When Ohio State beat Ohio 37–9 on Saturday night in Columbus, the scoreboard told one story. But the real headline belonged to a single number: 1,500.
That was the milestone Jeremiah Smith crossed during the win, and in doing so he became the fastest wide receiver in Buckeye history to eclipse that mark, reaching it in just his 19th career game. Smith has already surged past the milestone and now sits at roughly 1,630 yards, but it’s the speed at which he got there that sets him apart from every Ohio
State great before him.
Smith, who caught nine passes for 153 yards and a touchdown against the Bobcats, continues to justify the “generational talent” label that followed him out of high school. His blend of physicality, body control, and explosiveness allows him to dominate at every level of the field. He can beat corners with speed off the line, elevate for contested balls, and turn a routine slant into a game-breaking play.
The context makes the milestone even more impressive.
Ohio State’s receiving room has been stacked with future NFL stars over the past decade, Michael Thomas, Terry McLaurin, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr., yet none of them reached 1,500 yards in fewer than 19 games.
Smith has shattered that timeline while shouldering the expectations of being “the next great one” at a program where greatness is the standard.
Smith’s presence also changes the geometry of Ohio State’s offense. Defenses that consistently bracket him outside leave one-on-one opportunities for Carnell Tate, Brandon Innis or Max Klare. If safeties cheat toward Smith, the Buckeyes have space to run the ball with their young backfield.
His ability to dictate coverage is the kind of weaponry that wins playoff games and championships.
The 1,500-yard milestone is not just a personal accolade, it’s a marker of how central Smith already is to Ohio State’s offensive identity. At this pace, he’s on track to not only rewrite the Buckeyes’ record books, but to cement his name alongside the all-time great receivers in college football history.
On a night when the Buckeyes rolled comfortably past an in-state opponent, the story wasn’t just the margin of victory. It was Jeremiah Smith hitting 1,500 yards faster than anyone who’s ever worn scarlet and gray.
