Ohio State overpowers Iowa in second half for 35-7 win

Jeremiah Smith once again provided a highlight catch and Will Howard threw four touchdown passes to help spark No. 3 Ohio State to a 35-7 victory over Iowa in Big Ten play at Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday.

The Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0) held a 7-0 lead early in the third quarter when Smith made a one-handed catch in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown. The score came one play after his 53-yard catch on a throw by Will Howard.

Smith made two similar spectacular catches, one for a TD, in the previous game vs. Michigan State.

Iowa (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) quickly fell behind 21-0 when on its next possession, Cade McNamara was sacked and lost a fumble at the Iowa 19-yard line to set up a Howard 4-yard scoring run.

The Buckeyes extended the lead to 28-0 with 13 seconds left in the third quarter on a 15-yard reception by Emeka Egbuka, who opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 14-yard catch.

Egbuka added his third TD, a 3-yard catch, in the fourth quarter to make 35-0.

Smith had four catches for 89 yards and Egbuka nine for 71. Howard was 21-of-25 passing for 209 yards and an interception and the defense forced McNamara into two fumbles and an interception. He was 14 of 20 for 98 yards.

Iowa entered the game allowing 62.0 yards rushing but gave up 110 in the first half as the Buckeyes held a 199-90 advantage in totals yards and had 11 of the 15 first downs.

The Buckeyes had 203 rushing yards for the game while holding a 412-226 edge in total offense.

Hawkeyes back Kaleb Johnson, who had a career-high 206 yards against Minnesota on Sept. 21, was limited to 19 yards on eight carries in the first half.

He had a 28-yard TD run to make it 35-7 in the fourth quarter and finished with 86 yards on 15 carries.

The win sets up the long anticipated first matchup as conference opponents when the Buckeyes play at No. 6 Oregon (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) on Oct. 12. The Ducks defeated Michigan State 31-14 on Friday.

--Field Level Media