Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s electrifying wide receiver, is staring down +1400 odds to win the 2026 Heisman Trophy, a wild longshot bet considering his position. This dude isn’t a quarterback or a running back, and that means he’s fighting against pretty much every historical precedent. Heisman voters usually skip players like him, with 80 of the 90 winners historically being QBs or RBs. The few non-QBs or RBs who actually snatched the trophy were all wide receivers, like Michigan’s Charles Woodson or Colorado’s Travis Hunter. Smith knows the deal, too.
Can Smith Break The QB Stranglehold?
Last season, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin finished fourth in the Heisman voting, and Smith himself was sixth overall, the highest non-quarterback on the list. That puts him in an exclusive club of top contenders returning for another shot. But his own words at Big Ten media days last month tell you everything you need to know about this award’s bias. Smith said, “I always felt like it was a quarterback award unless you have a crazy season like DeVonta Smith with 1,800 yards and 24 touchdowns.” That’s the target. That’s the bar. He’s got to put up “undeniable” numbers if he wants voters to look past the quarterback position. The odds for a non-QB or running back are basically a “snowball’s chance in lukewarm temperatures” unless something truly special happens.
Smith’s Third Season Stunt And The Other Contenders
This isn’t Smith’s first rodeo; it’s his third and final season in college football. He rolled into Ohio State with one of the strongest recruiting profiles ever, the first receiver to finish as the No. 1 overall recruit. He’s planning to lead Ohio State to a second national title in three years, and that kind of team success combined with personal “crazy season” numbers could just be enough. Meanwhile, the Heisman race is absolutely stacked. Gunner Stockton from Georgia and Trinidad Chambliss from Ole Miss both finished seventh and eighth last year, respectively, and they’re back. Plus, there’s a whole crew of NFL Draft-worthy dudes like Arch Manning at Texas, Dante Moore at Oregon, Darian Mensah at Miami, and Josh Hoover at Indiana all looking to make some noise. On the coaching side, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, who led his Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and their first-ever national championship in 2025, isn’t among the preseason picks for Coach of the Year despite his previous win.
Smith’s quest to rewrite Heisman history is one of the biggest storylines heading into the 2026 college football season. Can he defy the odds, put up those legendary numbers, and force the voters to give the award to a wide receiver? Get ready, because if he pulls this off, it’ll be a season nobody forgets.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply