The Ohio State Buckeyes' season took another gut punch on Saturday night, falling to Oregon 41-28 and likely kissing their College Football Playoff hopes goodbye. But the real fireworks came after the final whistle, when star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith found himself in the crosshairs of a longtime Ohio State reporter.
Smith, who was visibly frustrated during the game—stomping his feet and yelling toward the sideline after going multiple drives without a catch—was ripped by Jeremy Birmingham of 97.1 The Fan in Columbus. Birmingham didn't hold back, calling Smith a "petulant child" for his on-field antics.
"You cannot be the best player in the country and a captain and all of the things that Jeremiah Smith is and go stomping down the field like a petulant child," Birmingham said on his podcast.
Smith didn't let the criticism slide. He took to social media to share a message from former Ohio State and NFL lineman LeCharles Bentley, who came to Smith's defense in a passionate post.
"Jeremiah has been EVERYTHING countercultural to today's superstar CFB player. He's established a new standard of individual excellence on and off the field at OSU. Literally everything fans claim they want in a player," Bentley wrote. "Yet the moment he expresses something honest outside of his ability to play football, his maturity gets questioned. Suddenly, he's a 'petulant child'?"
Bentley continued: "Nah. You can disagree with a young man without questioning his character or maturity. The irony here, instead of articulating a salient point, the reporter resorts to name-calling…. Like a child. Leadership isn't about making everyone comfortable."
The frustration from Smith is understandable. The Buckeyes have struggled to get him involved in the offense, especially in key moments, and this loss to Oregon—their third of the season—has all but ended their national title dreams. It's a far cry from the chaos that's been brewing in Columbus all season, and fans are starting to turn on head coach Ryan Day.
Smith is widely expected to declare for the NFL Draft after this season, and it's clear he wants to go out on a high note. Instead, he's watching his final college campaign slip away while his team's offense sputters. You can't blame him for being upset.
But the bigger question is whether this public spat will distract the Buckeyes as they try to salvage their season. With games still to play, Ohio State needs to find a way to get Smith the ball and keep their star player happy—or risk losing him to frustration and the transfer portal.
For now, Smith is letting his play—and his social media—do the talking. And if the Buckeyes want to turn things around, they'd be wise to listen to their star receiver.
