Three keys for an Ohio State football victory over Iowa
By Ryan Stano
2. The Ohio State football team must control the tempo on offense
One of the biggest things that Iowa will try to do is keep the ball away from Ohio State's offense. One of their keys to victory is to control the tempo with their running game. It's really their only chance to win. Ohio State has one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
The Buckeyes will need to control the tempo themselves. They can't let Iowa dictate the pace of this game. Ohio State needs to do keep doing what they've been doing on offense. Their own running game has shown the propensity to have explosive runs and score points.
Ohio State's offense has been predicated on these chunk plays through both the air and on the ground. A slower game would favor Iowa. A track meet is what Ohio State is after in this matchup. Expect the Buckeyes to toss it around early and get Will Howard in a rhythm.
Controlling the tempo on offense will be key for the Buckeyes. If they can come out and start fast with points on the first few drives, they might be able to bury Iowa before they can really even begin. That would force the Hawkeyes to abandon the ground game.
The final key to an Ohio State win has to do with Will Howard himself.