Eric Boggs
The Ohio State Buckeyes secured a commanding 35-7 victory over Iowa this past weekend, and the team’s performance was thoroughly assessed by The OHIO Podcast in their latest grade card. Here’s a look at how both the defense and offense were graded based on the Buckeyes’ impressive showing.
Defensive Dominance: Grade – A
Ohio State’s defense was the highlight of the game, earning an overwhelming consensus of “A” grades from the hosts. The Buckeyes’ defense stifled Iowa’s offense, allowing only 226 total yards. Of those, just 116 came on the ground, while 110 were through the air. A particularly notable stat was their ability to stop Iowa’s third-down attempts, holding the Hawkeyes to a 5-of-12 conversion rate while never allowing a fourth-down try.
One key to the defense’s success was their aggressive pass rush. Ohio State recorded four sacks and managed to disrupt Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara throughout the game. In fact, McNamara was ultimately benched, a decision attributed not to injury but to the Buckeyes being “in his head.” This relentless pressure, along with an interception and three total turnovers forced by the defense, showcased the unit’s ability to control the game from start to finish.
Sonny Styles shined, delivering a standout performance with two tackles for loss and a number of key plays in the backfield. Jack Sawyer also contributed, looking “like a beast” according to one host. The group was especially effective in containing Iowa running back Caleb Johnson, with many suggesting Ohio State’s hybrid 4-3 scheme was tailor-made for stopping Iowa’s run-heavy attack.
Though a touchdown late in the game from Iowa’s second-team offense prevented a shutout, the hosts were impressed with the overall performance and gave Ohio State’s defense a solid A. The lone frustration was the late-game score that marred an otherwise perfect outing, but even that couldn’t overshadow the Buckeyes’ domination.
Offensive Performance: Grade – A/B+
Ohio State’s offense was also strong, but opinions were a bit more varied, resulting in grades ranging from an “A” to a “B+.” The Buckeyes tallied 412 total yards, splitting their attack between 209 passing yards and 203 on the ground. They averaged 5.1 yards per rush and 8.4 yards per pass, which speaks to their balanced offensive approach.
Quarterback Will Howard threw for 21-of-25 with an interception, but still managed an efficient game. The interception was noted as a frustrating moment, but his overall control of the offense impressed the hosts. Howard’s ability to execute both the short and long game was highlighted, as he kept the chains moving with accurate throws while allowing big-play threats like Jeremiah Smith to sneak behind safeties for deep shots.
On the ground, Quinshon Judkins led the rushing attack. While there weren’t many explosive runs, the Buckeyes maintained a steady pace, grinding down Iowa’s defense with first downs. One key point of praise was the performance of the offensive line. Josh Fryer, often criticized in the past, had one of his best games as a Buckeye, delivering several key blocks to keep the running game alive. The offensive line, according to the hosts, has not been this effective since 2019.
However, the hosts had some reservations about the play calling, especially in the second quarter, when Ohio State got too pass-heavy. Despite running the ball effectively in the first quarter, the Buckeyes ran the ball only three times in the second. Still, adjustments were made in the second half, and Ohio State dominated time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 35 minutes compared to Iowa’s 25.
Conclusion
While the late Iowa score and a few questionable play-calling decisions knocked the offense’s grade down slightly, Ohio State’s overall performance was dominant on both sides of the ball. The defense continues to impress with aggressive play and adaptability, and the offense, led by Will Howard and Quinshon Judkins, showed its versatility by both grinding out long drives and hitting big plays when needed.
With this victory, Ohio State continues to build momentum heading into the tougher part of their schedule, and The OHIO Podcast was clear in its assessment—this team is starting to click at just the right time.
