Jeremiah Smith enters the 2026 season as the most important player in college football, and it isn't particularly close. The Ohio State wide receiver, already a two-time first-team All-American through just two seasons, headlines a Buckeyes team defending its national championship and chasing a Heisman Trophy that would be the first ever won by a primarily non-quarterback skill player since Reggie Bush in 2005.

A Unanimous No. 1 Ranking

When ESPN polled more than 20 college football front-office staffers this offseason, asking general managers, personnel directors and scouting directors to name the sport's top returning receivers, the response splintered everywhere except at the very top. Smith collected a unanimous No. 1 ranking. "Seeing him on the sideline, it's unbelievable," one general manager told ESPN. "I couldn't believe his physical makeup, his body, just how athletic he is. It was nuts." One personnel director who game-planned against Smith predicted he'll be the first non-quarterback selected in next year's NFL Draft.

The Numbers Behind the Hype

Smith has caught 163 passes for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns across his first two college seasons, numbers that already have him within reach of Ohio State's three most significant career receiving records. He needs 43 more receptions to break Emeka Egbuka's program record of 205, needs 341 more receiving yards to break Michael Jenkins' record of 2,898, and needs nine more touchdown catches to break Chris Olave's mark of 35. Smith also became the fastest player in program history to reach 100 career receptions, tying Jaxon Smith-Njigba's pace of 20 games, and he's already joined Marvin Harrison Jr. as the only Ohio State receivers with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

His freshman season alone led the entire Big Ten in receiving among all players, not just first-year ones: 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, on the way to being named the conference's Receiver of the Year. He backed that up as a sophomore by helping Ohio State win the national championship, catching the go-ahead touchdown in the semifinal win over Texas and adding a 56-yard third-down conversion late in the title game against Notre Dame that's since been nicknamed "3rd and Jeremiah" by Buckeyes fans.

A Heisman Case Built Differently

Wide receivers almost never win the Heisman Trophy; the award has gone to a primarily non-quarterback skill player only a handful of times in the last two decades. Smith's case rests on being the only Buckeye truly proven at a high level heading into a season where Ohio State is breaking in a new starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, after Will Howard's departure. That dynamic could work in Smith's favor: with defenses forced to account for him on every snap regardless of who's throwing the ball, a monster statistical season becomes more plausible than it would be as a complementary piece next to an established star passer.

Smith has never topped 1,315 receiving yards in a single season, but analysts covering the program believe this year could change that. Ohio State's schedule includes more high-leverage, closely contested games than in past seasons, and shootout-style games tend to produce more targets and more opportunities for a team's top receiver to pad his numbers late. Smith is, by a wide margin, Sayin's most proven and trusted target heading into the year, which only raises his target share further.

Staying for a Final Season

Smith could have left for the NFL after either of his first two seasons but chose to return for his junior year, reportedly turning down interest worth as much as $10 million to stay in Columbus. At Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, Smith confirmed this will be his final collegiate season. "Kind of sad, but I'm going to give it everything I've got," Smith said. That decision sets up a season with everything on the line: a Heisman campaign, a shot at three program receiving records, and a chance to help Ohio State defend its national title before turning pro as one of the most decorated receivers in program history.

The Season Ahead

Smith and Ohio State open the 2026 season at home against Ball State before a marquee showdown against Texas on September 12 in Austin, a rematch of last season's College Football Playoff semifinal that Ohio State won on its way to the title. With a full season of chemistry still developing under Sayin, expectations for statistical records, and a national championship to defend, Smith's junior year is set up to be one of the most closely watched individual seasons in recent college football history.

A Loaded Supporting Cast Around Him

Smith won't be facing this season alone at the position. Ohio State's wide receiver room enters 2026 as one of the deepest in the country, giving opposing defenses more to account for than simply doubling Smith on every snap. That depth should, in theory, make it harder for teams to take Smith away entirely, since committing extra coverage to him opens up opportunities elsewhere in the passing game. How quickly Sayin builds chemistry with that supporting cast, separate from his rapport with Smith specifically, will go a long way toward determining whether Ohio State's offense can match the balance it had in previous seasons.

The Draft Case Still Building

Beyond this season's individual and team accolades, Smith's draft stock continues to climb with every game. He's been widely projected as a top-three pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, an unusually high projection for a player who won't turn 21 until after that draft takes place. Evaluators point to his rare blend of size, ball skills and route-running polish as reasons he profiles as a true No. 1 receiver at the next level rather than a situational weapon. A strong junior season chasing three school records and a Heisman campaign would only add to that case, giving Smith a chance to leave Columbus as one of the most statistically decorated receivers in Big Ten history.

For now, though, Smith has been clear that his focus remains on this season and this team. With Ohio State opening as the favorite in the Big Ten and squarely in the national championship conversation once again, Smith's final college season carries stakes on nearly every level: personal records, a Heisman campaign, a repeat title bid, and a draft profile that continues to strengthen with every performance.