Ohio State’s offense is doing what you’d expect; they’re putting it all on Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin. It’s worked for the 35 games Jeremiah Smith has played at Ohio State. The Buckeyes were about at their season average statistically. That’s impressive just because Iowa is one of the most sound defensive teams in the nation, and Ohio State did well against them. Credit Sayin, Smith, and Coach Ryan Day for playing their game.
There was a bit of a downside, and we’ll get it out of the way first. The offensive line struggled. Iowa sacked Julian Sayin four times, totaled seven tackles for a loss as a team, and that made the Bucks average 3.4 yards per carry.
The running game was better than that indicates, as the running backs rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown on 37 carries. OSU averages 157.4 yards rushing per game this season. Bo Jackson had 70 yards on 16 carries, and Ja’Kobi Jackson had 74 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.
The passing game was much better, despite the effective Iowa pass rush. Ohio State totaled 324 yards passing and three touchdowns, just a shade under their season average of 357.6 yards per game. 484 total yards of offense is good against a team like Iowa.
It puts the Buckeye total offense at 515 yards per game through five games. The 31 points put their scoring offense at 42.2 points per game. Ryan Day’s favorite stat in the Bucks' favor (other than the final score) might just be time of possession. Ohio State had the ball for 38:02 to Iowa’s 21:58. This included Ohio State running out the clock after Iowa cut the 31-6 lead to 31-14. Ohio State went on a 16-play, 55-yard, 9:30 drive to end the game.
Julian Sayin was 20 of 27 for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Sayin is 103 of 142 for 1,530 yards and 15 total touchdowns (13 passing, 2 rushing). He and Jeremiah Smith were again an electric connection. More on Jeremiah Smith in a moment.
Devin McCuin was solid in stepping into the WR2 spot, opposite of Smith. OSU will need McCuin to have games like this one, where he had four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. McCuin has 17 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns this year.
Offensive Play of the Game
It has to go to Jeremiah Smith, setting the career Ohio State receiving touchdown record, to put Ohio State up 24-6. On their previous possession, Ohio State had failed to convert a fourth down and might have had some wind taken out of their sails, but they went right back to their leader and star. Sayin hit Smith for a 57-yard touchdown, giving Smith the record-breaker for Ohio State.
Offensive Player of the Game
Jeremiah Smith had his second straight 200-yard game. Smith had 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Smith has 44 catches for 823 yards and nine touchdown catches this season. He is now the triple crown holder for Ohio State’s career receiving stats. He has 207 catches, 3,381 yards, and 36 touchdowns in the 35 games he has played at Ohio State.
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