COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Buckeyes have a chance to extend major college football’s longest winning streak to 18 games this afternoon (3:30/ABC6), but aren’t expecting an easy time of it.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have an unyielding defense, which has earned the respect of Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.
“They’re the same as they’ve always been on defense. Real stout, real good against the run,” he said.
The Hawkeyes are surrendering only 88.5 yards per game on the ground, eighth best in the nation; the fewest points in the Big Ten and have given up only one red-zone touchdown this season.
That defense can give a team fits, as has been the case in the last two meetings between Iowa and Ohio State.
The Buckeyes (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) won the last meeting in Iowa City only after rallying to score the game-winning touchdown with under two minutes to play in a game that was officially vacated. The 2009 meeting was a 27-24 overtime win by the Buckeyes, who have won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two teams.
The Buckeyes haven’t played since gutting out a 40-30 win over Northwestern on Oct. 5th.
Iowa also has the weekend off after a 26-14 loss to Michigan State.