50 For 50: What Will Jeremiah Smith Do For An Encore?

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 21 days away — with a daily sampling of what we can look forward to this upcoming college football season. Today’s edition features Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, linebacker Sonny Styles, running back CJ Donaldson, 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

TEXAS RB QUINTREVION WISNER VS. OHIO STATE LB SONNY STYLES

Texas gets RB CJ Baxter back this season after missing last year, but leading rusher Tre Wisner is also back. Wisner rushed for 1,064 yards last year, but averaged just 4.7 yards per carry. If that’s what he does early in the season, he won’t hold the job for long. But he’ll likely be the guy when Texas heads to Columbus. The Longhorns are going to try to establish the run, and linebacker Sonny Styles is gonna try to keep that from happening. Styles had a season-high nine tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss last year against Texas. It wouldn’t be a shock if the same thing happens this year.

Most Important Games

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS AT FLORIDA GATORS, NOV. 22

The Vols and Gators have split their last four games, with the home team winning each time. I assume Florida will be favored in this one as Tennessee tries to recalibrate following the loss of quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Florida’s schedule is crazy for the second year in a row, so who knows what kind of situation they’ll be in when this game finally happens. Seems crazy to say this, but the Gators may need a win here to keep their bowl hopes alive.

Things To Look Forward To

JEREMIAH SMITH MAKING YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD.

One of the great things about Jeremiah Smith is that you are already convinced that he is superhuman, and yet when he does something superhuman, you still shake your head. There will be occasions this season when you begin to rise up out of your seat because you know something insane is about to happen. And then when it does, you should just shake your head and wonder why you keep being surprised by Jeremiah Smith when you know he’s not normal.

National College Football Predictions

MITCHELL MELTON WILL LEAD VIRGINIA IN SACKS.

After spending five years at Ohio State — with much of that time rehabbing from injuries, Mitchell Melton is now at Virginia where he could finally emerge as the playmaker everybody has been hoping he’d become. Melton showed impressive quickness as a pass rusher, but only saw limited reps when he was healthy. He only has 15 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks in his career, so he’s very much an unknown. If you were wondering, however, 5.5 sacks would have led the team last year and 4.0 would have led it in 2023.

Big Ten Football Predictions

ELIJAH SARRATT WILL HAVE A 1,000-YARD SEASON FOR INDIANA.

I am expecting an explosive Indiana offense this season. Receiver Elijah Sarratt returns after putting up 957 yards on 53 catches last season. He earned Third-Team All-Big Ten accolades a year ago. Me predicting that he goes for 1,000 yards may not seem impressive, especially since he went for 1,191 at James Madison in 2023. However, the last Hoosier to hit 1,000 yards receiver was Whop Philyor, who went for 1,002 yards in 2019.

Ohio State Football Predictions

CJ DONALDSON WILL HAVE A 100-YARD GAME AGAINST A RANKED OPPONENT.

Looking at the possible ranked opponents for the Buckeyes, the list isn’t very long. Texas will be a top-two team. Illinois will likely be ranked, as will Penn State and Michigan. Maybe Washington or Wisconsin or Minnesota can reach the Top 25, but don’t count on it. So that leaves me predicting CJ Donaldson to rush for 100 yards against Texas, Penn State, Illinois, Michigan, or somewhere in the postseason. The Buckeyes are very young in the backfield, so it will be interesting to see how much a senior like Donaldson is relied upon. This is James Peoples’ job, but it’s not a one-man position.

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