Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith has continued to rewrite the record books throughout his college career. His outstanding performances this season have also placed him firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Still, Michigan legend Desmond Howard doesn’t believe Smith should be a lock for the trophy this year.

Following another impressive outing from Smith in Ohio State’s win over Northwestern, Robert Griffin III couldn’t resist responding to Howard’s criticism. However, the disagreement between the two Heisman winners has taken another turn, with Howard now taking a jab at Griffin.

Desmond Howard Pushes Back Against Robert Griffin III Amid Jeremiah Smith Heisman Debate

Howard’s original criticism focused on whether Smith had produced defining moments against top opponents, rather than disputing his overall talent or statistical production.

While covering Ohio State’s matchup against Northwestern for FOX Sports, Griffin publicly challenged Howard’s assessment during the broadcast. The former Baylor quarterback also took to X, sharing an extensive post highlighting Smith’s career accomplishments.

In response to that post, Howard questioned Griffin’s intentions.

“Oh Robert, are you STILL on this app manufacturing Twitter beef for attention?” Howard wrote. “I thought you would have stopped doing that based on how it has worked out for you in the past. Oh well.”

Howard then clarified that his original comments were never intended to undermine Smith’s talent. Instead, he explained that his criticism was specifically about whether the Ohio State receiver had consistently made the difference in the program’s biggest games.

The Michigan legend then directly challenged Griffin to address his football argument rather than turning the disagreement into a personal exchange.

“If you’re going to challenge my football opinion, challenge the argument,” he added. “Don’t manufacture a personal beef with me to get virtual slaps on the back. Great players deserve honest analysis, not automatic praise. If you have anything else to say, you can holster those Twitter fingers and find me IRL. I don’t get down with this goofy [expletive].”

While the disagreement between them continued to attract attention, Smith delivered another remarkable performance against Northwestern. The Ohio State receiver finished the victory with 11 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Smith’s 117 receiving yards also helped him surpass John Standeford to become the Big Ten’s all-time career leader in receiving yards.

Moreover, Smith’s 10-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter marked his 42nd career receiving touchdown. According to Sportradar, that is the most touchdown catches by a college wide receiver through his first three seasons since 2000.

Beyond Saturday’s performance, the Buckeyes star has produced several memorable outings against ranked opponents. His contributions have remained central to Ohio State’s offensive success, with the unit ranking No. 19 in PFN College Team Offense Impact Score with an 86.2 grade.