It was a night of mixed fortunes for the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday. While junior safety Caleb Downs cemented his status as the nation’s top defensive back, star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith walked away empty-handed for the second consecutive year.
Downs was named the winner of the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the best defensive back in college football. However, in a surprise decision that mirrored the frustrations of his freshman campaign, Smith was passed over for the Biletnikoff Award in favor of USC receiver Makai Lemon.
Downs Secures Thorpe Award
Downs, a junior safety, became the third player in Ohio State history to win the Thorpe Award, joining Malcolm Jenkins (2008) and Antoine Winfield (1998).
The award recognizes Downs as the anchor of an Ohio State unit that finished the regular season ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense and scoring defense. Downs recorded 60 tackles, two interceptions, and five tackles for loss this season.
“Caleb Downs is the best football player – pro or college – that I have ever coached,” Ohio State secondary coach Tim Walton said in a statement following the announcement.
Smith “Snubbed” Again
For Jeremiah Smith, the night ended in familiar disappointment. Despite entering the ceremony as a heavy favorite, the sophomore receiver lost the Biletnikoff Award to USC’s Makai Lemon.
The decision stunned many analysts, particularly given that Smith had already been named the Big Ten Receiver of the Year over Lemon earlier this month.
Statistically, the race was razor-thin. Lemon finished the regular season with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Smith countered with 80 receptions for 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns. Voters ultimately favored Lemon’s edge in yardage and yards per catch.
This marks the second straight year Smith has been denied the hardware despite posting elite numbers. As a true freshman in 2024, Smith led the Big Ten with 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns but lost the award to Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter.
Smith appeared to take the news as fuel for the upcoming postseason. Shortly after the announcement, he posted a clip from the film “Paid in Full” to social media—a subtle message interpreted by fans as a promise to settle the score on the field.
— Jeremiah Smith (@Jermiah_Smith1) December 13, 2025
The Buckeyes will look to channel both the celebration and the grievance into their preparation for the College Football Playoff, where they are set to face the winner of the Miami-Texas A&M matchup in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.
