Ohio State Star Receiver Vows to 'Never Make That Play Happen Again' After Pick-Six Mistake

Jeremiah Smith blames himself for the costly turnover that led to Ohio State's season-ending loss to Miami, using it as motivation to work even harder this offseason.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:18pm

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Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is taking full responsibility for the pick-six that played a pivotal role in the Buckeyes' season-ending loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Smith failed to block the Miami defender who intercepted the pass and returned it for a touchdown, and he says that play has been a major source of motivation for him this offseason as he looks to come back even stronger for his junior campaign.

Why it matters

As one of the top receivers in college football and a projected early-round NFL draft pick, Smith's performance is crucial to Ohio State's success. The Buckeyes are looking to bounce back from the disappointing end to their 2025 season, and Smith's leadership and work ethic will be key to getting the team back on track.

The details

With Ohio State trailing 7-0 in the second quarter, Smith made a 59-yard reception to get the Buckeyes deep into Miami territory. But on the very next play, Miami nickelback Keionte Scott jumped a screen pass and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, giving the Hurricanes a 14-0 lead. Ohio State never recovered, going on to lose 24-14 and ending its quest for a second straight national championship.

  • In the second quarter of Ohio State's 24-14 loss to Miami on December 28, 2025.
  • In the three months since the loss, Smith says the play has been 'always on my timeline, on Instagram and stuff like that.'

The players

Jeremiah Smith

A star wide receiver for Ohio State and projected top-five pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, Smith is firmly established as one of the best receivers in college football.

Keionte Scott

The Miami nickelback who intercepted the pass from Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, giving the Hurricanes a 14-0 lead.

Julian Sayin

The Ohio State quarterback who threw the pass that was intercepted by Scott for the game-changing pick-six.

Brandon Inniss

The Ohio State receiver who was the intended target on the pass that was intercepted by Scott.

Cortez Hankton

The new Ohio State wide receivers coach, who has been impressed by Smith's work ethic and desire to improve this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“You can say that play is on me, and it's something I'm gonna learn from, for sure. It's a humbling moment, and just coming into this offseason, I'm gonna push myself to exhaustion and never make that play happen again.”

— Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Wide Receiver

“He's a generational talent, but more importantly, he's a fine young man. He's a great kid. And he yearns to learn football. He yearns to be coached. And he's like that every single day. He's been a sponge. We've put a lot on his plate, but he's handled it well.”

— Cortez Hankton, Ohio State Wide Receivers Coach

What’s next

Smith will look to channel his offseason motivation into a dominant junior campaign, as the Buckeyes aim to bounce back from the disappointing end to their 2025 season and make another run at the College Football Playoff.

The takeaway

Jeremiah Smith's willingness to take full accountability for his mistake and use it as fuel to work even harder this offseason exemplifies the leadership and drive that make him one of the top players in college football. His relentless work ethic and desire to improve will be critical as Ohio State looks to redeem itself in 2026.