Iowa Football 2024 Opponents Early Preview: Ohio State

The Buckeyes have been ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press and CFP rankings every year of the CFP era.

Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka, front left, runs the ball against the University of Minnesota during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Editor's note: This is Part 5 of a 12-part series looking at each of Iowa's 2024 regular-season opponents.

IOWA CITY — The Ohio State football team has had a relatively tough time over the past three seasons. rough By Ohio standards.

The Buckeyes have lost to arch-rival Michigan three straight seasons and have missed the College Football Playoff in two of the past three years.

rough Ohio State's record would be the envy of most other college football programs.

In all years of the CFP era, the Buckeyes have never finished lower than seventh in the final CFP rankings or lower than 10th in the final Associated Press poll, and since 2011, they have never suffered more than two losses in a season.

Ohio State is widely projected to be a top-five team in 2024, and this year is not expected to be any different.

Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard transferred to Ohio State after setting a Wildcat program record with 48 touchdown passes over four years, and several skill-position stars return, including running back Tre'Veyon Henderson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.

Defensively, edge rusher JT Tuimoloau and cornerback Denzel Burke are potential first-round picks in next year's NFL Draft, and the secondary also made waves in the transfer portal with the addition of former Alabama cornerback Caleb Downs, a freshman from the University of Alabama who was last year's SEC Freshman of the Year and led the team in tackles.

Iowa vs. Ohio State: Three things to watch

Can Iowa avoid early turnovers? Iowa's 2022 trip to Columbus was a lesson in the cost of early turnovers. By halftime, Iowa had already recorded two interceptions, a lost fumble and a failed conversion on fourth down, all in Iowa territory.
Emeka Egbuka vs. the Iowa secondary. Egbuka is one of the most dangerous wide receivers in college football. Even against a strong Iowa secondary in 2022, he only had six receptions on nine targets for 80 yards. More than a third of his yards came after the catch.
How well will Iowa capitalize on its offensive opportunities? In 2023, Iowa got into the red zone 35 times and scored just 14 touchdowns. Iowa isn't going to be able to beat a powerhouse like Ohio State by just scoring three points at a time.

Predictions for 2024

Ohio State once again sits squarely in the top echelon of college football, and essentially everything will have to go right for the school to pull off an upset in Columbus.