Ask most Ohio State players about the 2017 Iowa game, and you’ll probably get a blank stare. Ryan Day? That’s another story. The head coach remembers the Buckeyes’ painful afternoon all too well, and with Iowa looming again, the memories of that infamous defeat are hard to shake.
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“Bleach that from my mind. It’s a lesson learned about a lot of things, but that was then, this is now. That was a long time ago. But it doesn’t change the fact that Coach Ferentz and his staff do a great job, and when you go there you got to be on your game and got to be able to execute at a high level across the board in all three phases,” said Ryan Day.
That same year, Ohio State turned to Ryan Day and Kevin Wilson to revive its struggling offense, with Iowa presenting their first major test. Day entered Kinnick Stadium with confidence, but the afternoon quickly turned into a nightmare.
Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett’s opening pick-six set the tone for a disastrous afternoon, as he threw four interceptions in a crushing 55-24 defeat. Ohio State managed just 371 yards of offense, and things only got worse from there.
The game was tied 17-17 in the second quarter before Iowa unleashed a 31-point scoring spree, turning the contest into a 48-17 rout before the Buckeyes finally found the end zone again. It was a beating Buckeye fans still remember as “The Woodshed.”
The Buckeyes surrendered 487 total yards to an Iowa offense that had struggled to reach 20 points in the previous weeks. Entering the matchup with a 5-3 record against Ohio State’s 7-1, the Hawkeyes were hardly expected to deliver such a shock. The stunning defeat left the entire Buckeye fanbase questioning what had gone wrong.
Justin Frye remains the only offensive assistant untouched by that collapse. Ryan Day was the co-offensive coordinator at the time, Wilson handled the tight ends, and Tony Alford oversaw the running backs. Brian Hartline had yet to become the wide receivers coach, serving instead as a graduate assistant under Zach Smith.
Ohio State’s offense has avoided another 2017-style collapse against Iowa, but that painful defeat remains etched in Ryan Day’s memory, and he has never truly forgotten it.
“It’s a scar that doesn’t go away (and) I’ve felt it this week, for sure,” Day said. “That was a tough day for all of us. Any time you have a scar like that, it’s real. We’ve talked a lot about it to our staff, we’ve talked a lot about it to our players, we’ve talked about it as an offensive staff, and we’ll continue to talk about it.”
While Ohio State has beaten the Hawkeyes in their last two meetings, the scars of 2017 still remain. Ryan Day isn’t taking Iowa lightly or treating them as just another opponent. He knows what they’re capable of and will bring everything he has to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
“It’s gonna take everything we have,” Day said Thursday. “Everyone’s got to be on their game.”
Well, while Ryan Day is looking to exact revenge for the 2017 defeat, Iowa Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz is bracing for the challenge while praising Ohio State’s leadership.
Kirk Ferentz Tips His Hat to Ryan Day’s Coaching Brilliance
Winning the 2024 national championship silenced plenty of doubters, but Ryan Day’s ambitions extend far beyond one title. Having built Ohio State into a formidable force, Day has earned the respect of his peers, with Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz among those singing his praises.
“They’re talented, and they’re well coached. They’re well prepared. Don’t beat themselves very often, and that’s pretty much been the case since he’s taken over. He’s done a phenomenal job, and I know their fans aren’t always happy with that. And, you know, if they don’t win by 20 every game, then I guess that’s a tough thing. They do quite a lot. They do that a lot, and he’s just an excellent coach. Great person, excellent coach,” said Ferentz when asked about Ryan Day.
The Buckeyes enter the matchup as clear favourites, and their recent history against Iowa backs it up. Since their infamous 2017 clash, Ohio State has faced the Hawkeyes twice, in 2022 and 2024, and won both encounters by more than 20 points.
This season, the Hawkeyes boast a perfect 4-0 record, with the Michigan Wolverines posing their toughest challenge so far. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes sit at 3-1, with their toughest test coming against the Texas Longhorns, whom they narrowly lost to.
Ohio State enters the matchup with several high-profile offensive playmakers, while Iowa will look to build on its unbeaten start and recent victory over Michigan.
Can Ferentz’s Hawkeyes recreate the magic of 2017, or will Day finally put those Kinnick Stadium demons to rest? Saturday will provide the answer.