IOWA CITY, Iowa – Forget about all of the national titles, Big Ten titles and star players and coaches that make up the juggernaut that is Ohio State football, the best proof of Buckeye dominace is the results of this panel.

All three of the panelists have third-ranked Ohio State defeating Iowa at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, and two of the panelists, Tyler Devine and Dylan Burn, are hopeless Hawkeye homers, while the third panelist, Pat Harty, is just hopeless.

It's hard to pick against a team that has lost to Iowa just four times since 1963 and against a head coach who is 26-1 in road games at Ohio State. The Buckeyes were a force long before Urban Meyer arrived in 2012, but he has since lifted the program to an even higher level.

Saturday's game is huge for both teams, but for different reasons. Iowa still needs one more win to become bowl eligible, while Ohio State is one loss from almost certainly being eliminated from playoff contention.

"We face another big challenge," said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who is 1-8 against the Buckeyes. "I think it's something we have had the experience with, certainly, playing Penn State early in the year, Michigan last year; and really the commonality is it's going to take our absolute best football to have a chance to compete against these guys.

"They are a tremendous football team, and you know, for us to play well, we're going to have to play with a great defensive effort out there, find a rhythm offensively and then just take care of the basic things such as ball security, eliminating the penalties that are drive stoppers, and obviously play well on special teams."

Pat Harty

Ohio State 28, Iowa 13: Kirk Ferentz is so excited about the alternate uniforms that he decides to wear one himself on the sideline.

West Virginia 38, Iowa State 35: I still questioned whether the earth was round until 10th grade.

Penn State 27, Michigan State 17: We learn at halftime that Saquon Barkley has the solution for world peace and for how to stop things from being soggy in a microwave. 

Oklahoma State 55, Oklahoma 53: Todd Lickliter is bothered by this score, and he thinks it's a basketball game.

Clemson 24, North Carolina State 14: Your's truly and North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren are both graduates of Drake University. I'm sorry that's all I have since I used up the jokes about Dabo Swinney's name a long time ago.

Last week: 4-1

Overall: 26-14

 

Tyler Devine

Ohio State 42, Iowa 14: After the loss, Kirk Ferentz vows to never use alternate uniforms again.

Iowa State 23. West Virginia 21: I never thought I would say this, and my father will likely disown me, but I'm on the Iowa State bandwagon.

Penn State 38, Michigan State 24: Saquon Barkley scores all of Penn State's points, including a pick six and kicking a field goal.

Oklahoma State 45, Oklahoma 41: I have three cousins that went to Oklahoma State. Go Pokes.

Clemson 28, North Carolina State 10: I'd have a beer with Dabo Swinney in a heartbeat.

Last week: 3-2

Overall: 26-14

 

Dylan Burn

Ohio State 27 Iowa 17: The Hawkeyes come close, but the Buckeyes are just too much to handle in the end.

West Virginia 33 Iowa State 24: The Cyclones are on one heck of a roll, but I think the Mountaineers break them after a tough loss to Oklahoma State last week. In Morgantown, give me West Virginia.

Penn State 23, Michigan State 17: Saquon Barkley is tough to shut down, but Ohio State did it last week. My guess is he's mad and takes it out on the Spartans. 

Oklahoma State 40 Oklahoma 30: When Oklahoma State's offense is rolling,it's one of the best in the country. The game is in Stillwater and I think Oklahoma State has the weapons to pull this one out.

Clemson 24 North Carolina State 14: Clemson knows it can't lose again if it wants in the playoff and they come out firing. Give me the Tigers.

Last week: 2-3

Overall: 20-10