Kinnick Revenge: Ohio State Dumps No. 14 Iowa, 31-14

First trip to Iowa City since the 55-24 nightmare in 2017. This time the Buckeyes flipped the script — 31-14, their first road win and first ranked win of the season.

HOW IT WENT DOWN

Q1: Statement made in two plays. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. strip-sacked Hank Brown on Iowa's second snap, Christian Alliegro fell on it at the 14, and Julian Sayin hit Devin McCuin for 15 yards and a score 48 seconds later. Iowa answered with two field goals to hang around (Caden Buhr from 43 and 48), but Connor Hawkins answered from 28. 10-6 after one.

Q2: A grind until the final minute, then Jeremiah Smith did what Jeremiah Smith does — a 12-yard score with 12 seconds left, his 8th TD of the season and 35th of his career, tying Chris Olave's school record. 17-6 at the half.

Q3: The record book got rewritten. Sayin hit Smith deep for 57 yards — touchdown No. 36, breaking Olave's record, and Smith passed Emeka Egbuka for the all-time receptions mark on the next drive. First Buckeye ever with back-to-back 200-yard games. 24-6.

Q4: Ja'Kobi Jackson punched in a 7-yarder to make it 31-6, and garbage time let Iowa add a late TD and two-pointer. 31-14 final.

GAME AWARDS

Player of the Game: Jeremiah Smith — 11 catches, 206 yards, 2 TD. Broke the school's career receptions AND receiving-TD records in the same game. Not a debate.

Defensive Player of the Game: Kenyatta Jackson Jr. — strip-sack on the second play from scrimmage set the tone and set up the opening touchdown. Iowa held to 238 total yards and 39 on the ground.

Freshman of the Game: No award. Keeping it honest — Chris Henry Jr. didn't record a catch or a target, and no freshman did anything box-score worthy. Quiet day for the rooks.

PICK GRADE

Toss Boss said Ohio State 31, Iowa 20. Nailed the Buckeye number exactly — 31 on the nose. Iowa only managed 14, so the Hawks underperformed my line. Verdict: HIT.

WHAT'S NEXT

Home to Maryland next Saturday (Oct 10), 4:15 PM ET on Big Ten Network — the last breather before the October gauntlet resumes at Indiana and USC. 4-1, 2-0 in the Big Ten. The statement got made.