The nation's No. 1 recruit has exceeded expectations at Ohio State ... now imagine if Jeremiah Smith were playing for Miami

"Everything that we talked about in recruiting, you’re seeing happen."

Jeremiah Smith has 2,401 receiving yards in two seasons with Ohio State. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State)

COLUMBUS — Ryan Day’s fake podium collapse, in the end, probably was undersold.

On Dec. 20, 2023, two years and three days ago, Ohio State’s head coach buckled his knees and twice mock fainted when he found out Jeremiah Smith had announced his intention to play at Ohio State. The faint was a little premature, too. It wasn’t until later that Wednesday night that Ohio State and Smith worked our his NIL deal and the No. 1 recruit in the nation officially sent in his paperwork to be a Buckeye.

Smith since then has detailed how close he was to signing with the hometown Miami Hurricanes instead. He talked with Cam Ward, the transfer quarterback who was preparing to sign with Miami. He had a Miami hat with him at his signing ceremony, just in case. He had doubts about his decision, which came down to the final minutes.

It’s among the most important decisions in Ohio State football history, and the Buckeyes’ next game will bring that into focus more than ever.