Jeremiah Smith Named Walter Camp Award Semifinalist
The Ohio State wide receiver is among the finalists under consideration for college football's player of the year honor.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Football
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was named a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Award, which is given to the collegiate American football player of the year. The honor is his second consecutive year as a semifinalist.
Why it matters
Smith's selection reflects his standing as one of the nation's most productive receivers during the 2026 season. For Columbus-area fans, it highlights a key contributor to an Ohio State team that has faced a difficult stretch of losses.
Smith has 69 receptions for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, averaging 17.4 yards per catch and 133.3 receiving yards per game. He leads the nation in touchdown receptions and ranks second in receiving yards and receiving yards per game, though the finalists for the award have not yet been named.
The players
Jeremiah Smith
Smith is an Ohio State wide receiver who is the only Buckeyes receiver with three 1,000-yard receiving seasons and the second receiver in Big Ten history to reach that mark three times.
Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Award is the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation and is presented to the collegiate American football player of the year.
The details
The Walter Camp Award, the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation, recognizes the collegiate player of the year. Smith was also named The Associated Press national player of the week earlier this season and was twice named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Timeline
Sept. 5: Ohio State opened the 2026 season with a 56-3 win over Ball State.
Sept. 12: Ohio State lost at Texas, 24-23.
Oct. 31: Ohio State lost at USC, 30-18.
Nov. 7: Ohio State lost to Oregon, 41-28.
Nov. 14: Ohio State hosts Northwestern at noon at Ohio Stadium.
Season Trajectory
Smith's 2026 production keeps him in contention for the Walter Camp Award while Ohio State, now 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten, works to stay in the national conversation. The semifinalist designation follows his prior-year selection, extending a pattern of recognition for one of the conference's leading receivers.
Smith's continued production is a central factor for fantasy rosters and for Ohio State's offense as the Buckeyes head into a home game against Northwestern. His 14 receiving touchdowns and league-leading total give him a significant role in the team's scoring output.
The takeaway
Smith's semifinalist selection confirms that his 2026 season ranks among the most productive in college football. Readers following the Buckeyes should watch his performance in the final stretch of the regular season.
What happens next
Ohio State hosts Northwestern at noon on Nov. 14 at Ohio Stadium, the next scheduled game for the Buckeyes.
Further reading
For more on the Buckeyes' season, explore our Football coverage.
