Jeremiah Smith put on an absolute clinic on September 26, dropping 12 receptions for a mind-blowing 217 yards and four touchdowns against the Illinois Fighting Illini. Ohio State might have only managed a gritty win that barely scraped by, failing to cover their massive four-touchdown favored spread, but Smith’s individual effort against Illinois was the kind of performance that makes you wonder if we’re watching the next big thing unfold right before our eyes.
Smith is Playing a Different Game
Dude, Smith wasn’t just good, he was *unreal*. Twelve catches, 217 yards, FOUR touchdowns! Like, he’d never even hit three scores in a game before, and he just blew past that mark, setting new high-water marks for receptions, yards, and touchdowns in a single game for himself. You gotta wonder if the Heisman voters were watching that tape because what he did was straight-up jaw-dropping. He was celebrating with offensive lineman Luke Montgomery after one of those scores, and you could feel the energy.
This isn’t just about one huge game either, this is about history. Smith is now only 10 catches and 2 touchdowns away from owning the Ohio State triple crown records. Think about that for a second: a “normal” receiver would need a few games to snag those numbers, but for Smith? He’s within striking distance *right now*. While the Big Ten records are still a bit further out, needing 177 receptions, 614 yards, and 6 touchdowns, his Ohio State records are practically in his grasp. The game plan was obviously to get the ball to the best player in college football, and even with Illinois trying to respect the overall passing attack, Smith just kept getting one-on-one matchups and absolutely dunking on their secondary.
Quarterback Stepped Up, But Rest of the Offense?
While Smith was doing his thing, we gotta give props to the guy getting him the ball. Quarterback Julian Sayin had himself a killer first half, going 21-27 for 272 yards and three touchdowns, all of which went to Smith! And Sayin wasn’t just sitting in the pocket either; he used his legs for 6 runs, picking up 26 yards and scoring a rushing touchdown of his own. That drive where he punched it in himself? Pure grit.
But beyond the Smith and Sayin show, the offense had some serious issues. The run game was basically non-existent. No other receiver went over 40 yards, meaning nobody else took any real pressure off Smith. And the offensive line? Not in top form, according to the post-game chatter. It just reinforces how much Smith and Sayin had to carry the load to get that “gritty win” against Illinois.
So, what’s next? Smith is on the verge of owning Ohio State’s receiving records, and it feels like every time he steps on the field, he’s strengthening his case for the biggest individual award in college football. Keep an eye on the Buckeyes’ next game to see if Smith can etch his name even further into the record books. He’s closing in, and it’s gonna be electric when he does it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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