The Ohio State University capped off a historic college football season with a 34-23 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Monday night. With their victory, the Buckeyes became the first college program with five top five wins in a single season, which couldn’t have been done without the likes of rookie wide receiver and phenom Jeremiah Smith.

Standing at 6-foot-3 215 pounds, the youthful 19-year-old Smith put the team on his back during the Championship game late in the fourth quarter. When the game was tilting toward Notre Dame and the momentum was shifting, head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly looked toward the rookie to ultimately ice the game.

On third-and-11, Notre Dame decided to bring pressure and rely on their defensive identity to create a big stop in such a monumental moment in the football game. Defensive coordinator Al Golden brought a blitz, which was picked up by OSU running back TreVeyon Henderson. The secondary of Notre Dame played man-to-man (cover 0), which left their defensive backs on an island against the strong receiving corps of the Buckeyes. This eventually led to quarterback Will Howard heaving a go-ball toward the right side of the field and Smith catching a long reception, sealing a National Championship victory for the Buckeyes.

When the team needed him the most, Smith delivered. Although he is a young player in his first year with the team, that did not stop him and his historic accolades and achievements which culminated in the most important achievement of them all – a National Championship victory.

Smith capped off his rookie year by winning the following awards:

• CFP National Champion (2024)
• First-Team All-American (2024)
• Big Ten Receiver of the Year (2024)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2024)
• First-Team All-Big Ten (2024)
• AP All America 2nd Team Offense (2024)
• Rose Bowl Offensive MVP (2025)

From a statistical perspective, Smith finished with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 16 total touchdowns. In the National Championship, he caught a touchdown reception and converted the key third-down to seal Notre Dame’s defeat. The Buckeyes have a sensational rookie athlete on their roster, one who if he stays healthy can impact a game at any moment. Smith will look for the 2025 season to produce even better results, but as of right now… he should just enjoy the moment.