Ohio State Week 5 Preview: Sayin, Smith, And Who Else?
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Ohio State is set to travel to Kinnick Stadium for the first time since 2017 (drink), and will do so wearing their all-while iteration of the standard road uniforms. The Buckeye offense looked good last week against Illinois thanks to force-feeding the best player in college football. However, Iowa’s defense is set to be a bit more difficult to move the ball on compared to Illinois’s.
The second matchup in the Big Ten on the Buckeyes’ schedule is a good one, especially since Iowa went into Michigan and beat the Wolverines. Now, the Hawkeyes are ranked the highest they’ve been since the 2021 season (remember when Iowa was ranked number two??). Let’s take a look at what the Buckeye offense can do to get to 2-0 in the Big Ten.
Ohio State Week 5 Preview: Sayin, Smith, And Who Else?
Jeremiah Smith Record Watch
For as storied a career Jeremiah Smith has put together to this point, last weekend was a high point. He essentially beat the Fighting Illini single-handedly, scoring four touchdowns as Illinois only managed 19 points itself. He already owns the Ohio State career record for yards and is the only Buckeye receiver to ever eclipse 3,000 yards.
After that monster performance, he’s just 10 receptions and two touchdowns away from owning the Ohio State triple crown of records. Iowa should present a stiffer challenge, but there is certainly a timeline in which Smith owns all three records by the time 00:00 is left on the clock. The offense goes through him, as it should. The rushing attack hasn’t been there (more on that later), but Smith is good enough to carry the offense if need be. Expect another concerted effort to get him the ball.
If you’re looking toward the Big Ten records, they’re still quite lofty. Tayler Stubblefield (Purdue) racked up 325 receptions between 2001 and 2004. Smith is 130 away from owning the record. John Standeford (Purdue) amassed 3,788 yards from 2000 through 2003. Smith is now 614 yards away. Finally, Braylon Edwards (Michigan) owns the Big Ten record for receiving touchdowns with 39, and Smith is just six scores away.
Receptions may be difficult, but the other two marks should be squarely within reach, especially if the Buckeyes reach the Big Ten Championship and play in a couple College Football Playoff games. Side note: Imagine if Smith played as many games as Stubblefield, Standeford, and Edwards; those records would be untouchable. Alas, the NFL beckons after this year.
Either way, Iowa is up next, and Smith put up 89 yards and a ridiculous one-handed touchdown on four receptions in his only matchup with the Hawkeyes back in 2024.
Keep Protecting Sayin
Last week, the Buckeyes didn’t allow a single sack. Finally, a bold prediction that ends up correct! Of course, keeping Julian Sayin upright against Iowa will be a bit harder.
Ohio State got a Super Saiyan performance out of its quarterback, but it was overshadowed by its top receiver going Ultra Instinct. Again, Sayin leads the Big Ten in completion percentage despite a disappointing showing against Texas. He’s still rolling with a completion percentage over 75% in his career, so that career record is still in reach. More impressively, he’s averaging over 300 yards per game, leading the Big Ten. If he keeps this up, he’s going to blow last year’s numbers out of the water. We may have some Heisman voters splitting their ballots.
Again, the question will have to be: who is going to step up beside Smith? Sayin has 83 completions, 1,206 yards, and 10 touchdowns thus far this year; Smith has 33 receptions, 607 yards, and seven touchdowns. The next closest is Devin McCuin with 13 receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown. Chris Henry Jr. has three receptions this year…for two touchdowns.
It looked like Nate Roberts is a bit more incorporated into the offense, so that’ll be something to watch. Also, Brandon Inniss – what happened last week? The senior finished without a catch for the first time since Week 3 of last year.
Smith and Sayin can carry the offense, but it would unlock an entirely different level of efficiency and explosiveness if defenses had to plan for another threat. Maybe when Kyle Parker gets healthy, he can be that guy?
Run Game Questions
Part of the issue causing the offense to be “Jeremiah Smith down there somewhere” is the fact that the rushing attack can’t get going. Is it the running backs? Is it the offensive line? It’s likely a mixture of both.
Sure, the offensive line has had a few injuries, causing a jumbling of the lineup. But the run game isn’t there. The explosiveness isn’t there, and when the Buckeyes need a few yards, it’s difficult unless Sayin decides to take it himself.
Much has been made about the lack of Legend Bey in the offense. It’s a fair criticism, especially when Bo Jackson, Ja’Kobi Jackson, and Isaiah West are struggling. Bo Jackson is still the lead man with just under six yards per carry, but the chunk plays haven’t been there. That’s where Bey allegedly fits in.
Coaches rave about his athleticism. Scouts who watched him in high school repeatedly mention how explosive he is. From the outside looking in, it looks like he’s a bit in the doghouse, whether still due to those poorly executed kickoff returns against Ball State or something else. In total, he played one snap against Texas (a blown-up toss run) and three against Kent State. He left that Kent State with a lower-body injury, but didn’t appear on the availability report last week, so his not playing had to have been a coaching decision.
It feels like a broken record from The Fringe at this point, but if you want to see what you’ve got, you have to play him.
The Task At Hand
Iowa is coming off an emotional, last-second win over Michigan. Who knows how they respond. If we know anything about Kirk Ferentz, it’s that he will have his team ready to go.
Iowa has the best scoring defense in the nation, allowing just eight points per game through four weeks. That is thanks to two shutouts of Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa, of course. Against Iowa State and Michigan, the Hawkeyes allowed 13 and 19 points, respectively. Of course, that’s still pretty good.
If there is an area to attack, it’s the secondary. Michigan and their anemic passing attack managed 276 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Sure, the Hawkeyes don’t have to respect Sayin’s legs to the level they had to do with Bryce Underwood, but Sayin’s arm should more than make up for that. Also, if you’re hoping the run game gets figured out this week, you may be disappointing. Iowa is allowing 2.7 yards per carry this year (3.9 yards per carry against those two Power 4 programs).
As usual, Iowa has solid linebackers in Jayden Montgomery and Cam Buffington, so keep them in mind.
Bottom Line on Ohio State at Iowa
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
History: Ohio State 48-15-3 Iowa (2010 win vacated)
Last Matchup: Ohio State won, 35-7, in 2024
Last Illinois Win: 55-24 in 2017
Date and Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch: CBS
Spread: Ohio State -14.5; O/U 45.5 (via FanDuel)
Prediction: Ohio State fell short of covering the spread for the first time last week. That shouldn’t be the case this week. Ohio State should be at least two scores better than Iowa, Kinnick voodoo or not. The defense will have moments of struggle, but the offense should force the Iowa game plan into throwing the ball early. Buckeyes win, 35-17.
More Ohio State News
- College Football Sunday Summary Plays the Expectations Game
- 2026 Bowl Projections After Week 4
- The 2026 Big Ten College Football Playoff Picture: Week 5
- Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman Case Strengthens In Ohio State’s Win Over Illinois
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos