Following a tight first half, in which the home team led 7-0 at the break, Ohio State separated itself from Iowa in the final two quarters. As the Buckeyes pulled away, Ryan Day was able to get his freshmen some valuable playing time in the 35-7 victory over the Hawkeyes.
On the opening drive of the second half, following five consecutive runs and two pass plays, the home team faced 3rd-and-6 on its own 43-yard line. Chip Kelly called on Jeremiah Smith and the freshman came up big with a 53-yard catch.
AN ELITE PLAY BY THE BUCKEYES! @Jermiah_Smith1 down the field for the huge gain! @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/8bQQNKtbOa
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 5, 2024
Had the ball not been underthrown, he likely would have scored. However, it set up another one-handed spectacular Smith score.
Another week, another one-handed touchdown catch for Jeremiah Smith. pic.twitter.com/TaeVZo18nX
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 5, 2024
He is now the first true freshman in program history to have a receiving touchdown in each of the first five games to start a season. His 23 receptions, 453 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns are the most ever for an Ohio State freshman at this point of the season.
| PLAYER | REC | YARDS | TD | LONG | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Smith | 23 | 453 | 6 | 70 | 19.7 |
| Devin Smith | 8 | 183 | 3 | 36 | 22.9 |
| Cris Carter | 16 | 181 | 3 | 27 | 11.3 |
| Michael Wiley | 4 | 161 | 2 | 60 | 40.3 |
| Terry Glenn | 5 | 114 | 0 | 45 | 22.8 |
TreVeyon Henderson holds the Ohio State freshman record with eight consecutive games with a touchdown to start the season. At this point, it would be no surprise if Smith matches or surpasses that streak.
Although he had only four catches against Iowa, Smith finished the day with a game-high 89 receiving yards.
Stat Book Stuffers
For the fifth straight game, running back James Peoples saw action as Ohio State’s No. 3 option at running back. This week, he wasn't called upon until the last series of the contest. Peoples carried the ball three times for 12 yards.
Jaylen McClain recorded two tackles against the Hawkeyes. His first stop was on the kickoff return following Smith's 4-yard touchdown catch. McClain dropped Kaden Wetjen at Iowa's 19-yard line.
In the fourth quarter, Payton Pierce recorded his first collegiate tackle. On 1st-and-15 from Ohio State's 35, Kaleb Johnson rushed up the middle for 7 yards where Pierce and Malik Hartford combined to bring him down. On the next play, Johnson sprinted 28 yards for Iowa's first and only score of the game.
Aaron Scott Jr. played eight snaps at cornerback and Eddrick Houston had three plays at defensive end.
Under the NCAA's redshirt rules, a player can appear in up to four games during the regular season – plus play in any postseason games – and still count it as his redshirt year.
Five games into the season, 17 Ohio State freshmen have played in at least one game, with five freshmen – McClain, Peoples, Pierce, Scott and Smith – now ineligible for a redshirt as they have played in five games.
| NAME | POS | DEBUT | IOWA STATS | GP | SEASON STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAYLEN McCLAIN | S | Akron | 2 tackles | 5 | 8 tackles, 1 TFL |
| JAMES PEOPLES | RB | Akron | 3 carries, 12 yards | 5 | 35 carries, 153 yards, 2 TD; 1 catch, -2 yards |
| PAYTON PIERCE | LB | Akron | 1 tackle | 5 | 1 tackle |
| AARON SCOTT JR. | CB | Akron | 8 defensive snaps | 5 | 1 PBU |
| JEREMIAH SMITH | WR | Akron | 4 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry 14 yards | 5 | 23 catches, 453 yards, 6 TD; 2 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD |
| EDDRICK HOUSTON | DE | Akron | 3 defensive snaps | 4 | 1 tackle, 2 PBU |
| ERIC MENSAH | DT | Akron | 3 | 4 defensive snaps | |
| DOMINIC KIRKS | DE | Akron | 2 | 5 defensive snaps | |
| NICK McLARTY | P | WMU | 2 | 2 punts, 32.5 average | |
| JULIAN SAYIN | QB | WMU | 2 | 5-7, 84 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry, 5 yards | |
| GARRETT STOVER | LB | Akron | 2 | Special teams | |
| SAM WILLIAMS-DIXON | RB | Akron | 2 | 4 carries, 44 yards | |
| MYLAN GRAHAM | WR | WMU | 1 | 4 offensive snaps | |
| MAX LeBLANC | TE | WMU | 1 | 5 offensive snaps | |
| IAN MOORE | OT | WMU | 1 | 5 offensive snaps | |
| BRYCE WEST | CB | WMU | 1 | Special teams | |
| DORIAN WILLIAMS | WR | WMU | 1 | Special teams | |
| DEONTAE ARMSTRONG | OL | ||||
| DEVONTAE ARMSTRONG | OL | ||||
| MILES LOCKHART | CB | ||||
| AIR NOLAND | QB | ||||
| LEROY ROKER | S | ||||
| GABE VANSICKLE | OL | ||||
| DAMARION WITTEN | WR |
(Note: The table does not include freshman walk-ons who have not yet played.)
- #3 Ohio State 35, Iowa 7
- • Buckeyes Pull Away in 2nd Half, 35-7
- • Buckeyes Continue Third-Quarter Dominance
- • Hawkeyes Run-Game Roadkill
- • GameDay Headed to Ohio State-Oregon
- • Ohio State Postgame • Iowa Postgame • Photos • After Carmen
- • Five Things • Notebook
- • Social Reax • Three Key Stats
