Jeremiah Smith Wants Another Shot at Indiana - But There’s Work to Be Done First
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith isn’t hiding his preference for who he wants to see across the field in the National Championship Game - and it’s not Alabama.
While Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs stirred things up last week by picking his former team, the Crimson Tide, to upset Indiana in the Rose Bowl, Smith is hoping for the opposite. The sophomore standout has his eyes locked on a rematch with the Hoosiers.
And he made that crystal clear during media availability on Monday at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, where Ohio State is preparing for its College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup against Miami in the Cotton Bowl.
“We’ll see Indiana again,” Smith said confidently.
That’s not just confidence - that’s a challenge.
Smith’s comments come just weeks after Indiana handed Ohio State its first loss of the season in the Big Ten Championship, a defeat that knocked the Buckeyes off the top seed and left a bitter taste in the mouths of a team that had been eyeing a perfect season. For Smith, it’s personal. He wants the rematch, and he wants it on the biggest stage in college football.
But for that to happen, a lot still needs to break Ohio State’s way.
The Road to Redemption Runs Through Miami - and More
Let’s be clear: Smith’s vision of a title-game rematch with Indiana hinges on both teams surviving two more rounds of playoff football. The Hoosiers will need to take down Alabama in Pasadena - no small task - and then get past the winner of Texas Tech vs.
Oregon in the other semifinal. Meanwhile, Ohio State has its hands full with a dangerous Miami squad, and then potentially a heavyweight showdown with either Georgia or Ole Miss in the title game.
So while Smith’s message is bold, it’s also loaded with implications. He’s not just calling his shot - he’s betting on Indiana to handle business against a battle-tested Alabama team, and he’s betting on his own Buckeyes to grind through a gauntlet of elite opponents.
Alabama Can Flip the Script
Of course, Alabama has something to say about all of this. The Tide, led by a program that’s built for postseason pressure, will be looking to spoil Indiana’s Cinderella run and reassert their place among college football’s elite.
Kickoff for the Rose Bowl is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. CT on ABC, and you can bet they’ve heard Smith’s comments by now.
There’s a fine line between confidence and looking too far ahead - and right now, Smith is walking it. But that’s what makes the College Football Playoff so compelling. The stakes are massive, the talent is undeniable, and the storylines practically write themselves.
If Smith gets his wish and Ohio State sees Indiana again, it’ll mean both teams earned their way through a playoff minefield. And if that rematch comes to pass, you can be sure Smith will be ready - and so will the Hoosiers.