Ohio State and Oregon faced off during the regular season, with the Ducks winning 32-31 in one of the best games in college football this year.
The teams will meet again on Wednesday in the College Football Playoff. Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith warned the Ducks defense against playing man-to-man defense against him. If that happens, he said Will Howard will take the shot from deep.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith makes a catch as the third-ranked Oregon Ducks host the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. decide. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The freshman standout had nine catches for 100 yards and one touchdown in his first matchup. He vowed to bring a different game to Oregon than the one he saw on Oct. 12.
“We're going to be playing against a completely different player than we were last time,” he told reporters before the Rose Bowl matchup, via ESPN. “Even (receivers coach Brian Hartline) said the other day that he's a completely different player since the first time he played against Oregon State. He understands the game plan and doesn't care what the defense is trying to do. It started with finding out if there were any.
Smith expressed his frustration with the loss to Michigan in the final regular season game. He suggested that much of that was due to the loss to Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Tennessee linebacker #8 Kalib Perry pushes Ohio State receiver #4 Jeremiah Smith out of bounds during the first half of the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay Lapreet)
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He had six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns in this game.
“Well, Mr. Tennessee, you saw what they tried to do and what happened,” he said. “I just had to take the shot and put it up and keep doing it.”
Smith has already been compared to some of the great wide receivers to come out of Ohio State in recent years, and has also been selected for top-level honors such as Receiver of the Year and Second Team All-America.
But he's trying to keep things positive.
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith (#4) hits Tennessee defensive back #1 Rickey during the first half of the first round of the College Football Playoffs on Saturday, December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. -Caught a touchdown pass against Gibson. (AP Photo/Jay Lapreet)
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“Thank God, but I can't let those words stick in my head,” he said. “I know I have a couple more years left to grow here and get better.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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