Jeremiah Smith has already rewritten Ohio State’s receiving record book in less than three full seasons. The junior wide receiver from Miami Gardens, Florida, now holds the program’s career marks for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. With five regular-season games remaining plus any postseason play, he is positioned to move into the top of the Big Ten’s all-time lists as well. Through seven games in 2026, Smith has 52 receptions for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns. His career totals stand at 215 catches, 3,542 yards, and 39 touchdowns.
Career Production Through Three Seasons
Smith’s production has been consistent from the start. As a true freshman in 2024, he caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, setting the FBS single-season record for receiving yards and touchdowns by a true freshman while helping Ohio State win the national championship. In 2025, he followed with 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 2026 season has continued at a high level despite the Buckeyes navigating a quarterback change after Julian Sayin’s injury. Smith is averaging 18.9 yards per catch this year and has scored in six of seven games.
He has already claimed every major Ohio State career receiving record. Against Iowa on October 3, he broke the school marks for both career receptions and receiving touchdowns in the same game. He earlier surpassed Michael Jenkins for the career yards record. Those program records belonged to accomplished receivers: Emeka Egbuka held the receptions mark, Chris Olave held the touchdown mark, and Jenkins held the yards mark. Smith is the first Ohio State player past 3,000 career receiving yards.
Big Ten Career Touchdown Record
Smith tied Braylon Edwards of Michigan for the Big Ten career receiving touchdown record with his 39th score against Indiana on October 17. Edwards set the mark of 39 touchdowns from 2001 to 2004. Smith reached the same number in 35 games. One more touchdown gives him the record outright. He has scored multiple touchdowns in multiple games this season, including a four-touchdown performance against Illinois. With remaining games against USC, Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan, plus potential playoff games, the opportunity to pull clear of Edwards is realistic if he stays healthy and continues to be targeted in scoring situations.
Other notable names on the Big Ten touchdown list include James Hardy of Indiana (36), Chris Olave (35), Anthony Carter of Michigan (33), and David Boston of Ohio State (32). Smith has already passed most of them. The combination of volume and efficiency has allowed him to accumulate scores at a faster rate than most predecessors.
Career Receiving Yards Chase
The Big Ten career receiving yards record belongs to John Standeford of Purdue, who finished with 3,788 yards from 2000 to 2003. Smith sits at 3,542 yards and is within striking distance. He has climbed into the top five on the conference list. Braylon Edwards is also on that list with 3,541 yards. At his current pace of roughly 140 yards per game, Smith could move past both Edwards and Standeford with a strong finish to the regular season. Even at a more moderate rate of 120 yards per game over the remaining regular-season contests, he would still have a clear path into first place before the postseason.
Single-season marks are also in play. Jaxon Smith-Njigba holds the Big Ten single-season receiving yards record at 1,606 (including the Rose Bowl). Smith has 984 yards through seven games and would need a continued high output to challenge that number. His 217-yard, four-touchdown game against Illinois and 206-yard game against Iowa show he is capable of the volume required.
What Remains Achievable
Smith’s remaining schedule includes a road game at USC, a home game against Oregon, and the regular-season finale against Michigan. Those opponents present varied defensive looks, but Smith has produced against ranked teams already this season, including 164 yards against Texas and a touchdown against Indiana. His ability to win at multiple levels of the field—deep routes, intermediate timing throws, and after the catch—gives Ohio State multiple ways to feature him even with a less experienced quarterback.
Beyond the statistical chase, Smith has been consistent in public comments about his priorities. After breaking Ohio State records, he has emphasized the team’s goals, particularly winning a national championship. That focus has not limited his production. Coaches have noted his work ethic and leadership as factors that support the statistical output.
Outlook for the Rest of 2026
If Smith maintains something close to his current per-game averages, he will finish the regular season as the Big Ten’s career leader in receiving touchdowns and in position to claim the yards record. Even if production dips with a new quarterback, the gap to the yards record is manageable over five or more remaining games. Additional postseason opportunities would further extend his totals. At 20 years old and with one more year of eligibility after 2026, any records he sets this season could still be improved upon next year, though his draft eligibility window begins in 2027.
Smith has already established himself as one of the most productive receivers in Ohio State history. The next several weeks will determine how far up the Big Ten all-time lists he climbs before the season ends. The combination of volume, efficiency, and remaining opportunities makes further movement in the record books a realistic outcome rather than a long-shot possibility.
