Freshman Tracker: The 2024 Freshmen Are National Champions

Running a gauntlet of ranked teams, the 2024 Buckeyes became the first team in program history to finish a season with four consecutive wins over ranked opponents. Ohio State completed its College Football Playoff run with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame and took its rightful crown as national champions. 

Jeremiah Smith will not be a Buckeye forever, but his play against the Fighting Irish contributed to the national title coming back to Columbus. The freshman phenom finished the game with five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. However, like Smith, one of those five catches was different than all of the rest.

With 2:45 remaining in the game, Ohio State faced 3rd-and-11 nursing an 8-point lead on its own 34-yard line. Ryan Day had just called for two extremely safe quarterback runs on the first two downs of the series. It appeared the Buckeyes' head coach was willing to play it safe and make Notre Dame use its final timeout with another running play. Appearances can be deceiving. 

Will Howard took the snap, Notre Dame blitzed, the line stiffened and TreVeyon Henderson helped block the oncoming threat. Jeremiah Smith ran a brilliant route to gain separation from Christian Gray as Howard's rainbow fell perfectly into Smith's arms for a spectacular 56-yard reception to the Notre Dame 10-yard line. Game. Over. 

JEREMIAH SMITH JUST WON OHIO STATE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

pic.twitter.com/bqVarMuswC

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 21, 2025

Will Howard's family, LeBron and Ryan Day's reactions to Howard's dagger to Jeremiah Smith pic.twitter.com/LD5d1af76J

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 21, 2025

On Ohio State's opening drive, Smith's number was called three times. Facing 3rd-and-5, the Buckeyes were on the verge of going 3-and-out following Notre Dame's 18-play, 75-yard touchdown march. From the shotgun, Howard took the snap and threw short left to Smith, who hauled in a 7-yard catch for a drive-extending first down.

Four plays and 38 yards later, Smith went in motion and took a direct snap from center. Notre Dame's defense wasn't fooled and the receiver was dropped for a 5-yard loss. Although the play didn't gain yards, it set the Fighting Irish up for failure.

With the ball at Notre Dame's 8-yard line, Smith went in motion to his left toward Howard. It appeared that Smith was going to get a touch pass from his quarterback, however, Smith stopped his motion short and double-backed the way he came. The Irish defenders followed the flow of Smith's initial motion, leaving the freshman with an easy catch and nothing but green turf as he crossed the goal line with Ohio State's opening score of the game. 

"I don't know how you leave No. 4 wide-ass open." @PatMcAfeeShow saw Jeremiah Smith's touchdown coming from a mile away pic.twitter.com/A2NY0g6aVX

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 21, 2025

"Like we said from the jump, he's a generational talent," Ryan Day said of Smith after the game. "He's a special player. But he's a great person. What a season for such a young player, who we all know is special." 

Jeremiah Smith tried to tell y'all pic.twitter.com/eTA2TINynw

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 21, 2025

BIG RINGS ONLY FOR JEREMIAH SMITH pic.twitter.com/w7n8dcFFen

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 21, 2025

Stat Book Stuffers

Eddrick Houston was on the field for 11 defensive snaps and recorded two tackles. His first stop came as he brought Jeremiyah Love to the ground after a 2-yard gain on Notre Dame's opening drive of the game. His second tackle came in the third quarter when Riley Leonard gained five yards during the Irish's first play following Jayden Fielding's 46-yard field goal. Jaylen McClain and Payton Pierce saw time on Ohio State's special teams.

Six Ohio State freshmen used a year of eligibility by playing in more than four regular-season games this year: Houston, McClain, James Peoples, Pierce, Aaron Scott Jr. and Smith. The rest of Ohio State’s freshmen all played in four games or fewer, preserving their four remaining seasons of eligibility. Under the NCAA’s redshirt rules, postseason games no longer count against a player’s redshirt eligibility, so all of Ohio State’s freshmen are eligible to play in the CFP without burning their redshirts.

(Note: The table does not include freshman walk-ons who have not yet played.)