So…..umm yeah, I honestly had no idea I would be in this position as an Ohio State fan when I sat down to write this. To be honest, I am completely shocked, devastated, pissed, and much more. I was extremely confident coming into this game when it got switched from a night game to a 3:30 (2:30 Iowa time) start. Because everyone knows it is impossible to win a night game at Kinnick. I have no idea where to start on this recap of the game, so here goes nothing from the beginning….
It’s with a heavy heart that all Buckeye fans have to say goodbye to Ohio State.
The Buckeyes won’t be attending the College Football Playoff this season. Not after a stunning 55-24 upset loss on Saturday in Iowa City. This loss included the most points allowed by an Urban Meyer-coached Ohio State team. Not even the CFP committee, which in its three-year history has vaulted the Buckeyes over another Power 5 champion on the final week in 2014, can save Meyer and the Buckeyes this time.
Iowa blitzed the sixth-ranked Buckeyes, starting with an Amani Hooker pick-six of J.T. Barrett on the first play from scrimmage. They ran away from Ohio State in the second half behind a storm of offense from quarterback Nathan Stanley and his tight ends, who caught four touchdowns. Stanley threw for 226 of Iowa’s 244 passing yards.
The visit to Iowa began on an odd note for Ohio State and Barrett. The senior QB, who completed 16 straight throws and a school-record 33 passes last week, threw into tight coverage to open the game. Hooker picked it and sprinted 30 yards to give the Hawkeyes a lead after just EIGHT seconds. That meant so long to Barrett’s streak of 190 throws without an interception. So long to his stretch of 22 touchdown passes without a pick. Which was the second longest in the FBS during a single season in the past DECADE! Take a look at the INT.
New week, who dis?
One week after carving up Penn State, J.T. Barrett throws his first pick since Sept. 9. @HawkeyeFootball leads 7-0: pic.twitter.com/zN9fHIywPz
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 4, 2017
Still, the Buckeyes answered with a six-play, 80-yard march to tie it right back up. As the pace remained quick throughout the first half, indicators appeared to favor Ohio State, which averaged 46.3 points a game, second nationally, coming into the game. That far exceeds Iowa’s 25 points per game.
Iowa broke a 17-17 tie with an 89-yard drive late in the first half, capped by Stanley’s 25-yard strike to tight end Noah Fant. Then, a disjointed possession for the Buckeyes was thwarted, as cornerback Josh
Jackson intercepted Barrett. Iowa cashed the turnover into another Stanley-to-Fant touchdown. Suddenly it was 31-17, the most points allowed by Ohio State in a first half since Florida scored 34 in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. Meyer coached that Gators team.
Barrett was intercepted FOUR times for the first time in his career, topping the three thrown against Virginia Tech in 2014, which was his second college start. This was only Ohio State’s second loss in 21 November games and 28 road games under Meyer. As the rowdy night fell at Kinnick Stadium, the blackout crowd turned into a frenzy. Iowa dominated the second half, holding the Buckeyes scoreless until the game had already been decided and holding them to just 123 yards in the second half.
The signature moment came late in the third quarter, as Iowa, up by two touchdowns, lined up for a field goal on fourth-and-3 from the Ohio State 20. The Hawkeyes shifted into a bizarre formation that featured six men lined up wide to the left. Colten Rastetter, the Iowa holder and punter, took the snap from Tyler Kluver, the long-snapper. Kluver then ran free and caught a pass from Rastetter, tripping after an 18-yard gain all the way down to the OSU 3. Stanley hit T.J. Hockenson in the end zone on the next play. Just like that, the rout was in full force. Ohio State, a week after coming back from 18 points to beat Penn State, had no miracle left this week. Check out the play below.
If you've been asleep the last two hours, heads up: @HawkeyeFootball is up to somethin'. 👀
They've got No. 6 OSU down THREE SCORES: pic.twitter.com/LUpcuEAISY
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 4, 2017
A clear path remains for Ohio State to win the Big Ten title. As for the playoff, it will require major chaos, the like of which haven’t been seen in the first three years of this system. And even that likely wouldn’t do it. This is a game OSU better forget quickly if they want to move on. They can’t dwindle on this blowout loss.