Can Jeremiah Smith Break The Ohio State Single-Season Receiving Records?

The Ohio State single-season receiving records are lofty goals. However, if you’re unaware, Jeremiah Smith is good at playing football for Ohio State. From the first snap of his first season in the scarlet and gray, it was well known that he was going to be something special. After two seasons as arguably the top wide receiver in college football, Smith is gearing up for his third and presumably final season with the Buckeyes. Unless we can get a GoFundMe going to try and pony up the millions upon millions of dollars he’d get as a likely top-five pick, this will be it.

Now, at just 20 years old, Smith is considered one of, if not the, greatest receiver to come through Columbus. Considering the wealth of talent to play for the Buckeyes, that’s saying something. To this point, Smith doesn’t own any records outside of those looking at freshmen stats. Which, up until he enrolled, was a low bar. Looking forward to 2026, he’s within striking distance of all of the major career records, but what about some Ohio State single-season receiving records?

Can Jeremiah Smith Break The Ohio State Single-Season Receiving Records?

The Current Records

As it stands, Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s 2021 performance stands as quite possibly the most impressive individual effort from a Buckeye receiver in history. He owns two of the Ohio State single-season receiving records: receptions and yards. Terry Glenn, meanwhile, won the Biletnikoff Award in 1995 thanks to his 17-touchdown season, which still stands as the best in program history.

Here is where the records stand, compared to Smith’s best single seasons:

It’s not hard to see how reachable those goals are. But what did Smith-Njigba and Glenn do to reach those heights? Starting with Glenn, he was shot out of a cannon and came out of nowhere. He went into the 1995 season with 15 receptions, 266 yards, and no touchdowns to his name. He finished the year with 57 receptions for 1,316 yards (setting the record), and 17 touchdowns. While his yardage mark was surpassed three years later, those 17 touchdowns still stand. He did all of his scoring in a nine-game span. In that time, he scored multiple touchdowns six times, including a four-touchdown effort in the win over Pitt.

Smith-Njigba’s season was incredible. In total, he went over 100 yards seven times, including in each of his final five games. In those five games, however, he amassed 60 receptions for 958 yards and six touchdowns. He broke the receptions record thanks to four double-digit-catch days, including two 15-catch games. Those two games are the program records for most in a single game. As for yards, he went nuclear against Nebraska for 240 yards, then he put up the single-greatest individual effort in Rose Bowl history with 347 yards (also an Ohio State record).

What Smith Would Have To Do

Smith has something available to him that Smith-Njigba and Glenn did not: an extended season. Even if the 2026 season ends similarly to last year, it would be 14 games, more than either record-holder played. However, let’s try to calculate what it would take to break the Ohio State single-season receiving records in the regular season.

Mathematically, it’s easy. Over the 12 games, Smith would have to average eight receptions for 133.9 yards and one-and-a-half touchdowns to beat the records by one each. On paper, that’s a pretty high bar. In his 29-game career to this point, Smith has had at least eight receptions six times, 134 yards five times, and at least two touchdowns six times. As for a combination of the three? He’s never done it.

Of course, there’s a simple explanation for that phenomenon: he wasn’t given the opportunity in a number of games. In those two-touchdown games, Ohio State’s smallest margin of victory was 20 points (41-21 Rose Bowl win over Oregon). If he played all four quarters, we might have a different conversation. If you’re curious what he has to average over a longer season, fret not:

(Ohio State would play 17 games if it lost the Big Ten Championship, had to play in the first round, and went on to win the College Football Playoff national championship)

Is It Possible?

Ideally, if Smith is going to break the records, it’ll happen in the regular season. Smith-Njigba needed 13 games (with two ridiculous performances) to own his two records, while Glenn set his in 11. Man, how did that 1995 team not win any…oh that’s right…

So, even if Ohio State falls short and doesn’t make the Big Ten championship, it’s still possible. If it goes on a run, it’s absolutely possible.

There are two paths to Smith breaking one or more of the Ohio State single-season receiving records. First off, Ohio State needs to be in more competitive games. Considering the schedule features six teams in ESPN‘s initial top 25 FPI ratings (five in the top 15). Sure, there have been instances of non-competitive ranked matchups featuring the Buckeyes, but it’s a good guess that Texas, Oregon, Indiana, USC, Michigan, and Iowa will be tougher outs than Ball State, Kent State, Illinois, Maryland, Northwestern, and Nebraska. Even then, Illinois could be sneaky good.

At the same time, will the Arthur Smith-led offense be a bit more up-tempo, or will Ohio State go full Tressellball again and slow things down? If it’s the former, it’ll be easier for Smith. That’s the other path: will Ohio State actually “turn up the gas” this year?

Last year, Ohio State ran 64 plays per game, the 22nd fewest in FBS. In 2024, that number was 62.8, the 12th fewest. Julian Sayin attempted 27.9 passes per game, while Will Howard averaged 26.4. The up-tempo-or-not aspect of it may not be the deciding factor; rather, what the Buckeyes do with those plays. This year, Smith is head and shoulders above the rest of the receiving room. Chris Henry Jr. may cut into his targets, as could the two transfer receivers, but “give your best player the ball” may be a frequent call this fall.

Smith is good enough that Ohio State wouldn’t have to force-feed him, but it wouldn’t hurt. If he has a JSN-like performance once or twice, it would go a long way. If it takes a 10-reception, 200-yard, three-touchdown day from the receiver many consider the best to beat any of those top-tier teams, nobody will bat an eye. Of course, if he wants to do that in the first half against any of those lesser teams (like he did against Grambling last year), that could help.

Overall, the final verdict is, barring health, Smith can absolutely do it.

Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images