Archie Griffin would love to see Jeremiah Smith become the next Buckeye to join him in the Heisman club.
That much was clear Wednesday, when Ohio State’s only two-time Heisman winner spoke about Smith’s season, the Buckeyes’ recent skid and why he still thinks the star receiver has a real shot at the award. Smith is no longer the runaway favorite after Julian Sayin’s injury and Ohio State’s back-to-back losses, but he still held the best odds to win the Heisman at +240 on FanDuel Sportsbook as of Wednesday afternoon.
“Oh, I would love to see another Buckeye win the Heisman,” Griffin said. “Matter of fact, I think we're sitting in second place with the number of Heisman Trophies that we have as a school, and that other Heisman would tie us with Southern Cal. So I'm looking forward to seeing what happens this year.”
Griffin’s admiration for Smith goes beyond the award race. He pointed to Smith’s “physical capabilities, his speed, his toughness, and his work ethic” as the traits that have stood out most, and said he wants Ohio State to make a point of feeding him the ball down the stretch.
“His physical capabilities, his speed, his toughness, and his work ethic; that's what's so very, very impressive about him. And I just think he's just been a phenomenal player for us,” Griffin said of Smith.
“And I certainly wish him the best. And I hope we can get the ball to him.
I think that's going to be important for us in these last three games we've got here.”
For Griffin, the bigger picture is still the team. Ohio State has dropped back-to-back regular-season games and three total regular-season games for the first time since 2011, and while a College Football Playoff berth now looks like a long shot, he expects the Buckeyes to respond over their final three games.
“If you play sports, you're going to experience tough times. I mean, that's just part of it.
And that's the beauty of it, too, because you learn so much from those tough times that you go through,” Griffin said. “I think we're going to learn a lot from what we've been through, and I think it's going to make a difference in the future.”
Griffin spoke to Eleven Warriors on Wednesday while taking part in the Ohio Stadium Blood Drive, part of Ohio State’s annual Blood Battle with Michigan. He went 3-0-1 against Michigan in his four years in Columbus, and he still stays involved in campus and community efforts more than 50 years after his playing days.
This year’s Blood Battle has Michigan ahead 799-705 as of Monday, with the total measured in units of blood donated by fans. Ohio State has won the last four Blood Battles, and Griffin said the cause matters because of the impact blood donation can have.
“I want to make sure that Ohio State does its part in giving blood because I've read that we need blood in this country every two seconds, and that's incredible,” Griffin said. “So we need to make sure that we have a great supply of blood. … You're truly making a difference (when you give blood).”
He also kept one eye on The Game later this month, though he made it clear the Buckeyes have business to handle first against Northwestern and Nebraska.
“They're not going to be a walk in the park; Northwestern is playing good football, and certainly Nebraska is playing good football. And we've got to take care of business there,” Griffin said.
“But I think we'll be ready for all of them. Again, I think that adversity that we've suffered through is going to make us better.”
Even with the recent losses, Griffin said he still trusts Ohio State’s roster and its ability to finish strong.
“I know that we've got outstanding talent,” Griffin said. “Woody Hayes used to always say, you win with people.
We've got people that we can win with. We've just got to make sure that it's all going in the right direction.”
The Blood Battle is open through Nov. 25, with 20 blood drives scheduled around Ohio State’s campus through Versiti Blood Center of Ohio. Another drive is set for Ohio Stadium on Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is scheduled to appear.
The campaign also overlaps with the Big Ten We Give Blood challenge, sponsored by Abbott, which will award a $1 million grant to the school that produces the most donations. Fans can take part by donating at any blood center or mobile drive in the United States and registering the donation by texting “DONATE” to 222688 or visiting Abbott’s website.
Wednesday’s Ohio Stadium event also included eight current Ohio State players: quarterback Justyn Martin, defensive ends Beau Atkinson, Zion Grady and Epi Sitanilei, defensive tackles Jason Moore, Will Smith Jr. and John Walker and linebacker TJ Alford.
Eleven Warriors also spoke with Jason Moore, Justyn Martin, Zion Grady and Epi Sitanilei during the event about their 2026 seasons, the blood drive and more.
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Ohio State Finally Made A Change Fans Saw Coming
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Ryan Day said there had simply been too many detrimental plays to keep things as they were, and the staff is now reshuffling responsibilities to finish the season. Senior analyst Rob Keys will oversee special teams the rest of the way, with other coaches taking on specific units, a sign that Ohio State is trying to steady one of the most frustrating parts of its operation before it costs them again. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Backup Quarterback Problem Just Got More Complicated
Justyn Martins role at Ohio State has become one of those quiet depth-chart stories that can suddenly matter a lot more than anyone expected. The fifth-year senior has not played this season, but with Julian Sayin sidelined, Martin is now listed as the third-string quarterback, and Ryan Day has already made it clear he likes what he has seen from him in practice. For a team that always has to be ready at quarterback, that kind of behind-the-scenes trust can carry real weight.
Martin has kept working alongside Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair, staying in the mix while the Buckeyes sort through their options. He has spoken confidently about the group and noted that Sayin remains supportive during his recovery, which only adds another layer to a situation that is still unfolding. For now, Martin is waiting for a chance that has not come yet, but the fact that Day is even floating game usage suggests Ohio States backup picture is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Chip Kelly Is Suddenly Back In Ohio State's Offensive Picture
Chip Kellys name is back in the mix around Ohio State, and not just as a nostalgic footnote. The former Buckeyes assistant, now at Northwestern, has surfaced in conversations about offensive play-caller openings, with his past tie to the program giving the idea immediate credibility. For a staff that is always under the microscope, any movement on the offensive side tends to draw attention quickly, especially when it involves a coach with Kellys rsum and familiarity with the Ohio State environment.
The broader picture is still fluid, though, because Nebraska is also being linked to Kelly and may try to sell him on the stature of the job rather than a simple financial pitch. For Ohio State, the possibility seems tied to whether current staff changes open a path, which is why the chatter feels more like a developing subplot than a settled pursuit. Even so, the fact that Kelly is being discussed in that context says plenty about how quickly the Buckeyes offensive landscape can shift. [Read more 🡒]