Smith Breaks Record as Buckeyes Dismantle Kent State
Jeremiah Smith secured his place in Ohio State history with a 23-yard reception in the first quarter, helping the Buckeyes defeat Kent State 59-3.
The grass at Ohio Stadium was still damp from the morning rain when Jeremiah Smith caught the ball that changed the record books. It was a 23-yard reception midway through the first quarter, a clean snap from Julian Sayin that sent the junior careening toward the sideline. That single catch pushed him past Michael Jenkins’ 2,898-yard mark from 2000-03, cementing his place as the Buckeyes' all-time receiving leader. The moment was quiet in its precision, a technical adjustment in the pocket and a release that found Smith in stride. He did not celebrate wildly. He simply turned upfield, the record now his, as the scoreboard ticked toward a number that would soon look inevitable.
Ohio State (2-1) never wavered. The sixth-ranked Buckeyes scored on their first four drives, turning the game into a procession before Kent State could find a rhythm. Ja’Kobi Jackson, the senior transfer from Florida, struck early with an 11-yard run up the middle just two minutes and 53 seconds into the contest. The Buckeyes controlled the tempo, their offense moving the ball with a steady, mechanical precision that left the Golden Flashes chasing shadows. By the time the first half ended, the margin was already a chasm, and the only question left was how deep it would cut.
A Hail Mary seals the first half
The first half ended with a moment of pure, chaotic brilliance. Kent State’s Joel Corboba was called for roughing the passer, pushing the Ohio State ball to the 36-yard line. Two plays later, Smith had a 15-yard catch at the Kent State 49. The Golden Flashes called a timeout, buying a heartbeat of silence. Then Sayin rolled right. He heaved the ball toward the end zone, a deep spiral that hung in the air for an eternity. Brandon Innis caught it in the middle of a crowd of Kent State defensive backs, securing the ball to make it 35-0. The crowd erupted, the noise a physical weight that pressed against the stadium walls.
Big men and big plays
The fourth quarter brought a different kind of spectacle. Jamir Perez, a 6-foot-3, 349-pound freshman, turned a fumble into an 11-yard touchdown. The play began with a high snap from Kent State quarterback Ethan Thanthanavong. Linebacker Braxton Rembert forced the fumble at the Kent State 18. Perez picked up the loose ball. He had a clear path. He ran it in, extending the lead to 56-0. The physicality of the play was a stark contrast to the aerial precision of the first half, a reminder that Ohio State could dominate in every dimension.
Kent State (1-2) avoided a shutout only in the dying moments. Tanner Mintz picked off a pass by Trevien St. Clair and ran it back 48 yards to the Ohio State 5. Sean Leonard then kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 59-3. The Golden Flashes had used four quarterbacks and had five players attempt passes, a sign of the disarray that plagued their offense. They had crossed midfield only once in the first half, on a 29-yard completion to Da'Realyst Clark, only to turn it over on downs at the Ohio State 15. The effort was there, but the execution was not.
Rebound and look ahead
For Ohio State, the victory was a necessary reset. They had blown a 20-point, fourth-quarter lead at Texas, a stumble that hung over the program. This game was a correction, a reassertion of their identity as a top-tier team. But it was not a clean performance. Coach Ryan Day will be scrutinizing the two first-half turnovers on downs, a blemish on an otherwise dominant showing. The Buckeyes will host Illinois next Saturday to open their Big Ten schedule, a test that will require the same level of focus and execution that they displayed against Kent State.
Kent State begins Mid-American Conference play against Ball State next Saturday. The Golden Flashes will need to find a more consistent offensive rhythm, one that does not rely on four different quarterbacks. The trip to Columbus had cost them $1.9 million, a financial and competitive investment that must be recouped in the coming weeks. For now, the focus shifts to the next opponent, the next challenge, the next opportunity to prove they belong in this league.
Smith Claims Career Receiving Milestone
Jeremiah Smith etched his name into Ohio State lore midway through the first quarter, surpassing the program's career receiving yardage record. The junior needed just 26 yards to break Michael Jenkins' long-standing mark and achieved the feat on his second catch of the game. The record-breaking play was a 23-yard reception from Julian Sayin, which helped establish the Buckeyes' early dominance. Smith finished the contest with five receptions for 85 yards, capping a significant personal achievement in a decisive victory.
