IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The toughest part of Ohio State's schedule is behind the Buckeyes.
And Troy Smith and Co. handled it with ease.
Smith threw for 186 yards and four touchdowns and No. 1 Ohio State picked up its second road win over a ranked opponent by manhandling No. 13 Iowa 38-17 Saturday night.
The Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) faced three ranked teams in September -- Texas, Penn State and the Hawkeyes -- and beat them all by at least 17 points. Ohio State, which extended the nation's longest winning streak to 12 games, won't face another team currently ranked until their season finale against Michigan Nov. 18.
Iowa (4-1, 1-1) fell to 0-10-1 against No. 1 teams.
Ohio State broke open a 21-10 game with long scoring drives on its first two possessions of the second half. Anthony Gonzalez gave the Buckeyes an 18-point lead by weaving through traffic for a spectacular 30-yard TD grab, and Aaron Pettrey capped a 14-play drive with a 36-yard field goal that gave Ohio State a 31-10 lead.
The Hawkeyes pulled within 31-17 in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard TD pass from Drew Tate on fourth down. But Ohio State forced a fumble and two interception on Iowa's next three possessions. Smith put Iowa's comeback hopes to rest with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie.
Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells combined for 55 yards rushing on a 12-play, 89-yard scoring drive late in the second quarter. Smith capped it with a 6-yard strike to seldom-used senior Roy Hall.
Iowa got as close as 14-10 on a 15-yard touchdown run by Albert Young.
The Buckeyes moved ahead 14-3 by capitalizing on an interception by Brandon Mitchell, who returned it to the Iowa 30. Pittman followed a 23-yard rush with a 4-yard TD run.
Ohio State scored on the game's opening possession, marching 53 yards in just 2:24. Smith, who finished 16-of-25 passing, found Anthony Gonzalez for a 12-yard TD pass to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead.
Drew Tate finished 19-of-41 for 249 yards and three interceptions for Iowa. Ohio State turned both of Tate's picks into touchdowns.
Pittman rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.
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