Jeremiah Smith added another line to his record book Saturday against Northwestern, and this one put him alone atop Big Ten history.
In the first quarter, Smith became the conference’s all-time leader in receiving yards, passing John Standeford of Purdue. The milestone came on a play where he could have scored if Bo Jackson had blocked better, but the result was the same: another record for Ohio State’s star receiver.
Smith has spent the entire season piling up milestones. He already owns Ohio State’s all-time marks for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and now he has the Big Ten record to go with them. For a player who has been the Buckeyes’ most reliable offensive weapon all year, it was only the latest proof of how much he has carried this team.
Earlier this week, Ohio State launched a Heisman campaign for Smith, and he remains the favorite to win the award even with the team’s rough stretch over the last couple of weeks. The Buckeyes are in the middle of what has been described as their worst season in 15 years, and one of the few goals still within reach is helping Smith bring home the Heisman.
Smith’s case keeps getting stronger because his season has only grown more complete. He has taken another step as a receiver, creating yards after the catch at a high rate and making tough grabs even when he is double-teamed, which happens almost every play. That production has made him not just the best receiver in Ohio State history, but possibly the best player the program has ever had.
Ohio State won a national championship with Smith as a freshman, which already gives his career a major place in the school’s history. But with a second title out of reach now, this final season has become something else entirely. The Buckeyes are unlikely to make the College Football Playoff without a wave of chaos ahead of them in the rankings, leaving Smith’s final year to be measured more by individual greatness than team success.
Still, the Buckeyes did make a point of getting him involved early against Northwestern. In the first half, they force-fed him the ball, exactly the kind of usage he needs if he is going to build the Heisman numbers that could soften the blow of a season that has gone sideways.
Smith would rather have the national championship, though.
In Other News...
Desmond Howard Took Another Shot At Jeremiah Smith And Buckeyes Fans Wont Like It
Desmond Howard stirred the pot again on First Take, taking aim at Jeremiah Smith and suggesting the Ohio State receiver has not delivered decisive moments in big games over the past two years. It is the kind of criticism that lands loudly in Columbus, especially with Smith already carrying the kind of national profile that makes every comment about him feel bigger than it should.
The pushback is easy to find in Ohio States own recent games, from Smiths game-winning touchdown against Indiana to a strong showing against Iowa that featured key receptions and scores. Even with the Buckeyes College Football Playoff path still uncertain, Smith remains one of the sports top Heisman Trophy candidates, which is exactly why any fresh swipe at his big-game rsum is going to get noticed. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Bigger Problem Than Just Beating Northwestern
Ohio State heads into its game against Northwestern with more than just a must-win result hanging over the week. Ranked No. 20 in the College Football Playoff standings, the Buckeyes need to keep stacking victories to stay in the conversation, but the larger issue has been how uneven they have looked on both sides of the ball. A few players have stood out, yet the overall performance has not matched the standard Ohio State usually brings into November.
The path forward is complicated by more than just its own inconsistency. The Buckeyes are also watching results elsewhere, with teams such as UCLA, Indiana, USC, Oregon and Iowa all shaping the postseason picture around them. Even if Ohio State handles Northwestern, the bigger question is whether this group can sharpen enough to hold its place in a crowded Big Ten race and keep its playoff hopes alive. [Read more 🡒]
Northwestern Coach Sounds Off After Ohio State Call Changed The Game
David Braun had plenty to say after Northwesterns 28-19 loss to Ohio State, and much of it started with respect for the Buckeyes. The Wildcats coach praised Ohio States performance and pointed to the programs recent success as the kind of standard his team is trying to chase, even while the result left Northwestern still searching for a breakthrough in Big Ten play.
Braun also made clear he disagreed with the replay ruling that helped swing momentum toward an Ohio State touchdown, a moment that only added to Northwesterns frustration. Beyond the officiating, he said the Wildcats have to clean up their penalties, and he offered a cautious update on injured quarterback Aidan Chiles, saying the recovery remains a week-to-week process. [Read more 🡒]