Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith capped another sensational night with a championship-clinching 56-yard reception on third down in the final minutes of the 2025 College Football National Championship. The reception set up a field goal to take a 34-23 lead and put the game out of reach. With a touchdown in the second quarter, Smith also set a national record with his 15th receiving touchdown, the most ever by a true freshman and the second-most in Ohio State history.
Notre Dame put a lot of pressure on third-and-11 with a chance to bring the ball within just eight points. Quarterback Will Howard dealt with the pressure and found Smith in single coverage down the right sideline for a sensational catch. The reception gave Smith five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown and pushed him to 381 yards and five touchdowns in just four CFP games.
Smith’s 15th touchdown move moved him past former Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr., who had 14 touchdowns in consecutive seasons. He trails only Terry Glenn, who won the Biletnikoff Award for the Buckeyes in 1995. Smith’s 15 touchdowns are the most by a true freshman since at least 1960.
The Buckeyes were driving in the red zone early in the second quarter when offensive coordinator Chip Kelly dialed up a nifty move fake. A Notre Dame defensive back was seen trying to point out the mismatch, but the Fighting Irish failed to recover as Smith broke free in that flat and entered the end zone untouched.
The Ohio State sensation became arguably the best receiver in college football as a true freshman. The South Florida native entered the game with 71 catches for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was outstanding in the College Football Playoff, posting 290 yards and four touchdowns in just the first two rounds as the Buckeyes went from the eighth seed to the national title game.
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