Jeremiah Smith's Heisman Hopes Dim After Ohio State's Offense Sputters in USC Loss

Jeremiah Smith's Heisman Trophy campaign took a significant hit on Saturday as Ohio State's offense struggled in a 31-24 loss to USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Buckeyes' star wide receiver, who entered the game as a frontrunner for college football's top individual honor, was limited to just four catches for 38 yards. The primary culprit was the debut of quarterback Luke Fahey, who replaced injured starter Julian Sayin. Fahey completed only 17 of 34 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, failing to establish a rhythm with Smith downfield. The Trojans' defense, led by cornerback Domani Jackson, consistently bracketed Smith with double coverage, daring Fahey to beat them elsewhere. Ohio State's offense managed just 312 total yards, its lowest output of the season, and converted only 3 of 12 third-down attempts. Smith's Heisman odds, which were as low as +250 before the game, have now drifted to +800 according to major sportsbooks. With the Buckeyes dropping to 8-2 and likely out of the College Football Playoff picture, Smith's path to the Heisman now requires a historic finish—and a lot of help from other contenders.