Jeremiah Smith became an all-time great in Ohio State football history Saturday while also making the case for being named the best in the sport this season.
The junior wide receiver set Buckeyes career records for receptions and touchdowns to help No. 5 Ohio State (5-1) won 31-14 over the No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2) at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
Smith surpassed Chris Olave with his 36th career TD reception, scoring with 6:11 left in the third quarter. He later recorded the 206th catch of his career, breaking the all-time Ohio State mark held by Emeka Egbuka.
The greatest to ever do it.@Jermiah_Smith1 x #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/mdxfY6UKJZ
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) October 3, 2026
Smith finished with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and he struck a brief Heisman Trophy pose after his second score. He extended his Ohio State record career receiving yards to 3,381.
“Bring this team a national championship,” Smith said when asked what else is left to do. “And that’s all I’ve been chasing since the season started. That’s a goal of mine before I leave here, and I’m very committed to that.”
Last week, Smith had 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns against Illinois.
“Drawing plays up for him is a lot of fun, but the most amazing thing about Jeremiah Smith is his work ethic every day,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “How much he loves to win. How competitive he is, the way he works every day. Not only is he a great player, he’s become a great leader. There’s a whole generation of young people watching him.
“The performances he’s put up the last couple of weeks, they’re contagious. The guys feed off it. And this is the best player in the country right here.”
HEISMAN.@Jermiah_Smith1 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ZUH2IIxJ0b
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 3, 2026
Smith is trying to become the first wide receiver to win college football’s most prestigious award since DeVonta Smith for Alabama in 2020.
“That’s definitely on my mind,” Smith said of the Heisman. “I’ve got to get to New York this year.”
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin was a Heisman finalist last year and has made his case to be in the running again, completing 20 of 27 passes for 324 yards and three TDs against Iowa.
QB1 came to play ‼️
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) October 3, 2026
🌰 20/27
🌰 324 yards
🌰 3 TDs@OhioStateFB | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/kNAcbC7DbH
The Buckeyes opened a 17-6 lead with 12 seconds before halftime on a 12-yard TD catch by Smith and then capped its scoring on a 2-yard rushing TD by Ja’Kobi Jackson in the fourth quarter.
“I thought the way we finished the fourth quarter was what we were looking for,” Day said. “Across the board, there were a lot of good things. I thought the defense really created some turnovers, and that was really big in terms of a short field.
“We played physical, and I felt like we controlled the game in the fourth quarter. Build some confidence, build some momentum as we head to the middle of the season.
