The Ohio State football team has arrived in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. They have been preparing for the last three weeks to play this game against the Miami Hurricanes. After losing the Big Ten Championship, the Buckeyes are hungry to get back in the win column.
Receiver Jeremiah Smith gets to play his hometown team in this game. He gets messages from Miami fans every offseason about how he should transfer back home and leave the Ohio State Buckeyes. Obviously, he has decided to never do that and keep winning big games with Ohio State.
Of course, that doesn't mean that Smith never considered being a Hurricane out of high school. In fact, Smith let everyone know the real reason why he decided to head to Columbus instead of staying home to play for the Hurricanes.
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith reveals why he chose Ohio State over Miami
Ari Wasserman of On3 asked Smith if Miami had been in more big games like this, if Smith would have chosen the Hurricanes. Smith's answer was revealing.
"Most likely, yeah. I probably would've ended up going to Miami if things were on the right track then and there. But I chose to stick with Ohio State."
Smith would have been a Hurricane if the team had been better when he was coming out of high school. Ohio State has a track record of winning big games and developing receiver talent in a way that Miami does not. Because of that, he chose to head to Columbus.
At this point, it's too late for Miami to have a prayer of bringing him in. Smith will play next year for the Buckeyes before he heads to the NFL Draft to become a top-five pick. This has to sting for Miami fans to hear, knowing they could have had a generational receiver.
Now, Smith is looking forward to torching his hometown team and marching forward in the College Football Playoff.