Ohio State has high hopes of winning the Big Ten title, going into the College Football Playoffs and winning a national championship. In addition to those team goals, they also have a player who may be able to bring home the top individual award in college football.
Jeremiah Smith is the best player on the Buckeyes, and many consider him to be the best receiver in college football. The junior is always the first option for Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, and he had an excellent first half in Saturday's game against the upset-minded Iowa Hawkeyes.
Smith caught 6 passes for 111 yards in the opening 30 minutes, and the last of those receptions was a 12-yard TD catch with 12 seconds remaining in the half. That play gave Ohio State a 17-6 and it withstood a review to determine if Smith had actually reached the end zone.
As he hit the 2-yard line, the Iowa defense converged on Smith and he launched himself towards the goal line with the ball extended in right hand. Replay confirmed that the ball broke the plane before his shin hit the ground.
The touchdown was the 35th of his career for the Buckeyes and it allowed him to tie Chris Olave for the most TD receptions in Ohio State history. Olave is now a star receiver for the New Orleans Saints after a memorable career at Ohio State.
He would go on to break the record when he caught a 57-yard TD pass from Sayin with 6:11 left in the third quarter.
The Hawkeyes tried to contain Smith and limit his contributions by frequently double-covering him, but he was able to beat that strategy and find his way into the Ohio State record book.