The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes will enter Husky Stadium as one of the nation’s most physically-gifted rosters, but two players stand out above the rest. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs are two of the country’s most talented athletes, and it’ll take a mighty effort from the Huskies to contain them on Saturday.
Last year, Smith set the college football world on fire with the most impressive freshman receiving campaign in Buckeyes history. The consensus No. 1 prospect in the class of 2024 tallied 76 receptions for 1,315 receiving yards, and 15 receiving touchdowns -- breaking three Ohio State freshman records set by NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter in the process.
The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Smith was even named MVP of the 2025 Rose Bowl after taking seven receptions for 187 yards (breaking Carter’s program record for single-game freshman receiving yards), and two touchdowns in a win over Oregon.
Those touchdowns, his 13th, and 14th of the season respectively, set the record for
the most receiving touchdowns by a Big Ten freshman. The 15 touchdowns Smith finished the year with far surpassed the previous mark of 12 set by Purdue’s Rondale Moore in 2018.
Smith was named a second-team All-American in 2024, though many thought he deserved first-team honors. ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky even stated that Smith would have been selected first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, and that teams will tank for him when he finally becomes eligible in 2027:
Dan Orlovsky on Ohio State freshman WR Jeremiah Smith: "He would easily be the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. You will have teams in two years, for that '27 draft, tanking for him."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 2, 2025
Mike Greenberg: "For a wide receiver?"
Orlovsky: "Absolutely. He's that good." pic.twitter.com/MTaNggcPfQ
“Every part of [this game] will be a great challenge,” Huskies coach Jedd Fisch said. “It’s not just Jeremiah Smith, but he’s certainly one of the best wide receivers in the country.”
Smith could be an especially big issue on Saturday if standout Huskies cornerback Tacario Davis is unable to play. Davis, who earned second-team all-conference honors with the Arizona Wildcats in 2023 and 2024, missed last week’s Apple Cup due to an upper-body injury he suffered against UC Davis in Week 2.
“[We’re] in full-blown competition mode right now between Leroy [Bryant], Dylan [Robinson], Rahshawn [Clark],” Fisch said. “Those three guys will all be competing, and then we’ll see where we are with Tacario as the week progresses.”
The Huskies’ defense will have its hands full with Smith, but with Downs roaming the secondary, the Huskies’ offense may not have it any easier.
Downs was excellent during his freshman season for the Alabama Crimson Tide, tallying 107 total tackles, two interceptions, three passes defended, and a forced fumble. He led the Tide in total tackles (by an astounding 40-tackle margin) and was named the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year, but chose to transfer to Ohio State following the retirement of legendary coach Nick Saban.
The move to Columbus proved a good one. Downs earned unanimous All-American honors in 2024 following an impressive campaign in which he racked up 81 total tackles, two interceptions, six passes defended, and one half of a sack. As a result, he was also named the Big Ten’s 2024 Defensive Back of the Year.
Because Downs and Smith played such huge roles on the Buckeyes’ championship-winning squad, they were both named first-team members of the Associated Press’ preseason All-America team.
Smith and Downs were also honored in a list of ESPN’s preseason top 10 players. Smith topped the list, while Downs placed third behind only Smith and Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.
It’s still early, and though the Buckeyes’ stats are hurt by their recent bye week, Smith and Downs seem to be on track with expectations. Through three games, Smith has 20 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns, while Downs has totalled 13 tackles and an interception.
If the Huskies want to pull off a historic upset on Saturday, they’ll need to contain Smith on offense and avoid Downs on defense. It’s not an impossible task, but it’ll take all the focus and execution the Huskies can manage.