6 winners and 3 losers from Ohio State’s strong showing against Iowa on the road
Taking a look at the stock up/stock down report from Ohio State’s Week 5 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The Ohio State Buckeyes moved to 4-1 on the season with a 31-14 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road. The win also counts as Ohio State’s first road win of the season and its first win over a ranked opponent after taking down No. 14 Iowa.
It wasn’t a fast start for the Buckeyes. Ohio State led just 10-6 after the first quarter before settling into a groove. From there, the Buckeyes controlled the game on both sides of the football for most of the afternoon.
Coming out of a game where Ohio State got things clicking, it’s time to look at the winners and losers in this week’s stock up, stock down report.
Ohio State’s winners from the Iowa win
WR Jeremiah Smith
You have to start with Jeremiah Smith, who now holds Ohio State’s wide receiver records for catches, touchdowns, and yards. Smith went off for 11 catches, 206 yards, and two touchdowns against an Iowa team that’s typically good at limiting top weapons. The Hawkeyes had no answer for him, and he made them pay all day long. Smith has to be the Heisman front-runner at this point.
QB Julian Sayin
Julian Sayin had a strong day as Ohio State’s starter. He completed 20-of-27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdown passes. Sayin also took off running a couple of times when the Buckeyes needed it. It was an efficient performance and another strong game to add to his resume.
RB Ja’Kobi Jackson
Jakobi Jackson was Ohio State’s best running back on the day with 72 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. The Florida transfer looks to be right there as the top back for the Buckeyes. It’s a two-headed room between him and Bo Jackson.
WR Devin McCuin
Devin McCuin got going with four catches for 80 yards as Ohio State’s second receiver. He’s up to 245 receiving yards through five games. The UTSA transfer continues to work his way into being one of the top pass catchers on the roster behind Smith.
DE Kenyatta Jackson
Kenyatta Jackson has to show up here. He got pressure a few times, including a strip sack on Iowa’s first possession that set up a touchdown for Ohio State right out of the gates. It was a good day for Jackson, who didn’t appear to be 100 percent after getting a bit banged up in the game.
S Jaylen McClain
Jaylen McClain picked off his second pass of the season. He was all over the field in a strong showing last week, and forcing a turnover this week was another win for him. McClain is playing good ball for the Buckeyes right now.
Ohio State’s losers from the Iowa win
RG Gabe VanSickle
Right guard Gabe VanSickle had two penalties in the first half. Ohio State ran the ball well, but VanSickle gave up some pressure at times. He settled in a bit after the early penalties. Still, it wasn’t as positive a day as you’d hope for.
I have a hard time seeing VanSickle at right guard with Austin Siereveld at right tackle as a better combination than Siereveld at right guard and Phillip Daniels at right tackle, despite what folks think.
K Connor Hawkins
Kicker Connor Hawkins missed his second kick of the season after a costly miss against Texas. Hawkins went 1-of-2 on field goals, and missing a kick under 50 yards isn’t something you want to see in these games. It won’t build belief among Ohio State fans, who have wanted a reliable kicker for a while now. Hawkins hasn’t shown he can be the guy in high-leverage situations at this point.
CB Devin Sanchez
Devin Sanchez had a couple of penalties and gave up a couple of catches. He hasn’t made the jump to the lockdown, clear-cut No. 1 cornerback Ohio State hoped he’d become this season. Sanchez is probably still a season away from being that guy. He has to cut back on the penalties if he wants any chance of getting there. Right now, Sanchez isn’t the top-caliber cornerback the Buckeyes need to lead this defense.

