Jeremiah Smith Reacts to Viral Photo of Texas Triple-Teaming WR in OSU’s CFP Win

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith wasn’t much of a factor in Friday’s 28-14 win over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal partly because of how much attention he commanded from the defense.

Smith shared his reaction on social media to a still image showing the Longhorns with three players bracketing him in coverage.

There was a lot of discussion during the game about why Smith wasn’t being targeted more frequently. He finished with a season-low one catch for three yards after racking up 290 yards and four touchdowns in the first two playoff games.

The simplest answer is the obvious one, as evidenced by the photo. Texas’ coaching staff saw what Smith did to Tennessee and Oregon, then enacted a game plan to ensure he wouldn’t be the one to beat them.

It was a sound strategy in theory and one that almost paid off in execution. The Longhorns had a chance to tie the score at 21 late in the fourth quarter, but Jack Sawyer’s 87-yard fumble return touchdown after a strip sack of Quinn Ewers put the game away.

Smith commanding so much attention opened the field for Carnell Tate to have one of his best games of the season. The sophomore receiver finished with a game-high 87 yards on seven catches.

It was just the second time all season that Tate finished with more than 70 yards in a game.

Ohio State also created big plays in other ways. The biggest moment of the game was arguably near the end of the first half after a Jaydon Blue touchdown catch for Texas tied the score at seven.

Rather than go into halftime all square, the Buckeyes ran a beautiful screen play to TreVeyon Henderson that he took 75 yards to the house on their first play after getting the ball back to take a 14-7 advantage at the break.

One of the big keys to Ohio State’s success in the playoffs has been a constant barrage of big plays. While those were fewer and far between on Friday night with Smith largely taken out of the game, the Buckeyes still found their moments to attack.

It paid off with a dramatic victory over Texas and now sets up a showdown with Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Championship Game.