Heading into the 2025 season, the Big Ten has only taken home one Biletnikoff Award over the last 20 years. Despite that, the conference has routinely had some of the top pass-catchers in the country. This year is no different. Led by two sets of teammates, the Big Ten makes up five of the 13 semifinalists for the top receiver in the country. The SEC adds three semifinalists, while the ACC has two, with one each from the Mountain West, Big 12, and Independents.
Five Big Ten Receivers Named Biletnikoff Award Semifinalists
Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Last year, Omar Cooper Jr. was one of the underrated stars of an Indiana offense that took the nation by storm. This year, he’s taken another step and is now, rightfully, under consideration as one of the top receivers in the country.
In 11 games, Cooper has already surpassed his 2024 totals in every way. He has 740 yards and 10 touchdowns (tied for the Big Ten lead) on 55 receptions. Thus far, Cooper has a pair of 100+ yard days, including a 207-yard, four-touchdown effort in the win over Indiana State. He also tallied a 75-yard touchdown run in the win over Kennesaw State.
Heading into the team’s second bye week, Cooper has scored a touchdown in each of his last three games.
Makai Lemon, USC
Last year, it was apparent what kind of player Makai Lemon was growing to be. This year, he’s developed even further into one of the best the Big Ten has to offer. After leading the Trojan receivers with 764 yards and three touchdowns, Lemon fully took over the WR1 role for 2025.
Through 10 games, Lemon has nearly doubled the next-closest USC receiver with 1,090 yards and eight touchdowns on a Big Ten-best 71 receptions. He has five 100-yard games to his name thus far this year.
With perhaps his biggest test coming up, Lemon has gone for 314 yards and two touchdowns over the last two weeks.
In addition to the Biletnikoff Award, he is a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award. Lemon could be the second USC Trojan to take home the award, joining Marquise Lee in 2012.
Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Elijah Sarratt was one of those James Madison-to-Indiana converts when Curt Cignetti came to town. In his first season with the Dukes, Sarratt went for 1,191 yards and eight touchdowns. In his first season with Indiana in 2023, he added 957 yards and eight touchdowns. Now, despite battling nagging injuries, Sarratt is leading the Hoosiers again in 2025.
In eight games, the senior receiver has amassed 609 yards and is tied with his teammate atop the Big Ten leaderboard with 10 scores. He has a pair of 100-yard performances to his ledger and will be critical for the Hoosiers heading into the postseason.
Both Sarratt and Cooper are trying to become the first Indiana Hoosiers to win the Biletnikoff Award.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Last year, Jeremiah Smith broke out in a massive way, taking over the Ohio State offense despite being a true freshman. En route to a National Championship, Smith finished with the most yards and touchdowns in the Big Ten. This year, there hasn’t been much of a dropoff or “sophomore slump.”
While breaking in a new quarterback and having to contend with an ineffective running game, Smith is within striking distance of Ohio State career records in just his second season. In his last game against UCLA, there was something going on, so he only suited up for a half. However, in 10 games, Smith has amassed 902 yards and 10 touchdowns on 69 receptions. He has four 100-yard games and three multi-touchdown performances to this point.
Smith is likely the betting favorite for the award and is widely considered the top talent in college football. He’s also a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award.
Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Ohio State is a bit of a wide receiver factory to this point, thanks to Brian Hartline’s recruiting and coaching efforts. After the Buckeyes lose a first-round receiver, another steps into his place. The Buckeyes are a wide receiver hydra. Carnell Tate earned WR3 snaps last year and posted a modest 733 yards and four touchdowns.
This year, Tate has taken off as the number-two threat in the Ohio State offense. Despite missing the last two games due to an undisclosed injury, Tate has manufactured a breakout campaign. In eight games, Tate has amassed 711 yards and seven touchdowns while leading the Big Ten with 18.2 yards per reception. He has four 100-yard games despite lining up opposite Smith. Three of those performances came in his last four games.
If Tate or Smith were to win the award, they’d join Terry Glenn (1995) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (2023) as the only Buckeyes to do so. It would move Ohio State into a four-way tie for most from a single school with Alabama, Oklahoma State, and Pitt.
The Rest
- Chris Bell, Louisville
- Skyler Bell, UConn
- Germie Bernard, Alabama
- Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
- Mario Craver, Texas A&M
- Eric McAlister, TCU
- Duce Robinson, Florida State
- Danny Scudero, San José State
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