COLUMBUS — What we saw from Ohio State’s offense on Saturday in a 28-19 win against Northwestern.
1. A week after Jeremiah Smith went more than two full quarters without a target in the middle of a loss to Oregon, the Buckeyes made sure to get him his touches. He was targeted 10 times in the first half and a season-high 17 times for the game on a day when no other Ohio State player was targeted more than three times. Northwestern lingered around for much of the second half, but Smith gave the Buckeyes some breathing room with a 10-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter that put OSU up 28-13 with 6:33 to play.
With a 22-yard reception in the first quarter, Smith passed Purdue’s John Standeford to become the Big Ten’s all-time leader in receiving yards. Smith now holds the conference record for career receiving yards and receptions.
Smith, who entered Saturday as the Heisman Trophy betting favorite, finished with 11 catches for 117 yards and a score. With three losses, the Buckeyes don’t know what’s ahead for them in the postseason. That’s largely out of their hands. But they can have a say in Smith staying on track to contend for the Heisman. That was clearly on their minds with the game plan they brought out against Northwestern.