Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith proved he was worthy of the hype and his reported $4 million NIL valuation in the Buckeyes’ 34-23 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Notre Dame. Smith amassed 88 yards on five catches and a game-tying touchdown in the first quarter, which helped permanently turn the tide in OSU’s favor during the win.
Despite Smith’s stellar performance on the biggest stage and 5-star quarterback Julian Sayin’s readiness to take over in Columbus, USA Today’s Matt Hayes believes the receiver should enter the transfer portal.
Specifically, Hayes envisions either a return to Ohio State on a more lucrative deal or a homecoming between Smith and his home-state Hurricanes. Miami signed Carson Beck to a $4 million deal in early January.
“Money is the very reason Ohio State star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith – the best player on the field in Monday’s national championship victory over Notre Dame – should enter the transfer portal and test the open market,” Hayes wrote.
“This isn’t about staying true to your school. It’s about financial security in a physically-demanding business, where the end is always one play away.
“He can enter the portal and return to Ohio State with a better deal, and we can all still talk about loyalty and lifelong bonds of championship teams. The grand statement can be made that at least one player still values school and money.
“Maybe he returns to Miami, where he grew up and won three state titles at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. That’s four titles in four seasons, and the best player on the field in each season.
“Now it’s time to choose again, to hit the open market and see what it brings. Be it at Ohio State, or somewhere else.”
College football is a business from the top down. There’s never been a better time for players to be in college. Even the NFL pales in comparison sometimes to what players make in what used to be amateur sports.
Smith hitting the portal after an Ohio State title win would be a sign of the times that’d be tough to stomach for many old-school fans.
Especially if he got a major payday down in Coral Gables to play with Beck. The Hurricanes would become college football’s NWO and Buckeye fans would be left wondering what happened to the sport they love.
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