Columbus: Jeremiah Smith breaks Big Ten record, stays in Heisman race

Jeremiah Smith broke the Big Ten career receiving touchdown record on Saturday.

The Ohio State wide receiver caught his 40th career touchdown in the Buckeyes’ 30-18 loss to the University of Southern California. This milestone came in the eighth game of the 2026 season.

Smith has already shattered several program records this year. He passed Michael Jenkins to become the all-time leader in receiving yards on Sept. 19. He broke the records for career receptions and receiving touchdowns on Oct. 3 during a 31-14 win at Iowa.

Through eight games, Smith leads all college football players in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. His current total for receiving yards stands at 3,625. He needs 164 more yards to break the Big Ten career record.

The Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, suffered an injury in the fourth quarter of the 19-15 victory over Indiana on Oct. 17. The team turned to freshman quarterback Luke Fahey for the start against USC. Smith caught 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in that game.

ESPN senior writer Adam Rittenberg noted that Smith’s path to the Heisman Trophy has become more difficult. Rittenberg said the front-runner status depends on how Smith performs with the new quarterback. He added that Smith must show he can help the young signal-caller succeed in big games.

Smith was voted the best football player and best male athlete in The Lantern’s 2026 Best of OSU special edition. He received a total of 914 votes from students and community members. This is the second year in a row he has won both categories.

Head coach Ryan Day said Smith has taken his game to the next level this season. Day stated that it is hard to find areas for improvement after watching Smith play for three years. Day also noted that Smith prioritizes winning over individual accolades.

Day said Smith is an ultimate competitor who does not point fingers when teammates need to step up. He described Smith as someone who gets frustrated like everyone else but keeps working. Rittenberg believes Smith’s ability to support the team in the final four regular-season games could determine his fate for the award.

Only five wide receivers have won the Heisman Trophy in its history. The last non two-way wide receiver to win was Devonta Smith of Alabama in 2020. Travis Hunter of Colorado won the award in 2024 while playing both wide receiver and cornerback.