Bend or Break?
The Iowa Hawkeyes have been stellar on defense this season. They have allowed 49 points total on the season, which only adds up to a whopping 8.17 points per game. Iowa has allowed a mere 3.8 yards per play, which is second only to the Fighting Illini of Illinois.
Photo Cred: 247 Sports
The Hawkeyes have allowed only 265 yards per game, which is good enough for the 7th overall defensive ranking. Iowa is led by Jack Campbell, who has looked dominant with 62 total tackles, and super sophomore Cooper DeJean, who has three takeaways (all interceptions). Their defense plans to try to slow down the prolific offense that Ohio State will put on display Saturday at noon. What could be more fun than watching one of the top defenses line up against one of the top offenses in the country… For 60 minutes?
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On the other side of the gridiron, the Ohio State Buckeyes offense has not been slowed down since week one. Their offense is particularly great in the red zone. The Buckeyes have taken 29 trips and scored on each of them. They have scored touchdowns on 27 of the 29 trips. However, the mighty Buckeyes have not faced a defense like Iowa. The best defense they have played to date is the 24th overall defense in the Wisconsin Badgers, who failed to slow the Buckeyes at all. Iowa has faced two teams this year in FCS power South Dakota State and Nevada, in which they allowed neither team to even sniff the red zone. The Hawkeyes held the 24th-ranked offense of Michigan to four red zone trips, two of those resulting in touchdowns.
Photo Cred: Athlon Sports
Additionally, the Hawkeyes have allowed 11 more trips total to the red zone, with only two trips resulting in touchdowns and five resulting in field goals. This Hawkeyes defense will throw everything they have at the Buckeyes when they head to Columbus. Both teams are coming off a bye week that gave them time to get healthy. There will be a battle in Columbus, and there is no better way to watch football than seeing one of the best lined across from one of the best. Can Campbell and the Hawkeyes bend and keep the Buckeyes within reaching distance? Or will CJ Stroud and his band of Buckeyes brothers break their defense? It’s going to be an entertaining matchup to tune into Saturday at noon!
