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Iowa vs. Ohio State Fun Facts: Both teams lead the nation in certain categories
Iowa is bigger. The state, that is. Ohio is more stuffed with humans, many of whom are good football players.
Oct. 3, 2024 11:15 am, Updated: Oct. 3, 2024 11:43 am
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1. Iowa’s last win at Ohio State was in 1991. That covers eight games, which the Hawkeyes lost by an average of 19.8 points.
2. The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes are two of only five teams with at least eight wins in each of the last nine full seasons. Alabama, Clemson and Georgia are the others.
3. Ryan Day’s Big Ten record as coach is 40-3. The three losses were to Michigan.
4. The Hawkeyes are 6-23 all-time in front of crowds of 100,000 or larger.
5. Ohio State hasn’t lost more than two games in a season since 2011.
6. Iowa hasn’t allowed an opponent to score in the first quarter.
7. The Buckeyes have produced four first-round NFL draft picks at wide receiver over the past three years. Iowa has never had one.
8. Iowa leads the nation in fewest penalties and penalty yards per game with 2.8 and 23.8, respectively.
9. Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly took a pay cut of about $4 million to join the Buckeyes after being UCLA’s head coach.
10. The “over” has paid off in each of Iowa’s four games. The “over” hit just twice all last season in Iowa games.
11. Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson wears jersey No. 2 and is No. 2 in the nation in rushing with 171.3 yards per game.
12. The last time a Hawkeye had 10 receptions in a game was when Kevin Kasper had 13 against Ohio State in 1999.
13. Ohio State’s radio analyst is Jim Lachey, a 10-year NFL veteran, former Buckeye player, and the father of Iowa tight end Luke Lachey.
14. Iowa is tied with Connecticut for most punts forced per game, with 8.0. Ohio State is tied for third with 7.5.
15. Iowa led the Big Ten in fewest yards allowed per play in 2002 and 2003. It is eighth this season.
16. Neither the Hawkeyes nor Buckeyes have allowed a rush of 20 yards this season. Only Army and Mississippi can say the same.
17. The Buckeyes lead the nation in points per game and are fourth in fewest points allowed per game.
18. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is a transfer from Kansas State. Last year at K-State, he passed for 24 touchdowns, rushed for nine, and had a TD catch.
19. Columbus does know how to lose. The Columbus Blue Jackets had the worst record in the NHL’s Eastern Conference in both of the last two seasons.
20. Iowa is 11,447 square miles larger than Ohio, but has 8.5 million fewer people.
Comments: mike.hlas@thegazette.com
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