The #2 Buckeyes are back to work today in the Horseshoe after a bye week last week to rest up and regroup. Today they face the 3-3 Iowa Hawkeyes led by veteran coach Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes come in with a stout, solid defense. But the offense is anemic. In three of the six games they have played this season, Iowa has scored less than ten points. There's just no other way to put it other than the offense is struggling mightily to capitalize on opportunities and be a true threat.
Although I can guarantee Ohio State coach Ryan Day isn't looking at the Hawkeyes that way. He was the team's offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer the last time the two teams met in November 2017 in Iowa City. And what happened there can only be described as every Buckeye fan's worst nightmare. The Hawkeyes absolutely annihilated Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium 55-24, and effectively ended the team's playoff chances that very day.
Although these are two very different teams. And for Ohio State, it all starts with the nation's top-ranked scoring offense. The Buckeyes are scoring 48.8 points per game. CJ Stroud is clearly the Heisman favorite right now, and the team is firing on all cylinders, even with several key players out. Even worse for Iowa is that the team may get Jaxon Smith-Njigba and TreVeyon Henderson back for this game. As of this article, they're still both gametime decisions. But if they both play? Iowa will definitely be forced to play a game of pick your poison. Either the Hawkeyes focus on trying to stop the run game and expose the back end of their defense to arguably the most dangerous group of wide receivers in the country. Or they try to cover them and risk giving the Buckeyes everything they want in the running game. The Hawkeyes are stuck between a rock (or rather boulder) and a VERY hard place going into this one!
And we haven't even talked about the stout Ohio State defense yet. Jim Knowles has been an absolute wizard in his first season in Columbus. He just seems to have these guys in the right position at the right time to make the play, and when they have an opportunity to do so, they're finishing plays too. They're rarely letting opposing offenses escape and extend plays. In terms of yards allowed through the first six games, Ohio State is reportedly ranked in the Top 5, and giving up just over 253 yards per game. That's what you love to see from the men in the Scarlet and Gray as they try to continue their march to the school's first National Championship since 2014!
But Iowa still stands in the way, and the Buckeyes can ill afford to take them lightly. So how do you get to 7-0? Let's take a look at today's Keys to Victory!
Take what the Hawkeyes give you
Like I said earlier in this article, it'll be a game of pick your poison for the Iowa defense when trying to figure out how to slow down this Scarlet and Gray offensive machine. And I think we'll find out very early on what Kirk Ferentz decides to do. Whatever angle the Hawkeyes try to attack Ohio State from, the Buckeyes should gladly take it, and counter from wherever Iowa leaves them an opportunity. It also wouldn't hurt if they occasionally were forced to use some unexpected weapons to get the job done. I've really liked how Ohio State has used local Lexington grad Cade Stover in the game plan. The Buckeyes have what I call an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball. Talented running backs. The best wide receiver group in college football, and a Heisman favorite running the show. So having a big target at tight end like Cade Stover could be a heavily utilized weapon today. Especially if the Hawkeye defense succeeds at slowing down this high-octane passing game.
Home Cookin!'
The Buckeyes have been absolute masters at defending the Horseshoe. They haven't lost a home game (in or out of the conference) since losing to Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners in the infamous "flag plant game" in September 2017. They've reeled off 27 straight wins at home in Columbus. The 105,000+ who will show up today will not let Ohio State play flat. And this team is already dangerously good. With a massive crowd behind them, and seemingly endless energy to feed off of? Good luck trying to beat Ohio State in that environment!
Break out the Buffet Busters!
I always love the creative names I hear for offensive linemen. Hog mollies. Big uglies. Buffet Busters. The Slobs. But all jokes aside, I view them as the most important players in a football game. Sure, you can have all the skill players in the world, and the most talented quarterback in the country under center. But if the offensive line isn't any good, you're not going anywhere, and your quarterback is in for a long and painful day.
The Buckeye offensive line is absolutely brilliant. They routinely are able to open up holes for Henderson, Williams, Hayden and others to run through. But when needed, they also do an amazing job keeping CJ Stroud upright with their pass protection schemes. Iowa certainly is going to want to make Stroud uncomfortable. But if the Buckeyes play like I know they can, it might be a very frustrating day for the Hawkeye defensive front. If the big guys up front are on their A-Game, this offense will have a field day.
The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes meet for the 65th time, with Ohio State holding an all-time advantage of 46-15-3. Will Iowa repeat their 2017 performance, knock off the Buckeyes and shock the college football world? Or will CJ Stroud and this high-powered team roll to yet another dominant win this season? Find out at noon on FOX! GO BUCKS!
Sources: Buckeyes Wire at USA Today, msn.com, winsipedia.com
Picture Credit: clutchpoints.com
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