Jeremiah Smith has called his shot.
In an interview with The Athletic’s Manny Navarro at the OT7 Playoffs, Smith discussed his breakout freshman season at Ohio State. That included the Buckeyes’ unthinkable loss to the Wolverines, which Smith said he still thinks about often, despite winning a national championship in 2024.
“I’m not a sore loser, but I hate losing, and losing to that team up north was pretty crazy,” Smith said. “In the end, I think it really helped us play the way we did in the playoffs. But I didn’t want to go to Ohio State and lose to that team up north. I just hate them. Just something about them. For the next two years, I promise you, I will not lose to them. I can’t lose to them in the next two years.”
“I just hate them. Just something about them. For the next two years, I promise you, I will not lose to them. I can’t lose to them in the next two years.”– Jeremiah Smith on Michigan
Smith was one of Ohio State’s top performers in the team’s 2024 loss to Michigan, collecting five catches for 35 yards and the Buckeyes’ lone touchdown of the 13-10 loss. However, most of that production, including the touchdown, came on Ohio State’s final drive of the first half, as quarterback Will Howard targeted the Big Ten Freshman and Receiver of the Year just twice in the final 30 minutes.
Following Ohio State’s loss in The Game, Smith helped the Buckeyes bounce back with wins over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame en route to the College Football Playoff national championship. He collected a combined 19 receptions for 381 yards and five touchdowns in those contests, including a crucial 56-yard reception with 2:38 remaining in the fourth quarter that helped the Buckeyes seal their title game victory against the Fighting Irish.
“This is all a blessing,” Smith said of his freshman year at Ohio State. “The season I had last year was a blessing. I just won a national championship, contributed to a top team. I mean, all of this has been surreal. I’m just soaking it all in, but I’m not finished.”
