“I Can’t Wait to Put on a Show”: Jeremiah Smith Ready to Bounce Back From Quiet Cotton Bowl Performance in the National Championship Game
Jeremiah Smith, a rising star for Ohio State, stayed consistent with his message leading up to the Buckeyes’ national championship game in Atlanta. Reflecting on a quieter performance in the Cotton Bowl victory over Texas, Smith made his intentions clear:
“I can’t wait to put on a show,” he repeated multiple times during media day.
Smith, who had previously issued a similar warning before the Rose Bowl against Oregon, sent a message to Notre Dame as well: “Be ready.” He’s prepared to take on the Irish’s defense, which he noted heavily favors man-to-man coverage. While TruMedia reports that Notre Dame runs man defense on 57.6% of opponents’ dropbacks, Smith believes it’s even more frequent based on his film study.
“What they do, they do very, very well,” Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline said in an interview with ESPN. “For them to change would be kind of silly. They’ve got great players on the outside, and so do we. It’s exactly what you want in a game of this magnitude.”
Smith is particularly eager for one-on-one matchups with Notre Dame’s cornerbacks, especially after Texas heavily defended him in the Cotton Bowl. Despite being limited to a single catch for 3 yards against the Longhorns, Smith was pragmatic about his role in the game.
“You watch the film — they doubled me, tripled me,” Smith said. “It was frustrating, but being a decoy helped us win the game.”
This season, the freshman phenom has racked up 71 receptions for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns across 14 games, with standout performances against teams like Tennessee and Oregon. Yet, Smith’s focus isn’t on individual stats as much as achieving a bigger goal.
“All I want to do is win,” Smith said.
For Smith, this championship game represents more than just a contest; it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“Just being a freshman, playing on a national stage, and competing for a national title is something I dreamed of as a kid,” he shared. “I’m just happy to be here. I can’t wait to put on a show Monday.”
