Jeremiah Smith is sitting on the doorstep of Ohio State history, and Saturday in Iowa City could be the day he kicks the door in.
The Buckeyes receiver is only nine catches and one touchdown short of becoming Ohio State’s all-time leader in catches, yards and touchdowns. If he turns in anything close to a normal Jeremiah Smith game, the record book in Columbus is about to get a new name at the top.
That’s what makes this chase so striking: Smith does not need some once-in-a-lifetime outburst to finish the job. He is already close enough that an average outing could be enough, which says everything about how fast he has piled up production.
Of course, “average” has become a slippery word when Smith is involved. Last week against Illinois, he posted 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns in one of the most dominant performances Buckeye fans have seen in a long time. It was the kind of game that can change the tone of a season - and maybe, as the source material puts it, the most dominant one that anyone will see for the foreseeable future.
Now the setting changes, and the challenge gets sharper. Iowa has one of the country’s better pass defenses, ranking 21st nationally in both completion percentage allowed and yards per game surrendered at 168 a contest. Those numbers do come with context, though, since they are heavily influenced by games against Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa.
Even so, the Hawkeyes have shown they can make life difficult. Against Michigan, Bryce Underwood had what was, by his standards, his best game to that point against this defense. So while the matchup is difficult, it is not impossible for Ohio State to find openings through the air.
That is where Smith comes back into focus. He does not need to be a one-man rescue mission for the Buckeyes to win, but Ohio State does need him to be very good. He does not have to duplicate last week’s superhero act against Illinois, yet the passing game will need him to be a major factor if the Buckeyes are going to handle business.
And this is not just about Smith in isolation. Ohio State is going to need a full-team performance on Saturday.
Every part of the operation has to show up. If it does, the Buckeyes should be fine.
If it doesn’t, they could be dragged into a scrap with a gritty Iowa team.
Still, the most likely outcome is hard to miss: by the time this one is over, Jeremiah Smith probably owns the Buckeyes’ all-time triple crown.
In Other News...
Julian Sayin Sends Ohio State Offense A Clear Warning Before Iowa
Julian Sayin left the Illinois game sounding more like a quarterback settling into the bigger picture than one looking for a quick victory lap. He pointed to the offense's steady progress, the value of keeping drives alive with his legs, and the growing comfort level around him as young receivers continue to take on larger roles. Jeremiah Smith has been a central part of that mix, and Sayin also credited the veteran offensive linemen for helping stabilize things up front as the Buckeyes keep building.
The next test comes with another road trip, and Sayin made it clear those spots demand sharper execution and a little more maturity from everyone involved. Iowa is the kind of place where the margin for error can shrink fast, and Ohio State's quarterback knows the offense cannot treat this as a finished product. The message from Sayin was simple enough: the Buckeyes have come a long way, but the real work is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Still Has One Passing Game Issue Jeremiah Smith Cant Solve
Jeremiah Smith has been everything Ohio State could have hoped for in the passing game, and then some. The offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, pointed to the wideouts exceptional production, with Jeremiah Smith leading the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns, while the Buckeyes continue to lean on him as the centerpiece of the aerial attack.
Still, the passing game has one lingering question beyond its star. Ohio State is trying to establish a reliable second option, with Devin McCuin currently sitting as the teams second-leading receiver, and coaches and players have kept stressing that the offense will need more than one target to keep evolving. The message from inside the program is clear enough: the Buckeyes are pleased with the production they have, but they also know the next layer of consistency has to come from somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has One Huge Chance To Make A National Statement
Ohio State heads into a rare early measuring-stick game with a chance to leave no doubt about where it stands nationally. The Buckeyes have looked sharp enough to build real momentum, and the next step comes in a difficult road setting where every possession matters and every explosive play carries extra weight.
Jeremiah Smith remains one of the biggest reasons this game has taken on added intrigue, even beyond the team stakes around him. With the matchup set against unbeaten Iowa and its stingy defense at Kinnick Stadium, Ohio State will also be watching how Julian Sayin handles the moment and whether the defense can create the kind of turnovers that turn a good win into something louder. [Read more 🡒]