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Last Call: Questions, Players to Watch and Predictions for Ohio State vs. Iowa

Published

1 year ago

October 5, 2024

Press Room

Last Call: Questions, Players to Watch and Predictions for Ohio State vs. Iowa

The second month of Ohio State’s 2024 football season begins today at Ohio Stadium.

3 – 1 (1-0)

Oct. 5, 2024 – 3:30 pm et

Ohio STADIUM

Columbus, OH

Ohio State hosts Iowa in what’s expected to be the toughest test of the season to date for the Buckeyes. While Ohio State largely cruised through September, winning all of their first three games by at least 31 points, the Hawkeyes bring one of the nation’s best rushing offenses and a strong defense – particularly against the run – to the Shoe for the Buckeyes’ fifth game of the year.

With an increased challenge on tap today, we delve into our biggest questions for Ohio State entering today’s game and pick our top players to watch before making some predictions for how the game will play out.

Questions

Can Ohio State win the ground game?

The answer to this question could make all the difference between a comfortable Buckeye win or a tight four-quarter battle.

Ohio State’s passing game is far more explosive than Iowa’s, giving the Buckeyes a clear advantage on paper. But few teams in college football are better at controlling the game on the ground than Iowa.

Iowa’s rushing offense and run defense are both by far the best Ohio State has faced so far this season, and the Hawkeyes could threaten an upset if they can put together long drives with their run game and bottle up the Buckeyes’ rushing attack. On the other hand, Ohio State could make the game a blowout if it can continue running the ball as well as it has so far this season and force Iowa to make plays through the air against an Ohio State secondary that’s much better than Iowa’s receiving corps.

– Dan Hope

Will Ohio State win the turnover battle and field position game?

On The Ryan Day Radio Show, Ohio State’s head coach called Iowa “the epitome of winning the turnover battle and field position game.” He then explained that the Hawkeyes excel at taking care of the football while also forcing their opponents to make mistakes. They are also satisfied with an offensive drive that stalls at the 50-yard line if it means they can pin a punt inside the 5-yard line. All of that said, the Buckeyes will need to be to protect the ball and have a Rolodex of plays ready if their backs are against the wall on Saturday.

– Chase Brown

Do the linebackers take a step forward?

With the threat Iowa poses on the ground, gap-sound and decisive linebacker play will be important for the Buckeyes to separate from the Hawkeyes on Saturday. The unit’s faced some criticism for their play against Marshall and Michigan State, particularly Sonny Styles, though he does lead the team with 23 tackles. Arvell Reese should also see plenty of time in 4-3 packages against some of the Hawkeyes’ heavier fronts.

– Andy Anders

Is there a little bit of a lull before Ohio State’s biggest game of the year?

Ryan Day has gone out of his way to avoid complacency and praise Iowa all week, but considering most of the players are between 18-22 years old, you have to wonder if there might be just a little bit of a lull in the start of Ohio State’s matchup against the Hawkeyes considering the Buckeyes face what could be their stiffest test of the year against Oregon next week. I’m not expecting that this team will let that happen, but it’s certainly happened before to other teams a week before big matchups.

– Garrick Hodge

Players to Watch

Tyleik Williams

Ohio State’s defensive line hasn’t looked as dominant in the last two games without Williams as it was in the first two games without Williams. Having Williams return at full strength today would go a long way toward slowing down that’s rushed for more than 200 yards in all four of its games so far this season.

– Dan Hope

Will Howard

I picked him last week; I’ll pick him again this week. Iowa’s defense is one of the best in college football. According to Bill Connelly of ESPN and his SP+ model, the Hawkeyes have the best defense in college football. With solid performances in Ohio State’s wins over Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall and Michigan State, I’m looking to see how Howard looks against Phil Parker’s well-renowned unit. How many times will he throw it? How many times will he run it? Can he take care of the football and make the routine plays routinely?

– Chase Brown

Jeremiah Smith

Pass defense is easily the weaker portion of Iowa’s defense as the Hawkeyes rank 69th nationally in pass yards allowed per game. Smith has been Ohio State’s brightest star at wide receiver through four games; expect the freshman sensation to post another big outing as his legend grows.

– Andy Anders

Cody Simon

Similar to Dan’s reasoning with picking Tyleik, Simon will be instrumental in helping to slow down Iowa’s vaunted rushing attack, primarily standout running back Kaleb Johnson. The linebackers will need to have a big day on Saturday, and that starts with Simon.

– Garrick Hodge

Predictions

Will Howard has his first 300-yard game as a Buckeye

Will Howard has one career 300-yard passing game and came up eight yards short of the mark in his second game with Ohio State against Western Michigan in Week 2. He’s yet to play four full quarters, which he could be in store for if Iowa manages to keep this one a little closer, and the secondary is once again the matchup for the Buckeyes’ offense to expose. Seems ripe for a big day throwing the ball.

– Andy Anders

Denzel Burke gets a pick-six

There might not be any player on Ohio State’s roster who’s hungrier for revenge against Michigan than Burke. The senior cornerback could get a small slice of revenge on Saturday by picking off Cade McNamara, who quarterbacked Michigan to a win over Ohio State during Burke’s freshman season in 2021. Burke leads the Buckeyes with two interceptions this season; I think he gets his third against the Hawkeyes, and I’ll take it a step further by saying he predicting he returns said interception for his second career pick-six.

