With just one day to go before the College Football Playoff quarterfinal showdown between Ohio State and Miami in the Cotton Bowl, the pregame buzz is reaching a fever pitch-especially around Buckeyes star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Smith, an All-American and one of the most electric young talents in the country, is no stranger to the spotlight. But this game?
This one hits a little different. It’s personal.
Smith hails from South Florida, where he starred at Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, just a short drive from the University of Miami. And as you'd expect, his ties to the area-and his decision to leave it for Columbus-have stirred plenty of emotion, especially among Hurricanes fans.
“I’m gonna be the bigger man and let my game do the talking New Year’s Eve,” Smith said on Monday, just hours before kickoff.
That’s a shift in tone from what we heard last week, when Smith didn’t shy away from the idea of a little on-field edge. In fact, he seemed to embrace it.
“I’m not really worried about [late hits] because I’m probably the one that’s going to be doing it too,” Smith said last week. “I’m going to be a little chippy out there. I’m bringing it all this week.”
That quote turned heads-and not just in Columbus or Coral Gables. Smith wasn’t backing down from the idea of a physical, emotional battle. And considering the stakes, the setting, and the storylines, it’s easy to see why this one could get heated.
Smith’s connection to Miami runs deep. He admitted recently that if the Hurricanes had been in a better place during his recruitment, his college decision might’ve looked a lot different.
Back when he was coming out of high school as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2024, Miami was fresh off a 7-6 season under Mario Cristobal. Since then, the ‘Canes have turned things around, going 21-5 and reasserting themselves as a rising force in the ACC.
But Smith chose Ohio State, a program that’s made a habit of developing elite wide receivers-and he’s quickly made his mark in Columbus. Now, he gets a shot to show out on one of college football’s biggest stages, against a team that once had a real shot to land him.
And while Smith is taking the high road publicly now-saying he’s seen all the social media chatter but isn’t letting it affect him-there’s no doubt this game means a little more. With family and friends back home watching closely, and with Miami defenders like OJ Frederique and Bryce Fitzgerald potentially lining up across from him, the intensity is going to be real.
One key matchup fans won’t get to see, though, is Smith vs. Damari Brown.
The Miami cornerback, who has been ruled out for the game, has a history with Smith that dates back to their high school days. The two went head-to-head in some memorable battles, especially in 2022 when Brown, then at Plantation American Heritage, got the better of Smith in their last meeting.
Clips of that game have been circulating online all week, adding another layer of what-if to this already loaded matchup.
Still, even without that one-on-one duel, there’s no shortage of storylines. Jeremiah Smith is stepping into a playoff spotlight with the confidence of a player who knows exactly what he brings to the table-and the poise to let his play do the talking.
Come New Year’s Eve, we’ll see if that message rings loud and clear on the field.