When Iowa football’s Luke Lachey walks onto the field at Ohio Stadium, he’ll be sure to soak in the more than 100,000 fans in attendance. While a majority of the crowd will be rooting against the Hawkeyes, Lachey is no stranger to the Buckeye faithful. He’s quite familiar with the team’s radio analyst – his dad, Jim, an Ohio State lineman from 1981-84.
Growing up in Columbus, the tight end dreamed of being a Buckeye and was a frequent visitor to the Horseshoe, such as when he and his older brother James stormed the field after Ohio State topped rival Michigan in 2016.
Back then, Lachey was still in high school and debating whether to continue playing football or commit to basketball. Eight years later, Lachey returns to his fandom’s old stomping grounds for the second time as a Hawkeye.
“Last time I was really stressed,” Lachey told reporters at media availability on Tuesday. “I felt a lot of pressure in that. Now I have experience, I feel great going into it. I’m super excited for the opportunity to do it again.”
The Hawkeyes suffered a 54-10 drubbing at the hands of the Buckeyes in their last visit to Columbus in October 2022 – which also happened to be the last time they scored a point against a ranked opponent. On Saturday, Lachey, now a team captain, will look to reverse this scoreless streak and upset the third-ranked Buckeyes, whose defense and run game rival the Hawkeyes.
With regard to stopping the run, Ohio State and Iowa rank in the top five in multiple categories – rushing yards per game, rushing yards per carry, and rushing first downs. Continuing this production on Saturday will be difficult, as both squads present potent backs known for explosiveness.
For the Hawkeyes, it’s third-year back Kaleb Johnson, who is second in the FBS with 685 rushing yards and third in yards per carry with 8.35. Hailing from Hamilton, Ohio, a two-hour drive southwest of Columbus, the 6-foot, 225-pounder didn’t receive an offer from the Buckeyes coming out of high school.
“I’m entering with a chip on my shoulder no matter what because it’s my home state and I want to beat them,” Johnson said. “Even if [Ohio State] offered me, I wouldn’t have went because I want to beat them.”
“I’m not the type of person that wants to be the top dog,” he continued. I don’t want to be with them, I want to beat them. It’s always a thing for me to show what I got against the best people in the country.”
Johnson’s Buckeye counterparts – Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson – are each averaging more than eight yards per carry this season, but each has logged less than 50 carries this year – a far cry from Johnson’s 82. Henderson’s lack of rushing attempts doesn’t qualify him for the national leaderboard, but nevertheless, the pair have evident talent, scoring nine touchdowns this season.
Henderson made first-team All-Big Ten last year from media and coaches, dashing for 926 yards and 11 scores. Judkins, a transfer from Ole Miss in the offseason, makes the running back room even more potent, having earned two first-team All-SEC nominations and a program single-season record with eight 100-yard rushing games and 17 total touchdowns.
“He’s patient, he doesn’t force anything,” Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins said of Judkins. “I think any of those big plays when he breaks off, it’s those typical plays that they’ve been running all game and then something happens where it opens up. He always finds the right hole. I think he does a great job with his body control and just how he’s able to run through arm tackles. He hits the gap with violence.”
The Buckeyes also landed a top transfer on the defensive side of the ball in safety Caleb Downs. In his first season with Alabama, Downs logged 107 tackles and two interceptions before venturing to Columbus following the retirement of legendary Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.
Downs has 14 tackles so far this season as the Buckeyes have allowed only three red zone scores this season. Ohio State also has talent at the line of scrimmage, where 2023 first-team All-Big Ten selection JT Tuimoloau and all-conference honorable mention Jack Sawyer line up at defensive end.
“They’re physical, they’ve got good size and they use that size,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said of Ohio State’s defensive line. “They play physically, aggressively. They make you block them, and it’s easier said than done.”
Every facet of the game will seemingly be a challenge in Columbus, as the Hawkeyes are projected as 20-point underdogs against a team that’s lost only two regular season games in two seasons.
“No one really has us winning, so we have nothing to lose,” Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa said. “Just go out there and play our best football.”
News and notes
Ferentz said Iowa second-year Deshaun Lee will most likely start at cornerback alongside Jermari Harris on Saturday. Lee earned his first start of the season two weeks ago against Minnesota, marking his seventh start of his career. Against the Gophers, Lee notched a career-high eight tackles.
Running back Leshon Williams and wide receiver Seth Anderson will also most likely be a go against the Buckeyes. Ferentz said each practiced without restrictions on Friday. Anderson hasn’t played a snap all season due to injury while Williams has only missed the game against Minnesota because of a leg ailment.