– Dan Hope

Caleb Downs records an interception or a forced fumble

I won’t be as bold as Dan and predict a pick-six, but I think the standout safety will force his first turnover of the season against Iowa via either an interception or a forced fumble. In doing so, Downs will continue his “activation” at the backend of Ohio State’s defense, as Jim Knowles called it this week.

– Chase Brown

Cade McNamara is held to less than 100 passing yards again

Maybe this isn’t as bold as you may think considering McNamara has done this feat in two of his three games against FBS opponents this season, but it could be a testament to how stout OSU’s secondary may be considering I expect OSU to get ahead early and force Iowa to lean on the pass a little more than it would like. The Buckeyes’ cornerbacks see better skill position players in practice daily than any of Iowa’s receivers, and that should be reflected in OSU’s pass defense statistics this week.

– Garrick Hodge

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No. 9 Penn State men’s lacrosse stays perfect in Big Ten play, beats No. 6 Ohio State on the road

Published

3 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

No. 9 Penn State men’s lacrosse stays perfect in Big Ten play, beats No. 6 Ohio State on the road

No. 9 Penn State traveled to Columbus, Ohio, at 4 p.m. on Saturday to face No. 6 Ohio State in Week 2 of Big Ten action.The Nittany Lions’ strong first half propelled them to a 13-6 victory over the Buckeyes. Penn State’s record improved to 6-3 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten, currently 4-1 against ranked opponents this season.First halfThe Nittany Lions opened the game with early momentum, forcing a turnover on the first possession before Michael Faraone put Penn State on the scoreboard with his team’s first shot of the game. After goalie Preston Hawkins made a save, Liam Matthews scored a behind-the-back goal while falling in front of Caleb Fyock’s crease to take a 2-0 lead.Hawkins made 10 saves on 16 shots for a .625 save percentage in the victory, carrying momentum from his breakout performance against Maryland.Penn State continued its dominance on both sides of the ball, causing turnovers leading to a 4-0 lead before Ohio State took its first timeout. First, John Jude Considine fired a shot from close range with 7:39 remaining in the quarter before Jack Iannantuono struck the back of the net on a diving shot.The Buckeyes cut Penn State’s lead to three, capitalizing as the Nittany Lions attempted a 10-man ride. With Hawkins out of the crease, defenseman Kyle Foster launched a shot from Ohio State’s end into the open goal.Matthews answered immediately, assisted by Luke Walstrum. Walstrum’s pass found the Orangeville, Ontario, native at the top of the box and his side-arm shot didn’t miss.At the two-minute mark, the Buckeyes scored their first offensive goal of the game. Alex Marinier caught Liam White on the left side, who beat Hawkins’ stick to set the score, 5-2, heading into the second quarter.Marinier started the second quarter on the right foot, scoring less than a minute into play. His shot from mid-range trickled past Hawkins, who got a piece of the ball but wasn’t able to make the save.However, Chase Robertson responded with a solo effort from the top of the box to reclaim the three-goal lead. He dodged past a pair of Buckeye defenders and beat Fyock just under the crossbar.Lucca DiBartolomeo played a key role in Iannantuono’s second goal of the game, forcing a turnover with a heavy stick check in Ohio State territory after a failed transition attempt. On the following possession, Iannantuono ripped a shot from the left side past Fyock to take a 7-3 lead with 9:50 left in the half.Ohio State’s defense settled in with Fyock making big saves, allowing for transition opportunities on Penn State’s end. However, the Buckeyes repeatedly made errors in clearing or going offside. Dominic Shaw took a cross-checking penalty, giving Kyle Lehman the space to score on the man-up for an 8-3 lead at halftime.Second halfGarrett Haas scored the first goal of the second half, rounding the crease before bouncing the ball past Hawkins less than two minutes into the third quarter. Hawkins, however, responded with consecutive saves on dangerous chances on the doorstep as Penn State struggled to clear.Then, the fireworks began. First, Mark Watters shot through heavy coverage to take a 9-4 lead at the eight-minute mark before Jake Cohen answered 21 seconds later.On the following faceoff, Jon King cut to the net through traffic and was stripped of the ball. But Fyock was unable to scoop the rolling ball that dribbled past the goal line.With 5:01 left in the third quarter, Faraone scored his second of the game on the right wing with a heavy side-arm shot that nearly clipped Fyock’s stick.Robertson carried the momentum in the dying moments of the quarter, giving the Nittany Lions a 12-5 lead going into the final frame. Hawkins maintained that score, making a series of desperation saves with time winding down to stop the Buckeyes’ advance.To start the fourth quarter, Ohio State elected to replace Fyock with junior Jack Allen after the starter’s seven saves on 19 shots. Allen made three saves on four shots in one quarter of action.Walstrum struck first, scoring a wraparound with a defender’s stick lodged under his chinstrap. Immediately afterwards, Jack Oldman ran down the center of the box, beating Hawkins high to respond.Scoring noticeably dropped off for the remainder of the game as both teams placed lock-down defense, forcing shot-clock violations despite multiple penalties. One last save from Hawkins iced the game, and Penn State moved to 2-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2019.Injury ReportAttackman Hunter Aquino and midfielder Patrick Carragher weren’t dressed in the line-up.Up NextPenn State will travel to Baltimore, Maryland, to face Johns Hopkins at noon on Saturday.MORE LACROSSE COVERAGE

