Jeremiah Smith is known as “the best player in college football,” and he proved himself worthy of the title several times throughout Saturday’s matchup with Penn State. The sophomore wide receiver finished the game with 123 yards and two touchdowns on six catches, which included an impressive long ball of 57 yards. For the mathematically inclined, that’s an average of 20.5 yards per reception.
But it wasn’t the long ball that stood out as the play of the game. It wasn’t even the longest of his two
touchdown catches (a 14-yarder on the opening drive). Instead, it’s a ball that would have almost certainly been intercepted if any other receiver in the country were on the receiving end of it. In JJ’s hands, it became a touchdown.
Choosing the play of the game is harder in some weeks than others. Never has it been easier than it was this week, though. Even in a matchup with a 45-yard touchdown pass, two separate 57-yard receptions, a 51-yard run, and an interception in the end zone, this touchdown undeniably takes the cake due to its absurd athleticism. It might even be the play of the year.
How it happened
After a close first half, the Buckeyes began to pull away after halftime, leading 31-14. After a 51-yard run from Bo Jackson, the Buckeyes had the ball on Penn State’s 11-yard line with just under 10 minutes to play in the game.
On first down, quarterback Julian Sayin threw a pass up the middle. While the ball was intended for Smith, it was tipped near the line of scrimmage. That didn’t stop him from hauling it in with one hand, not only keeping it away from two different Penn State defenders who could have been in position to intercept it but also carrying it into the endzone to make the score 38-14, good guys.
Watch the catch that left even the announcers in disbelief and further solidified Smith’s position as the best player in the country:
