Heading into 2025, the Ohio State football team has a massive target on its back. After winning the national championship a year ago, they are going to get everyone's best shot. They are clearly the team that will be hunted the most this season, despite the fact that they aren't picked to win the conference.
That doesn't mean that they aren't one of the most talented teams in the country. They have perhaps the best player in college football in Jeremiah Smith. The sophomore receiver might be the premier weapon in the country, even though he will have a new quarterback throwing him the ball.
It seems that the Big Ten media agrees. They have voted him as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten. Smith won this award going away, and that makes sense based on what he showed last year as a true freshman. He's the ultimate weapon for a team defending a national title.
Ohio State football player Jeremiah Smith voted Big Ten Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Smith finished last season with 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Buckeyes know that he is only going to get better as he continues to age. He is a weapon that most teams simply do not have an answer for. When they do give him too much attention, Ohio State has other weapons who can break free.
Ohio State will try everything it can to get him the ball as much as possible. It's a guarantee that they will not ignore him against TTUN as they did last season. He's just too good not to force him the ball when they need to create a big play or convert on a key third down.
This is an award that everyone expected him to win. Now, Smith needs to go out there and prove he's not just the best player in the Big Ten, but the best player in the country, as well.