Ohio State’s 2026 offense may hinge on Jeremiah Smith again, with a transfer portal addition drawing early summer attention

Ohio State’s 2026 offense is expected to keep centering on Jeremiah Smith, one of the program’s most important playmaking targets. That reality, however, is not the only storyline coming out of summer. A separate development, tied to a transfer portal addition, is drawing early buzz because it could alter how Ohio State distributes production across its offense.

The underlying premise for Ohio State is straightforward: if Smith is healthy and deployed in the roles that maximized his impact previously, the Buckeyes will shape routes, pacing, and coverage decisions around him. In that framework, opposing defenses are forced to account for Smith’s ability to create separation and convert opportunities into chunk gains, which can expand the offense’s options for the rest of the playbook.

What complicates the equation is the report that Ohio State’s transfer portal addition is making summer noise that is hard to ignore. In college football terms, those kinds of early indications matter because summer work often provides the clearest look at readiness. It can also reveal whether a new player is going to be integrated as a featured contributor, or whether the coaching staff is treating him more as a matchup-specific piece.

Because the summer attention is described in connection with the Buckeyes’ offense and not as a behind-the-scenes detail, it suggests Ohio State may have more flexibility than simply running production through Smith again. If the transfer addition earns consistent reps and looks like a reliable target, the Buckeyes’ passing game can avoid becoming overly predictable. That, in turn, can support the running game by improving the offense’s third-down conversion chances and shortening defensive time to regroup after big plays.

Ohio State’s staff also benefits from competition for routes and usage patterns. The Buckeyes have long relied on players who can do more than one job: stretch the field, win contested catches, and operate within a wide range of formations. If the transfer portal arrival is pushing for those kinds of roles, it can influence how often Ohio State moves Smith to different alignments, or how frequently it uses him as a decoy while another option works a leverage advantage.

Still, there is a caveat that comes with any summer report. Media coverage and early impressions do not replace fall camp, where coaches test timing, spacing, and decision-making under live defenses. Summer “noise” can be real, but it can also shift as new depth charts clarify and quarterbacks and receivers finish building chemistry.

What to watch next for Ohio State is how quickly the transfer addition’s role crystallizes. Pay attention to where he appears in the passing rotation, whether he draws targets with the first group, and whether the coaching staff uses him in a way that changes spacing, such as taking advantage of man coverage, moving defenders into less favorable positions, or creating clearer routes for Smith. If the Buckeyes can keep both Smith and the new arrival involved, Ohio State’s offense in 2026 could have more than one reliable path to explosive plays.