ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday for the Ohio State Buckeyes’ top-15 Big Ten matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

Ohio State took care of business against Illinois to open Big Ten play, while Iowa is riding high off of a win over Michigan. 

Ahead of Saturday’s game between these two teams, the A to Z Sports college football team has predictions on how this game between the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes will play out. 

Ohio State will cover on the road and Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman campaign continues 

The Buckeyes lost to Iowa on the road in 2027 and this game will be their first game back at Kinnick Stadium since then. Good news for Ohio State is that Ryan Day-coached teams haven’t really had letdown games outside of against Michigan, as the Urban Meyer teams did. Ohio State has to be better defensively in Week 5, and they can’t allow Iowa to control the game on the ground, like they let Illinois at times despite winning by 23 points. I think Iowa is going to manage some points in this one, but the Buckeyes have too much offensively. 

Ohio State is going to feed Jeremiah Smith as much as they can in his final year in Columbus. Coming off of a game with over 200 receiving yards and four touchdowns, Smith is going to go off for another 150 yards in this one at least. Iowa is going to have it interesting at times, but the Buckeyes come out on top. — Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Ohio State

Prediction: Ohio State 30, Iowa 16

Ohio State overcomes slow start to control game against the Hawkeyes 

This game certainly has plenty of hype, thanks to Iowa’s last-second touchdown to defeat Michigan on Saturday. A top-15 matchup, with College Gameday, the energy in Iowa City is going to be at an all-time high. 

And then the game will happen. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin are the storylines for the Buckeyes about every week, but it will be the Buckeyes’ defense that carries the day against the Hawkeyes. Hank Brown and the Iowa offense woke up in the fourth quarter after three quarters of almost nothing against Michigan. That can’t happen against Ohio State to have any shot at a win. 

The Buckeyes don’t find much success early against Iowa’s physical defense, but a couple of short fields help the Buckeyes get an early advantage, and they squeeze out the Hawkeyes over four quarters for a comfortable win that’s never truly in doubt. — Craig Smith, A to Z Sports Miami 

Prediction: Ohio State 27-12

Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin are just something Iowa can’t replicate on Saturday 

Ohio State may get off to a slower start offensively, with Iowa doing enough early to keep the Buckeyes from finding a rhythm. But that won’t last forever. Quarterback Julian Sayin eventually settles in and starts connecting with Jeremiah Smith on several explosive plays, giving Ohio State the spark it needs to take control of the game. Once the Buckeyes find their rhythm, Iowa will have a difficult time keeping pace.

Iowa will try to lean on its rushing attack and control the game on the ground, but a lack of balance becomes the Hawkeyes’ Achilles’ heel. Ohio State’s defense will force Iowa into too many long-yardage situations, making it difficult to sustain drives and consistently put points on the board. The Buckeyes pull away in the second half, with Sayin and Smith providing the difference in a 31-10 Ohio State victory. — Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports Notre Dame

Prediction: Ohio State 31, Iowa 10

Iowa might be the one team who can slow Jeremiah Smith, but will they?

I am happy for the Iowa faithful to have College GameDay in Iowa City for the first time in two decades, but I’m afraid the Hawkeyes are in for a long Saturday afternoon. I will say, if any team has the brain power and resources to slow down Jeremiah Smith, it would be Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa defense, but No. 4 in scarlet and gray is inevitable.

The only way I see Iowa winning this one is if Julian Sayin feels the pressure inside of Kinnick and the Hawkeyes keep this one sloppy and low-scoring. Teams have been able to beat Ohio State with Sayin when he’s rushed and pushed off his spot. That’s the recipe for Iowa on Saturday; I just don’t know if they have all the ingredients. Give me OSU on the road. — Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama

Prediction: Ohio State 30, Iowa 14

Ohio State just has what Iowa does not

The last time Ohio State traveled to Kinnick Stadium, it was a disaster of a game for the Buckeyes. That trip has haunted them for some time, and this will ease the burden of that game.

The Hawkeyes have been a nice surprise across the entirety of the season, including a buzzer beating win over the Michigan Wolverines last week. What they don’t have is a way to stop Jeremiah Smith, who is torching every defender that stands opposite of him. Simply put, that continues. — Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Florida

Prediction: Ohio State 31, Iowa 20