Jeremiah Smith Gets Hometown Matchup as Ohio State Awaits Miami in CFP Quarterfinals
While the College Football Playoff kicked off with high-stakes drama across the country, Jeremiah Smith and the No. 2 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes were in full scout mode - watching from the comfort of their couches, cleats off, game faces still on. Thanks to their first-round bye, the Buckeyes had the luxury of observing the bracket unfold, waiting to see who they'd face in the quarterfinals. That answer came Saturday night, and for Smith, it’s personal.
Ohio State’s next opponent? The Miami Hurricanes - Smith’s hometown team and the program that fought hard to keep him in South Florida before he chose to head north to Columbus.
Saturday’s matchup between No. 10 Miami and No.
7 Texas A&M was anything but a shootout. It was a grind-it-out defensive battle that didn’t see a touchdown until the final two minutes of regulation.
That’s when Miami’s electric freshman wideout Malachi Toney broke the scoring drought, taking a quick pitch from quarterback Carson Beck and darting 11 yards into the end zone. That score, paired with a clutch end-zone interception by defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald, sealed a gritty 10-3 win for the Hurricanes at Kyle Field.
The victory sets up a compelling storyline: Jeremiah Smith, the top-ranked recruit in the 2024 class and a Miami native, now gets to face the program he once considered home. And if his reaction on social media - a sly emoji posted to his X account - is any indication, he’s more than ready for this one.
Smith’s journey to Columbus was headline-worthy from the start. A five-star prospect with game-breaking talent, he was the crown jewel of the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class. Miami pushed hard to keep him in-state, but Ohio State ultimately won out - and they’ve been reaping the rewards ever since.
As a freshman, Smith wasted no time making an impact. He played a pivotal role in Ohio State’s run to the national championship, catching five touchdowns across four playoff games. This season, he elevated his game even further, entering the Heisman conversation with a dominant regular season: 80 receptions, 1,086 yards, and 12 touchdowns - plus one on the ground for good measure.
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— Jeremiah Smith (@Jermiah_Smith1) December 20, 2025
Now, in the Buckeyes’ first game of their title defense, Smith gets a little extra juice. Facing his hometown team in the CFP quarterfinals isn’t just another game - it’s a full-circle moment. And for a player who thrives on big stages, it’s exactly the kind of matchup that could bring out his best.
Ohio State will enter the game as favorites, but if Saturday’s Miami performance showed anything, it’s that the Hurricanes are coming in battle-tested. Their defense just shut down a high-powered Texas A&M offense, and they’ve got young playmakers like Toney capable of flipping the field in an instant.
Still, the Buckeyes have been here before - and with Smith leading the charge, they’ll be locked in. The stage is set for a showdown with plenty of storylines, and one of college football’s brightest stars is right at the heart of it.