Jeremiah Smith didn’t need long to answer the Malachi Toney buzz.
While Toney was coming off a jaw-dropping Week 1 showing for Miami, Smith got right to work for Ohio State in its opener against Ball State at The Shoe. Julian Sayin marched the Buckeyes on a 99-yard drive early, and the series ended with Sayin finding Smith on a 48-yard touchdown. It was a contested grab, the kind Smith has made look routine when a cornerback is left alone with him.
That’s the point here: the Toney praise is deserved, but the idea that he’s suddenly standing alone at the top of college football’s receiver class is a stretch. Toney put up 12 catches for 234 yards and three touchdowns in Miami’s Week 1 win in Palo Alto, and nobody should act like that wasn’t a historic night. He’s one of the best players in the sport, and he did it at 18 years old.
Still, Smith is not some afterthought in this conversation. An anonymous Big Ten coach tried to label him overrated, but that argument doesn’t hold much water. Smith remains a generational talent and should be viewed as a Top 5 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
For now, both receivers are giving college football plenty to talk about, and both are doing it in different places. There’s a friendly rivalry there, especially with both being Florida natives, and the respect is obvious. Smith, though, is going to keep stepping into the same conversation with Toney and anyone else who wants to claim WR1 status.
In Other News...
Ohio States Receiver Rotation Just Got More Complicated Before Week 1
Ohio States receiver picture got a little murkier heading into Week 1 after Kyle Parker was ruled out for the opener against Ball State because of an injury. Ryan Day had already flagged Parker as dealing with a minor issue, and now the Buckeyes will have to open the season without one of the players in their wideout mix.
Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are among the receivers expected to get more snaps with Parker unavailable, which only adds another layer to a position group already under the microscope in camp. For a team trying to sort out roles early, even a short-term absence can matter, and this one gives Ohio State an early look at its depth before the real tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Week 1 Start Just Added Fuel To A Huge Debate
Ohio States season opener did plenty to reinforce why the Big Ten already feels like the league to beat, with Julian Sayin looking sharp in his first extended action and the Buckeyes setting the tone early against Ball State. Across the conference, Indiana also came out strong behind new quarterback Josh Hoover, while Rutgers, Michigan State and Nebraska each left a little more uncertainty on the board after mixed openings.
Curt Cignettis postgame comments about the Big Ten being superior to the SEC only added to a debate that has been simmering for months, and former Ohio State coach Urban Meyers praise for the leagues strength gave it even more oxygen. For Buckeyes fans, the opening weekend was less about settling anything outright than about reminding everyone that Ohio State is already in the middle of a bigger argument about where the sports best football is being played. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Opener Made One Position Battle A Lot More Interesting
Ohio States season opener looked comfortable on the scoreboard, a 56-3 win that still left enough rough edges to keep the coaching staff busy. Jeremiah Smith delivered the kind of opening performance that reminds everyone why he is already such a focal point of the offense, piling up 151 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and Devin McCuin also made his mark as the Buckeyes worked through stretches of inconsistency on both sides of the ball.
One of the more intriguing takeaways came away from the spotlight plays, where freshman Legend Bey flashed enough on offense to suggest there is something to build on. His night also came with some costly special teams errors, though, and that is the kind of detail that can reshape how quickly a young player gets trusted in bigger moments. At quarterback, the depth chart also appeared to settle a little further, with Tavien St. Clair looking more like he is chasing the No. 3 job than threatening the top of the line behind Julian Sayin. [Read more 🡒]