Rank	Player	Career Receptions
1.	Jeremiah Smith (2024-Pres.)	207
2.	Emeka Egbuka (2021-24)	205
3.	K.J. Hill (2016-19)	201
4.	David Boston (1996-98)	191
5.	Chris Olave (2018-21)	176
6.	Cris Carter (1984-86)	168
7.	Michael Jenkins (1999-03)	165
8.	Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23)	155
9.	Gary Williams (1979-82)	154
10.	Corey Brown (2010-13)	145

He now has 3,381receiving yards as he broke Michael Jenkins' record of 2,898 against Kent State on Sept. 19 at Ohio Stadium. He is also the only receiver in program history to have over 3,000 career yards:

Rank	Player	Career Receiving Yards
1.	Jeremiah Smith (2024-Pres.)	3,381 yards
1.	Michael Jenkins (2000-03)	2,898 yards
3.	Emeka Egbuka (2021-24)	2,868 yards
4.	David Boston (1996-98)	2,855 yards
5.	Gary Williams (1979-82)	2,792 yards
6.	Cris Carter (1984-86)	2,725 yards
7.	Chris Olave (2018-21)	2,711 yards
8.	Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23)	2,613 yards
9.	Devin Smith (2011-14)	2,503 yards
10.	K.J. Hill (2016-19)	2,332 yards

Smith is 407 yards away from becoming all-time career receiving yards leader in conference history:

Rank	Player	School	Career Receiving Yards
1.	John Standeford (2000-03)	Purdue	3,788 yards
2.	Taylor Stubblefield (2001-04)	Purdue	3,629 yards
3.	Dorien Bryant (2004-07)	Purdue	3,548 yards
4.	Braylon Edwards (2001-04)	Michigan	3,541 yards
5.	Lee Evans (1999-03)	Wisconsin	3,468 yards
6.	Dequece Carter (2019-23)	Indiana	3,430 yards
7.	David Williams (1983-85)	Illinois	3,392 yards
8.	Jeremiah Smith (2024-Pres.)	Ohio State	3,381 yards
9.	D'Wayne Bates (1995-98)	Northwestern	3,310 yards
10.	Tyler Johnson (2016-19)	Minnesota	3,305 yards

With two scores on Saturday, his 36 TD receptions make him the career leader in Ohio State history:

Rank	Player	Career Receiving TDs
1.	Jeremiah Smith (2024-Pres.)	36 TDs
2.	Chris Olave (2018-21)	35 TDs
3.	David Boston (1996-98)	34 TDs
4.	Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23)	31 TDs
5.	Devin Smith (2011-14)	30 TDs
6.	Cris Carter (1984-86)	27 TDs
7.	Santonio Holmes (2003-05)	25 TDs
T8.	Emeka Egbuka (2021-24)	24 TDs
T8.	Brian Robiskie (2005-08)	24 TDs
10.	Garrett Wilson (2019-21)	23 TDs

With 36 career touchdown receptions, Smith is in the top 10 in Big Ten history. Following his two-touchdown performance, he's tied for third in conference history:

Rank	Player	School	Career TD Receptions
1.	Braylon Edwards (2001-04)	Michigan	39
2.	Anthony Carter (1979-82)	Michigan	37
T3.	James Hardy (2005-07)	Indiana	36
T3.	Jeremiah Smith (2024-Pres.)	Ohio State	36
5.	Chris Olave (2018-21)	Ohio State	35
T6.	David Boston (1996-98)	Ohio State	34
T6.	Dequese Carter (2019-23)	Indiana	34
8.	Tyler Johnson (2016-19)	Minnesota	33
9.	Desmond Howard (1989-91)	Michigan	32
T10.	Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23)	Ohio State	31
T10.	Bobby Engram (1991-95)	Penn State	31
T10.	Brian Alford (1994-97)	Purdue	31
T10.	Ron Johnson (1998-01)	Minnesota	31
T10.	Elijah Sarratt (2023-25)	Indiana	31

Smith went over 100 yards receiving for the 15th time in his career which is tied for first in program history:

Rank	Player	100-Yd Games
1.	Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23)	15
T1.	Jeremiah Smith (2024-Pres.)	15
3.	David Boston (1996-98)	14
4.	Chris Olave (2018-21)	11
T5.	Michael Jenkins (2001-03)	10
T5.	Garrett Wilson (2019-21)	10

STAGGERING STATISTICS

Prior to Saturday, Iowa's defense had allowed fewer than 400 yards in 53 of the last 58 games and 16 or fewer points in 32 of their last 57 games.
- The Ohio State offense finished the game with 484 total yards and 31 points in the win.
Prior to Ohio's State's win, Iowa held a home record of 14-3 since the start of the 2024 season with the only losses coming to No. 9 Oregon and No. 11 Indiana in 2025 and Iowa State in 2024.
- Additionally, this marks the largest win by a road team at Kinnick Stadium since Wisconsin beat Iowa 28-9 on Nov. 2, 2013.

FROM COACH DAY ON JEREMIAH SMITH

"Well, I think the first thing is every coach in America is going to say, 'We've got to take this guy away.' So, the challenge is trying to figure out what to get to. But I didn't figure that Julian was going to throw the ball into triple coverage and he was still going to catch it for a big play. I mean, that was not a great read, but a ridiculous throw and catch. Then there was another one by the sideline, again, where I think we needed to progress a little bit. So, I guess my point is there are times when he's covered and he still makes the catch. It just speaks to his ability and Julian's trust in him. But then there are other plays where he was open, and we work hard on designing those plays and trying to give him an opportunity, especially the ones down the field and then touches underneath. The only way that works is if he practices the way he does, working through all the issues and the timing that comes with it on a week-to-week basis. So, yeah, I can't say enough about who he is as a person. You guys have heard about it a million times, but, yeah, I mean, how about some of the plays he made?"

UP NEXT
Next, the top-five Buckeyes return to Ohio Stadium for Homecoming against Maryland. Ohio State owns a 9-0 all-time record against the Terrapins, including a 5-0 mark in Columbus. The Buckeyes have scored at least 37 points in each of the nine matchups and have averaged 55.1 points per game in the series.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.