Ohio State Buckeyes at Iowa Hawkeyes

Injuries noted

Ohio State Buckeyes: Anthony Rogers (out) — Running back, listed as Anthony “Turbo” Rogers, ruled out on Friday's Iowa availability report; condition unspecified.; Amari Valerio-Hudson (out) — Reserve wide receiver listed out against Iowa; condition unspecified.; Braxton Rembert (out) — Linebacker downgraded to out against Iowa; condition unspecified.; Jaxon Powell (out) — Reserve offensive lineman listed out against Iowa; condition unspecified.; Phillip Daniels (out) — Starting right tackle ruled out Friday; sidelined since an injury against Texas.; Vasean Washington (out) — Reserve offensive lineman listed out against Iowa; condition unspecified.; Jay Timmons (questionable) — Starting nickelback remained questionable Friday after leaving the Illinois game with an apparent hamstring injury.

Iowa Hawkeyes: Tyler Brown (out) — Starting strong safety ruled out against Ohio State; reporting describes a lingering soft-tissue injury.; Kyler Gerardy (out) — Defensive back listed out against Ohio State; condition unspecified.; Darion Jones (questionable) — Freshman defensive back listed questionable against Ohio State; condition unspecified.; Derek Weisskopf (questionable) — Linebacker listed questionable on the initial game-specific report, as reported October 2; a later status was not verified.

QUARTERBACK

• Julian Sayin is OSU's projected starter

  10.49 Y/A

  Julian Sayin is OSU's projected starting quarterback. The October 2 game preview discusses Sayin and explicitly lists him among projected starters against Iowa. 2026 line: 1206 passing yards, 72.2% completions, 10.49 yards per attempt, 10-1 TD-INT over 4 games.

• Hank Brown is IOWA's confirmed starter

  7.13 Y/A

  Hank Brown is IOWA's confirmed starting quarterback. Iowa's September 28 Ohio State game notes explicitly identify Brown as the officially named starting quarterback. 2026 line: 684 passing yards, 67.7% completions, 7.13 yards per attempt, 4-0 TD-INT over 4 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• OSU: 45 points per game to IOWA's 32.8

  12.3 PPG

  Ohio State is scoring 45 points a game through four games, up from 33.4 last season, while Iowa is at 32.8 after 29.3 last season. Both offenses are running hot, and Ohio State's jump is the larger one, which makes it the bigger candidate to cool off. Iowa wants a slow, run-heavy game, and that clashes with an Ohio State offense putting up points this fast. Whoever controls the pace in Iowa City decides whether this is a shootout or a grind.

• OSU @ IOWA carries a 45.5 market total

  45.5

  Ohio State at Iowa sits at 45.5, 6.5 below the 52 median, which points to a low-possession game where every drive counts. No team stats are on the sheet, so the market is the only voice here. What cracks a total like this is one side scoring fast: a couple of quick touchdowns forces the other to open up, and a game priced for patience turns into a chase.

TURNOVERS

• IOWA: 0.25 turnovers committed per game to OSU's 1

  0.75 TO

  OSU is at 1 turnovers committed per game over 4 games; IOWA is at 0.25 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 2. Last season OSU was at 0.79 over 14 games and IOWA at 1 over 13 games.

MISMATCH

• OSU: 365.3 pass yards a game to IOWA's 209.5

  365.3 VS 209.5

  Ohio State is throwing for 365.3 a game over 4 games, up from 268.2 last season, and Iowa is at 209.5, which is a real gain over last season's 143.2. Iowa's improved passing still trails badly, so they will try to win with the run and short possessions at home. Ohio State's pace may cool, but the gap through the air is wide enough to shape how Iowa has to play.

REPLACEMENT

• Jaxon Powell (OL) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Reserve offensive lineman listed out against Iowa; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Phillip Daniels Out, Jay Timmons Questionable vs. Iowa; Zion Grady and Bennett Christian Cleared to Play (2026-10-02)

• Anthony Rogers (RB) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Running back, listed as Anthony “Turbo” Rogers, ruled out on Friday's Iowa availability report; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Phillip Daniels Out, Jay Timmons Questionable vs. Iowa; Zion Grady and Bennett Christian Cleared to Play (2026-10-02)

• Amari Valerio-Hudson (WR) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Reserve wide receiver listed out against Iowa; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Phillip Daniels Out, Jay Timmons Questionable vs. Iowa; Zion Grady and Bennett Christian Cleared to Play (2026-10-02)

• Braxton Rembert (LB) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Linebacker downgraded to out against Iowa; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Phillip Daniels Out, Jay Timmons Questionable vs. Iowa; Zion Grady and Bennett Christian Cleared to Play (2026-10-02)

• Phillip Daniels (OL) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Starting right tackle ruled out Friday; sidelined since an injury against Texas. Ohio State Injury Report: Phillip Daniels Out, Jay Timmons Questionable vs. Iowa; Zion Grady and Bennett Christian Cleared to Play (2026-10-02)

• Vasean Washington (OL) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Reserve offensive lineman listed out against Iowa; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Phillip Daniels Out, Jay Timmons Questionable vs. Iowa; Zion Grady and Bennett Christian Cleared to Play (2026-10-02)

• Tyler Brown (DB) is out for IOWA

  OUT

  Starting strong safety ruled out against Ohio State; reporting describes a lingering soft-tissue injury. Iowa strong safety Tyler Brown goes from “iffy” to out for Ohio State game (2026-10-02)

• Kyler Gerardy (DB) is out for IOWA

  OUT

  Defensive back listed out against Ohio State; condition unspecified. Iowa strong safety Tyler Brown goes from “iffy” to out for Ohio State game (2026-10-02)

SITUATIONAL

• OSU: 365.3 team passing yards per game to IOWA's 209.5

  155.8 YPG

  Ohio State is throwing for 365.3 a game through 4 games, up from 268.2 last season, and Iowa is at 209.5, well above its 143.2. Both numbers have climbed, but Iowa's identity last season was a low-volume passing team, so its jump is the one to doubt. Expect Ohio State to dictate the game through the air on the road.

• No. 5 Ohio State at No. 14 Iowa

  #5 VS #14

  Ohio State sits at 3-1 with 1465 points and climbed two spots, so voters still see a playoff-level team despite the loss. Iowa is 4-0 and rose three spots, yet 856 points says voters respect the record more than the roster. That split usually means the poll is pricing Ohio State's name as much as its four games. A road favorite with a loss already on the books has more to lose here, and an unbeaten home side the voters keep underrating is the kind of spot where the number can sit too high.

• OSU: 66.7% fourth-down conversion rate to IOWA's 20%

  46.7 PP

  OSU is at 66.7% fourth-down conversion rate over 4 games; IOWA is at 20% over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 2. Last season OSU was at 70.6% over 14 games and IOWA at 66.7% over 13 games.

TEAM RECORD

• Big Ten game: OSU 1-0, IOWA 1-0 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big Ten. OSU is 1-0 against it, IOWA is 1-0. 2026 standings through 2026-10-03.