INSIDER
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was able to keep a team-first approach after having extra defensive attention make him almost invisible in the Buckeyes’ Cotton Bowl win over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Ohio State freshman Jeremiah Smith piled up 290 yards receiving in two postseason wins and was looking like the star to stop for the rest of the College Football Playoff field.
The first 12-team version of the College Football Playoff has reached the national championship game and it will be Ohio State against Notre Dame.
Ohio State this time gets the chance to play for the national title after another bitter loss to its biggest rival.
No. 6 Ohio State roared into the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 41-21 victory over No. 1 Oregon in the 111th Rose Bowl.
Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15.
Will Howard threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns and No. 4 Ohio State’s defense made a late defensive stand to lift the Buckeyes over No. 3 Penn State 20-13.
Dillon Gabriel threw two touchdown passes and ran for another late score to help third-ranked Oregon hand No. 2 Ohio State its first loss of the season, 32-31 on Saturday night.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is one of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ high-profile transfers.
Kyle McCord threw three touchdown passes and Dallan Hayden rushed for 76 yards and one touchdown in relief duty, leading No. 3 Ohio State to a 41-7 rout at Purdue.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day says he expected to have running back TreVeyon Henderson back in the lineup for Saturday's game at Purdue.
Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michigan running back Blake Corum are among the returning first-team All-Americans who were selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team.
Only months after Georgia defensive linemen and Ohio State wide receivers combined to fill five first-round slots in the NFL draft, those positions again boast top talent for the teams preparing to meet in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal.
Ohio State was No. 5 in the second-to-last College Football Playoff rankings, positioned to possibly take advantage if one of the top four slips up on championship weekend.
