Jeremiah Smith is one big game away from making Ohio State history.
The junior wide receiver heads into Saturday’s Week 3 matchup against Kent State in Columbus with a real shot to move to the top of the Buckeyes’ all-time receiving list. Kickoff is set for noon ET on FOX, and Smith’s latest burst of production has put the record within reach.
Smith was electric in Austin last Saturday, hauling in eight passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns even as Texas stormed back for a 24-23 win and claimed the nation’s No. 1 spot. That performance pushed him to 2,873 career receiving yards, leaving him just 26 yards shy of the school mark.
If he gets there, Smith will pass Michael Jenkins, who finished his Ohio State career from 2000-2003 with 2,898 yards. Former Buckeye Emeka Egbuka sits just behind that standard with 2,868 yards from 2021-2024.
Ryan Day said Smith has been locked in after the loss to Texas, and not exactly in a cheerful mood.
“He does not like to lose, Day said of Smith on his radio show this week. "I can tell you that right now. So he was surly this week like a lot of us."
Ohio State opened the year with a 56-3 win over Ball State, and Smith has been a constant threat through the first two weeks. He already has three touchdowns this season and is averaging 19.7 yards per catch.
Day also pointed to Smith’s bigger picture goals, saying the Miami Gardens, Fla., native is still chasing team success.
“He has a national championship already," Day said of Smith. "He wants to win another one in a bad way.
He's got a pair of Gold Pants. He wants another one in a bad way."
For Smith, the record is there. The only question is whether Saturday is the day he takes it.
In Other News...
Ohio State Faces One Immediate Test After That Texas Collapse
Ohio State does not have much time to sit with the sting of a blown 20-point fourth-quarter lead, because Kent State is next on the schedule and the Buckeyes need a clean response. After a season-opening loss that raised immediate questions about composure and late-game execution, this one shapes up as a chance to steady things, clean up the rotation and get the offense moving with a little less pressure on every snap.
The matchup also invites some early-game watching points beyond the scoreboard, from how long the starters stay on the field to whether the ground game can set the tone quickly. Bo Jackson is expected to get plenty of runway in the first half, and Khary Wilder could see a larger role on defense, which makes this more than just a routine tune-up. For Ohio State, the bigger question is whether the Buckeyes can turn an uneasy week into something that looks, at least for one Saturday, like control. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Clutch Kicking Reputation Might Not Match The Full Story
Ohio States late-game kicking reputation has long lived off a handful of memorable moments, but a deeper look at the numbers since 2000 paints a more complicated picture. The Buckeyes have had field-goal tries broken into two buckets here: money kicks, when the game is tied or they are trailing by three or fewer, and clutch kicks, when they are protecting a one-score lead, and the difference between those situations matters more than the folklore might suggest.
In money moments, the success rate sits just over half, with a mix of makes and misses that helped build the sense of drama around the position. The list includes some notable pressure kicks and some painful failures, along with Mike Nugents 55-yard walk-off against Marshall in 2004, a reminder that the range and stakes can change everything. Even so, the broader pattern leaves room for debate about whether Ohio States kicking curse is really about execution, opportunity, or the way the biggest misses tend to linger longest in memory. [Read more 🡒]
Legend Bey Gets A Crucial Ohio State Chance To Earn Trust Back
Legend Bey is getting another crack at a role that disappeared fast after the early-season loss of trust. The Ohio State freshman had been pulled from kickoff return duty after a shaky outing against Ball State, and Ryan Day turned to Devin McCuin for the Texas game while Beys involvement shrank to just one snap.
Now the Buckeyes are giving Bey his return job back for the upcoming game against Kent State, which makes this a clear chance to reset his standing. For Bey, the assignment is about more than handling kickoffs well. It is about showing he can follow instructions, stay within the framework of the staff, and earn back the trust that his play briefly cost him. [Read more 🡒]