Iowa star playmaker and Columbus native Kaleb Johnson reveals why he didn't commit to Ohio State

Adding fuel to the fire ahead of the Ohio State vs. Iowa matchup on Saturday is either a bold move that will work out, or one that will give the Buckeyes even more motivation for the home team. The risks of helping the favorite aren't nearly as severe when you're the underdog, but it was still surprising to see Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson comment on why he didn't go to Ohio State.

The Hamilton, Ohio, native is a fantastic back, ranking second in the nation in rushing yards and missed tackles forced. The Buckeyes didn't offer Johnson and only took Dallan Hayden in the same class.

When asked on Wednesday, Johnson addressed his mindset about playing at Iowa.

"I wanna beat the top dogs. I don't wanna be with them. I want to beat them," Johnson said, adding that even if the Buckeyes had offered him, he likely would not have joined Ryan Day's program.

“Even if they would’ve offered me, I wouldn’t have went because I feel like I want to beat them.”

While it's easy for Ohio State to say they don't need Johnson now, he would've given the program a boost before Quinshon Judkins arrived. TreVeyon Henderson's injuries over the previous two years limited his impact, and the ground game lacked a bruiser who could overcome mediocre blocking.

This year, none of that has been a concern, so Johnson might've been pushed out for Judkins, or the Ole Miss product may have never considered the Buckeyes.