(CSTV U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nothing’s worse than payback.

Eighth-ranked Ohio State slammed then-No. 21 Iowa 31-6 on Sept. 24 at Ohio Stadium behind a stingy defense that strangled Iowa’s offensive rhythm and a resurrected running attack. The Buckeyes tallied 530 yards of offense and more than twice as many first downs as Iowa.

The Hawkeyes (2-2, 0-1) – who beat Ohio State 33-7 in Iowa City, Iowa, last year – dropped out of the national rankings Sunday for the first time since mid-October a year ago.

“It wasn’t like we were really clicking along in any area at any point in the game,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “We took one on the chin. If we had double chins, we’d get it on both chins.”

Missed tackles and elusive running propelled Ohio State’s rushing attack to a season-high 314 yards on the ground – nearly 150 yards more than the Buckeyes’ previous best.

Running back Antonio Pittman rushed for 171 yards on 28 carries, including three runs for more than 20 yards and six for more than 10. Pittman averaged 6.1 yards a carry.

Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns, including a 16-yard scoring scamper in the second quarter.

Pittman and Smith became the first Ohio State quarterback-running back tandem to rush for at least 100 yards each in a game since 1976.

“We didn’t play to our ability, and they did a great job executing,” Hawkeye defensive end Bryan Mattison said. “We just need to get better.”

Smith, who completed 13-of-19 tosses for 191 yards, also threw a pair of touchdowns to receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

The Iowa running game, on the other hand, was basically nonexistent. After averaging 100 yards through three games this season, Albert Young was held to 25 yards on 10 carries, with a long run of six yards.

As a team, the Hawkeyes netted minus 9 yards on the ground.

The air game wasn’t any better, as quarterback Drew Tate completed 22-of-39 passes, although half of the completions occurred in the fourth quarter, when the game was already decided.

Tate, who threw for 146 yards, was sacked five times during the game. Now, Iowa needs to determine what’s wrong with the offense.

“It’s not quite where it needs to be, obviously,” Tate said. “We need to do a better job of communicating.”

Iowa wasted great field position midway through the second quarter after Ohio State fumbled away a scoring chance. Buckeye fullback Brandon Schnittker lost the ball inside Iowa’s 5-yard line, and safety Marcus Paschal picked it up, returning the ball to the 40.

An Ohio State personal foul moved the ball across midfield, but Tate was sacked twice in the next three plays, and Iowa was forced to punt while losing a shot at a field goal.

“That hurts,” Ferentz said. “You get an opportunity … if you get some field position and can do anything with it, it’s going to catch up with you.”

On the ensuing drive, Smith fumbled inside the Iowa 5-yard line, and Jovon Johnson recovered the ball at the 4. But the Hawkeyes couldn’t move the ball, partly to Clinton Solomon’s drop on second down, when Tate pump-faked and the defender bit.

Iowa caught another break when Ted Ginn’s punt return for a touchdown was nullified with a block in the back. But the Buckeyes, playing conservatively, connected on a 47-yard field goal from Joe Huston for a 17-0 halftime lead.

The Hawkeyes came close to scoring a touchdown early in the fourth quarter but were pushed back for a second Kyle Schlicher field goal. After Ohio State’s A.J. Trapasso dropped the ball while trying to punt, the Hawkeyes moved the ball down to the Buckeye 8-yard line. But Tate was sacked for minus-12 yards, into a kicking situation.

Schlicher, who was one of the game’s few bright spots for Iowa, also converted a career-long 52-yarder, following a careless deadball penalty in the third quarter.

“It was pretty much a one-sided ballgame, both ways,” Ferentz said.

“There’s really not much to say outside of that. I thought they controlled both lines, they executed very well, and whatever concerns they may have had offensively coming in, it looked like they cured those,” said Jason Brummond.