Records Fall, But The Game’s Best Moment Had Nothing to Do With Football

Jeremiah Smith went to Iowa City chasing Ohio State history, and by the time he left Kinnick Stadium, he owned just about every major receiving record the Buckeyes have.

But the most important moment Saturday had nothing to do with Smith, Julian Sayin, or Ohio State’s 31-14 win over No. 14 Iowa.

That moment came at the end of the first quarter.

Ohio State jumped ahead almost immediately when Kenyatta Jackson sacked Iowa quarterback Hank Brown and forced a fumble that Christian Alliegro recovered at the Iowa 15-yard line. Two plays later, Sayin found Devin McCuin for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Iowa answered with two field goals, while Connor Hawkins added one for the Buckeyes, leaving Ohio State ahead 10-6 after the first quarter.

Then everybody stopped.

Players, coaches, officials and more than 70,000 fans turned toward University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, which overlooks Kinnick Stadium, and waved to the children and families watching from the windows.

For a few minutes, nobody cared about third-down conversions, rankings, records, or the Heisman Trophy. Some of those kids are fighting battles much bigger than anything taking place on the field below them.

Then football resumed, and Smith continued rewriting the Ohio State record book.

Early in the second quarter, Sayin found him for 54 yards, giving Smith his 200th career reception. Late in the half, Smith caught a 12-yard touchdown that tied Chris Olave’s school record of 35 career touchdown receptions and gave Ohio State a 17-6 halftime lead.

He wasn’t finished.

With 6:22 remaining in the third quarter, Sayin hit him for a 57-yard touchdown. Smith crossed the goal line, struck the Heisman pose and became Ohio State’s all-time leader with 36 career touchdown receptions.

A few minutes later, he caught another pass and moved past Emeka Egbuka to become Ohio State’s career receptions leader. Smith finished with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, giving him another 200-yard performance just one week after catching 12 passes for 217 yards against Illinois.

Sayin completed 20 of 27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns, while the Jackson Two gave Ohio State 142 yards on the ground. Ja’Kobi Jackson rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown, while Bo Jackson added 70.

Ohio State’s defense did the rest, holding Iowa to 238 total yards and just 39 rushing yards while forcing two turnovers. They gave up several big plays, but that feels like nitpicking.

It was an impressive road win against an undefeated, nationally ranked team, and Smith left Iowa City with another piece of Ohio State history.

Still, the most memorable thing in this game happened after the first quarter. Of all the college football traditions, this one is by far the greatest.

College football feels awfully important on Saturdays. Sometimes way too important to many of us.

Then 70,000 people turn toward a children’s hospital and wave, and for a moment we are reminded that football is still just a game.

Some people watching from those windows are playing for much higher stakes.