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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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College football's Week 11 games featured many standout performances, but Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith's solid performance against Northwestern seemed to massively impact the Heisman Trophy race.
Smith finished with 11 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown, helping the Buckeyes secure a much-needed victory. It also came with freshman Luke Fahey as the backup for injured starter Julian Sayin.
Smith scored his touchdown on a 10-yard Fahey pass in the fourth quarter, giving the Buckeyes a more comfortable lead over Northwestern. They ultimately defeated the Wildcats 28-19 to improve to 7-3 and may have kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Read More on NCAA
Saturday's performance also led to Smith making a massive move in his chances to win the Heisman Trophy race. As of this writing, the Kalshi prediction market revealed that Smith had jumped by more than 30 percentage points and reached 55%.
More news: Michigan Fans Send Clear Message to Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
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Smith is tied for second nationally with 80 receptions and 1,317 receiving yards this season. He leads the nation with 15 receiving touchdowns scored through Ohio State's 10 games. In fact, Smith has failed to score a touchdown only once this season.
When Sayin was ruled out for an extended period with a fractured right elbow, it raised concerns about whether Smith could continue building his Heisman Trophy case. His performance Saturday and ensuing surge on Kalshi suggest otherwise.
A lot is riding on the final two games of the season for the Buckeyes. Their final two opponents are Nebraska on the road, followed by hosting the struggling Michigan Wolverines.
Several more strong performances from Smith in those games could further solidify his case for the Heisman Trophy. However, if he falters, it could leave room for another contender to surge past him.
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah is still in the picture, with Kalshi showing he had a 22% chance of earning the college football honor on Sunday afternoon. Below Mensah are Utah quarterback Devon Dampier and Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr.
More news: Miami RB Mark Fletcher Makes Hurricanes History in ACC Clash With Duke
For more about the Heisman Trophy race and NCAA football, visit Newsweek Sports.
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