Robert Griffin III and Desmond Howard, two former Heisman Trophy winners, have publicly disagreed over whether Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith deserves to be part of the award conversation.
The debate intensified on November 15, when Griffin returned to X to answer Howard after the former Michigan receiver accused him of trying to manufacture an online feud. Griffin argued that Howard’s assessment of Smith was unfair and suggested that the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry was influencing his view.
“Brother Desmond, I didn’t challenge your opinion. I destroyed it,” Griffin wrote. “The problem is you are never being honest. Not honest when it comes to Jeremiah Smith, and don’t you think we forgot about CJ Stroud?”
The disagreement began during Howard’s appearance on ESPN’s *First Take* on Friday. Howard questioned Smith’s Heisman credentials and asked when the receiver had been the difference in a major game over the previous two seasons.
Griffin took issue with that argument while calling Ohio State’s game against Northwestern for FOX Sports on November 14. He later shared his thoughts on X, pointing to Smith’s performances in the College Football Playoff and against ranked opponents.
“You see Desmond Howard and anyone with eyes knows that Jeremiah Smith is ALWAYS THE DIFFERENCE on any field he steps on,” Griffin posted during the game. “Jeremiah Smith is the best player in the Country.”
Griffin also argued that Howard should set aside his connection to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry when evaluating Smith.
Howard responded on November 14: “Oh Robert, are you STILL on this app manufacturing Twitter beef for attention? Great players deserve honest analysis, not automatic praise.”
Griffin pushed back by referring to Howard’s own Heisman-winning season in 1991. Howard caught 61 passes for 950 yards and 19 touchdowns that year. He did not lead the nation in receiving yards, however: Pacific receiver Aaron Turner finished with 1,604.
Griffin used that comparison to challenge the idea that Smith’s Heisman case should be dismissed based on Howard’s standards. His point was that a receiver does not necessarily have to lead the country in receiving yards to win the award.
“Is that an honest football conversation?” Griffin wrote in response to Howard’s accusation that he was manufacturing a feud. “No. Its ridiculous. Put the hatred you have for Ohio State aside when it comes to swaying the public away from appreciating the greatness.”
Griffin closed his argument with “Hold this L” and shared an edited image showing Smith in a Baylor jersey dunking a basketball over Howard in a Michigan uniform. The image brought Griffin’s own college football background at Baylor into the exchange and added another pointed jab at the Michigan legend.
Smith’s performances give Griffin several examples to support his argument. Ohio State defeated Northwestern 28-19 on November 14, with Smith catching 11 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. During the game, he also passed Purdue’s John Standeford to become the Big Ten’s career receiving yards leader. Smith now has 3,875 career receiving yards.
The result came after a difficult stretch for Ohio State. The Buckeyes had lost consecutive games against USC and Oregon, and an injury to quarterback Julian Sayin had put freshman Luke Fahey in the starting role. Smith continued to produce in both losses, recording 83 receiving yards and a touchdown against USC, then 133 yards and a touchdown against Oregon.
His other performances against ranked teams have also added to the Heisman discussion. Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown against No. 4 Texas. He followed that with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns against No. 14 Iowa.
Smith’s freshman season in 2024 supplied further examples. He had six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee in the playoff, then recorded seven receptions for 187 yards and two scores against Oregon.
In the national championship game against Notre Dame, Smith finished with 88 receiving yards and a touchdown. His late third-down catch helped Ohio State close out a 34-23 win.
Howard and Griffin can continue debating whether Smith should win the Heisman, an award both men earned during their own playing careers. The latest odds, however, place Smith at the top of the field. He is listed as the favorite at -140, with Miami’s Darian Mensah at +350 and Utah quarterback Devon Dampier at +550.
