Iowa wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) celebrates after his 16-yard touchdown reception against Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
Paul Sancya – AP
IOWA CITY — The first Big Ten game of the season ended in a plethora of fireworks for No. 14 Iowa football. Now, the Hawkeyes get another ranked conference matchup as their reward.
Iowa brings in No. 4 Ohio State for a top 15 Big Ten game on Saturday afternoon. It’s the first time since 2017 that the Buckeyes will be in Iowa City, and Iowa fans will be hungry to see history repeat itself.
Here’s a few things to keep an eye out for ahead of kickoff.
A national stage
Iowa’s win over Michigan last week caught a lot of attention. Now, ESPN’s College GameDay and Pat McAfee Show are making an appearance in Iowa City ahead of the matchup.
None of the Hawkeyes will actually be standing in the crowds ahead of the game, but it’s already one of the best Power Four matchups of the weekend. Add some extra pomp and circumstance to it, and it’ll be tough to beat the atmosphere.
Heisman candidates in the house
There’s an argument to be made for both Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to be in the Heisman conversation come November. Sayin was a finalist last year, finishing fourth in voting. Sayin has been in the conversation since the preseason, but his stock dropped some after losing to Texas.
Smith might take the cake for the to-go favorite this year.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates his touchdown against Illinois during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio.
Jay LaPrete – FR52593 AP
The wide receiver heads to Iowa City after recording 217 yards and four touchdowns against Illinois last week, and is averaging well over 100 receiving yards per game. The duo have been electric this season, and they’ll likely be Iowa’s toughest challenge defensively for the entire season.
Offensive line shuffling
Ohio State’s right tackle Phillip Daniel was injured against Texas in Week 2, and he hasn’t played since. Although the Buckeyes’ offensive line has shuffled some throughout training camp, it’s done so even more in Daniel’s absence.
The Buckeyes still have center Carson Hinzman and left guard Luke Montgomery back this year as the team’s anchors. Lineman Austin Siereveld has been at right tackle since Daniel’s injury against the Longhorns.
The Big Ten injury reports will provide more clarity throughout the week, but after the Buckeyes didn’t allow a sack on Sayin against Illinois, Ohio State can feel confident about the potential rotation brewing ahead of Iowa.
Limiting the passing game
Smith is by far one of Iowa’s biggest priorities defensively, but Sayin can pass the ball to a handful of Buckeyes. Ohio State has 1,461 passing yards through four games, averaging over 10 yards per attempt and 365 yards per game. Plus, 66 of the Buckeyes’ first downs were earned through a pass.
Smith takes up a lot of that yardage, but five Buckeyes have over 100 receiving yards this year (and all over them averaging at least 26 yards a game). Ohio State has options.
Michigan’s Bryce Underwood was only the first challenge for Iowa’s secondary, Ohio State bring it up a few notches.
Of course, after Hank Brown found receiver Reece Vander Zee for a game-winning touchdown last week, it’s a safe bet to think the Buckeyes’ secondary is going to do the same thing.
2017 doesn’t matter in 2026
Iowa fans remember exactly what happened the last time the Buckeyes walked into Kinnick Stadium. It wasn’t pretty for Ohio State, and head coach Ryan Day said he’s blocked it from his memory since then.
Day was a co-offensive coordinator in Iowa’s 55-24 upset over Ohio State during the 2017 season. It was a massive win for the Hawkeyes — and one of the best football memories of the 21st century in Iowa City.
Nine years later, the only two key people who were on the sideline for that game are Day and Ferentz.
A lot has changed within each program, the Big Ten and college football as a whole since that storied meeting. And the harsh reality is that 2017 is in the past. If Iowa football wants to repeat what happened nine years ago, the 2026 Hawkeyes have to prove it themselves.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Teams: No. 5 Ohio State (3-1, 1-0) at No. 14 Iowa (4-0, 1-0)
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
TV: CBS
Odds: OSU by 13.5