Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith sets record pace for Heisman contention

Jeremiah Smith has accumulated 984 receiving yards this season. That figure places him atop the Big Ten conference in total production. He also leads the league with 12 receiving touchdowns. These numbers have positioned him as the primary candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Many analysts project him as the first selection in the 2027 NFL draft.

The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will rely heavily on Smith on Saturday. They face the unranked USC Trojans at the sold-out Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The Buckeyes enter the contest after a bye week. Their record stands at 6-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play. USC holds a 6-2 overall record and a 3-2 conference mark.

The loss of starting quarterback Julian Sayin to an indefinite injury has complicated the Buckeyes' offensive plan. Head coach Ryan Day has not named a starter. He will choose between freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair. Fahey has completed 9 of 13 passes for 203 yards and two interceptions in four games. St. Clair is 5 of 7 for 52 yards and one interception in two appearances. Both options lack extensive game experience.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley compared Smith to Michael Crabtree. Riley coached Crabtree at Texas Tech before the 2009 NFL draft. "The most dominant player that I’ve ever been around or coached was Michael Crabtree," Riley said. He noted that Smith is the closest comparable talent he has seen recently at the college level. Riley emphasized that the Trojans must make life difficult for the new signal caller.

The Buckeyes' rushing attack may provide stability. Bo Jackson has 542 yards on 107 carries. Ja'Kobi Jackson has 356 yards on 59 carries but will miss the game following Lisfranc surgery. Isaiah West, who has 133 yards on 28 rushes, is expected to replace him. USC defensive tackle Jide Abasiri noted that the lack of film on the new quarterbacks presents a unique challenge for the defense.

USC's defense allows 8.1 yards per reception and 216.4 receiving yards per game. Their passing offense ranks second in the conference behind Ohio State. Quarterback Jayden Maiava must navigate a pass defense that allows 171.4 yards per game. Trojans safety Prophet Brown stated that the team must focus on its own execution rather than the opponent's status.

Five unranked teams defeated Top-25 opponents at home in the previous week. This trend suggests an upset is possible. USC running back King Miller leads the Trojans' ground game. Second-leading back Waymond Jordan may miss the game as he recovers from an ankle injury. The game will air on NBC channel 4 and 710 AM radio.