Big Ten receiving yardage leaders after Week 3

Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff continues to lead the Big Ten in receiving yardage after catching 7 passes for 86 yards with a touchdown against USC in Week 3. All three stats were season lows for Duff through the first three games of the year.

Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State became the new all-time receiving yardage leader in Buckeyes program history. And it is only three games into the season! The Biletnikoff favorite also had season lows in a rout of Kent State with 5 catches for 85 yards, but his services were not really needed in the decisive rebound win for Ohio State.

Penn State's Koby Howard remains one of the Big Ten's rising stars at wide receiver. Howard scored 2 touchdowns in a blowout win over Buffalo, with one coming on a 20-yard rushing

attempt.

Here are the Big Ten's top 10 leaders in receiving yards after Week 3.

1. KJ Duff, Rutgers

Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Kj Duff (8) reacts after a touchdown reception during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Receiving yards: 419
Receiving TDs: 6

2. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a pass in front of Penn State Nittany Lions safety Zakee Wheatley (6) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.

Receiving yards: 400
Receiving TDs: 3

3. Colin Dixon, Illinois

Illinois Fighting Illini running back Jordan Anderson (23) gives teammate and wide receiver Collin Dixon (17) a hand after Dixon scored a touchdown during the first half at Gies Memorial Stadium.

Receiving yards: 367
Receiving TDs: 7 (Big Ten lead)

4. Koby Howard, Penn State

Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) makes a catch during the second quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Receiving yards: 344
Receiving TDs: 2

5. Asaad Waseem, Purdue

Purdue's Chauncey Magwood (left) and Asaad Waseem (right) celebrate after a touchdown on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, during the NCAA football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Indiana State Sycamores at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Receiving yards: 321
Receiving TDs: 1

6. Tyrell Henry, Wisconsin

Wisconsin wide receiver Tyrell Henry (0) makes a reception during the first quarter of their game against Eastern Michigan Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

Receiving yards: 293
Receiving TDs: 1

7. Charlie Becker, Indiana

Indiana's Charlie Becker (80) runs for a touchdown during the Indiana versus Western Kentucky football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

Receiving yards: 293
Receiving TDs: 6

8. Xavier Townsend, Purdue

Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA;Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Xavier Townsend (3) carries the ball against UCLA Bruins defensive back Scooter Jackson (1) in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Receiving yards: 267
Receiving TDs: 2

9. JJ Buchanan, Michigan

Michigan wide receiver JJ Buchanan catches the game-winning pass with no time left on the clock to beat Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 05, 2026.

Receiving yards: 266
Receiving TDs: 2

10. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, USC

Sep 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (17) scores on a 19-yard touchdown reception against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Receiving yards: 258
Receiving TDs: 2

Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Big Ten receiving yardage leaders after Week 3