The Ohio State football team came into this season with the best player in all of college football. Jeremiah Smith finished the College Football Playoff on one of the most incredible runs that anyone who has played for the Buckeyes has had to finish off a season.
Smith's size and speed make it impossible to cover him one-on-one without getting burned. Against most opponents, Smith sees double teams. At the very least, they have him bracketed in coverage, making it harder for him to burn them deep. The Ohio State Buckeyes have still found ways to get him involved.
Last week against Minnesota, the Buckeyes dominated the Golden Gophers 42-3. Julian Sayin was given the freedom to rip the ball down the field, and that's what he did. One play during that game illustrates just how important Smith is to the success of the team.
One play shows how much Jeremiah Smith means to the Ohio State football team
On the touchdown pass to Carnell Tate, Smith attracted enough attention to leave Tate one-on-one on the outside, and that was quite a mismatch. Take a look at how many players follow Smith on a fake reverse to him.
The gravitational pull of Jeremiah Smith is hilarious (and warranted).
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 6, 2025
Also, a pretty slick double-move by Carnell Tate pic.twitter.com/XFFEVGkfR1
You can count five Golden Gophers chasing Smith because they think he has the ball. That's how fearful they are of him getting the ball in his hands. That left Tate wide open to run a clean route and get separation at the top for an easy touchdown. That's the Jeremiah Smith effect.
Smith was asked about that play, and he told reporters he was just smiling to himself because he knew it was going to be a touchdown. With him taking so much attention from defenses, it opens up lanes for other players to be effective. Even when he doesn't get the ball, he's burning defenses.
Illinois is going to have to deal with that on Saturday afternoon. Smith still gets his numbers, no matter what coverages he sees. Defending so many offensive weapons could be a problem for a team that gave up 63 points to Indiana a couple of weeks ago.