Jeremiah Smith earns lofty distinction before likely final Ohio State season
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Jeremiah Smith earns lofty distinction before likely final Ohio State season originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Jeremiah Smith entered Ohio State as one of the most celebrated wide receiver recruits in recent memory. Two dominant seasons later, the Buckeyes star has established himself as something even bigger: the player setting the standard for the entire sport.
Sports Illustrated ranked Smith as the No. 1 player on its list of the 25 college football players with the most to prove and gain in 2026.
Smith finished ahead of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, Miami receiver Malachi Toney and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. That recognition comes with enormous expectations for what likely will be Smith’s final college season.
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Smith already has built a historic Ohio State resume
Smith became college football’s all-time leader in receiving yards by a freshman before returning with an equally productive sophomore campaign. The 6-foot-3 receiver led the Big Ten with 87 receptions and 1,243 receiving yards in 2025, earning unanimous All-American honors. He also maintained his position as one of the most coveted prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Ohio State has produced an extraordinary collection of receivers, including Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Emeka Egbuka. Smith has a chance to leave Columbus with a case as the best of them all.
Sports Illustrated noted that Smith could challenge the conference’s career records for receiving yards and touchdowns before the end of the 2026 season.
The Buckeyes also possess one advantage few programs can match: Their quarterback made the same ranking. Sayin landed at No. 5 after completing an FBS-best 77% of his passes last season. His continued partnership with Smith gives Ohio State arguably the nation’s most imposing quarterback-receiver combination.
The final step will be translating that talent into postseason success. Ohio State lost its two biggest games of 2025, falling in the Big Ten championship and Cotton Bowl.
Smith has already demonstrated that he is a special college receiver. Leading the Buckeyes back to the top of the Big Ten and into national championship contention would give him the defining conclusion his remarkable Ohio State career deserves.
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