Urban Meyer gives Ryan Day blunt Ohio State warning before Iowa clash after Buckeyes defense allows 462 yards

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has pointed to one area that could make Saturday’s game against Iowa much harder for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. Meyer believes Iowa must find a way to move the ball against Ohio State’s defense if it wants to make the game close. The warning comes after Iowa’s 20-19 win over Michigan and Ohio State’s 42-19 victory over Illinois.What is Urban Meyer warning Ryan Day about before Ohio State faces Iowa?Meyer made his point on his Triple Option podcast while looking ahead to Ohio State’s trip to Kinnick Stadium. He does not think Iowa can rely on another low scoring game if it wants to stay with the Buckeyes.“If it’s all on Iowa’s offense, you can’t do against Ohio State what they’ve done other times,” Meyer said. “This can’t be a 10 point, one touchdown game. Even against the Wolverines, one of the touchdowns was a kickoff return. Ohio State’s too good to do that. But if Iowa can move the ball, this would be a street fight.”The former Buckeyes coach sees a clear battle between Iowa’s defense and Ohio State’s offense. But he also believes Iowa’s ability to run the ball could decide whether the game stays close.“It’s going to be strength on strength: Ohio State’s offense against Iowa’s defense,” Meyer said. “How can Iowa move the ball where Ohio State’s defense has at times shown some vulnerability? If they can do this, it will be a very close game. If they can’t, I think it’s a two score win for the Buckeyes.”That defensive concern is worth watching because Ohio State allowed Illinois to gain 462 total yards in the Buckeyes’ 42-19 win. Illinois also ran for 199 yards. Ohio State won comfortably because its offense was excellent, but the defensive numbers gave Meyer a reason to focus on that side of the ball.Can Ryan Day’s Ohio State defense handle Iowa’s rushing attack?Iowa enters the matchup at 4-0 after its late 20-19 win over Michigan. Ohio State is 3-1 after losing to Texas before responding with wins over Kent State and Illinois. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 5, while Iowa is No. 14 heading into the meeting.Ohio State has plenty of firepower on offense. Quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns against Illinois, while wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Smith’s four touchdown catches tied an Ohio State single game record.Iowa, however, brings a different challenge. The Hawkeyes have been one of the better rushing teams in the country, and their defense has also kept opponents from scoring freely. That makes this a difficult matchup for both sides rather than a simple test of Ohio State’s offense.Meyer also understands the pressure around Day better than most. Day worked under Meyer at Ohio State before taking over as head coach. Since then, Day has dealt with high expectations in Columbus, even after leading the Buckeyes to a national championship last season.Now, Ohio State heads into Iowa City with another demanding road game. Meyer’s message is simple: if the Buckeyes allow Iowa to run its offense comfortably, the game could become much tighter than expected. If Ohio State controls the Hawkeyes’ offense, the Buckeyes have the scoring ability to create separation.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.