RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesCOLUMBUS, OHIO - OCTOBER 05: Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
From now until preseason camp starts later this week, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the things we need to get off our chests before the season starts; the things we need to get on the record. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”On the Record” articles here .
Sometimes it’s not the biggest road game on a season schedule that can end up being the toughest.
For the 2026 Buckeyes, the game at Iowa is the one that scares me the most. Even though there are road games at Texas and Indiana, those games are so big that they don’t actually scare me.
As a fan, you want to see your team leave it all out on the field and play to win in the biggest games. If they do that but wind up on the short end, tip your cap and move on. With the expanded College Football Playoff, dropping a game at Texas or Indiana isn’t going to end the season.
But again, the games against the Longhorns and the Hoosiers are coin flips. Ohio State fans want the Buckeyes to win those games, but aren’t fully sure if they will. That’s why there really isn’t a need, as a fan, to be nervous for those contests.
Sure, there will be an exciting feeling and some nervous energy ahead of kickoff. Those are games, though, where you’re not going in expecting the Buckeyes to win comfortably.
Now, a game at Iowa, you do expect Ohio State to win.
Even though Iowa is a really solid program, they’ve always been viewed, at best, as a tier below Ohio State. But Iowa is always a tricky opponent. The Hawkeyes have a deeply rooted identity of toughness and physicality. They’re going to make you work for every yard, every point, and you’re going to have to knock them out to beat them.
Road games at Iowa are as tough as they come in the Big Ten. It’s in the heart of the Midwest, with as passionate a fanbase and as loud a stadium as anywhere in the country.
In the last 47 years of Iowa Football — 27 years with Kirk Ferentz and 20 with Hayden Fry — the Hawkeyes have been to a bowl game 37 times. With Ferentz, they’ve been to 22 bowl games in 27 years. They’ve won double-digit games eight times and the Big Ten twice. Iowa has also played in three Big Ten Championship Games in the last 15 years.
Since 2001, Iowa is 134-46 at Kinnick Stadium. The last time the Buckeyes played there was in 2017. It did not go well. At all.
That explains why I’m most nervous for this game out of all the road games. Iowa has only lost more than two home games in a season less than 10 times in 27 years with Ferentz as their head coach. They’re tough at Kinnick.
When the Buckeyes go to Iowa on Oct. 3, it will be their first of three road games in a four-game stretch. Just playing at Iowa in early October is going to be a challenge, and Hawkeye fans are going to be out in full throat for that game.
In the Preseason Big Ten Media Poll, the Hawkeyes were projected to finish eighth. Right in the middle, but Ferentz always has his Iowa teams ready to outperform expectations.
Ohio State should beat Iowa, but keep in mind they have some unproven parts of their roster. Even though the game in Iowa City should be a win, it’s not going to be a cakewalk. Fans are going to be biting their nails for the entire 60 minutes during that game.
Every time any team wins a game at Iowa, it’s a hard-fought win. The Hawkeyes make you earn it. That will be the case for the Buckeyes. Considering what happened last time in Iowa, that’s another reason this game makes me the most nervous.
Texas and Indiana are big games, but those are coin flips. Win, great. Lose, tip your cap and move on. Iowa, though? Losing that game would be a major cause for concern.
Win, and all Buckeye fans may be doing after that game is exhaling.
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