Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Ohio State

Jeremiah Smith injury update: Ohio State WR leaves game in second half vs. Illinois

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko10/11/25nickkosko59
OhioStateOffensiveScoutingReport10325
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith exited the game vs. Illinois in the third quarter after a three-yard run in which he landed on his back. He was immediately checked out by trainers on the sideline with his helmet off.

Smith was upended as he was tackled and he dove head first towards the turf. He ended up doing a bit of a summersault but fell awkwardly on his back.

At first, Smith was wincing on the sideline while being checked out. But just a couple of plays later, Smith was seen with his helmet on and he checked back in. You can see the hit below.

Up 20-10 in the third quarter, Smith had four catches for 40 yards as well as one carry for three yards. Ohio State ended up going for it on 4th and 1 from the Illinois six-yard line as Smith came back. QB Julian Sayin hit a quarterback sneak for a first down run. The Buckeyes capped the drive with a CJ Donaldson touchdown run from two yards out, going up 27-10.

Coming into the game, Smith was considered a Heisman Trophy contender this year as a sophomore. Already tabbed as the best receiver in college football dating back to last season, Smith could continue to try and break the mold of the QB-heavy award as of late.

Coach Ryan Day alluded to the challenge of getting a receiver enough production to win that type of honor while discussing how he balances promoting Smith’s Heisman Trophy campaign against keeping the other receivers happy. It’s an interesting and delicate balance.

“A little bit of both in terms of you design plays where you think the ball may go one place, but if a defense is designed to stop that area or that player, that area of the formation or area of the field or whatever it might be, then the ball needs to go somewhere else,” Day said. “And I think that’s what’s challenging for a receiver.

“I say that and whether Jeremiah gets the statistics that he would need to get into the Heisman race or not, it’s sort of out of his hands because there’s just certain things that can happen that are out of his control.”

Smith has been excellent so far this season. He’s on roughly the same pace receiving-wise as a year ago, when he finished with 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns.