Buckeyes Rout Hawkeyes as Jeremiah Smith Makes Heisman Statement
Iowa fans packed Kinnick Stadium hoping for an upset, but No. 5 Ohio State had other plans Saturday, rolling past the Hawkeyes 31-14 behind another dominant performance from wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Smith caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, including a 57-yard scoring grab in the third quarter that prompted the star receiver to strike a Heisman Trophy pose. The performance cements Smith's status as the betting favorite for college football's most prestigious individual award after a four-touchdown outing against Illinois last week.
Over his last two games, Smith has hauled in 23 receptions for 423 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 324 yards and three scores, with two of those going to Smith.
What went wrong for Iowa against Ohio State?
The Hawkeyes struggled to generate consistent offense against a swarming Buckeyes defense. Iowa's ground game, typically a strength, never found traction, and the passing attack couldn't keep pace with Ohio State's explosive plays.
The loss drops Iowa to a disappointing record and raises questions about the team's ability to compete with the Big Ten's elite programs this season.
Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama stay perfect
While Iowa fell short, college football's other top contenders cruised to victories Saturday. No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Notre Dame, and No. 7 Alabama all remained unbeaten and mostly untested.
Gunner Stockton threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs pulled away late to beat Vanderbilt 38-14. Tight end Lawson Luckie turned a tipped pass into a 43-yard reception that set up a key touchdown in the third quarter.
Notre Dame handled North Carolina 37-26 behind four touchdown passes from CJ Carr, extending the Fighting Irish's winning streak to 15 games, all by at least 10 points.
Alabama made a statement in Starkville, dismantling No. 16 Mississippi State 56-23. Keelon Russell threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide scored at least 45 points for the fifth straight game. Alabama travels to Georgia next Saturday in a massive SEC showdown.
Florida's momentum stalls in Missouri
No. 8 Florida came out flat and never recovered, getting blown out 45-17 at Missouri a week after dismantling then-No. 4 Mississippi. The Gators' apparent turnaround under new coach Jon Sumrall may have been more flukish than formative.
Florida running back Jadan Baugh, who entered the game leading the SEC in rushing, finished with just 13 yards on 12 carries.
Michigan's Big Ten struggles continue
Michigan fell to 0-2 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2014, losing its second consecutive conference game. Quarterback Bryce Underwood completed just 10 of 21 passes for 101 yards in the defeat.
Air Force takes early lead in Commander-in-Chief's Trophy race
Liam Szarka rushed for two touchdowns as Air Force defeated Navy 14-9 to take control of the round-robin competition for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. The Falcons can secure their first trophy since 2022 by beating Army on Nov. 7.
Iowa State wins wild shootout
Iowa State's Aiden Flora accounted for five touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 1:57 left, as the Cyclones outlasted West Virginia 45-42 in a game that featured more than 1,000 yards of combined offense.
The victory keeps Iowa State in the thick of the Big 12 race and gives Cyclones fans plenty to cheer about heading into the heart of conference play.