Before catching six passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s first-round College Football Playoff rout of Tennessee, Jeremiah Smith issued wide receivers coach Brian Hartline a plea. “I said, ‘Coach, I want you to challenge me this week.

Ohio State Buckeyes' freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith spoke to the media on Saturday about the team's win against Tennessee, along with the upcoming matchup against Oregon.

On a field full of future high NFL draft picks on a frigid winter night, the 19-year old freshman playing in his first playoff game looked the best of all of them. Watching Ohio State freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith race past Tennessee defenders trying to stop him in one-on-one coverage was perhaps the most impressive performance of any freshman this season.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith thought his battle with Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy in the opening round of the College Football Playoff

And then Tennessee made a big mistake and left Jeremiah Smith in one one-on-one coverage. Howard saw the mismatch and took advantage, lofting the ball where only Smith could come down with it. Bullseye and the Buckeyes are up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

Ohio State and Oregon will have a rematch in the College Football Playoff after Oregon beat Ohio State during the regular season, 32-31. Oregon stopped Ohio State on its final drive to squeak out the win and improve to 6-0 when the two teams played on October 12.

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is truly a phenom. The freshman star got Ohio State off to a terrific start with a 37-yard touchdown catch in t