If Jeremiah Smith had one superpower, he’d probably go back to November 30 last year, and undo everything that went wrong. For the world, it was a straight-forward 13-10 loss, but for Ohio State, it meant one more year of heartbreak and humiliation. But Ryan Day’s team is not one to give up. As the world gears up for another edition of scintillating college football action, players have been preparing—sometimes silently, and sometimes with statements that garner as much fanfare as they do criticism. Unfortunately, Smith’s latest statements on the rivalry has landed squarely in the second territory.

It all began as the wide receiver sat down with The Athletic‘s Manny Navarro on July 1. Already a hot commodity amid the player’s appearance on the cover of the EA Sports College Football 26 video game, the conversation expectedly turned toward the 2024 season. As perfectly encapsulated by the journalist, “Despite winning the title, Smith has not gotten over the loss to Michigan.”

“I’m not a sore loser,” Smith began. “But I hate losing, and losing to that team up north was pretty crazy,” Smith said. “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.”

Soon after, it caught the eye of some Michigan faithfuls. First was analyst RJ Young, who has praised the WR since the dawn of humanity, simply said, “I would like to see it.” He didn’t doubt the WR1, because he knows if there’s anyone who can break the losing streak, it’s him. But not everyone can be this benevolent.

Especially not, Michigan alum Rich Eisen. On his namesake show on July 2, radio host sarcastically said, “I have one word, one word in response of my thoughts: Noted,” as pretended to write down what the WR said, and slammed it shut. “We will make a note of that. And I’ll just tell this to Jeremiah,” the host then began.

“Jeremiah, I’m addressing you. Very talented. You’re very, very talented. You might be the best out of all of them. Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxson Smith, Garrett Wilson,” acknowledging Smith’s talent. When you’ve 76 catches, 1300+ yards, and 15 TDs in your freshman season, every response has to start with praise. 

But then he gave him the reality check. “He [Wilson] lost his last game to Michigan, and that’s been four years in a row,” said Eisen. “And the team that beat Ohio State last year… not as good as the one that’s going to be there. Team 146 is better than Team 145.” Now, here, the logic is infallible. With players like Underwood, Haynes, and Marshall, you’re basically up against a constellation, by the looks of the stars they have in front of their names. Rich then followed with his signature pompous Michigan personality and ended the segment by saying, “Noted, Jeremiah, noted.” flexing the Michigan Alum notebook.

The fuse that Eisen’s response will light in Smith’s mind is exactly what the Buckeye Nation needs, but in this rivalry, talk doesn’t win games; execution does. Rich Eisen’s response was a reminder that beating Michigan takes more than bold words, especially now. Jeremiah Smith might be the most electric talent in college football, but in this feud, greatness is only proven on that last Saturday in November. And Smith? He will be taking notes, for sure.

A rivalry fueled by redemption

The pain of last November still lingers in Columbus. That 13-10 loss to an unranked Michigan team was a gut punch. Even with a national title to end the season, for Buckeye faithful and players alike, that loss hit differently. Especially for a talent like Jeremiah Smith, who arrived in Columbus not just to win games, but to own The Game.

For Smith, there’s no such thing as a moral victory against Michigan, and that mindset is now becoming the heartbeat of Ohio State’s 2025 campaign.

There’s evidently a different tone around The Horseshoe this offseason, and Smith is helping shape it. His words have become something of a mission statement for a team that knows a national title is great, but it’s incomplete without handling Michigan. Even  former 5-star prospect and new Ohio State Buckeyes freshman QB Tavien St. Clair seems to agree as he retweeted his teammate’s words on social media.

So while Smith is making sure the pain from the last four years doesn’t fade quietly, Ryan Day’s arsenal is ready, too. November 29 is circled in every room in Columbus, and when that day comes, expect No. 4 to be front and center.