Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith promises to be a ‘completely different player’ against Oregon in CFP matchup
Ohio State and Oregon played each other during the regular season, and it turned out to be one of the better college football games of the year as the Ducks won the game 32-31.
The two teams meet again on Wednesday in the College Football Playoff. Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith he alerted the Ducks defense to play man-to-man defense against him. He said that if that happens, Will Howard will try to go deep with him.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith catches the ball as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The freshman had nine catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in their first meeting. He promised to bring a different game to Oregon than the one they saw on Oct. 12.
“They’re going to see a completely different player than last time,” he told reporters before their Rose Bowl game. via ESPN. “Even (receivers coach Brian Hartline) told me the other day that I’m a completely different player from the first time we played Oregon to now. It started with understanding the game plan and knowing what the defense was trying to do.”
Smith expressed his frustrations with the loss to Michigan in the final regular season game of the season. He suggested that a lot had been taken out in Tennessee in the first round of the college football playoffs.
Tennessee linebacker Kalib Perry, No. 8, rushes Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, No. 4, out of bounds during the first half of a first-round college football playoff game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
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He had six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns in that game.
“Well, Tennessee, you saw what they tried to do and what happened,” he said. “I just took pictures and put them on, and I have to keep doing that.”
Smith has already been compared to some of the great receivers to come out of Ohio State in recent years, and has also been selected for top honors such as Big Ten Receiver of the Year and Second Team All-America.
However, he tries to keep things in perspective.
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, #4, catches a touchdown pass against Tennessee defensive back Rickey Gibson, #1, during the first half of a first-round college football playoff game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
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“It’s a blessing, I think, but I just can’t let that statement just get into my head,” he said. “I know I have two, three more years here just to develop and get better.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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