By Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – What is certain about the Iowa football team after five games is that it won’t finish undefeated this season – Ohio State made sure of that by defeating the Hawkeyes 31-14 on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium – and that its running game has to improve significantly, and in a hurry.

The loss to Ohio State lowered Iowa’s record to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, and it also marked the third game this season in which Iowa was held to fewer than 100 rushing yards.

Iowa State and Michigan also held Iowa to less than 100 rushing yards, but Iowa still escaped with wins in both games by scores of 16-13 and 20-19, respectively.

But there was no escaping against the Buckeyes and star receiver Jeremiah Smith, who shredded Iowa for 11 catches, 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin showed why he’s one of the most accurate passers in the country as he completed 20-of-27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns.

The Ohio State running game also played a significant role in Saturday’s win, outgaining Iowa 160 to 39 on the ground. Iowa only averaged 1.9 yards on 21 rushing attempts.

Iowa ran wild in lopsided wins over Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa by scores of 40-0 and 55-0, respectively, combining for 711 rushing yards in the two games.

However, against the three power-conference opponents Iowa has faced so far, the running game has sputtered, leaving Iowa vulnerable on offense.

Iowa had to replace three All-Big Ten offensive linemen from last season’s unit that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top collegiate offensive line.

And right now, it’s been a rocky transition as Iowa’s longest run in Saturday’s loss was just 11 yards by backup running back LJ Phillips.

The Hawkeyes will now hit the road again for a game against Washington next Friday in Seattle.

Saturday’s loss marked the first time since the 2016 season against Northwestern that Iowa has allowed more than 30 points in a game at home.

Iowa quarterback Hank Brown left the game early in the fourth quarter after taking a hard hit and did not return. He completed 12-of-27 passes for 132 yards and one interception, his first of the season.

Brown was replaced by Jeremy Hecklinski, who provided a spark by passing for 65 yards, and by leading Iowa to only its touchdown scoring drive of the game. Hecklinski completed all five of his passes on the scoring drive.

Brown and Hecklinski entered the season as co-starters and then rotated in the first half of the season opener against Northern Illinois.

But then Brown played the entire game against Iowa State and has been the starter ever since.

The injury bug also bit on Saturday, as in addition to Brown being knocked out of the game, defensive backs Zach Lutmer and Deshaun Lee also both left the game in the second half with what at the time were thought to injuries, though Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said afterwards it was mostly due to cramping.

“I don’t think it’s anything too major,” Ferentz said of Brown’s injury. “We’ll know more probably about Hank. It’s a mild sprain. So, we’ll know more probably tomorrow and then as the week goes on.

The other guys, it’s more cramping, at least that was my understanding, for one player involved IV. So that should be able to bounce back from that. I don’t think that’s going to keep anybody out, but we’ll know more here in a couple days.”

Iowa also played without starting strong safety Tyler Brown, who missed his third game this season due to an injury.

Saturday’s game also marked the first time that Ohio State has played at Kinnick Stadium since losing 55-24 in 2017.

In that game, Iowa dominated from start to finish, whereas in Saturday’s game Iowa self-destructed on its first offensive series of the game.

Brown completed a seven-yard pass to Tony Diaz on the first play from scrimmage, putting Iowa ahead of the chains right away.

But then the possession quickly unraveled as right tackle Jack Dotzler was called for a false start on the next play, costing Iowa five yards.

Brown was then sacked by defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, and Brown also fumbled on the play.

The Buckeyes recovered on the Iowa 14 and then would score the game’s first touchdown two plays later on a 15-yard pass from quarterback Julian Sayin to receiver Devin McCuin with 13:18 left in the first quarter.

Iowa answered with a 43-yard field goal by Caden Buhr with 10:01 left in the opening quarter. The Hawkeyes drove 50 yards in 11 plays on the driving, taking 3:17 off the clock.

The Buckeyes answered back with a field goal, pushing the lead to 10-3, but then Buhr connected again for Iowa, this time from 48 yards on the final play of the first quarter, cutting the deficit to 10-6.

Iowa ran 21 plays in the first quarter, while Ohio State ran just 11.

The Buckeyes also committed five penalties in the first quarter.

The goal for Iowa, besides, winning of course, was to keep the score close and within striking distance, and after one quarter Iowa had achieved that goal.

The score stayed at 10-6 until late in the second quarter when the Buckeyes marched 84 yards for a touchdown on nine plays. The touchdown came on a 12-yard pass from Sayin to Smith, who reached the ball over the goal line just prior to his knee hitting the ground with 12 seconds remaining.

Ohio State led 17-6 at halftime and would receive the kick to start the third quarter.

The Buckeyes outgained Iowa 82-29 on the ground in the first half, with a chunk of those yards coming on the final scoring drive right before halftime.

Smith had six catches for 111 yards in the first half.

Ohio State 10 7 7 7 – 31

Iowa 6 0 0 8 – 14

O – Devin McCuin 15 pass from Julian Sayin (Connor Hawkins kick)

I – Caden Buhr 43 FG

O – Hawkins 28 FG

I – Buhr 48 FG

O – Jeremiah Smith 12 pass from Saying (Hawkins kick)

O – Smith 57 pass from Saying (Hawkins kick)

O – J. Jackson 7 run (Hawkins kick)

I – Braeden Jackson 2 run (Reece Vander Zee pass from Jeremy Hecklinski)