Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith tops Heisman rankings with 1,067 yards
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The gist
Ohio State junior receiver Jeremiah Smith leads the Heisman Trophy power rankings with 62 catches for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns.
His rival Malachi Toney's ankle surgery and an Ohio State quarterback injury shape the race.
Background
Jeremiah Smith is an Ohio State junior wide receiver, listed at 6-foot-4, who has become the Buckeyes' all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He is now the front-runner in the Heisman Trophy race (the annual award for the top player in US college football), and his case is being weighed against a changing picture around him: Miami receiver and rival Malachi Toney is out with a high-ankle sprain, while Ohio State lost quarterback Julian Sayin to injury, putting freshman Luke Fahey under center.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026Smith had eight receptions for 151 yards and struck a Heisman pose after his second touchdown in top-ranked Ohio State's 56-3 win over Ball State.
- Sep 26, 2026He set career-highs with 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-19 win over Illinois, tying the Ohio State single-game touchdown record.
- Oct 17, 2026Ohio State beat Indiana 19-15, but quarterback Julian Sayin was injured in the fourth quarter.
- Oct 21, 2026Smith was named a Sporting News midseason All-American, his fourth midseason All-America honor in a week.
- Oct 31, 2026In a 30-18 loss to USC, Smith caught 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown and set the Big Ten career receiving touchdown record with his 40th career TD catch.
- Nov 3, 2026Oregon coach Dan Lanning joked his team would "see if we can play with 12" to defend Smith ahead of the Nov. 7 Oregon-Ohio State game.
- Nov 5, 2026Smith ranked No. 1 in the Heisman Trophy top 10 power rankings, with 62 catches for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
Key terms
- Heisman Trophy
- An annual award given since 1935 to the top player in American college football.
- All-American
- An annual honor given to outstanding U.S. athletes considered among the best in their sport.
- Big Ten
- A major U.S. collegiate athletic conference, the oldest in NCAA Division I, originally named for its ten member universities.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- ESPN's Adam Rittenberg said he still sees Smith as the front runner and that someone will have to go out and take the award from him.
- Coach
- Oregon head coach Dan Lanning called Smith "special" and "dynamic in every phase," said you have to know where he is at all times, and added that he "is certainly pro ready."
- Coach
- Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Smith has "taken his game to the next level this year."
Still unverified
Toney's return for the College Football Playoff is only a possibility based on a typical four-week timeline for his injury, per ESPN.