What Indiana’s Curt Cignetti admitted about Ohio State football’s Jeremiah Smith is resurfacing, and it’s important to remember ahead of the season
Jeremiah Smith has one year left at Ohio State before he’s all but a lock to take off for the NFL. What Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti said about the Buckeye should be reminded.
Ohio State football fans need to soak in this one last year of Jeremiah Smith, who’s going to rewrite the record book in Columbus. Heading into his junior season, the hype couldn’t be higher around the Ohio State star.
Smith has been the best wide receiver since he stepped into college in 2024 and he’s set to be drafted very high in the 2027 NFL Draft next April. We’re going to see some big-time comparisons for Smith over the next 10+ months, as he’s the best wide receiver prospect set to come out in a very long time.
Curt Cignetti’s comment about Jeremiah Smith is a scary reality for teams on Ohio State’s 2026 schedule
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti had quite the comment about Ohio State’s star wideout last summer. It’s resurfaced recently and it’s important to remember entering Smith’s final season of college, ahead of him being broken down as a 2027 draft prospect.
“You cover him as well as you can,” Cignetti said. “I hope the ball is not placed very well. He’s a freak, and he’s a great player at that position that I’ve seen at that age. And then he’s a weapon.”
Julio would be Julio was also a great player, yes, at Alabama, I coached him. Very similar. This guy is a little looser, a little more flexible I think. Maybe a hair faster.”
Jeremiah Smith key stats and facts vs. Indiana
- Smith has never scored a touchdown against the Hoosiers despite having 178 receiving yards in two matchups.
- Ohio State is 1-1 against Indiana with Smith. A 38-15 win in 2024 followed by a 13-10 loss in 2025.
Smith burst onto the scene with 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman right out of college. When Ryan Day was careful with Smith as a freshman in the spring game, it was a great sign that he was going to mean a lot to Ohio State during the national championship season.
Last season it was 1,243 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in three fewer games (13) played for the 6-foot-3 wideout. Smith has a legit shot at breaking 4,000 career yards receiving at Ohio State in three seasons. In comparison, Jones’ best season at Alabama he had 1,133 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The NFL grad finished with 2,653 yards in three seasons with the Tide.
Ohio State travels to Indiana in 2026 and Cignetti will get his third matchup with Smith. Expect that to be a high-stakes Big Ten battle, and for Cignetti to receive more questions around Smith ahead of the game.
