Jeremiah Smith tied an Ohio State record with four touchdown catches Saturday, putting up a career-high 12 receptions for 217 yards as the No. 7 Buckeyes blasted Illinois 42-19.
Smith Was Just Unstoppable
This wasn’t just a big game for Smith, it was historic! He’s only the fifth Ohio State receiver *ever* to haul in four touchdowns, the last one being Noah Brown back in 2016. That’s a serious drought broken! Smith’s 12 catches and 217 yards also tied for the sixth-most in an OSU game. Talk about a single-game takeover! Sportradar tells us this kind of stat line, double-digit catches, 200+ yards, and four scores, has only happened 23 times for an FBS player since 2000. He’s in elite company, no question. Plus, he joined DeVonta Smith and Ja’Marr Chase as only the third Power Four receiver since 2015 to have at least three games with 150+ yards and two touchdowns in one half. That’s a crazy stat!
He wasted zero time getting started, snagging three TDs in the first half alone. His first was a quick 7-yard grab on the opening drive, giving the Buckeyes a score on their first possession for the third game in a row. Then he absolutely blew the top off the defense for a massive 72-yard touchdown, his second-longest catch ever. He got behind Mac Resetich, pulled off a sick double move at the 19-yard line, and was gone. His third score was a highlight grab, a 9-yard fade in the corner of the end zone while being absolutely blanketed by Tywan Cox. Pure talent.
Buckeyes Get the Win, But Watch That Run D
Look, a win is a win, especially to open Big Ten play. Julian Sayin was dealing, going 27 of 36 for 367 yards and even adding a rushing touchdown. The Buckeyes are 3-1, 1-0 in conference, extending their streak to 15 straight Big Ten opener victories. That’s rock-solid consistency.
Illinois hung tough, though. Katin Houser threw for 263 yards and a touchdown, and Jordan Anderson had a 22-yard rushing score in the first quarter. They even held Collin Dixon, who was leading the nation in receiving TDs, to just five catches for 63 yards. But here’s the rub: the Buckeyes’ defense coughed up 199 rushing yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry. That’s a stat that absolutely has to be a concern going forward. You can’t just expect Smith to go nuclear every single week, right?
Jeremiah Smith’s performance was electric and the main reason Ohio State secured this Big Ten win. But for the Buckeyes to truly dominate and hit those championship goals, they’ll need to lock down that run defense. This was a huge statement game for Smith, but also a clear warning for the defense. What’s next for this squad? We’ll be watching to see if they can put it all together.
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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