Jeremiah Smith Just Delivered His Heisman Moment

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Jeremiah Smith Just Delivered His Heisman Moment

Originally posted on Lindy's Sports | By Eman Zahra | Last updated Sep 29, 2026 6:22 PM ET

Every Heisman winner has a game that people point back to later. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith might have just handed himself his.

In the Buckeyes’ 42-19 Big Ten-opening win over Illinois, Smith caught 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs.

Entering the day he had 21 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns through three games combined, according to Yahoo Sports, meaning he nearly matched or exceeded a month’s worth of production in one afternoon.

Scarlet and Game, a site covering the program, notes Smith is now the fastest player to reach 3,000-plus receiving yards and 30-plus touchdowns since 2008, a mark that spans nearly two decades of college receivers.

How It Looked on Tape

This wasn’t just volume. Scarlet and Game describes Smith badly beating Illinois defensive back Mac Resetich on one touchdown catch, turning him around twice after the reception. ESPN’s Heisman column went further, writing that Smith “ran almost literal circles around the Illinois defense” and joking the performance made Illinois’ defensive coordinator want to quit.

Smith is now a legitimate Heisman frontrunner, and a somewhat historic one. ESPN’s weekly Heisman column notes he could become the first full-time wide receiver to win the award since DeVonta Smith in 2020.

ESPN’s own staff called Week 4 a tough call between Smith and Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons, ultimately naming them co-winners of its weekly Heisman honor, a rare acknowledgment for a receiver over a quarterback in a QB-dominated race.

Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes leads his team out to the field prior to the start of a game.Kirk Irwin / Getty Images

The Bigger Picture for Ohio State

The win pushed Ohio State to 3-1 and opened Big Ten play on the right note after an earlier loss. Yahoo Sports notes Ohio State has eight games remaining on its schedule, including five against teams currently ranked in the top 20, with three of those on the road.

That gives Smith no shortage of opportunities to keep building his case, but it also means Ohio State’s margin for error narrows fast if the offense can’t consistently produce showings like Saturday’s.

Smith and the Buckeyes travel to Iowa City next week for a matchup against an Iowa team riding high off its own signature win over Michigan, with ESPN’s College GameDay in town for the occasion.

It’s shaping up to be one of the more anticipated games of the Big Ten season, and after Saturday, plenty of eyes will be on whether Smith can do it again on the road.