The numbers: Smith’s historic start
As of Dec. 8, 2025, Jeremiah Smith’s career totals of 156 receptions, 2,401 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns at Ohio State have him positioned to rewrite the Buckeye record book faster than anyone expected.
Those numbers already place him on an all-time trajectory, and they put him remarkably close to the program’s all-time marks of 205 career catches and 2,868 receiving yards held by Emeka Egbuka, and 35 receiving touchdowns set by Chris Olave.
Smith is already within 49 receptions, 467 yards, and
nine touchdowns of tying each record. Considering he still has this postseason plus the entire 2026 season ahead of him, the conversation is no longer about whether he’ll challenge those records, it’s about how quickly he’ll get there.
Can he break one this year?
Mathematically, Smith has an outside chance to claim the yardage record as soon as this postseason.
To surpass Egbuka’s 2,868 yards, he would need 467 more — a massive number, but not completely unrealistic if he delivers multiple explosive games in the playoff. Something in the range of 150–160 yards per game across a national title run would push him close.
The receptions and touchdown records, however, are almost certain to wait until 2026.
Smith’s role in the offense, target share, and big play volume make both marks extremely attainable over another full season. With just 49 receptions and nine touchdowns to go, he will enter next year as the overwhelming favorite to become Ohio State’s all time leader in all three categories.
The inevitable record chase ahead
No matter what happens this month, Smith is poised to put his stamp all over Ohio State’s career receiving leaderboard next fall. His combination of skill, consistency, and playmaking ability has already made him one of the most complete receivers the program has ever seen.
Add in the Buckeyes’ receiver-friendly system and the fact that Smith has been the focal point of the passing game since the minute he arrived, and the trajectory was obvious.
He could end this postseason within arm’s reach of the yardage record, or even break it with a historic run. But the bigger picture is even more significant.
Barring injury, Jeremiah Smith is on track to finish the 2026 season as Ohio State’s career leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, a trifecta no recent Buckeye has been able to claim.
