Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate were clearly the best two wide receivers in college football coming into the 2025 season, and they just keep showing us why. There was no doubt that there was no better receiver's room in the nation. Saturday, they added three more wide receivers and five tight ends to that lethal equation.
Jeremiah Smith breaking loose and Ryan Day opening up the offense after having a conservative plan for Julian Sayin against Texas is no coincidence. Smith had five catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns. This included a program record 87-yard bomb. That pass play was a perfect one. Smith destroyed the coverage, Sayin put the ball on the bullseye, and the offensive line gave him all day to make that throw.
Carnell Tate has always been a solid Buckeye and was a key member of the championship-winning team last year. This year, though, he’s taken an astronomical leap forward. I know it’s early and only two games, but when making catches, he looks like he’s neck and neck with Smith. He is Ohio’s one and only Tate. Tate had five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown this week, with his touchdown almost matching last week in awesomeness.
Smith and Tate will always be the two main targets. But adding other receivers and tight ends like Ohio State did against Grambling State only helps Smith and Tate get open more. The first big pass play of the game in this win was to Will Kacmerak, arguably the second or third tight end behind Max Klare and Jelani Thurman. Kacmerak scored on a 47-yard seam route that is so devastating to defenses because it puts them on their heels, and when it’s a route like that, it opens up the entire middle.
Love this play! It opens up a defense to know they have to defend the big play from the tight end. Classic seam route touchdown to Kacmarek placed beautifully by Sayin. https://t.co/k70z3lKcJe
— Phillip Riggs (@phillipriggs85) September 6, 2025
Jelani Thurman would add a touchdown of his own, and the Buckeye tight ends would contribute in a huge way. By the end of the game, they would have eight catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Not to be lost in these elite pass catchers was how well Julian Sayin was throwing the football. His only negative throw was an interception where he made the right read but hesitated on the throw; otherwise, Sayin has his fifth touchdown pass and Tate his second touchdown catch of the game.
Sayin set a Buckeye record with 16 straight completions to start the game. Julian Sayin was 18 of 19 for 306 yards and four touchdowns. The Buckeye passing game altogether was 24 of 28 for 377 yards and five touchdowns.