PASADENA — Jeremiah Smith motioned at a sea of green with one finger to his lips after crossing the goal line on the third play from scrimmage, knowing this was the start of something sinister for Ohio State inside The Rose Bowl. Proper utilization of advanced weaponry is nearly as important as the war machine itself and the Buckeyes’ heat-seeker was unstoppable, hitting another stratosphere after a picture-perfect launch during Ohio State’s splattering of Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
Smith’s first catch was a 45-yard crossing route for a touchdown before his second was a leaping snare over two defenders to deliver another momentous play a few minutes into the game. Smith’s first-half stat line — five catches for 161 yards and two scores — was reminiscent of former Heisman winner DeVonta Smith’s masterful outing against the Buckeyes in the national championship game a few years back after the ex-Alabama star went 12 for 215 during a mesmerizing series of big plays.
Ryan Day saw that display of wideout superiority up close and now has his own version of one of college football’s best at the position. Oregon, despite 25 days of rest since its last game, had no answers for Smith, who was the recipient of rhythmic play-caller Chip Kelly’s best game with the Buckeyes and another eye-opening showing from quarterback Will Howard.
Smith helped Ohio State build a 34-point lead, this coming after the five-star freshman issued a warning to Oregon’s secondary before the game, cautioning the Ducks to avoid single coverage.
“When we see man coverage against any of our receivers, we’re going to take a shot down the field,” Smith said. “I’m just letting everybody know right now that if you play man Wednesday, we’re taking a shot. … Tennessee, you saw what they tried to do and what happened. We just took shots and put it up on them. We got to continue to do that.”
Smith saved his best at the opportune time for the Buckeyes. He’s coming off a six-catch, 103-yard, two-touchdown game during Ohio State’s first-round destruction of Tennessee and now battles a Texas defense in the Cotton Bowl that was No. 2 this season against the pass. Smith seems to hold the “nobody can stop me” mentality with the Buckeyes now two wins away from a national championship. Against Oregon, the dominance was asserted early and often.
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“Coach (Brian) Hartline told me the other day that I’m a whole different player from the first time we played Oregon until now,” Smith said in the pre-game buildup. “It started with understanding the game plan and knowing what the defense is trying to do.”
