Jeremiah Smith had extra motivation to have a big day in Ohio State’s second game of the season against Grambling State.
After dropping just one pass in his entire freshman season, Smith dropped two passes in Ohio State’s season opener against Texas. The sophomore wide receiver was hard on himself all week as a result.
“When I dropped them two passes, I don't even want to say what I said to myself in my head, but I'm very hard on myself and I don't like dropping the football and I don't like making excuses for myself,” Smith said. “I just got to catch the damn football.”
Smith changed gloves after his two early drops vs. the Longhorns, but he said his equipment was no excuse for letting the ball slide out of his hands.
“Gloves just ain't have no grip. I tried to grip the ball, the ball just slipped out of my hands, but that's no excuse. I play receiver, my job is to catch the football,” Smith said.
Smith did that job in Week 2, catching all five passes thrown his way for 119 yards and two touchdowns in just one half of play in Ohio State’s 70-0 win. While Texas prevented the Buckeyes’ biggest star from making any big plays, limiting him to 49 yards on six catches in the Buckeyes’ 14-7 victory, Smith got back to his game-breaking ways against Grambling State with an 87-yard touchdown – the second-longest pass play in Ohio State history – when he got wide open behind the Tiger defense to catch a deep ball from Julian Sayin and cruise to the end zone.
JEREMIAH SMITH TO THE HOUSE @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/QpZjBoxZNL
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2025
“We practiced that play all week, and it was awesome to go see us execute it,” Sayin said after the game.
Smith scored a second touchdown in the second quarter when he was left open in the end zone for an easy 9-yard catch.
That makes TDs for Jeremiah Smith @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/cnGPwVbK0c
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2025
While big plays and big games are nothing new for Smith, who had five 100-yard games and three two-touchdown games as part of his spectacular freshman season for the Buckeyes, it didn’t hurt that Smith had a chip on his shoulder to prove himself all over again after his disappointing start to the season.
“It motivated me a lot, just having a bad game,” Smith said.
When asked what he worked on to achieve better results in Week 2, Smith’s answer was simple.
“Just catch the damn ball,” Smith said with a laugh. “That’s the biggest thing, just catch the damn ball.”
