Iowa unravels in Columbus, continuing disturbing pattern against elite opponents
By Pat Harty
Based on what happened Saturday in the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio, the gap that separates the Iowa football team from being elite continues to be substantial.
Iowa hung with third-ranked Ohio State for one half, but then unraveled in the third quarter as the Buckeyes scored touchdowns on three straight possessions in the quarter and would go on to win 35-7 at Ohio Stadium.
Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara had a disastrous second half in which he committed three turnovers, including two in the third quarter.
McNamara had shown some flashes in the first half as a passer, but it all fell apart for him, and for his team, in the third quarter.
He was replaced by Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan with 10 minutes, 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Sullivan then led Iowa on its only scoring drive of the game, which was capped by a 28-yard touchdown run by Ohio native Kaleb Johnson with 8:07 remaining.
But it was too little and too late as Iowa fell to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, while the Buckeyes improved to 5-0 and 2-0.
Johnson entered Saturday’s game averaging 171.3 rushing yards per game, but the Buckeye defense held him to just 86 yards on 15 carries.
“Defense got some turnovers and got some short fields and then we kind of went from there,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said on the CBS post-game interview. “When you play Iowa, it’s inside drill for sixty minutes and we knew that.
“So, the challenge was we were going to get some feedback on how physically tough we are. And so, we’ll go back and watch the film. But it was a real good effort today and we’ll have to build on it.”
Up next for the Hawkeyes is Washington next Saturday in Iowa City in what is a must-win if Iowa hopes to make the playoff.
Iowa’s final seven games are must-wins from a playoff standpoint because three losses certainly wouldn’t make the cut.
But it’s hard to consider Iowa as a playoff caliber team right now due to its inability to even be competitive against elite opponents.
Iowa faced what were considered three elite opponents last season in Penn State, Michigan and Tennessee, but lost all three games by a combined score of 92-0.
Iowa also lost to Ohio Stat 54-10 in 2022 in Columbus, committing six turnovers in the game.
All that’s really left for Kirk Ferentz in his 26th season the Iowa head coach is to win another Big Ten title and make the 12-team college playoff.
Because the 69-year-old Ferentz, with 199 careers Big Ten wins, has accomplished just about everything else there is to accomplish.
But it’s been 20 years since Iowa last won a Big Ten title, and it’s been nearly a decade since Iowa flirted with being elite as the 2015 team won 12 games.
As for McNamara, he simply has to play better, and he has to do a better job of protecting the football.
It’s hard enough to defeat Ohio State under any circumstance, but it’s nearly impossible if your team loses the turnover battle.
Ohio State was clinging to a 7-0 lead when it took the field on offense to begin the third quarter.
The Buckeyes then marched 86 yards for a touchdown, which came on a one-handed catch in the end zone by heralded freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, who also had a 53-yard catch on the drive.
McNamara then fumbled on Iowa’s first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, and the Buckeyes recovered on the Iowa 19.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard then scored on a four-yard run with 7:59 left in the third quarter, and the Hawkeyes were suddenly in big trouble, trailing 21-0 in a hostile environment.
McNamara then threw an interception on Iowa’s next offensive possession, and now the game was getting out of hand in a stadium where Iowa hadn’t won since 1991.
Iowa converted one first down on its opening possession of the game, but then McNamara missed a wide-open Kaden Wetjen on third down.
McNamara avoided a heavy rush and escaped from the pocket, but he just couldn’t get enough on the throw to Wetjen.
Ohio State took over on offense and then marched 88 yards for a touchdown on 14 plays. The touchdown came on a 14-yard pass from Will Howard to Emeka Egbuka.
That was the first of three touchdown catches for Egbuka.
It also marked the first time that Phil Parker’s defense had given up a touchdown on an opening drive since the Michigan game in 2002.
Iowa trailed 7-0 heading into the second quarter but was also driving in Buckeye territory when the quarter started.
However, the drive ended when Drew Stevens barely missed a 51-yard field goal wide left.
Iowa, on its next possession, had the ball near mid-field on fourth down and ran a fake punt in which the first down appeared to have been gained on a run up the middle.
But just prior to be the ball being snapped, Kirk Ferentz asked for a time out.
He then chose to punt, but Rhys Dakin’s punt rolled out of bounds at the Ohio State 28, gaining just 22 yards.
The Buckeyes were marching again when Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins knocked the ball loose from Jeremiah Smith on a screen pass that had gained over 20 yards.
There was a scramble for the ball near the Ohio State sideline and Higgins ultimately recovered the fumble at the Iowa 28.
But the Iowa offense couldn’t sustain a drive and punted after gaining one first down.
Ohio State then had a drive that stalled near mid field.
Iowa took over on offense at its own seven-yard line, and with less than two minutes to play in the second quarter.
This possession resulted in a three-and-out as Iowa gained just two yards on three plays.
The Iowa defense then forced another Buckeyes turnover as safety Sebastian Castro intercepted a Will Howard pass at the Iowa 38.
Kaleb Johnson was held to just 19 rushing yards on eight carries in the first half, and Iowa only had 90 yards overall.
But the deficit was just seven points with two quarters left to play.
McNamara also was sharp at times in the first half, completing 11 of 16 passes for 72 yards.
Iowa had given itself a chance heading to the third quarter, while the Buckeyes had self-destructed in the first half, committing two turnovers and failing to convert a critical fourth down.
Ohio State regrouped at halftime and then came out and delivered a knockout blow in the second half.
Iowa 0 0 0 7 – 7
Ohio State 7 0 21 7 – 35
O – Emeka Egbuka 14 pass from Will Howard (Jayden Fielding kick)
O – Jeremiah Smith 4 pass from Will Howard (Fielding kick)
O – Howard 4 run (Fielding kick)
O – Egbuka 15 pass from Howard (Fielding kick)
O – Egbuka 3 pass from Howard (Fielding kick)
I – Kaleb Johnson 28 run (Drew Stevens kick)