Episode Details

Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 389 — Iowa Week OhioStateVOCFB | Host: Mark Rogers Guests: Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts 247), Tony Gerdeman (Buckeye Insiders), Cory Brada (Hawkeye of the Storm) Presented by FanDuel

Intro / setup (0:00–1:40)

• Business-like 42-19 win over Illinois in the Big Ten opener. Next: road game at Iowa, 3:30 p.m. CBS.
• Steve hasn’t been to Kinnick since 2017 (Iowa blowout). Oregon and Indiana both escaped Iowa last year with single-digit wins. Iowa is 4-0 after beating Michigan.

Jeremiah Smith’s career day vs Illinois (1:40–9:20)

• 12 catches, 217 yards, 4 TDs. Career highs in all three. Set receiving yards record the week before vs Kent State; one TD catch from tying the program record (Chris Olave).
• Catches of every type: juke-and-score vs a lone safety, toe-tap in the corner that survived replay, etc.
• Ohio State scored TDs on four of first five possessions. Fourth straight game with a TD in the final 15 seconds of the half — this time Julian Sayin scrambled left and dove at the pylon.
• Sayin’s first half: 3 passing TDs + rushing TD, 270 yards. Final: 27-of-36, 367 yards (second-highest of his career).

Who else is catching the ball? (9:20–17:20)

• 16 of 36 targets went to Smith (12 catches). Others: Nate Roberts 4/36 (20-yard seam before half), Devin McEwen 4/34 (dropped a 25-yard 3rd-down ball), Bo Jackson 3/16, Phillip Bell 1/23, Brock Boyd 1/22, Chris Henry Jr. 1/15, Hunter Welsing 1/4.
• Brandon Inniss: 0 targets, 0 catches. Philip Bell, Brock Boyd, Chris Henry Jr. played similar snap counts.
• Kyle Parker (LSU transfer) getting closer to debut; Legend Bey still earning trust / no snaps vs Illinois.
• Concern heading to Iowa: Texas took Smith away in the second half. If Iowa does the same, who steps up? Running game still lacks explosives (nothing over 20 yards for third straight game). Jacoby Jackson 10-56, Bo Jackson 11-53, Sayin 7-29 (no sacks).

Defense vs Illinois / “hero ball” (17:20–19:00)

• Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: guys playing hero ball, overrunning plays, leaving gaps. Allowed Illinois some TDs they shouldn’t have.
• Still a 23-point win. Didn’t cover the huge number. Ohio State up to No. 5 in AP after Ole Miss loss and Indiana’s mediocre showing.

Cory Brada joins — Iowa-Michigan + Kinnick preview (19:00–45:00)

• Iowa beat Michigan 20-19. First-half TD was a kickoff return; both offensive TDs came in the fourth (both to Reece Vander Zee).
• Michigan unsportsmanlike (No. 10, three steps out of bounds) on their own sideline after Tony Diaz’s “candy store” man coverage comment. Put Iowa in scoring position.
• Iowa “bounces” this year after last year’s close losses (Oregon rain dime, Iowa State deflection, USC feet, two-point toes).
• 2017 parallel: Imani Hooker pick-six on the first play, Nate Stanley career game, TEs Fant/Hockenson, Nick Bosa targeting, 31-point loss for an 18.5-point favorite. Loudest pop Tyler Kluver remembers.
• Iowa defense is a “no-name” reload (only Zach Luttmer on Phil Steele All-Big Ten teams) but Phil Parker system stays the same: assignment football, limit explosives (goal: two or fewer; Michigan had six).
• Secondary: Deshaun Lee (veteran, Michigan avoided him), Jalen Watson, Jacob Wallace (cash), Tyler Brown (first real start vs real competition, got exposed, availability TBD — likely Hawkins if out).
• Iowa TEs historically hurt Ohio State (Marv Cook 1987 4th-and-29, 2013, 2017). DJ Vonnahme + Addison Ostrenga already making plays.
• Iowa run game poor vs Iowa State and Michigan; good vs non-Power 4. Special teams elite (punt pinning, kick return TD).
• Iowa often takes the ball first in Big Ten play (analytics + Don Patterson). Opportuni