Ohio State expected to beat Kent State. The lasting story from the 59 to 3 final was the moment Jeremiah Smith moved into first place on the most decorated receiving list in school history.
Smith reaches the top
Smith entered the day within reach of Michael Jenkins and passed his career receiving yards mark with a 23 yard catch on the second possession. He finished with five receptions for 85 yards, adding another milestone to a career that has moved at remarkable speed.
The record arrived inside a complete offensive performance. Julian Sayin completed 18 of 22 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Bo Jackson ran for 73 yards and a score, while Ja’Kobi Jackson found the end zone twice.
No suspense, no letup
The No. 6 Buckeyes scored 21 points in the first quarter and led 35 to 0 at halftime. Kent State did not score until the fourth quarter and managed only 35 passing yards from Dru DeShields.
Games with this kind of talent gap are usually judged by focus. Ohio State gave away little, spread production across the roster, and kept the pressure on long after the result was settled. The offense was accurate and explosive. The defense never allowed Kent State to find a rhythm.
Smith will own the headline because records at Ohio State carry real weight. The larger message is that the Buckeyes handled routine business with championship level concentration. They left the field healthy, productive, and with one of their brightest stars now standing alone at the top of the program record book.