Jeremiah Smith’s two-touchdown debut wasn’t enough for him to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
Smith was denied the award in favor of former Ohio State commit Dylan Raiola, who earned the first Big Ten Freshman of the Week award of the season after completing 19 of 27 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns in Nebraska’s 40-7 win over UTEP.
Raiola became just the second Nebraska true freshman quarterback to start a season opener since World War II, joining Adrian Martinez, who started Nebraska’s 2018 season opener against Colorado. The Cornhuskers scored touchdowns on five of his eight drives in their season opener; he played just one drive in the second half before exiting the game with Nebraska already holding a 37-7 lead.
Still, Smith could have reason to feel snubbed after delivering one of the best debuts ever for an Ohio State freshman, catching six passes for 92 yards, including a 45-yard one-handed catch in addition to 9- and 16-yard touchdowns in Ohio State’s 52-6 win over Akron.
Wait, Jeremiah Smith is goated. pic.twitter.com/9ZZ3CDXPtc
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
This was...
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
Ohio State's first touchdown of the 2024 season
Will Howard's first touchdown for Ohio State
Jeremiah Smiths first touchdown for Ohio Statepic.twitter.com/2dMO2iF2MV
Jeremiah Smith cannot be stopped pic.twitter.com/Qd5gxG1fD2
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
Smith tied Michael Wiley (Rice, 1996) for the most touchdown catches for a Buckeye freshman in a season opener. Smith also became the first Ohio State wide receiver since Ted Ginn Jr. (Northern Illinois, 2006) to record two receiving touchdowns in the first half of a season opener, according to ESPN.
If first impressions are any indication, Smith and Raiola could find themselves battling for Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors – and ultimately the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award – all season long, though there will be plenty of tougher tests to come for both as the season progresses.
“Jeremiah, he's a dude,” Ohio State quarterback Will Howard said of Smith after Saturday’s season opener. “This is just the start for him. I'm excited to see how this season goes for him. He's a phenomenal player.”
Smith and Raiola will go head-to-head when Ohio State hosts Nebraska at Ohio Stadium on Oct. 26.
