50 For 50: Jeremiah Smith Looking For Revenge Up North?

Welcome to our daily feature that I am calling “50 for 50” where I attempt to get us to Big Ten Media Days — which are 27 days away — with a daily sampling of what we can look forward to this upcoming college football season. Today’s edition features Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, receiver Jeremiah Smith, and more.

As always, we will do this via the following categories: the 50 biggest individual matchups for the Buckeyes this season, the 50 most important college football games this season, 50 Buckeye things to look forward to this season, 50 national predictions, 50 Big Ten predictions, and 50 predictions involving the Buckeyes.

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Biggest Buckeye Matchups

OHIO STATE WR JEREMIAH SMITH VS. MICHIGAN CB ZEKE BERRY

There are Michigan fans who will tell you that Zeke Berry locked Jeremiah Smith down in last year’s game and the only reason Smith scored a touchdown is because he pushed off like the common criminal he is. Smith caught five passes for 35 yards against the Wolverines. The yardage was his third-lowest of the season. Both Jeremiah Smith and Zeke Berry return this year and no doubt both players remember how last year went. Don’t be surprised if there are some pregame words said from one or both of these guys come November.

Most Important Games

LSU TIGERS AT OLE MISS REBELS, SEPT. 27

This series has had alternating winners each of the last five years, with the 2024 matchup going LSU’s way in overtime. Ole Miss should enter this game 5-0 on the season and ranked in the Top 10, but this will be their biggest test the first half of the season. If they can get past LSU, they still won’t be in the clear, because three weeks later they begin a stretch of road games at Georgia and Oklahoma followed by a home game against South Carolina. It’s the Rebels’ turn to win this year, but they’re gonna have to earn it.

Things To Look Forward To

JUNIOR NOSE TACKLE KAYDEN MCDONALD AS A STARTER.

Kayden McDonald played the third-most snaps for the Ohio State defensive tackles last year, but that amounted to about 10 snaps per game in the Buckeyes’ biggest matchups last year. That number is going to go up by about four times this year. McDonald has shown flashes and has played in short-yardage situations, but now he’s going to have to show up on every down and in every game. The expectation is that he’s going to handle things quite well, which is why Buckeye fans should be looking forward to seeing what an increased role looks like for Kayden McDonald.

National College Football Predictions

THOMAS CASTELLANOS WILL RUSH FOR 100 YARDS AGAINST ALABAMA.

If you are not familiar with Thomas Castellanos, you soon will be. He was Boston College’s starting quarterback in 2023 and much of 2024. He and Bill O’Brien didn’t hit it off last year and now Castellanos is the starting quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles. Castellanos rushed for 1,113 yards as a sophomore, so he’s difficult to bring down. And after saying this week that the Crimson Tide “don’t have Nick Saban to save them” and “I just don’t see them stopping me,” he’s certainly going to be on the run. Castellanos can make all kinds of plays, and he’s gonna have to be at his best in the season opener against Bama.

Big Ten Football Predictions

PENN STATE’S DUO WILL RUSH FOR 1,000 YARDS AGAIN.

I don’t know how many college football tandems have rushed for 1,000 yards in multiple seasons together. There can’t be many. (According to ChatGPT there are none.) Soon, there will be more. Penn State running backs Nick Singleton (1,099) and Kaytron Allen (1,108) got the first half done last year (after coming close their first two years at PSU). This year, their numbers will be similar, thanks in part to some help from a more talented passing game than what they had to work with last year. If an opposing defense wants to put too much focus on the running game, they may end up paying for it this time.

Ohio State Football Predictions

THREE FRESHMEN WILL SCORE AGAINST GRAMBLING.

The Grambling game is set up for some young Buckeyes to have success. I have not researched how long it’s been since three freshmen scored in a game for Ohio State. It’s probably rare enough that I’m allowing myself to permit one of those touchdowns being from a redshirt freshman. This feels like a game where running back Bo Jackson scores. Maybe quarterback Tavien St. Clair sneaks one in. Then my center square is Mylan Graham. Of course, this doesn’t even factor in anybody from defense. This is where you could see a pick six from Devin Sanchez or Faheem Delane. Now I’m wondering if three touchdowns is enough.

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