Two nights after getting off the schneid, the #8 Iowa Hawkeyes (13-4, 7-3) will face their highest-ranked conference opponent to date in the #7 Ohio State Buckeyes (14-4, 8-4). Short of the conference-leading Michigan Wolverines, the Buckeyes are the hottest team in the conference, winning six of seven and shooting up the rankings throughout January.
Having played 12 games, they’ve been able to notch some really good wins - Rutgers, Illinois, and Wisconsin...all on the road - which validates their high ranking. They’ve lost twice to Purdue and at Minnesota & then-conference-leading* Northwestern Wildcats.