Eric Boggs
What’s building ahead of Ohio State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Miami isn’t “beef.” It’s something far better — belief, confidence and a little bit of Buckeye edge, led by none other than South Florida’s finest, Jeremiah Smith.
From the moment Smith, the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, chose Columbus over Coral Gables, the storyline was written. Miami pushed hard. Their fans pushed harder. Smith, however, chose championships, development and the Horseshoe — a decision that paid off immediately with a national title in his true freshman season and a superstardom trajectory that hasn’t slowed.
That choice still stings in South Florida. Even now, fans and some Miami players routinely chirp at him on social media, asking him to “come home.” Smith’s response has remained pure Buckeye energy. At one point he famously told a persistent fan, “Man get a life 😂😂😂🤦🏽♂️,” and the message hasn’t changed.
With the Cotton Bowl approaching, the tension has only intensified.
When asked this week whether Miami fans still talk about the controversial 2003 national championship game, Smith didn’t dodge the moment. He leaned into it.
“You see it all over the internet, all over Twitter. They’re still talking about that 20 years later, they’re still worried about it,” Smith said. “But we’ve got something coming for them New Year’s Eve.”
Minutes after Miami punched its ticket to the playoff with a win over Texas A&M, Smith added one final touch — a simple tweet: 😈.
That was all it took.
Current and former Hurricanes have chimed in, mostly in subtle ways, but the message is clear: losing South Florida’s crown jewel to Ohio State still hurts. Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. has reportedly been keeping “receipts” of Smith’s comments on his phone for motivation. Head coach Mario Cristobal responded publicly, emphasizing respect and preparation over talk, while acknowledging the fire around the matchup.
Even former Buckeyes are enjoying the moment. Johnny Dixon has jumped into the social media fray, pushing back on Miami fans and reminding them of realities like half-empty home games and the challenge of playing in an off-campus stadium. It’s classic pre-playoff chaos — and Buckeye fans are here for all of it.
The bigger picture, though, is this: Jeremiah Smith is built for this stage. He didn’t choose Ohio State to blend in. He chose it to dominate, to win championships, and to compete against the very programs that wanted him most. Now, with a playoff game against his hometown school on New Year’s Eve, everything aligns.
Smith is locked in. The Buckeyes are loaded. Miami is emotional. And the ghosts of 2003 still hover in the background.
If there’s ever been a moment for “Demon Time,” it’s now. Go Bucks.
