Iowa

Iowa vs. Ohio State Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Monday, Jan. 27

Published

1 year ago

January 27, 2025

Iowa vs. Ohio State Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Monday, Jan. 27

Two Big Ten teams seeking some consistency will look to get some at the expense of the other on Monday night.

Iowa travels to Columbus to face Ohio State on Monday night in league play as the Buckeyes enter as substantial favorites. However, Iowa’s offense has proven formidable even against sturdy competition for much of Big Ten play thus far. Will it hold up on the road?

Let’s find out with our betting preview!

Spread

Moneyline

Total: 156.5 (Over -105/Under -115)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Iowa

Owen Freeman: The big man has stepped up in a big way for the Hawkeyes, fresh off a 16-point, nine rebound effort in a one point win against Penn State. The Hawkeyes offense is reliant on high octane shooting from all over the floor, but its Freeman’s elite play around the rim that has played a big role in Iowa ranking third in effective field goal percentage.

Ohio State

Bruce Thornton: Thornton continues to stuff the stat sheet for the Buckeyes, scoring 11 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out five assists in the stunning second half rally against Purdue. Can Thornton continue to dictate the pace on offense and guide Ohio State to another win?

While Ohio State deserves credit for beating Purdue in a monster second half rally, I’m not going to look past what this team has put on paper of late, including losing four of five prior to that win with its lone win involving a double overtime win at basement dweller Minnesota.

The Buckeyes offense has struggled in Big Ten play, ranking 13th in effective field goal percentage while turning it over at a bottom two rate (20%). While Iowa’s defense has been incredibly poor, the team does generate turnovers at an above average rate that could steal possessions in what should be a high scoring affair.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes defense has been fairly fortunate all season, allowing .08 points per possession fewer than expected, per ShotQuality. With Iowa’s explosive offense that is third in effective field goal percentage, that’s a recipe for disaster.

Further, can we trust Ohio State to win with margin? The team beat Rutgers by 14 back in December, but it’s two other Big Ten wins have come by one at Minnesota and three at Purdue.

Now, Iowa had a nightmare road trip out west, losing to USC by 19 and UCLA by 24, but the team also nearly stunned Michigan on the road in Big Ten play, losing by two on the road.

I don’t trust Ohio State to win big like this against an elite offense, I’ll take the points.

PICK: Iowa +7.5

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Iowa

Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A

Published

8 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A

The fourth and final bunch of Iowa high school boys basketball substate championship games are now set after the second round of Class 4A games were completed on Friday, February 27.

Substate championships in Iowa’s largest classification will take place on Tuesday, March 3, with the higher seed serving as host in all eight games. Winners advance to Des Moines, Iowa and the Casey’s Center to compete in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Tournament beginning March 9.

Three-time defending 4A state champion Valley was eliminated by Ankeny, 72-36. The Tigers, who lost all five starters from a year ago, won just one game prior to earning a victory in the opening round of postseason play.

Cedar Falls, who has held the No. 1 spot in 4A throughout the season, scored a dominating 78-45 decision vs. Iowa City High to move on.

Colin Rice, a Nebraska commit for Fred Hoiberg, scored a single-game school-record 50 points as Waukee Northwest topped Iowa City Liberty, 101-58.

Council Bluffs Lincoln, Ames, North Scott, Dowling Catholic, Dubuque Senior, Johnston, Linn-Mar, Muscatine, Norwalk, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Des Moines Roosevelt, Urbandale and Waukee all joined them in the next round after winning games at home.

The 1A and 2A substate finals will take place on Saturday, February 28 while the 3A games go down on Monday, March 2.

Here are the Iowa boys high school basketball Class 4A substate finals for Wednesday, March 3.

Wednesday, March 3

Class 4A

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Iowa

The One Game That Will Define Iowa’s 2026 Season

Published

20 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The One Game That Will Define Iowa’s 2026 Season

When it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes 2026 football season, it doesn’t get much bigger than Ohio State coming to Kinnick Stadium.

No one knows at this stage where the Buckeyes will be come Oct. 3, but Iowa has a chance to make an early impression against a team that is no stranger to winning the big one.

Iowa’s B1G schedule couldn’t get off to a worse start as they head to Michigan and then welcome the Buckeyes to Kinnick.

Hopefully for Iowa’s sake, their first three games against Northern Illinois, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa are enough to get them prepared. If not, things could get ugly.

ESPN Believes Ohio State is Iowa’s Biggest Opponent in 2026

The helmet of Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith sits on the sideline prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Michigan game will certainly be a test, but hosting the Buckeyes is a different animal. That gives the Hawkeyes an advantage like no other, and if there was ever a time to give OSU a run for their money, it’s in Iowa City on Oct. 3.

“The Hawkeyes haven’t faced Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium since 2017, when Nate Stanley threw five touchdowns as they stunned the Buckeyes 55-24. An early October win over Ohio State could propel Iowa into the Big Ten title and playoff conversations,” Jake Trotter wrote.

To put things into perspective, Indiana and Oregon were the other two teams that had the Buckeyes listed as their defining game in the 2026 season. Shockingly, Iowa was actually selected against a team, that being Minnesota. Seeing as that’s for the Floyd of Rosedale, it makes complete sense.

Iowa Can’t Let Regular Season Opportunities Go To Waste

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (10) throws a pass during warmups before a college football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions Oct. 18, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last year was seemingly the Hawkeyes’ first time to actually make the College Football Playoffs. They came up short as their losses to No. 16 Iowa State, No. 11 Indiana, No. 9 Oregon and No. 17 USC all added up. Sure, those were by a combined 15 points, but that doesn’t matter, as it’s bad enough that a three-loss team made the playoffs.

Iowa ended with a bang as they took down No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl, 34-27. Now, all eyes are on either Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown. One of those men will have a chance to make their first B1G start at the Big House in Michigan.

It doesn’t get any tougher than that, as Iowa is immediately putting their new QB into deep water. They’ll have three games prior to that to get up to speed, but other than that, it’s go time as OSU awaits after their trip to Michigan.

Don’t forget to bookmark Iowa Hawkeyes on SI for the latest news. exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and more!

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Kee High School remembers legendary coach Gene Schultz

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Kee High School remembers legendary coach Gene Schultz

MANCHESTER, Iowa — The state of Iowa lost a titan of the prep coaching world this week. Former Kee High School baseball coach Gene Schultz died on Monday at the age of 80.

Schultz spent 45 seasons as the baseball coach at Kee, helping turn the program into an Iowa dynasty. He won 9 State championships (not counting 2 fall titles, which the IHSAA doesn’t recognize in the record books), and took the Hawks to 19 State tournaments, which is also the most in Iowa history.

His 1,754 wins are not only the most in Iowa history, but the most of any high school baseball coach in the country.

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