Overview
- Smith broke Michael Jenkins’ 2,898‑yard mark on Saturday when he hauled in a 23‑yard pass from Julian Sayin early in the first quarter against Kent State.
- Ohio State beat Kent State 59–3 in Columbus and Smith finished the game with five catches for 85 yards, setting the new career receiving total in his second catch of the afternoon.
- The record comes after two dominant seasons (1,315 yards and 1,243 yards) and a strong start to 2026, and it was reached in roughly 32 games, far faster than Jenkins’ four seasons.
- Coach Ryan Day has publicly said the staff must get other players more involved after the Week 2 loss to Texas, and team leaders say they will try to reduce the offense’s reliance on Smith going forward.
- Smith now eyes Ohio State’s career marks for receptions and touchdown catches and his milestone will shape opponent game plans and NFL evaluations as he remains projected as a top pick in the 2027 draft.