After busting up Tennessee for 103 yards and two touchdowns on six catches in the first round of the 2024-2025 College Football Playoff, followed by 187 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches in a historic Rose Bowl game performance against Oregon, Jeremiah Smith became a household name last postseason.
Now, he’s back in the limelight as the Ohio State Buckeyes prepare to take on the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl.
Jeremiah Smith Is A Big-Time Player In Big-Time Games
Meeting the media ahead of the must-watch matchup with Miami, Smith spent some time reflecting on his national breakout as he prepares to lead the Buckeyes’ offense in defense of their national title.
“My life changed a lot since last year,” Smith told PFSN’s Kendrick E. Johnson in an exclusive interview. “And it started from the playoffs last season after having a good game against Tennessee, then I had a great game against Oregon, and then the national championship, that’s really when my life changed.”
“I got a lot of things thrown at me and a lot of opportunities, and met a lot of great people,” Smith continues. “Can’t really go to a lot of places in Columbus now, it’s just really hectic as a lot of special things keep getting thrown to me over the last year and a couple of months, which is really special for me.”
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Now, after going over 1,000 yards receiving for the second consecutive season, Ohio State’s star sophomore receiver is on a mission to lead the Buckeyes to their second consecutive national championship.
With a tough challenge against Miami on the horizon today in the Cotton Bowl, Smith is locked and focused on putting on another show on the national stage in the postseason.
Despite just turning 20 years old on Monday, Smith has shown a propensity to be at his best when his best is needed throughout his entire Ohio State career.
In games against ranked teams this season, Smith has either scored a touchdown or tallied over 100 receiving yards against every opponent except the Texas Longhorns.
Smith is such a special talent that he occasionally has to field preposterous hypothetical questions about going straight to the NFL as a sophomore, even though it’s physically impossible due to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.
Like stars of his caliber, no matter the sport, Smith is locked in the moment and focused on putting a big-time performance against Miami in the Cotton Bowl.
“I’m very excited to be on this stage today and getting ready for our big game on New Year’s Eve. This is the stage where you make your money at, so I’m excited by that, and this is the stage you get to feed your family. These are the games the NFL scouts turn on and watch,” Smith said.
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“From the first game until now, I’ve improved as a teammate by encouraging my guys when they are out there, knowing that I get a lot of attention and I have to keep my focus and not get frustrated because the defense’s whole game plan is to take me away.”
“We got guys like Carnell Tate and good running backs like Bo Jackson, and we got guys who can kill you if you try to take me away,” Smith continued. “So, I’m excited for all my guys who had a great season this year, and we plan on continuing that in the postseason.”
No matter if he’s able to lead Ohio State to its first back-to-back national championships in program history this postseason, one thing is for sure: in Smith, we are watching a college football legend in the making.
