Jeremiah Smith vows to beat Michigan in 2025

Jeremiah Smith had one of the greatest freshman campaigns of all time.

He broke Cris Carter’s three Ohio State freshman receiving records.

He was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

He was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year.

He was a First-Team All-American. And he won a national championship.

But there were a few things Smith didn’t achieve in his first collegiate season at Ohio State: He didn’t win a Big Ten Championship, and he didn’t win the Heisman Trophy.

Despite his immense success, there was also one particular game the Buckeyes didn’t win. As every Ohio State fan knows, leading up to the final Saturday in November, nothing else from the previous 11 games matters. To cement your legacy as a Buckeye, you must win The Game. Out of all the positives in 2024 for Smith and the Buckeyes, Ohio State lost its rivalry game against Michigan. Now, Smith has promised to beat the Wolverines in 2025.

“I’m not a sore loser, but I hate losing, and losing to that team up north was pretty crazy,” Smith told The Athletic. “In the end, I think it really helped us play the way we did in the playoffs. But I didn’t want to go to Ohio State and lose to that team up north. I just hate them. Just something about them. For the next two years, I promise you, I will not lose to them. I can’t lose to them in the next two years.”

Some may say it’s cocky, but in reality, it’s the perfect mindset any Buckeye fan should want from the best player in the country.

Ohio State has lost to its rival Michigan in four consecutive years. The last time that happened was 34 years ago. And in 2024’s rendition of The Game, the Buckeyes seemed to play not to lose, rather than to win.

Jeremiah Smith’s confidence should give his teammates motivation to get back to the right side of sports’ greatest rivalry.

Despite a new highlight or shattered record from Smith in seemingly every game last year, he has gone into his first collegiate offseason humble and desperate to get better.

“The season I had last year was a blessing,” Smith said. “I just won a national championship, contributed to a top team. I mean, all of this has been surreal. I’m just soaking it all in, but I’m not finished.”

“I still have a lot of work to do,” Smith added. “I’ve got two, three more years left of college. I’ve still got to go to the pros — hopefully by the grace of God. I have just got to keep it going.

While the rivalry is bigger than every regular-season game, the one thing Ohio State can’t afford to do is make The Game bigger than its season. Like in 2024, the main goal in 2025 is the same for the Buckeyes: Repeat as national champions. And despite his age, Jeremiah Smith has that same mentality and maturity.

“Just because I had one great year, I can’t get comfortable and depend on that,” Smith said. “I want to do this year in and year out. … I’m just trying to win another natty — that’s what I’m focused on. All the other individual accolades will come after that.”