Ohio State walked out of Bloomington with a hard-fought 19-15 win over Indiana on October 17, but the real shocker came from Heisman favorite Jeremiah Smith, who admitted his pivotal fourth-quarter touchdown catch was actually on the wrong route. The Buckeyes needed that score to get a two-score lead, making Smith’s gaffe and subsequent heroics one of the wildest plays of the day.
Wrong Route, Right Result
The Buckeyes were in a tight spot, facing fourth down at Indiana’s 38-yard line, needing only a yard to move the chains. Quarterback Julian Sayin ran a play-action fake to running back Isaiah West, then hung tough in the pocket. That’s when Smith, despite his confession of running the wrong route, took off further downfield. Sayin, clearly trusting his star receiver, just threw the ball up toward the end zone. Smith made the play, grabbing it over Indiana defensive back Jamari Sharpe just past the goal line. This wasn’t the first time Sharpe had defended Smith; he’d actually broken up a pass to Smith earlier in the second quarter, which led to an interception in Ohio State territory. But this time, Sharpe couldn’t jar the ball loose, and Smith made the incredible, albeit unplanned, touchdown catch.
Heisman Hopeful Delivers Under Pressure
Coach Ryan Day didn’t seem too bothered by the route mix-up, knowing what kind of player he has in Smith. Day noted, “[Smith is] in a unique situation. Even when he has guys around him downfield, he’s so tall that, if you just give him a chance, he’s going to make some plays. That was a good example of that, and he wanted to be aggressive in that moment. What a great play he made.” Indiana had clearly focused on limiting Smith for most of the game, a top-five rematch of last year’s Big Ten championship. But despite their efforts, Smith’s one big play marked a significant breakthrough in the game. He’s been as dominant as anyone in college football this year, and that Heisman Trophy favorite talk is absolutely deserved.
After a game like this, where your Heisman frontrunner literally runs the wrong route but still scores the game-winning touchdown, you know Ohio State is feeling good. Indiana threw everything they had at limiting Smith, and he still came through. With the Big Ten season in full swing, every game matters, and Smith just showed everyone why he’s the guy to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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