Key Highlights:
- Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith delivered a direct message to Heisman Trophy voters after leading No. 5 Ohio State to a 31-14 victory over No. 14 Iowa.
- Smith recorded 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa, accumulating 23 receptions, 423 yards, and six touchdowns over his last two games.
- With his latest performance, Smith broke school records to become Ohio State’s all-time leader in career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Jeremiah Smith Solidifies Heisman Trophy Campaign With Historic Performance
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is refusing to leave his status as the nation’s premier talent open for debate. Following an extraordinary road performance on Saturday, the standout pass-catcher delivered a direct statement aimed squarely at the national award electorate. You’ve just got to [let] the Heisman voters or whoever it is know that I’m the best player in the country,
Smith said, via ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. I’ve got to be there.
Backed by a historic statistical run, Smith’s case has rapidly transitioned from an ambitious push into one of the most compelling individual campaigns of the college football season.
The junior wideout took over Kinnick Stadium as No. 5 Ohio State defeated No. 14 Iowa by a final score of 31-14. Smith served as the focal point of the Buckeyes’ offensive attack, hauling in 11 receptions for 206 yards and two scores. The showing followed an equally dominant performance against Illinois the prior week, where Smith snagged 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Across his last two outings alone, Smith has produced an astounding stat line of 23 receptions, 423 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.
Rewriting the Ohio State Record Books
Through the Buckeyes’ first five games of the year, Smith has compiled 44 receptions for 823 yards and nine touchdowns, maintaining a place at or near the summit of college football in every major receiving category. His performance against the Hawkeyes also cemented his standing across Ohio State program history. The pair of touchdown receptions raised his career total to 36, breaking the previous Buckeyes school record held by Chris Olave. Furthermore, his 11 catches carried his career tally to 207, overtaking Emeka Egbuka’s former benchmark. Having already surpassed Michael Jenkins earlier in the season for the program’s all-time receiving yardage record, Smith now holds Ohio State’s career triple crown for receptions, yards, and touchdown catches before reaching the midpoint of the current campaign.
Breaking Open the Battle at Kinnick Stadium
Iowa’s defense entered the matchup fully aware of Ohio State’s primary target, yet they proved unable to slow the connection between Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin. Smith got onto the scoreboard with 12 seconds remaining in the second quarter, catching a 12-yard strike from Sayin. Early in the third quarter, Sayin connected with Smith once more on a 57-yard scoring play that stretched Ohio State’s advantage to 24-6. The Buckeyes proceeded to dominate the contest, amassing 484 total yards of offense while limiting Iowa to 238, controlling possession for over 38 minutes, and walking away with a lopsided road win.
āTo make some changes and bring in some fresh legsā: Mourinho Previews Sevilla Clash
Why This Matters
Smith’s production challenges decades of historical voting trends for college football’s highest individual honor. The Heisman Trophy has overwhelmingly favored quarterbacks and running backs, with Alabama’s DeVonta Smith in 2020 standing as the only wide receiver to capture the award since 1991. Quarterbacks routinely benefit from natural positional advantages in voting, meaning a wide receiver must exhibit undisputed dominance over the rest of the sport to stay in contention. By resetting Ohio State’s record book and maintaining nation-leading numbers through early October, Smith is mounting the exact profile required to force voters to look past standard positional preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What records did Jeremiah Smith break against Iowa?
Against Iowa, Smith caught his 35th and 36th career touchdowns to pass Chris Olave for the most receiving touchdowns in Ohio State history. He also secured his 207th career reception, surpassing Emeka Egbuka for the program’s all-time receptions record. Smith had already surpassed Michael Jenkins earlier this season to become the Buckeyes’ career receiving yardage leader.
What are Jeremiah Smith’s statistics through five games?
Through Ohio State’s first five games of the season, Smith has recorded 44 receptions for 823 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, highlighted by back-to-back 200-yard performances against Illinois and Iowa.
Who was the last wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy?
The most recent wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy was DeVonta Smith of the Alabama Crimson Tide, who took home the award following the 2020 college football season.
