Despite efforts from elsewhere, Jeremiah Smith said he knew he was not going to be leaving Ohio State this offseason.
The Buckeyes' star receiver said this week that he was offered $10 million to enter the transfer portal, but he never considered leaving Columbus. Smith said the decision came down to more than money, suggesting he wanted to win a championship, develop as a player and build on the legacy he has started in Columbus.
Jeremiah Smith turned down $10 million offers to leave Ohio State:
— Stephen Means (@Stephen_Means) July 29, 2026
“It’ll be dumb for me to leave Ohio State to go to another team when I have the best offensive line in the country, the best quarterback in the country and the best coaches in the country” https://t.co/VlcXJdgb7S
Smith had this to say: “It’ll be dumb for
me to leave Ohio State to go to another team when I have the best offensive line in the country, the best quarterback in the country and the best coaches in the country,” as he spoke to media members on Wednesday in downtown Chicago.
Smith arrived at Ohio State as the top recruit in the 2024 recruiting cycle, and immediately lived up to the hype. He led the Big Ten in receiving yards and touchdowns and also has won a National Championship with Ohio State. For this upcoming season, with quarterback Julian Sayin set to return, the combination of the two should keep Ohio State's passing game as one of the best in the country.
For Ohio State, the message given at Big Ten Media Days is almost as important as the production. In an era where NIL has made rosters extremely difficult to keep on a yearly basis. Having the sport's best player, on the biggest stage, say that playing at Ohio State will offer more opportunities than just money can be a recruiting tool that head coach Ryan Day can continue to use on the trail.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Jeremiah Smith Stayed at Ohio State Despite $10 Million Offer
