After Saturday’s win over Iowa, Jeremiah Smith kept stacking numbers and climbing the Ohio State record book. He’s already first in receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns, and now the next landmark is sitting right in front of him: the Big Ten receiving touchdowns record.
Smith added two more receiving scores Saturday, giving him 36 for his career and setting a new Ohio State program record. The Big Ten mark is 39, owned by Braylon Edwards, so Smith is three shy of tying it and four away from passing it. With at least seven regular-season games still ahead, plus whatever comes in the postseason, the chase feels very much alive.
That climb matters for more than just the trophy case. Breaking the conference record would strengthen Smith’s Heisman Trophy case this season, but it could do even more for his standing as the projected No. 1 overall pick in 2027.
There still isn’t a quarterback in college football who has clearly separated himself as the class of the draft conversation. Arch Manning at Texas is viewed by many as the top quarterback, but Smith’s talent stands out at the top of the board.
And with the NFL season still in its early stages, some teams that have stumbled out of the gate - including the Chargers, Texans and Buccaneers - could end up looking beyond quarterback if their struggles continue. That’s where Smith starts to make real sense at No.
The final step toward locking that in would be breaking Edwards’ record this season. That kind of production would give NFL teams another proof point for what shows up on tape: the route running, the hands and the kind of receiving ability that translates.
Smith also brings a rare physical profile to the position. At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, he has size that can’t be manufactured, and it has already helped him pile up the records he’s chasing at Ohio State.
There’s even a real chance he gets to the record this weekend. Maryland has allowed 151 points through its first four games and has lost its last three, and Saturday offers Ohio State a breather before a difficult stretch in conference play. It could be the spot where Smith at least matches the mark at 39.
Julian Sayin has also seemed to be looking Smith’s way more than usual, and Ohio State can’t get so locked into feeding him touchdowns that it costs the Buckeyes elsewhere. Still, Smith has already put himself in the top-five pick conversation. Another record - especially the Big Ten one - would push him even closer to the No. 1 spot.
In Other News...
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Just Added Another Chapter To Ohio State History
Jaxon Smith-Njigba turned Ohio Stadium into a showcase on Saturday, piling up 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns as No. 5 Ohio State handled No. 14 Iowa, 31-14. It was the kind of afternoon that reminded everyone why the Buckeyes have long been a factory for elite receivers, with Smith-Njigba producing the kind of big-play outing that can change a game in a hurry.
By the time the dust settled, Smith-Njigba had moved into first place in Ohio State history in receptions, receiving touchdowns and receiving yards, adding another line to a program record book already crowded with stars. Julian Sayin helped make it possible, completing 20 of 27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, giving the Buckeyes a passing performance that kept Iowa chasing from start to finish. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Can Turn Homecoming Into A Bigger Big Ten Problem
Ohio State heads into homecoming weekend still carrying the momentum of its 31-14 win over Iowa, and Maryland is next on the schedule with the Buckeyes expected to keep rolling. The matchup gives Ohio State a chance to protect its place in the Big Ten race while also putting another conference opponent in a difficult spot on a festive weekend in Columbus.
Maryland arrives with a lot more pressure attached than the usual road trip, which is part of what makes this game worth watching beyond the spread. Mike Locksleys program has been struggling again this season, and another rough outing against Ohio State would only deepen the questions around where things are headed for the Terrapins. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Got A Harsh Reminder Of The Gap They Face
Ohio State left Iowa with more than another conference win after Saturdays 31-14 result. The Buckeyes latest showing was enough to push them to the top of ESPNs FPI rankings, another sign that the national machine in Columbus is rolling early and creating separation from the rest of the Big Ten pack.
Jeremiah Smith was at the center of it again, turning the trip into a showcase performance and further underscoring why the Buckeyes are built so differently right now. Iowa got a reminder of the gap it still has to close, while Ohio State kept adding to the sense that its ceiling is rising with each week. [Read more 🡒]