It was Jeremiah Smith’s afternoon from start to finish, and Ohio State turned that into a 42-19 win over Illinois on Saturday.
For the first time in his career, Smith was the clear centerpiece of the Buckeyes’ game plan, and he responded with the best outing he has had yet. Illinois had answers for almost nothing he did.
On most of his routes, he was running free. When he was actually covered, he still came down with the kind of grab that made the whole thing look almost unfair.
By the end of the day, Smith had 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns. What was tossed out in jest on the pregame show - that he might set the career touchdowns record on the day - ended up feeling a lot less like a joke than it did before kickoff.
What makes Smith such a problem is the complete package. He’s faster than the fastest guy, quicker than the quickest defender, stronger than the strongest defender, and better than the best defender.
Ohio State also got steady work from the Jackson duo. Ja’Kobi and Bo split the workload almost evenly, with 10 and 11 carries, and Ja’Kobi added a touchdown.
The one concern was on the defensive side. The Buckeyes allowed 441 yards, even while holding Illinois to 19 points. The Illini were able to move the ball on the ground and through the air, and Ohio State did not offer much resistance.
Still, 19 points was all the defense gave up, and with Smith delivering a one-of-one performance on the other side, that was more than enough for the Buckeyes.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Jay Timmons Is Earning Trust Faster Than Expected
Jay Timmons has moved quickly from newcomer to a player Ohio State is comfortable leaning on in the defensive backfield. The true freshman nickelback has already started for the defense, which is not something this program has asked of many freshmen in recent memory, and he has given the staff reasons to keep trusting him. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has praised his work, and veteran teammates have noticed the same thing after seeing how he has handled the job.
The early returns have been strong enough that Timmons is already being talked about as a prospect with a very high ceiling down the road. His play against Texas stood out as another sign that the moment has not been too big for him, even in an environment where young defensive backs are usually brought along more slowly. For Ohio State, the bigger question now is how far his rapid rise can continue as the schedule gets tougher and the expectations keep growing. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Commit Jamier Brown Is Quickly Regaining Lost Time
Jamier Brown is making up for a late start in a hurry. The Ohio State commit missed Waynes first two games because of a suspension, but he has wasted little time showing why he remains such a key piece for the Warriors, catching six passes for 63 yards and finding the end zone in a 49-24 win over Clayton Northmont in Greater Western Ohio Conference play.
Kye Graham kept the offense humming with 284 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Wayne backed it up with timely defensive stops and scoring drives to put the game away. For Ohio State, Browns recent stretch is the encouraging part, because the Buckeyes are getting a look at a receiver who is already helping his high school team settle in and build momentum after an unusual start to the season. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Will Love The Standard Indiana Just Exposed
Curt Cignetti is already talking like a coach who knows success changes the conversation. After Indianas recent surge, the Hoosiers head coach used a message to the fan base to push back on rising expectations, pointing to the programs history of thin crowds and asking supporters not to grumble about lopsided wins. It was a blunt reminder that, around college football, a winning stretch can quickly turn into a referendum on how much winning is enough.
For Ohio State fans, the contrast lands cleanly. Ryan Day has made his own standard public and unmistakable, setting a much higher bar for the Buckeyes than simply stacking victories and keeping people content. So while Cignetti was managing the temperature in Bloomington, his comments served as a useful backdrop for what Ohio State expects of itself, and why the conversation in Columbus usually starts where other programs hope to finish. [Read more 🡒]