Jeremiah Smith’s frustration boiled over late in Ohio State’s 41-28 loss to Oregon, and it left plenty of questions hanging over the Buckeyes after a night that pushed them to 6-3.
Smith, who has been viewed as the top player in college football this season, showed his anger at the end of the third quarter. He caught a pass near his own goal line - his first reception since the first quarter - and then immediately turned his attention toward his coaches.
That moment came in the middle of a loss that dealt a serious blow to Ohio State’s playoff hopes. Oregon’s win dropped the Buckeyes further back, and the finish only added to the tension around a team that now has little room for error.
After the game, analyst Damien Harris offered a bleak read on what Smith’s reaction could mean for the rest of his Ohio State run. “We just watched Jeremiah Smith play his last snap at Ohio State,” Harris began.
“He’s done! He’s going to pack it up.
He’s not playing anymore this season. The season is gone; we saw this isn’t a College Football Playoff team.
They were already on the outside looking in; the season is over. “He’s already etched his name in history, he’s got the touchdown record.
He has the reception record. He’s got a national championship.
He’s not going to get a Heisman this year. What’s there to play for?”
Smith still put up big numbers in the defeat, finishing with seven receptions for 133 yards and one touchdown.
Ohio State’s next chance to reset comes against Northwestern next week, with the Buckeyes trying to respond after back-to-back losses.
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