Penn State notebook | Men’s lacrosse coach Jeff Tambroni talks UNC loss, upcoming Ohio State matchup

Penn State is trying to build momentum as it has entered Big Ten play. The squad has won thr…

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Math plan would help a generation of Ohio students | Opinion

Published

15 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Math plan would help a generation of Ohio students | Opinion

Aaron Churchill
| Guest Columnist

Aaron Churchill is the Ohio research director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education policy think tank based in Columbus.

In November, the Ohio Senate unanimously passed math reforms that would help a generation of struggling students. House lawmakers should send that excellent package known as Senate Bill 19 to the governor’s desk post haste.

Math difficulties start early for many Ohio students. Last year, 45,000 third graders, or 36% statewide, fell short of proficiency on the state math exam. These youngsters had difficulty solving basic arithmetic and measurement problems. Without such skills, big trouble lies ahead for them.

Meanwhile, even larger percentages of high schoolers fare poorly in this subject. On last year’s algebra I state exam, 53,000 students – 41% of test takers – did not achieve proficiency, while a staggering 72,000 students (57%) fell short in geometry.

These failure rates are unacceptable. Students should not be left to struggle with the routine math needed to manage their personal finances, bake a cake or do a home repair. Nor should they lack the critical thinking, data interpretation and problem solving skills that are demanded by today’s employers and essential to career success.

Ohio must help more students gain fluency in math. Senate Bill 19 does this in the following ways.

First, it supports students with math deficiencies. The bill would require schools to provide math interventions to students scoring at the lowest achievement level (known as “limited”) on state tests. Importantly, schools must engage a child’s parents to create an individual improvement plan that outlines the interventions and how progress will be monitored.

Second, the bill promotes strong math curricula. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce would be tasked with reviewing math materials and establishing a high-quality list. With dozens of programs and textbooks on the market – some far better than others – this vetting process would aid school districts in finding the best curriculum for their students.

Third, it asks colleges of education to better prepare elementary teachers. Research from the National Council on Teacher Quality shows that teacher training programs often lack serious math content, especially in the elementary grades, leaving teachers ill-prepared for effective instruction. To help address the problem, the bill mandates that prospective educators pass the math section of the state licensure test to teach the subject, something that is not presently required.

Fourth, it gives high-achieving math students a boost. Traditional course placement practices rely on teacher and parent referrals, which tend to overlook economically disadvantaged students who excel in math. Yet, as a recent Fordham Institute study found, access to advanced coursework is critical to high-achieving, low-income students’ college prospects. Through automatic enrollment provisions, Senate Bill 19 would ensure that all high achievers are placed in challenging math courses, including algebra I in eighth grade.

Some may view Senate Bill 19 as burdensome on schools. But the need for significant improvement in math is urgent and the reforms are commonsense. Students struggling in math ought to get help. Schools should use the best-available textbooks and materials. Teachers should know math before they teach it. Schools must push high achievers to reach their full potential.

Math and reading are the academic pillars that support students’ long-term success as well as the state’s economic growth. Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s Science of Reading initiative is off to a strong start and promises stronger literacy statewide. It’s now time for policymakers to roll up their sleeves and help students get better at math. Their futures – and the state’s – are at stake.

Aaron Churchill is the Ohio research director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education policy think tank based in Columbus.

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Remains of Ohio airmen killed in Iraq will be brought back March 29

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Remains of Ohio airmen killed in Iraq will be brought back March 29

The remains of three Ohio airmen who were killed in the crash of their KC-135 refueling plane in Iraq earlier this month will be returned this weekend, according to a family member of one of the deceased.

The airmen, identified as Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, and Capt. Seth Koval, 38, of Stoutsville, will be brought back March 29 to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Columbus, said Charles Simmons, Tyler’s father.

“Tyler will have a hero’s welcome, because he is a hero,” said Charles.

The Columbus Division of Police will be involved in the funeral procession when the airmen’s remains are transferred from the airport to funeral homes, said Columbus police Sgt. James Fuqua. That will take place between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 29, said Fuqua.

The airmen’s remains first arrived back in the U.S. on March 18 with a dignified transfer taking place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Curtis, Angst, and Simmons were members of the 166th Air Refueling Squadron connected to the 121st Air Refueling Wing based at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.

The airmen, as well as three other servicemembers, died on March 12 when their KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq during a mission in support of Operation Epic Fury in Iran. The cause of the crash, which occurred in friendly airspace, has not been publicly identified. U.S. Central Command has said the incident did not involve hostile or friendly fire, and military experts have theorized the crash may have been the result of a collision with a second KC-135 that sustained heavy damage to its tail fin but landed safely at an airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.

Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.

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