Looking at the schedule in the preseason, Ohio State's contest in Week 5 didn't seem to be one of the bigger games of its regular season.

That changed when Iowa quarterback Hank Brown hit Reece Vander Zee for a 16-yard touchdown on the final second of the Hawkeyes' 20-19 win over Michigan in Week 4. No. 17 Iowa will now host NO. 5 Ohio State for a matchup that will have consequences for the College Football Playoff and Big Ten championship.

With a loss already to Texas, the Buckeyes don't have as much margin for error when they play Iowa on Saturday. Ohio State still has No. 6 Indiana, No. 18 USC, No. 15 Oregon, and Michigan remaining on its schedule.

Bill Connelly of ESPN put Ohio State on upset alert before the game on Saturday. Like college football analyst Josh Pate, Connelly thinks star receiver Jeremiah Smith will be too much for the Hawkeyes’ defense.

Still, Iowa is playing with house money at Kinnick Stadium. The last time Ohio State traveled to Kinnick Stadium, the Buckeyes left humbled with a 55-24 loss in 2017.

Connelly thinks Saturday's matchup is bigger for Ohio State than Iowa because of the loss to Texas and the remaining schedule.

Outside of the latter 30 minutes of their game in Austin, the Buckeyes have looked unstoppable this season. They're coming off an impressive 42-19 win at home last week. They have a chance to make a statement against Iowa.

Quarterback Julian Sayin needs to show he can play consistently elite football this weekend. Iowa's defense is ranked in the top 10 and has posted two shutouts this season, but they allowed two Michigan receivers to gain 100+ yards last week.

Sayin threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns in Ohio State's win over Illinois in Week 4. If he has another big game in Iowa City on Saturday, the rest of the college football world should be on notice, because his play is the key for the Buckeyes to unlock their national championship potential.

Ohio State should be focused completely on Iowa this weekend, which bodes well for their chances to win at a stadium the Buckeyes have struggled with in recent memory. Ohio State will next play a 2-2 Maryland team at home next weekend, so it's not like head coach Ryan Day and his players will be looking forward to the next big game on the schedule.

Source: Yahoo Sports