Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith Falls to Third in Heisman Odds After USC Loss

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith dropped to third place in Heisman Trophy odds following a 30-18 loss to the University of Southern California on Saturday. The Buckeyes traveled to Los Angeles with new quarterback Luke Fahey under center, a change necessitated by the potential season-ending injury to Julian Sayin two weeks prior. The defeat marked a difficult stretch for a team with national championship aspirations, as the offense struggled to generate explosive plays against a defense that has allowed the most big gains in the Big Ten.

Smith recorded 10 catches on 12 targets for 83 yards and one touchdown. While his target share remained high, his yards per reception fell to 8.3, a sharp decline from his season average of just under 19. Much of his production came late in the game when Ohio State trailed by three scores. The game was played in rainy conditions, which may have affected passing accuracy, but Smith's longest catch of the night was 27 yards. USC had previously allowed 11 passes of 30 yards or more, ranking 83rd in the country at limiting those explosive plays.

Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown. His passing game relied heavily on short and intermediate throws, leaving his skill players to make plays after the catch. When Fahey attempted deep passes, they were often underthrown or inaccurate. One notable miss involved a long throw to Smith that was well underthrown, causing the receiver to slip while attempting to adjust. The Buckeyes' next four opponents are statistically better at preventing explosive pass plays than USC.

The shift in Heisman odds at FanDuel Sportsbook reflects the performance gap between Smith and his rivals. Miami's Darian Mensah now holds the favorite status at +170, followed by teammate Malachi Toney at +290. Smith's odds sit at +340. The Hurricanes' offense operates with a leaky defense that forces its star quarterback and receiver combo to play at a high volume throughout games. In a recent shootout win against the University of North Carolina, Mensah completed 22 of 29 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Toney added seven catches for 75 yards, including two touchdowns.

Miami faces Notre Dame next week, a matchup that will draw significant national television attention. The Irish defense will play a key role in determining if the Hurricanes' stars can extend their lead in the award race. Smith's path to the Heisman now depends partly on external factors, including whether Notre Dame can limit Miami's production. The Buckeyes have four games remaining on their schedule against Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan.

The Heisman Trophy ceremony is scheduled for early December. Smith enters this final stretch as the Big Ten's all-time leading receiver. His campaign has been strong, but the recent drop in odds signals a tightening race. The Buckeyes must improve their passing game with Fahey to give Smith the deep opportunities he needs. If the offense continues to focus on short-yardage plays, Smith will face a difficult challenge to outperform the higher-volume Miami duo for the remainder of the season.