Overview

• Coach Ryan Day is publicly calling Smith the best offensive player in college football as the program amplifies a coordinated push on team channels.
• Ohio State’s posts during the Minnesota win featured Heisman-themed captions, signaling an organized effort to elevate his profile to voters.
• Coverage emphasizes Smith’s impact beyond raw stats, including a decoy action that drew multiple defenders and sprung Carnell Tate for a 44-yard touchdown against Minnesota.
• Season tallies place Smith outside the top 10 in receiving yards while near the national lead in touchdowns, with outlets differing on whether he has six or seven scores.
• Off the field, On3 pegs his NIL brand value at $4.2 million, and he says routine public outings like shopping have become difficult due to his growing fame.