Ohio State Narrowly Avoids Losing Star WR Jeremiah Smith to Transfer Portal

Buckeyes' top playmaker was close to following former OC Brian Hartline to South Florida

Mar. 11, 2026 at 11:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was very close to entering the transfer portal and following his former offensive coordinator Brian Hartline to the University of South Florida. However, Hartline, now the new head coach at USF, convinced Smith to stay at Ohio State, believing it was in the best interest of the Biletnikoff Award finalist.

Why it matters

Losing Smith, who had a monster sophomore season with 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, would have been a massive blow to the Ohio State offense. His departure would have left a huge void in the Buckeyes' receiving corps and significantly impacted their outlook for the upcoming season.

The details

According to Hartline, Smith "actually wanted to come" to USF, but the new Bulls coach told him, "Listen, just stay at Ohio State. It's probably best for them." Hartline and Smith had developed a close relationship during their time together at Ohio State, which is why the star receiver briefly entertained the idea of following his former coordinator to Tampa.

  • In the 2025 season, Smith recorded 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns across 13 games for Ohio State.

The players

Jeremiah Smith

A star wide receiver at Ohio State who was considering transferring to the University of South Florida to follow his former offensive coordinator.

Brian Hartline

The new head coach of the University of South Florida football team, who previously served as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State and had a close relationship with Jeremiah Smith.

Ryan Day

The head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“(Smith) actually wanted to come, and I said, 'Listen, just stay at Ohio State.' It's probably best for them,”

— Brian Hartline, Head Coach, University of South Florida

What’s next

With Jeremiah Smith staying at Ohio State, the Buckeyes will look to build on his strong sophomore season and compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff in the upcoming year.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of strong relationships between players and coaches, as well as the challenges that can arise when star players consider transferring. Ohio State was able to narrowly avoid losing one of its top offensive weapons, which should bode well for their chances of success in the 2026 season.