The very best faculty soccer groups keep away from complacency, even when it’s clear that they’ve the expertise essential to compete for nationwide championships. At Ohio State, famous person broad receiver Jeremiah Smith seemingly has discovered his motivation for the 2025 season.
Regardless of Smith getting into his sophomore marketing campaign as a reigning nationwide champion and the Buckeyes garnering love as a preseason darling as soon as once more, the Huge Ten’s premier wideout noticed just a few naysayers on social media and used them as gasoline to work onerous this summer time.
To those that are low on the Buckeyes after their run to the 2024 School Soccer Playoff title, Smith despatched a pointy warning.
“We’re undoubtedly gonna placed on a present,” Smith stated, through 10TV. “Lots of people have been doubting us. I have been seeing it on Twitter and social media. So I am unable to wait to show lots of people mistaken this yr.”
Arch Manning at 2025 SEC Media Days: Texas QB tempers Heisman expectations whereas maturing into management function
Brent Brookhouse
It’s not unusual for applications on the prime of the meals chain to hunt bulletin board materials in an effort to maintain themselves hungry. Georgia coach Kirby Sensible infamously used supposed doubters from all through the faculty soccer world to inspire his Bulldogs throughout their nationwide title protection in 2022, serving to to gasoline his squad to back-to-back championships.
Ohio State might comply with in that Georgia group’s footsteps and grow to be the second repeat champion of the last decade. Not solely does Smith return this season as arguably the highest general participant within the sport, however security Caleb Downs is probably the perfect defensive participant within the land, too. Mixed with a bevy of former prime recruits who’re poised to step into bigger roles, the Buckeyes boast loads of upside regardless of the losses of 14 NFL Draft picks.
“We put in a variety of work with Coach Mick [strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti],” Smith stated. “Exercises this yr I can say was tougher than final yr. They have been pushing us onerous as a result of it is a new group. All people’s acquired new roles and stuff like that. I simply cannot wait till the season begins.”
Whereas Smith made word of Ohio State’s obvious doubters, the consensus is that this group has every part it wants to keep up its perch atop the Huge Ten and push for one more nationwide championship. The betting market at FanDuel Sportsbook views the Buckeyes as the most effective groups within the nation with the perfect odds to win the Huge Ten (+190), an amazing probability to get again into the CFP (-310) and the second-best nationwide title outlook (+600).
From a person perspective, something higher than his freshman manufacturing would place Smith squarely within the Heisman Trophy race. He led the Huge Ten final fall with 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in the most effective freshman seasons the game has seen in fairly a while on the receiver place.
