Jeremiah Smith

With the fan base on edge and two weeks left before The Game, the health of Ohio State’s top receivers — Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith — has become the most discussed storyline in Columbus. Ryan Day hasn’t offered much clarity, but thanks to Buck Vader’s latest intel on The OHIO Podcast’s Patreon page (see links below,) we finally have the most meaningful insight yet into where things stand.

When asked twice this week about Tate and Smith, Day repeated the same guarded line: “They’re working hard to get back on the field.” That was it — no details, no timeline, and no real change from when he spoke that same line during his Tuesday press conference. Day made it clear he won’t discuss specifics, pointing back to his experience with the Jackson Smith-Njigba saga and the danger of trusting early projections that don’t pan out. He stressed that the medical staff dictates availability and that the program reviews their status daily.

Still, his comments sparked immediate concern across Buckeye Nation, especially with memories of JSN’s prolonged absence during the 2022 season. The discussion hit The OHIO Podcast in full force, where Eric and Chris broke down every angle, every clue, and every shift in body language. Tate’s muscle injury, the visible limp from Smith on Saturday, and the fact neither practiced Tuesday all fed into the growing anxiety.

And then came the quote that changed everything — from the one person who has earned the trust of The OHIO Podcast community: Buck Vader. From the Patreon page, where subscribers get exclusive insider information for just $5 a month, Vader shared the most detailed and honest breakdown anyone has offered to this point:

**“I got some intel on the status of our injured receivers. I’ll be honest — the source isn’t one I’m 100% ready to plant a flag on, but with how locked down things have been at the Woody, it’s worth passing along. Best-case scenario: both guys get a few controlled series against Rutgers on Saturday — just enough to knock off some rust — and then they’re full-go for The Game. Worst-case scenario: they sit out entirely this weekend, Ohio State plays it safe, and they’re deployed as needed against TTUN. Given how airtight the staff has kept this, the fact anything is even leaking out is interesting in itself. One way or another, all signs point to them being available when it matters most.”**

That final line hit Buckeye Nation like oxygen: all signs point to them being available when it matters most.

On the podcast, Chris took the optimistic stance — confident Ohio State will rest both Tate and Smith against Rutgers but have at least one, if not both, ready for Michigan. Eric, meanwhile, voiced the concern many fans feel: that this situation is tracking too closely to JSN’s story for comfort. The debate captured the current split within the fan base perfectly.

What’s undeniable is that Ohio State is playing the long game. Rutgers is not the priority. The Michigan game — and beyond it, a postseason path where the Buckeyes control their own destiny — remains the focus. Chris argued that rust is a concern but manageable, especially if Tate and Smith can get even a handful of reps either this weekend or in early practice next week. Eric pointed out the danger of timing disruption, especially for Tate who’s been sidelined longer. Both agreed on one thing: without Tate and Smith, Ohio State loses its clearest matchup advantage over Michigan.

But that’s what makes Buck Vader’s intel so important. He’s not sugarcoating it, and he’s not making guarantees. Instead, he’s giving fans something real — not speculation, not recycled media answers, but actual sourced information from behind the Woody Hayes Athletic Center’s increasingly locked-down walls. And his conclusion is the one thing Buckeye Nation needed to hear: Ohio State expects these receivers when the moment is biggest.

For now, fans may have to brace for a Saturday without either of them. But according to Buck Vader — whose Patreon insights continue to be the backbone of the community’s insider knowledge — this isn’t a season-ending crisis. This is strategic patience.

And if he’s right, Ohio State will walk into Ann Arbor with its biggest weapons ready to go.

Until then, Buckeye Nation waits. And watches. And refreshes the Patreon page. You can join our Patreon Page for free! For the insider intel and extra content, it will only cost you $5 a month. The BEST value for this information in Buckeye Nation. Just click on graphic below and check out our Patreon.