Buckeyes overcome slow start to beat Iowa, 35-7, improving to 5-0

Ohio State clinched a 35-7 victory over Iowa it its first Big Ten home game of the year.

Well, so much for the shut out. Kaleb Johnson goes 28 yards to the endzone for the first Iowa points of the day. Buckeyes still lead 35-7 with 8:07 to go in the fourth quarter.

It’s a hat trick for Emeka Egbuka, who scores his third touchdown of the day with a three-yard catch from Howard. Ohio State takes a 35-0 lead with 10:58 to go in the game.

Iowa QB Cade McNamara begins the fourth quarter with a fumble as Kenyatta Jackson Jr. recovers for the Buckeyes. The play is under review.

105,135 fans saw Jeremiah Smith make a one-handed grab in the endzone for a touchdown.

Ohio State with a commanding 28-0 lead over Iowa, scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter alone.

Brandon Inniss completed a key fourth down play and Emeka Egbuka hauls in the 15-yard touchdown as Ohio State extends its lead, 28-0. 13 seconds left in the third quarter.

Donovan Jackson gets the first penalty of the afternoon. It’s a holding call costing the Buckeyes 10 yards. Ohio State now at midfield.

What looked to be a promising Hawkeyes possession ended with the hands of Davison Igbinosun, who picked off Cade McNamara for 45 yards.

That’s McNamara’s first pick of the day and the second Hawkeyes turnover of the second half.

Will Howard runs it in for the four yard score as the Buckeyes take a 21-0 lead very quickly here in the second half. It’s the first rushing touchdown that Iowa has allowed this season.

Jack Sawyer forces the Hawkeyes to cough up the ball. Cody Simon is there with the recovery an the Buckeyes have the ball again from the Iowa 19. Second time this season that OSU has recovered a fumble on defense.

Back to back AMAZING plays from the freshman wideout. Smith with a 53-yard catch from Howard followed by a one-handed grab in the endzone to give Ohio State a 14-0 lead with 9:34 to go in the third quarter.

What an explosive start from the Buckeyes to begin the second half.

Ohio State leads Iowa 7-0 in what’s been a largely defensive battle for both sides.

Time now to honor the Buckeyes’ newest inductees into the Ohio State athletics Hall of Fame.

Will Howard is picked off for the first time today and for the third straight week. That’s the Hawkeyes sixth interception of the season and it’s the second time the Buckeyes have turned the ball over today.

Buckeyes have one more chance to get to the endzone after the defense didn’t let Iowa get anywhere.

67 seconds remain.

Will Howard was a perfect 10-for-10 before this drive. But the quarterback threw three incomplete passes, including back-to-back, forcing the Buckeyes to punt.

Looks like OSU will only have seven points to show for in this first half.

For the first time this season, Iowa has allowed more than 100 rushing yards in a game. Quinshon Judkins leading the way with six carries for 51 yards.

Buckeyes are 43 yards away as we reach the 2:00 warning of the first half.

What looked to be a big play turned into disaster for Ohio State. Jeremiah Smith made a big pickup of 23 yards before getting tackled by Jay Higgins, forcing the ball out. The Hawkeyes have recovered and will work from the 28-yard line.

It looked like the Hawkeyes were going to convert the fourth down on a fake punt but apparently Iowa called timeout.

This time they actually did punt, and it goes out of bounds. Buckeyes will get the ball from the 28-yard line.

Buckeyes first attempt at a fourth down conversion did not work. Howard is stopped a yard short and the Hawkeyes will work from their own 41 yard line.

Drew Stevens’ attempt to get the Hawkeyes on the board went wide left as Ohio State still leads 7-0 with 12:52 to go. Buckeyes get the ball on their own 33-yard line.

Nothing too flashy in this opening quarter. Both teams grinding but Iowa is making a move as we head into the second quarter. Hawkeyes are at the 40-yard line looking to get on the scoreboard as OSU leads 7-0.

After a lot of short plays in the opening drive, Will Howard finds Emeka Egbuka for a 14-yard touchdown. It completes a 14-play, 88-yard drive as Ohio State is out in front early, 7-0 with 3:41 to go in the first quarter.

The Hawkeyes are certainly making the Buckeyes earn every inch so far.

Bryson Rodgers made the catch from Will Howard under double coverage, however it’s ruled short of the first down. The play is under further review. Looked like the Buckeyes were going to go for it. Last week, OSU went 3-for-4 on fourth down conversions.

UPDATE: After further review, it’s a first down. Move the chains for the Buckeyes.

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles knows that his unit has been off to a slow start lately. While the Buckeyes did allow a third down conversion, the Hawkeyes are forced to punt after their opening drive. Ohio State gets the ball and will start from their own 12 yard line.

Ohio State won the toss and has deferred to the second half. Iowa will get the ball first and defend the south endzone.

This afternoon marks a special homecoming for a player from the opposing team. Iowa senior tight end Luke Lachey hails from Marble Cliff and graduated from Grandview Heights High School. And the two-time team captain will have plenty of fans at Ohio Stadium, including his dad, Jim, a former Buckeye himself and in his 28th season as a radio analyst on football broadcasts.

Hello and welcome to the Horseshoe on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in October. It’s the first Big Ten home game of the season for the Buckeyes, who bring a 4-0 record into today’s contest against 3-1 Iowa.