Jeremiah Smith left no doubt in Ohio State’s CFP championship run

On By Littum

ATLANTA – “Just catch it,” Jeremiah Smith thought to himself.

The Ohio State freshman receiver knew the ball was headed his way. Notre Dame was in man coverage.

“Man-on-man, I’m not losing,” Smith said later.

He didn’t lose here either.

Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) makes a tackle against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half of the CFP National Championship. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

He won big, running past his defender, Christian Gray, like he was standing still and hauling in the bomb from quarterback Will Howard.

Fifty-six yards later, the national championship was all but over, Ohio State cruising to a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Before the play, there were sudden doubts. A 24-point Ohio State lead was down to eight.

It was third-and-11 with 2:38 left. One stop and the Irish had a chance.

The Buckeyes could have played it safe and forced Notre Dame to use its final timeout.

Coach Ryan Day decided to go for it, to go for the championship. Leave no doubt. Train to win, instead of not losing.

“I just thought to myself: Only one national championship, you only get one opportunity a year to do this, let’s just put it on the line and put it out there and be aggressive. And that’s what we did,” Day said. – I spoke to the defensive players and I spoke to the offensive players that we would continue to be aggressive throughout the match. I told the team that before the game. And I had to make sure I followed through (with) it.”

The 6-foot-3 Smith was tackled at the 10-yard line.

Seven plays later, Jayden Fielding made a 33-yard field goal, extending the lead to 11 with 26 seconds left, making the school’s first championship in a decade.

Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) holds the trophy after the 34-23 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Smith was such a big part of the title.

He set Ohio State freshman records with 76 receptions, 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches.

He also set a Big Ten record for most receiving yards by a freshman, and in four playoff games scored five touchdowns.

Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) reacts after making a catch against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

With everything on the line, in the final minute of the college football season, he came up big.

“It’s a blessing,” said Smith, who had five catches for 88 yards and a score Monday night. “We had too many blessings this year.”

He was at the top of the list.