The Iowa defense is about to have its toughest assignment of the 2026 season. While the Hawkeyes were challenged against the Cyclones and the Wolverines, they have yet to face anything like Jeremiah Smith. Of course, it’s 11v11, and the Buckeyes have other options as well. But, for Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, his team’s biggest task is to contain Smith, a generational talent.
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The veteran head coach has seen many talented players through his long tenure with the Hawkeyes. While he already made his admiration for the Buckeyes star clear, he couldn’t stop himself from comparing him with the players who left an impact on him before.
“Smith is that kind of player. I remember two years ago getting ready for a game and watching a couple of plays he had made the week before. He was perfectly defended, and he still made the play,” Ferentz said in a press conference on September 30.
“There are several guys over the last 20-plus years who are just on a whole different level. The first guy that comes to mind is Saquon Barkley. The performance Barkley had against us was about as impressive as you’re going to see. I thought we knocked him out of the game, but he took a hit on one of those plays and came back in a couple of plays later. It’s amazing. He’s a really good player, plus he has great toughness, and he’s doing the same thing in the NFL.
Saquon Barkley was the face of Penn State during the 2017 season, and he demolished Iowa, which is why Ferentz is still haunted by his memories. During that 2017 matchup at Kinnick Stadium, Barkley shattered the Penn State single-game record by racking up 358 all-purpose yards to carry the Nittany Lions to a thrilling 21-19 walk-off victory. He recorded 28 carries for 211 yards and 1 touchdown and had 12 receptions for 94 yards, leading his team in catches. He also recorded three returns for 53 yards.
Another player that reminded Ferentz of Smith was Randy Moss.
“Sometimes, that’s just the way it goes. I remember being at New England’s camp in the late 2000s and seeing Randy Moss do the same thing on a red-zone play. I was sitting next to the secondary coach, and he just looked at me and went like that. That’s what great players do,” Ferentz added.
In 2007, Randy Moss was named ‘unbelievable’ in the NFL for a reason. He helped lead the Patriots to a record-breaking 16–0 regular season record. At the same time, he won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Moss caught 23 receiving touchdowns in 2007, shattering Jerry Rice’s previous single-season record. The fun part is that the record is still untouched.
Just like them, Smith is also on his own journey of smashing records and making his name in football. Through four games this year, he has recorded 33 receptions and is ranked 4th in the nation. He already has 617 receiving yards, which puts him 1st in the nation. When it comes to touchdowns, he has seven under his name.
Smith’s performance reached a new peak during Week 4 against Illinois, where he exploded for 12 catches, 217 yards, and four touchdowns. So Kirk will be on his toes on Saturday. It’s not like they can’t gameplan for Smith. However, generational talents always have an answer.
“You have to try to find a way to maybe get them a little bit off their rhythm, and that’s a good thing. But it’s easier said than done. Usually, if you do one thing, you’re compensating somewhere else or giving something else up. So it’s a tricky one,” Ferentz said.
Iowa is coming off a high
There was one condition for College GameDay to come to Iowa City for Week 5. The Hawkeyes must defeat the Wolverines in Week 4 at Ann Arbor. It took Iowa the last play of the game to get a win that looked improbable at times. And now, College GameDay will be at Kinnock Stadium for the Hawkeyes’ conference matchup against Ryan Day’s team.
And while Smith will naturally draw attention ahead of the game, Ferentz shouldn’t ignore what Julian Sayin is capable of. Against Illinois, he looked to have added another feather by using his legs. That’s what Ryan Day has been asking from his QB1.
On their side, the Hawkeyes would look to utilize their physicality and make it a slugfest. In typical Iowa fashion, you’d see a heavy reliance on the run game, some playaction, and occasional shots at big plays. Ryan Day’s defense is coming off a concerning outing against Illinois. Although the Buckeyes only allowed 19 points, the Fighting Illini had 199 yards on the ground.