"I just hate them": Jeremiah Smith despises bitter loss to Michigan while making bold promise to OSU fans for next two years

Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith still bristles at last season’s loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes’ fourth straight setback in the rivalry. The freshman star didn’t hold back when The Athletic's Manny Navarro asked Smith about it.

"I'm not a sore loser, but I hate losing, and losing to that team up north was pretty crazy," Smith told Navarro at the OT7 Playoffs this past weekend.

"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."

Smith said dropping that game stung but fueled Ohio State’s charge through the expanded College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes steamrolled Tennessee and Oregon before toppling Texas and Notre Dame to claim another national title.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa - Source: Imagn

Smith, who calls another championship the top goal, isn’t focused on stats or awards. He wants wins, and he’s drawing a line in the rivalry.

“For the next two years, I promise you, I will not lose to them,” he said. "I can’t lose to them in the next two years.”

His vow sets the tone for a Buckeyes squad determined to flip the script when they meet their biggest rival again this fall, scheduled for Nov. 29.

Jeremiah Smith heads into his second season

With 14 players from last year’s national championship roster drafted, including quarterback Will Howard, receiver Emeka Egbuka and running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, the offense is looking to new voices.

Jeremiah Smith, who caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman and earned Rose Bowl MVP honors, sees the shift as a natural step.

“That arm is different,” Smith told Navarro. “He (Julian Sayin) can make any and every throw. Just a smart quarterback. Like me, he’s a little quiet. But he’s starting to come out of (his) shell. He’s definitely going to be a guy. It’s going to be scary for opponents.”

Smith’s push to lead aims to steady an offense that’s replacing major stars and counting on young playmakers to keep the Buckeyes in title contention.

Also Read: "Got more money than me": NFL star stunned to see Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith's bank account

About the author

Mohammad Asif Ansari is a journalist covering college football and basketball at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Technology and brings four years of experience as an NFL and EdTech writer.

While acknowledging the dominance of professional leagues like the NBA and NFL, Asif is drawn to the raw energy and unpredictability of college sports, particularly football and basketball.

Jalen Hurts stands out as Asif's all-time favorite college player, celebrated for his remarkable success on the football field and impressive leadership skills.

In his reporting, Asif seeks to capture the essence of college athletics, delving into the human stories behind the game. From the trials and triumphs of student-athletes to the strategic genius of coaches like Nick Saban, he strives to paint a vivid picture of the college sports landscape.

Asif ensures that his reporting is both informative and ethically sound, meticulously verifying sources and facts to provide readers with reliable and trustworthy content.

When not writing, Asif practices basic MMA, hones his biking skills and expands his language proficiency in Urdu and Arabic.

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Edited by Ribin Peter