Jeremiah Smith keeps making the Heisman conversation impossible to ignore.
The Ohio State star put together a ridiculous first half against Illinois on Saturday, piling up eight catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns before the break. That kind of burst only adds to what has already been a monster season. Smith now has six touchdown receptions in 3.5 games and is on pace for close to 2,000 receiving yards.
For Buckeyes fans, the hype is already running hot. One fan pointed to Eddie George’s 314-yard day against Illinois as a reminder of how a big performance can fuel a Heisman push. Another put it even more directly: “Give Jeremiah Smith the Heisman Trophy,” while a third wrote, “If Jeremiah Smith doesn’t win the Heisman this season, a non quarterback might never win it again,” Another fan summed up the mood with, “Jeremiah Smith is winning the heisman and it’s not even remotely close,”
Wide receivers usually need a jaw-dropping season to break through in the Heisman race. Unless they bring the kind of multi-positional value Tim Brown or Travis Hunter offered, they rarely collect first-place votes.
DeVonta Smith remains the recent benchmark. In 2020, during the pandemic-shortened season, he finished with nearly 100 catches, more than 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games.
He then added to that total in the College Football Playoff, ending the year with 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns as Alabama beat Ohio State for the national title.
Even with that kind of standard in mind, Jeremiah Smith is pushing his way into the center of the race. He entered the day at +500 to win the trophy, sitting just behind Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Miami quarterback Darian Mensah.
Will he win it?
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Jay Timmons Is Earning Trust Faster Than Expected
Jay Timmons has moved quickly from newcomer to a player Ohio State is comfortable leaning on in the defensive backfield. The true freshman nickelback has already started for the defense, which is not something this program has asked of many freshmen in recent memory, and he has given the staff reasons to keep trusting him. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has praised his work, and veteran teammates have noticed the same thing after seeing how he has handled the job.
The early returns have been strong enough that Timmons is already being talked about as a prospect with a very high ceiling down the road. His play against Texas stood out as another sign that the moment has not been too big for him, even in an environment where young defensive backs are usually brought along more slowly. For Ohio State, the bigger question now is how far his rapid rise can continue as the schedule gets tougher and the expectations keep growing. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Commit Jamier Brown Is Quickly Regaining Lost Time
Jamier Brown is making up for a late start in a hurry. The Ohio State commit missed Waynes first two games because of a suspension, but he has wasted little time showing why he remains such a key piece for the Warriors, catching six passes for 63 yards and finding the end zone in a 49-24 win over Clayton Northmont in Greater Western Ohio Conference play.
Kye Graham kept the offense humming with 284 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Wayne backed it up with timely defensive stops and scoring drives to put the game away. For Ohio State, Browns recent stretch is the encouraging part, because the Buckeyes are getting a look at a receiver who is already helping his high school team settle in and build momentum after an unusual start to the season. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Will Love The Standard Indiana Just Exposed
Curt Cignetti is already talking like a coach who knows success changes the conversation. After Indianas recent surge, the Hoosiers head coach used a message to the fan base to push back on rising expectations, pointing to the programs history of thin crowds and asking supporters not to grumble about lopsided wins. It was a blunt reminder that, around college football, a winning stretch can quickly turn into a referendum on how much winning is enough.
For Ohio State fans, the contrast lands cleanly. Ryan Day has made his own standard public and unmistakable, setting a much higher bar for the Buckeyes than simply stacking victories and keeping people content. So while Cignetti was managing the temperature in Bloomington, his comments served as a useful backdrop for what Ohio State expects of itself, and why the conversation in Columbus usually starts where other programs hope to finish. [Read more 🡒]