Jeremiah Smith left no Ohio State doubts in clutch…
ATLANTA — “Just catch it,” Jeremiah Smith thought to himself.
The Ohio State freshman receiver knew the ball was coming his manner. Notre Dame was in man protection.
“Man-on-man, I don’t lose,” Smith stated later.
He didn’t lose right here, both.
Buckeyes broad receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) makes a catch in opposition to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half the CFP National Championship. USA TODAY Sports by way of Reuters Con
He gained large, coasting previous his defender, Christian Gray, like he was standing nonetheless and hauling in the bomb from quarterback Will Howard.
Fifty-six yards later, the national championship was all however over, Ohio State headed to a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Before the play, there was instantly doubt. A 24-point Ohio State lead was down to eight.
It was third-and-11, 2:38 remained. A stop, and the Irish had a probability.
The Buckeyes may’ve performed it protected and compelled Notre Dame to make use of its remaining timeout.
Coach Ryan Day determined to go for it, to go for the championship. Leave no doubt. Coach to win, as an alternative of to not lose.
“I just thought to myself: Only one national championship, you only get one opportunity a year to do this, let’s just lay it on the line and put it out there and be aggressive. And that’s what we did,” Day stated. “I talked to the defensive guys and I talked to the offensive guys that we were going to continue to be aggressive throughout the game. I told the team that leading up to the game. And I had to make sure I followed through [with] that.”
The 6-foot-3 Smith was tackled on the 10-yard line.
Seven performs later, Jayden Fielding made a 33-yard subject aim, extending the result in 11 with 26 seconds to go, icing the college’s first championship in a decade.
Buckeyes broad receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) holds the trophy following the 34-23 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Images
Smith was such a large half of the title.
He set Ohio State freshman information with 76 receptions, 1,315 receiving yards and 15 landing catches.
He additionally set a Big Ten file for many receiving yards by a freshman, and in 4 playoff video games, he scored 5 touchdowns.
Buckeyes broad receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) reacts after making a catch in opposition to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half. USA TODAY Sports by way of Reuters Con
With all the pieces on the road, in the ultimate minute of the school soccer season, he got here up large.
“It’s a blessing,” stated Smith, who had 5 catches for 88 yards and a rating Monday evening. “We had too many blessings this year.”
He was on the prime of the checklist.
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