Iowa's 2017 campaign was marred by a whole lot of "what-ifs," including multiple close losses due to inconsistent play.
The Hawkeyes won their first three games of that season, including a thrilling 44-41 OT win in the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry game against Iowa State, but then lost three of the next five games before powerhouse Ohio State came to Kinnick. Heisman contender JT Barrett and the high-powered offense were expected to roll the Hawkeyes, but Urban Meyer and then up-and-coming OC Ryan Day found out the hard way that you don't easily come into Kinnick Stadium and get a win.
To this day (no pun intended), Ryan Day hasn't forgotten that 55-24 butt-whoping Iowa gave him, and even though he claims to be over it, he is definitely out for revenge.
Day claims he has 'completely' wiped the 2017 loss from his memory, is ready to return to Kinnick
Quarterback Nate Stanley (226 passing yards, five TDs) and running back Akrum Wadley (118 rushing yards, one TD) torched the Ohio State defense, while the defense racked up four interceptions and forced a fumble in the win, something Day hasn't forgotten. Since Iowa took Ohio State "to the woodshed" in that cold November 2017 game, the two programs have matched up only two times, both in Columbus, OH.
Ohio State easily won both games by a combined 89-27, but they return to Kinnick Stadium this season, and despite what Day claims, the 2017 loss still haunts him.
Ryan Day said that he’s completely wiped Ohio State’s 2017 loss to Iowa from his memory. He called Kinnick Stadium one of “the hardest places to play in the conference” and said he looks forward to playing there this season with the Buckeyes.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) July 29, 2026
Day recently claimed that he has "completely wiped" the 2017 loss from his memory and praised Kinnick Stadium as one of the toughest places to play in the Big Ten. While that statement seems relatively innocent on the surface, there is definitely more at play when you read between the lines. Even though the 2017 loss wasn't attributed to Day, it was the biggest loss of Urban Meyer's career, and Ohio State doesn't get manhandled like that very often, if ever. You know this is sticking in Day's craw, and regardless of what he said, his statement clearly shows that he has the game circled on his calendar.
Ohio State is an early favorite not only to win the Big Ten, but also to win another National Championship, and the schedule makers didn't do Iowa any favors with a three-game stretch at Michigan, vs. Ohio State, and at Washington, before two rivalry games against Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ohio State's early schedule is much less daunting, with only one very tough road game against Texas in Week 2. It will be extremely tough for Iowa to knock off the likely No. 1-ranked Buckeyes, but Day knows all too well how ranked teams go to Kinnick to die.
Day is one of the most competitive head coaches around, and no one is buying that the 2017 loss at Kinnick doesn't still bug him, especially so close to returning there. Day is out for blood, and even though they will be heavily favored in the game, he won't take this game lightly. Both teams could easily be undefeated and ranked heading into the matchup, and an Ohio State win at Kinnick would finally allow Day to be more at ease with the previous loss.
Iowa must channel some of that 2017 energy to have a chance against Ohio State, and while they definitely had more talent on that team than on the current one, that doesn't mean they won't have success. Day would like nothing more than to beat the Hawkeyes in Kinnick on October 3, and he isn't fooling anyone by claiming he has completley forgotten about it.
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