Jeremiah Smith turned Ohio State’s Big Ten opener into a record-book performance Saturday, catching 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns as the Buckeyes beat Illinois 42-19.

Four touchdowns, four different problems for Illinois

Ohio State’s official box score records touchdown catches of 7, 72, 9 and 26 yards for Smith. The variety matters: he won near the goal line, turned a deep completion into a 72-yard score, displayed precise sideline body control and later broke open for his fourth touchdown.

The 12 receptions and 217 yards were career highs. His four touchdown catches tied Ohio State’s single-game record, and the 217-yard afternoon pushed him beyond 3,000 career receiving yards.

Julian Sayin kept feeding No. 4

Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 27 of 36 passes for 367 yards. All four of his passing touchdowns went to Smith, while Sayin added a rushing touchdown of his own before halftime.

Smith had already accumulated eight catches, 150 yards and three touchdowns by halftime. Ohio State entered the break ahead 28-10 and stayed in control despite being held scoreless in the third quarter.

A performance NFL evaluators will revisit

For prospect evaluation, the production is only part of the story. Smith’s tape against Illinois showed vertical speed, separation, balance after the catch, contested-catch ability and awareness along the boundary—the traits that translate beyond a college stat line.

Through four games, Smith has established himself as one of the defining players of the 2026 college football season. Saturday supplied the cleanest single-game demonstration yet of why his combination of size, speed and receiving technique commands so much attention.

Sources: Ohio State Athletics official Illinois box score; NCAA Week 4 coverage; FOX Sports and NBC Sports game coverage.