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Yes, there is another level Jeremiah Smith can reach this season.
That’s unbelievable to think, given what he’s already accomplished in his first two seasons in Scarlet and Gray. But there’s something new for Smith coming into this season.
This year, he’s far and away the Buckeyes’ WR1, with nobody really even within striking distance of him. Because of that, Smith could be in for one of the most lucrative wide receiver seasons in college football history.
Having more College Football Playoff games, hopefully, will help Smith reach wildly prolific numbers this season. Smith is the only sure connection Julian Sayin has coming into this season. That tells me Smith could get a lot of targets this season — like double-digit targets in every game.
Already a two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Receiver of the Year, Smith has over 2,500 receiving yards, 163 receptions, and 27 touchdowns through his first two seasons. This year, he won’t have to share targets with Emeka Egbuka or Carnell Tate.
Without a proven WR2, that means more targets for Smith. Let him cook, and let him get as many receptions, yards, and touchdowns as he can.
Look at any of the great wide receiver seasons in college football history. From Randy Moss in 1997 to DeVonta Smith in 2020, there have been some incredibly prolific seasons throughout college football history. Smith could be among those after a tremendously productive season he’s poised to have.
Even though Smith has never topped 1,315 receiving yards in a single season, there’s reason to believe Smith can smash that number this season. Again, he’s the undisputed WR1 in the nation, which is crazy to say, but it also tells you just how many great wide receivers have come through Ohio State.
In addition, the schedule is tougher this season. There will be a lot of games where the Buckeyes are engaged in a battle in the fourth quarter. That’s when your best players have to step up.
For the Buckeyes, that’s Sayin and Smith. Can Smith, even when defenses know the ball is probably going to him, get open and make the big plays? If his big catch in the national championship is any indication, the answer is resoundingly yes.
But being in more close games this season will give Smith more targets, and that means more receiving yards and, hopefully, more touchdowns.
Ohio State should be a better running team this season, but that’s not guaranteed. The only sure things about this Buckeyes’ offense are Sayin’s accuracy and Smith’s off the charts pass-catching ability. That may be enough to carry the program deep into January.
It’s not inconceivable that Smith can be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. If he has a season like Buckeyes fans are hoping he has, that may be a reality.
In addition, Smith may win every receiving and offensive award there is in college football this season, and he has a great chance to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Smith finished sixth in Heisman voting last year. Remember, though, the Buckeyes won a lot of games in blowout fashion, and Smith was sharing targets with Carnell Tate. Both of those will have different realities in 2026.
This season, it’s all set up for Jeremiah Smith to post huge numbers. If he does, it could rank among the greatest wide receiving seasons in college football history.
Smith has already accomplished a lot in two seasons, so it’s wild to think he can still reach another level. That’s what the great ones do — they keep reaching new levels. Expect just that from Smith in 2026.