Ohio State Hands Iowa First Loss Behind Jeremiah Smith's Record Day

Iowa dropped to 4-1 as Ohio State won at Kinnick Stadium behind Jeremiah Smith's record-setting receiving day, and the Hawkeyes visit Washington on Friday.

Iowa's unbeaten start to the 2026 season came to an end Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, where Ohio State dealt the Hawkeyes their first defeat of the year. Iowa slipped to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play, while the Buckeyes improved to 4-1 and 2-0 in the conference. A short week follows, with a Friday road date at Washington up next.

Turnovers hurt Iowa from the opening minutes. The Hawkeyes lost possession twice and recorded no takeaways, and quarterback Hank Brown was sacked and fumbled on the offense's second play from scrimmage. Ohio State converted the recovery into a touchdown two plays later.

Penalties deepened the trouble. Iowa drew six flags for 45 yards, and although Ohio State was penalized more often — nine times for 49 yards — several of the Hawkeyes' infractions came at pivotal moments. A false start on Jack Dotzler moved a second-and-3 back to second-and-8, creating an obvious passing situation that ended with Brown being sacked and losing the ball.

The costliest stretch came just before halftime. Trailing 10-6 and driving, Iowa saw Brown's third-and-7 completion to DJ Vonnahme erased by an illegal formation call, and his third-and-12 attempt fell incomplete. Ohio State then covered 84 yards in nine plays, finishing with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Julian Sayin to Jeremiah Smith for a 17-6 halftime lead.

The running game never found traction. The Hawkeyes finished with 39 rushing yards on 21 attempts, an average of 1.9 yards per carry, continuing a trend against Power Four opponents after managing 93 yards against Iowa State (3.2 per carry) and 58 at Michigan (2.4 per carry) earlier this season.

Smith was the game's standout performer. He caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and in the process became Ohio State's career leader in both receptions and receiving touchdowns, adding to the career yardage record he already held. Coach Kirk Ferentz had likened Smith's playmaking before the game to that of Saquon Barkley and Randy Moss.

Iowa's pass defense as a whole struggled, surrendering 324 yards through the air. Sayin completed 20 of 27 throws for three touchdowns, a week after the Hawkeyes faced Michigan receivers JJ Buchanan and Andrew Marsh.

There is also a quarterback situation to monitor. Brown, who finished 12 of 27 passing for 132 yards, exited in the second half after a hard hit on a third-quarter throw that was intercepted, and Ferentz described the injury afterward as a mild sprain. Reserve quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski then completed all five of his passes for 67 yards and guided Iowa's only touchdown drive of the afternoon.

The schedule offers little time to resolve those questions. Iowa travels to Washington for a Friday kickoff against a Huskies team that is 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play.