Pro Football Focus has placed Ohio State’s standout wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at the pinnacle of its 2026 college football rankings, awarding him the No. 1 spot for the second straight year.
A Historic Ranking
Smith joins an exclusive club that includes Trevor Lawrence as the only player in PFF history to achieve back‑to‑back top‑player honors, underscoring the rarity of his sustained excellence.
Over his first two collegiate seasons he has amassed 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns, numbers that place him among the most productive receivers in recent memory.
He is the sole Ohio State pass‑catcher besides Marvin Harrison Jr. to post consecutive 1,000‑yard seasons, a testament to his ability to stretch defenses across the field.
In six bowl and playoff contests against top‑10 opponents, Smith has collected 34 catches for 682 yards and six scores, while posting grades of 85 or higher against both man‑to‑man and zone coverages — a feat unmatched by any FBS receiver.
The Buckeyes’ offense will retain quarterback Julian Sayin, who returns after throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with a 77% completion rate, giving Smith a reliable partner under center.
Behind Smith, the receiving corps features veteran Brandon Inniss, five‑star freshman Chris Henry Jr., and transfer Devin McCuin, who brings 152 career catches, 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns from his UTSA stint.
Ohio State’s schedule presents a gauntlet of elite competition, with matchups against Texas and Oregon among the marquee games, fueling the team’s ambition to translate individual accolades into a national championship.
Championship Outlook
Coach Ryan Day emphasizes that the Buckeyes’ depth and experience, bolstered by Bo Jackson’s legacy of excellence in the program’s history, position them to contend for the top spot in the upcoming season.
The combination of elite talent, a demanding slate, and a culture of winning suggests that Ohio State’s pursuit of a title is more than a hope — it is a calculated goal.