It was the third quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Julian Sayin found Jeremiah Smith running free downfield, and the Ohio State WR did the rest. He hauled in a 57-yard touchdown that felt almost too easy for a moment this big. Then he turned toward the end zone crowd and hit the Heisman pose. While the catch was worth six points, the aftermath was worth a whole lot more.

That touchdown gave Jeremiah Smith 36 career touchdown receptions, moving him past Chris Olave and into sole possession of Ohio State’s career record. One week after taking over as the Buckeyes’ all-time receiving yards leader, he had taken another major piece of program history. And this time, some of the people who built that history were waiting to congratulate him, starting with Olave himself. 

“What’s up, man? Congrats on an amazing career,” he said, via Ohio State Football. “Congrats on breaking the touchdown record at Old State and all the receiving records. Since you came in as a freshman, I knew we had something on our hands. It’s been great to watch your journey throughout your career. Can’t wait to watch you throughout the NFL, man. I wish you the best.”

Chris Olave’s 35 touchdown catches stood as the program standard from 2018 through 2021. David Boston had 34. Marvin Harrison Jr. finished with 31. Devin Smith had 30. Jeremiah Smith has now gone past all of them. And he didn’t need years to get there, either. 

Jeremiah Smith caught 15 touchdown passes during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season, added 12 in 2025, and entered this season with 27 career scores. Seven more came during the first four games of his junior campaign. Against Illinois on Sept. 26, he caught 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns. 

The four scores tied an Ohio State single-game record and left him one touchdown shy of Chris Olave. A week later, the gap was gone, and he still has games left on the schedule. Now, Zone 6 legends are speaking up. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. congratulated him for completing what he called the receiving “Triple Crown,” pointing to his record-setting career in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Jaxon Smith-Njigba called him “the best.”

“Congratulations on all your success,” he said. “Watching you since high school, you lived up to the hype, exceeded the hype. And just to watch your journey on and off the field has been extraordinary. Congratulations. This is just the beginning.”

Then came Emeka Egbuka, who had been around Jeremiah Smith during his development.

“Super proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished at Ohio State,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to be a part of your journey.”

Cris Carter also sent his congratulations, while Parris Campbell brought the emotion that comes with the territory.

“Keep making Buckeye Nation proud,” he said. “More specifically, keep making Zone 6 proud, man. Legend. True legend, bro.”

Michael Jenkins, meanwhile, also congratulated Jeremiah Smith on becoming Ohio State’s all-time receiving yardage leader, a record he had already claimed against Kent State in September.

Then NBA star LeBron James joined the conversation. Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman celebration apparently caught his attention, and he posted a blunt message on X after the touchdown. 

“THROW IT TO 4! #HEISMAN,” he wrote. 

Just throw the ball to No. 4 and give him the Heisman. Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman case was already gaining serious momentum after his four-touchdown explosion against Illinois, and his latest performance only adds another line to it. The wild part is that the record isn’t finished growing. With seven more regular-season games and then the postseason, he’s going to leave an incredibly high standard for the rising stars after him.