Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith’s quote about Oregon’s defense recirculated after win

Don’t say Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith didn’t warn them.

The Buckeyes beat Oregon, 41-21, in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday night in a surprisingly lopsided game that put their offensive talents on full display. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard picked apart the Ducks’ defense all night, combining with Smith for 187 yards and two touchdowns, a single-game program record for the freshman.

Before Ohio State’s dominant win, however, Smith gave the Ducks a stark message about how to prepare on defense.

“I’m just laughing inside my head. Why are you guys actually playing man-on-man against us, or against me, should I say?” Smith told reporters earlier this week. “And when we see man (coverage) against one of our receivers, we’re going to take a shot downfield.

“So I’m just telling everybody right now if you play man Wednesday, we’ll take a shot.”

As is the case most years, the Buckeyes boast a stacked wide receiver room with Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, but it was Smith who impressed the most to help Ohio State avenge an October loss to Oregon and go on to the CFP semi-finals.

Ohio State will face playoff No. 5 seed, Texas, in the Cotton Bowl on January 10.