Jeremiah Smith makes Ohio State history with eye-popping performance
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Jeremiah Smith makes Ohio State history with eye-popping performance originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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If there were ever a player in college football that's making a case for the Heisman Trophy early in the season, look no further than Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has been sensational in the Buckeyes' first four games.
Against Illinois on Saturday, he helped Ohio State improve to 3-1 with a 42-19 win on the road. But Smith made some pretty impressive school history in the victory that puts his name freshly in the Buckeye record books.
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Jeremiah Smith makes Ohio State history
Smith finished with 12 receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns. The performance make Smith the very first and only Buckeye receiver to get over 10 catches for over 200 yards and four scores:
List of Ohio State WRs EVER to have 10+ catches, 200+ receiving yards and 4 receiving TDs in a game:
Jeremiah Smith – 2026 vs. Illinois
That’s the list. pic.twitter.com/fQBsJdEQy1
— Novig (@Novig) September 26, 2026
Smith's four touchdowns also ties him with former Buckeye great receiver Terry Smith, who had nine catches for 253 yards and four touchdowns during a game against Pitt in late-September.
Jeremiah Smith again! His 4th rec TD of the day ties the Ohio State single game record! He joins Terry Glenn (1995) as the only players in Ohio State history with 200 rec yards and 4 rec TD in a single game 🏈
Smith is now the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at +340 according… pic.twitter.com/I1TZwUNKMi
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) September 26, 2026
“If there’s a better player in the country, it’s hard to imagine," Day said after the game. "I think he’s taken his game to the next level this year.”
Three of Smith's touchdown receptions impressively came in the first half. His fourth and final of the game came early in the fourth quarter:
Jeremiah Smith is ridiculous.
11 rec
205 yards
4 TDs pic.twitter.com/ge4TBnccCq— Breton (@BretonPicks) September 26, 2026
Illinois' defensive backs didn't really have a chance going up against Smith:
JEREMIAH SMITH CAN’T BE STOPPED 🤯🔥
A 72-YARD TD caps off a monster Q1: 4 REC, 123 YDS, 2 TDs. #OhioState#GoBuckspic.twitter.com/PYriMtrV1R
— Lavanya (@Iavanyaa) September 26, 2026
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Jeremiah Smith Ohio State stats
| SEASON | REC | YARDS | TD |
| 2024 | 76 | 1,315 | 15 |
| 2025 | 87 | 1,243 | 12 |
| 2026 | 33 | 617 | 7 |
Smith is up to 617 yards and seven touchdowns through four games this season.
Jeremiah Smith Heisman odds
While it's still very early in the Heisman race, which will go through the month of November, Smith has separated himself early. According to DraftKings Sports Book, Smith has the best Heisman odds at (+320), ahead of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (+440) and Miami quarterback Darian Mensah (+450).
Next up for Smith and the Buckeyes is a road trip to play the Iowa Hawkeyes on Oct. 3.
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