LOS ANGELES — Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith made Big Ten history Saturday night against USC, becoming the conference's all-time leader in career touchdown receptions.
Smith's touchdown catch was the 40th of his Ohio State career, moving him past former Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards, who recorded 39 touchdown receptions with the Wolverines from 2001 through 2004.
Smith entered Saturday tied with Edwards after catching a 38-yard touchdown pass from Julian Sayin against Indiana on October 17. The play came on fourth-and-one during the fourth quarter of Ohio State's 19-15 victory, giving Smith his 39th career touchdown reception.
The junior had already broken Ohio State's career receiving touchdown record earlier this month. Smith passed Chris Olave's previous school record of 35 touchdown receptions during the Buckeyes' October 3 victory at Iowa, catching two touchdown passes in that game to reach 36 for his career.
Saturday's record-breaking touchdown adds to an already historic evening for Smith. Earlier against USC, he became the first Ohio State receiver to record three 1,000-yard seasons, reaching the mark on a 27-yard reception from freshman quarterback Luke Fahey.
Smith now owns Ohio State's career records for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, along with the Big Ten's career touchdown reception record. He has accomplished all of it in his third season with the Buckeyes, adding to a career that has already rewritten much of the school's receiving record book.
