“The Forgotten Heisman: How Troy Smith Paved the Way for Ohio State’s Modern QB Legacy”

When fans of Ohio State football talk about Heisman Trophy winners, a few names are bound to dominate the conversation. Archie Griffin, the only two-time winner in college football history, usually gets the first mention. Eddie George’s bruising dominance and Howard “Hopalong” Cassady’s 1955 heroics are also fondly remembered. But one name often fades too quickly into the background: Troy Smith.

The 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, Smith put together one of the most remarkable seasons in Ohio State history, leading the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season and a spot in the national championship game. Yet, for all his success and statistical dominance, Smith has largely been overshadowed—not just by other Heisman winners, but also by the many dual-threat quarterbacks who came after him and became household names in Columbus and beyond.

Smith’s career numbers are impressive on their own. He ranks sixth all-time in Ohio State history in both total offensive yards (6,888) and touchdowns (68). His 2006 season—where he passed for 2,542 yards and 30 touchdowns, with only six interceptions—earned him 86.7 percent of first-place Heisman votes, the second-highest percentage in history at the time. He added 576 rushing yards and seven scores, proving to be a dynamic threat with both arm and legs.

Still, his name isn’t often mentioned in the same breath as some of Ohio State’s more iconic figures. Part of that is due to what came next. Smith’s NFL career never materialized the way fans hoped. A fifth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens, he bounced around the league and only started a handful of games before fading into obscurity.

But perhaps the real reason Smith is overlooked is more nuanced: he was ahead of his time, a player whose style didn’t fully match the era in which he played, but one that set the stage for the modern quarterbacks now synonymous with Ohio State football.

In many ways, Troy Smith was the prototype for what would become the Ohio State quarterback standard. Before him, the Buckeyes were known more for rugged defenses and power-running backs than explosive offenses and mobile quarterbacks. Smith helped change that narrative.

His combination of field vision, arm strength, leadership, and mobility created a new archetype—one that future quarterbacks like Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, and now Kyle McCord and Devin Brown would attempt to emulate.

Smith showed that you didn’t have to be confined to the pocket to win in Columbus. His ability to extend plays with his legs, throw on the run, and make clutch decisions in pressure moments made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He was dynamic, entertaining, and most importantly—he was a winner.

There’s no discussing Smith’s legacy without dissecting his magical 2006 season. That year, Smith was an unstoppable force. He completed 65.3% of his passes and led the Buckeyes to victories over multiple top-25 teams, including a legendary 42-39 win over No. 2 Michigan in what many still call the greatest game in the history of the rivalry.

Smith threw four touchdown passes that day and solidified his claim to the Heisman Trophy. He was calm, composed, and lethal. He distributed the ball to a loaded receiving corps that included Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez and made it look easy.

That win over Michigan didn’t just cap off a perfect regular season—it symbolized a turning point. Ohio State was no longer just a “Big Ten power” that won games with grit. They were now a national brand with explosive offensive talent, and Smith was the face of that transformation.

Of course, the 2006 season didn’t end the way Buckeyes fans hoped. Ohio State was blown out 41-14 by Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators in the BCS National Championship Game. Smith, who had spent the previous month on the awards circuit, looked out of sync and was held to just 35 passing yards. It was a bitter pill to swallow and a performance that, unfortunately, stuck with him as he entered the NFL Draft.

Fair or not, that one game altered the way many remember Smith. Instead of being celebrated for the incredible season he had, the national spotlight turned toward his collapse on the biggest stage. The NFL’s doubt in his size, pocket discipline, and long-term viability led to a short, unremarkable professional career.

But to focus only on the way things ended is to miss the bigger picture—Troy Smith changed the culture at Ohio State.

It’s no coincidence that after Smith, the Buckeyes’ recruiting shifted heavily toward quarterbacks with dual-threat capability. Terrelle Pryor arrived in 2008 with sky-high expectations, followed by Braxton Miller, who carried the Buckeyes through the early Urban Meyer years with dazzling speed and raw athleticism.

Then came J.T. Barrett, the gritty competitor who shattered school records. Dwayne Haskins followed, putting up video-game numbers through the air in 2018. And then, Justin Fields took the torch, becoming a top NFL Draft pick after leading Ohio State to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances.

All these quarterbacks had different strengths, but they shared a few common traits: mobility, creativity, and the ability to operate in a spread system. These were traits first fully realized at Ohio State by Troy Smith.

Off the field, Smith brought a confidence and charisma that inspired teammates. He was a natural leader, someone who walked into the huddle and instantly commanded respect. Coaches raved about his football IQ and composure. Teammates followed his lead.

In a sport where intangibles can be just as important as talent, Smith had both. He wasn’t just the quarterback—he was the soul of that 2006 team.

And he did it all after beginning his college career as an afterthought. Smith wasn’t a blue-chip prospect. He battled through a suspension, fought off competition from Justin Zwick, and earned everything he got through hard work and resilience.

It’s ironic that Smith’s NFL career didn’t pan out, especially when considering how the NFL now values the very traits he possessed. Quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Kyler Murray are thriving because today’s game rewards athleticism, improvisation, and quick decision-making.

Had Smith entered the league a decade later, it’s fair to wonder whether his professional career would’ve taken a different trajectory. But while the NFL may have missed its opportunity, Ohio State fully embraced the model Smith created.

Every elite quarterback recruit since 2010 has owed something, even indirectly, to Troy Smith. He helped redefine what it meant to be a Buckeye quarterback—not just a manager of the offense, but a weapon in every phase of the game.

To call Troy Smith “forgotten” may be a bit harsh, but it’s not inaccurate. He doesn’t have a statue in front of Ohio Stadium. He’s not regularly brought up in national college football conversations. Even among Ohio State fans, his legacy is often viewed through the lens of “what could have been.”

But the reality is this: Troy Smith was a transformational figure.

He took an offense that had been stuck in the past and brought it into the modern era. He gave Buckeye fans a new reason to cheer. He set the foundation for what would become a quarterback-rich program with a national brand.

And he did it with flair, humility, and relentless dedication.

In the ever-changing world of college football, legacies can be fleeting. Seasons fade, players graduate, and new stars emerge. But what Troy Smith did at Ohio State deserves more than just a footnote. He was a pioneer, a winner, and the very definition of a game-changer.

When the next Ohio State quarterback takes the field and dazzles with both his arm and legs, remember who lit the path first.