New Heisman Trophy favorite emerges after dominant game
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) scores a touchdown during the NCAA football game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sept. 26, 2026.
While the Heisman Trophy is supposed to go to the best player in college football regardless of position, the award is usually dominated by quarterbacks, followed by running backs. But the current favorite does not play either of those positions.
After a dominant performance against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday afternoon, Ohio State Buckeyes superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is now the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
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Jeremiah Smith's dominant game
Rated as one of the top wide receiver prospects ever coming out of high school, Smith has been no stranger to big games, even going back to his true freshman season at Ohio State. But this week's performance might have been his best performance yet.
Throughout Saturday's game against Illinois, Smith regularly found himself in man-to-man coverage, and he certainly made the Illini pay.
Smith finished the game with 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns. All of those totals were career-high numbers for Smith, and the touchdown tied a single-game school record.
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The Buckeye superstar did most of his damage in the first half, where he caught eight passes for 150 yards and three touchdown. This marks the second time through just four games this season that Smith has had 150 receiving yards in a half, as he had eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Ball State.
After the absolutely dominant performance, Smith is now the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, according to FanDuel.
The Ohio State superstar has been near the top of the board all season, but after his career-best day, he officially passed Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Miami quarterback Darian Mensah to become the favorite.
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Smith is currently at +250 to win the Heisman, while Mensah and Chambliss are both at +430.
"If there's a better player in the country, it's hard to imagine," Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said after the game. "I think he's taken his game to the next level this year."
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