Jeremiah Smith sets an Ohio State receiving record closing in on even more Buckeyes history
Smith needs six more touchdown receptions this season to set a new Buckeyes record
The 2026 college football season has been a whirlwind of high-stakes drama for the Ohio State Buckeyes , who entered Saturday looking to firmly reestablish their national championship ambitions.
After stumbling out of the gate with a tough early-season loss to powerhouse Texas , the Buckeyes bounced back in emphatic fashion today by delivering a dominant, statement-making blowout 59-3 win against Kent State University .
While the entire roster clicked on all cylinders to right the ship, the afternoon belonged entirely to superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith , who put on a historic clinic inside Ohio Stadium and etched his name permanently into the storied record books of college football’s most famous receiver factory.
Jeremiah Smith Shatters Michael Jenkins’ Career Record
Heading into Saturday's matchup against Kent State , the junior phenom, projected by ESPN as a guaranteed top-five selection in next year's NFL draft , was already operating on a historical tier of his own.
After racking up a jaw-dropping 1,315 receiving yards as a true freshman two years ago followed by another 1,243 yards last season , Smith had already accumulated 315 yards and 3 touchdowns through Ohio State's first 2 games of the 2026 campaign.
His combined totals of 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown grabs from 2024 to 2025 already stood as the most by any Big Ten receiver through their first two years in college history.
Needing just a few more catches to rewrite more program milestones, Smith officially shattered Michael Jenkins ’ long-standing career receiving yardage record of 2,898 yards on a brilliant 23-yard grab during the Buckeyes' second offensive possession.
With that catch, Smith claimed the crown and now stands just 6 touchdowns away from surpassing Chris Olave’s school record of 35 career scoring receptions , while also closing in on Emeka Egbuka’s program benchmark of 205 total receptions.
This latest feat cements Smith's legacy alongside an elite fraternity of modern Ohio State wide receiver legends, including Michael Thomas , Terry McLaurin , Chris Olave , Garrett Wilson , Jaxon Smith-Njigba , and Emeka Egbuka , who have all transformed Columbus into the premier breeding ground for elite NFL pass-catchers.
