Jeremiah Smith chasing Heisman in final Ohio State season
Jeremiah Smith confirmed at Big Ten Media Days that 2026 will be his final season at Ohio State. The star receiver is chasing a Heisman Trophy, the Biletnikoff Award, and a second national championship before leaving for the NFL after two dominant seasons in Columbus.
Speaking in Chicago, Smith made clear he still has unfinished business with the Buckeyes. For fans tracking Big Ten coverage and streaming and TV alerts, his comments also frame the stakes of Ohio State's upcoming season.
Key Takeaways
- Smith confirmed 2026 is his final season at Ohio State despite remaining eligibility.
- He is chasing the Heisman Trophy, the Biletnikoff Award, and another national title.
- Through two seasons, he has 163 catches, 2,558 yards, and 27 touchdowns.
- He said he rejected a reported $10 million NIL transfer offer after Brian Hartline left.
- Smith insists his focus is Ohio State football now, not the NFL draft.
What did Jeremiah Smith say about his Ohio State future?
According to ESPN, Smith confirmed the widely expected timeline Wednesday: this will be his last season in Columbus.
Reminded that new eligibility rules could let him stay longer, he laughed and answered bluntly. "I know, but I think it's time for me to go," he said, per Yahoo Sports and Cleveland.com.
"Kind of sad, but I'm going to give it everything I've got," Smith added. Cleveland.com also quoted him saying it is "probably my last season here," but that he plans to "put on a show for Buckeye Nation."
Why is Jeremiah Smith chasing the Heisman now?
Smith already ranks among college football's most accomplished young receivers. He started as a true freshman in 2024, broke multiple Ohio State freshman receiving records, and caught a game-clinching 56-yard pass on third-and-11 in the national championship win over Notre Dame.
Last season he helped push Ohio State to an undefeated regular season and another playoff run. Yet he has not been a Heisman finalist or won the Biletnikoff Award. He said he is "definitely chasing" both honors.
Smith argued the Heisman should go to the "best player," not automatically to the best quarterback or the flashiest stats, citing DeVonta Smith's 2020 win as a rare receiver breakthrough.
What would a perfect final season look like for Smith?
"Bringing more hardware back to Ohio State," Smith said. "That's what the perfect season would look like." Coach Ryan Day called him a high-character player who "wants this year to be his best."
Yahoo Sports reported Smith rejected a reported $10 million NIL offer to transfer after Hartline left for South Florida, choosing to finish his college career in Columbus. He is widely projected near the top of the 2027 NFL Draft, but he said he is not dwelling on that yet.
"I don't really focus on what's in the future. I focus on what's right now. And that's Ohio State football," Smith said. His aim, he added, is to make teammates better and "leave the jersey better than I found it."