Ryan Day’s Ohio State is one of the early favorites for the 2026 season. But as the Buckeyes look ahead to their 2026 slate, one matchup is circled in red ink: the trip to Bloomington. Now, Jeremiah Smith has issued a brief mission statement on the revenge match against Curt Cignetti’s Indiana.
What Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith Said About the 2026 Indiana Matchup
The Ohio State WR recently appeared in a conversation with Leonard Fournette. The two discussed the Buckeyes’ 2026 season. When talking about the initial matchups against Ball State, Texas, and Kent State, Smith said, “Our first couple of games are always liked that.”
Leonard Fournette asks Jeremiah Smith about every Ohio State game on the 2026 schedule… does he go yea or nay on each one? 👀 pic.twitter.com/nsP9A4KXXg
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) May 3, 2026
Then Smith commented on the away game against Iowa. He declared, “That’s away game. They be rocking.”
When Fournette asked about the Indiana game and whether they’ll get back for last season’s defeat, Smith confirmed, “At Indiana. Yeah (Get back).”
Smith didn’t stop there, also touching upon the rest of the schedule and specifically Nebraska. He said, “Nebraska straight. They’re a good team. They’re a good team.”
However, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that Smith might have given more thought to the Indiana game internally. In a defensive slugfest that sent ripples through the College Football Playoff rankings, Indiana managed to stifle the Buckeyes’ high-powered offense in a 13-10 upset.
Despite Smith’s individual brilliance, amassing 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns in his sophomore campaign and earning an 85.1 score per PFSN CFB WR Impact, the Hoosiers became the rare team to keep him out of the end zone. For a player who draws comparisons to NFL greats, leaving the field with a loss and a zero in the TD column against a conference rival is a stain Smith is clearly eager to scrub away.
Ohio State head coach Day hasn’t forgotten the sting of the 2025 loss either. After that game, he called the defeat a “major lesson” for a program that expects nothing less than national titles.
For Day, Smith’s vocal desire for revenge could be a positive sign of leadership. As Smith enters what many expect to be his final collegiate season before becoming a top NFL Draft pick, his mentality might set the tone for the entire locker room.
The 2026 matchup represents more than just a win or loss on the ledger. For Indiana, it’s about proving that their recent success and national championship appearance weren’t a fluke. For Ohio State, it’s about re-establishing dominance in a series they once controlled with an iron fist.
As the Buckeyes prepare to travel to Memorial Stadium, the narrative is set. Jeremiah Smith isn’t just looking for yards or highlights; he’s looking for redemption. In the high-stakes world of Big Ten football, when a player of Smith’s caliber makes his feelings clear, the rest of the country tends to lean in and watch.
