Iowa Football: How Did The Hawkeyes Demolish Ohio State

Just when you thought Ohio State is going to sneak back into the Playoff talk, the Hawkeyes say nope.

If there is one team in the country that you would have predicted to beat Ohio State by 31, who would it be? Alabama? Georgia? Well, the team that beat them by 31 was, well, the Iowa Hawkeyes. This is a game the entire fanbase, and country, will be remembering for decades to come. One of the greatest upsets in college football history, all in the historic Nile Kinnick Stadium in Iowa, City. What a time to be alive.

Iowa didn’t just destroy anybody, they did it to Ohio State, the sixth team in the country.

Coming into this season, this was the main game with that all the ink in the highlighter was used on. Let’s be honest, and everyone can agree with this, no one in the entire known universe could’ve predicted this. If you predicted Iowa to completely make Ohio State vanish, then you’re Einstein. This couldn’t have been a more perfect, well executed way to get the Hawkeyes back on track. 55 points scored on a team ranked sixth in the country, expected to get back into the Playoff. Yes, you read that right.

The Hawkeyes are for real now, everybody. No, you shouldn’t say this was an “off” game for the Buckeyes. If they were actually that amazing, they wouldn’t of been completed dismantled by a team that has been struggling as of late. Sure, you can definitely say they didn’t play as well as normal, but no way does that excuse the fact of a 31-point loss. There were so many great things in this game I really would need 5,000 words to describe this game, so let’s make this as simple and straight-to-the-point as possible. First, let’s check out some amazing plays and clips from the game.

Nate Stanley threw a touchdown pass with a defender on his leg. Wrapped. Around his leg. Yes.

This dude must’ve been begging Stanley to chill out on the passes and let the Buckeyes get back in the Playoff, I guess. Nate Stanley’s performance this game was unreal, just completely amazing. The QB threw for five touchdown passes this game. He threw for 226 yards with 20 of his 31 passes being completed. And get this, zero interceptions this game. Against the Buckeye defense, and a sophomore first-year QB, that is unheard of. Again, hats off to this incredible QB on what a season he is having. Completely amazing season.

Stanley’s deep passes have been on par this game, especially in the end zone. Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson both received a touchdown this game from Stanley’s throws. Drake Kulick received a touchdown pass as well this game, a receiver we don’t usually see much of. Hockenson & Fant both accounted for 125 yards of receiving combined, which is incredible considering there were 9 receptions combined.

Akrum Wadley also had himself a day, running for 118 yards on the ground on 20 carries. Unfortunately, the RB did not have any scores on the day. Although, he accounted for some major run plays to gain first downs and set up a great position to score. Offensively, this was the best game I’ve seen in years. Ever since the Michigan State game in 2010. I really hope this keeps going for the rest of the year and into next year. What a game, man.

Defensively, Josh Jackson. That’s really all you need to summarize the defense this game.

The star defender had himself a hat-trick of interceptions. Yes, a hat-trick of interceptions against a Heisman contending quarterback in J.T. Barrett. One of those interceptions will be replayed for years upon years, for a very good reason.

Odell Beckham Jr. who? Who’s that? We only know a Josh Jackson. For real, that was unbelievable. This man is going to be something very special in the NFL when he will get there. So overall, Josh Jackson is an NFL safety playing for the Hawkeyes and catching everything in the sky. Legend says he catches birds sometimes while walking down the street.

On the first play of the game, Amani Hooker picked off J.T. Barrett and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. At that moment, the entire state of Iowa had their first earthquake since the game-winner against No. 3 Michigan in 2016.

Overall, defensively, the Hawkeyes played absolutely astonishing in every way shape and form. You couldn’t ask for a better defensive game from this young, yet talented defense of Iowa. Not to mention the young and also talented offense that the Hawkeyes obtain.

Let’s hope this beautiful football play continues for the rest of the 2017 season into next year.

Again, this was the greatest game I’ve seen in a long, long time in every aspect of football from Iowa. If this play continues, expect the country to double-take our ranking, play style, and performance week-in and week-out. Sign me up for more games like this, except for the part where my voice dies two minutes in.