Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith already have Ohio State fans dreaming of championship

In a recent poll of 18 coaches conducted by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, an anonymous Big Ten running backs coach expressed skepticism about the hype surrounding Jeremiah Smith. He claimed that using Cover-2 coverage could effectively neutralize the Ohio State Buckeyes’ star wide receiver, comparing him more to DK Metcalf than to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

However, it took less than one half of football for Smith to make that assessment seem completely irrelevant. In the opening game of the 2026 season at Ohio Stadium against Ball State, the top-ranked Buckeyes delivered a dazzling performance. Starting quarterback Julian Sayin connected with Smith on a stunning 48-yard deep pass down the sideline, where the junior receiver secured a touchdown despite tight coverage.

OH WOW

Jeremiah Smith HAULS in a deep touchdown pass from Julian Sayin pic.twitter.com/vCiWy6rwQf

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 5, 2026

This explosive score ignited the Columbus crowd and stirred national championship dreams among the fan base. Sayin displayed command in the pocket, delivering a perfect pass that allowed Smith to showcase his elite ability to gain separation and make contested catches.

Demonstrating that no defensive strategy can easily contain him, Smith’s remarkable connection with Sayin sent a strong message to the rest of the Big Ten. If this dynamic early-season chemistry is any indication, Ohio State’s high-powered aerial attack is well-equipped to compete for the national title.

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