The Ohio State football team absolutely killed Tennessee on Saturday night, beating them by a score of 42-17. They jumped on the Vols immediately, scoring the first 21 points of the game. After that, they kept their foot on the gas throughout the second half to make sure they sealed it up.
Ohio State had the best player on the field in Jeremiah Smith. The freshman receiver was dominant all day, recording six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee had no answer for him. It was nice to see Chip Kelly actually give him the ball, unlike what happened against Michigan.
Smith was so good in that game and has been all season. In fact, Todd McShay, formerly of ESPN and now of the Ringer, said that if Smith were eligible, the freshman would be the number-one overall pick in the draft. That's how good Smith was in this first-round game of the College Football Playoff.
Todd McShay claims Ohio State football player would be the top pick in the Draft if eligible
Looking at what Smith has done this season, it's hard to argue. He is the first freshman receiver in the history of the Ohio State Buckeyes to have over 1,000 yards receiving. He is the best weapon that the Buckeyes have not just as a receiver, but on the offense as a whole.
Now that the Buckeyes are moving on to the Rose Bowl to face Oregon, they have to make sure that they keep giving Smith the ball. He is the top priority for the Buckeyes and Chip Kelly. Oregon will make sure it will be hard to get him the ball, but that's where Kelly needs to get creative.
This game will be played on New Year's Day. It should be one of the best games that we have seen all season.