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‘It’s gonna be hard to do that’ - Michigan HC Sherrone Moore makes strong admission about Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 6:05 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes went on a terrific run last season to win the College Football Playoff, but it may not have happened without the adversity they faced along the way.

Losing to the Michigan Wolverines for a fourth straight time was a tough blow—especially given the down season Michigan was having.

There’s no denying that Michigan has owned the rivalry in recent years. If there’s one blemish on Ryan Day’s tenure at Ohio State, it’s been his inability to beat the Wolverines.

Michigan HC Sherrone Moore doesn’t hold back on Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Ohio State’s star wide receiver became the topic of conversation during part of Sherrone Moore’s press conference, and the Michigan head coach didn’t hold back in giving him high praise.

“He’s probably the best college football player that’s out there,” Moore said at Big Ten Football Media Days. “He’s elite.”

Smith recorded 1,315 receiving yards as a true freshman last season and was the key catalyst for the Buckeyes’ offense. Despite having other major playmakers on the roster—like TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate—Smith stood out as the biggest difference-maker.

In the rivalry game against Michigan, Smith was limited to just 35 receiving yards, though he did score the Buckeyes’ only touchdown in their 13-10 loss.

“You’ve got to do everything you can to take the game out of his hands—but it’s going to be hard to do that,” Moore said. “So you have to do everything you can as a team to go win. Offensively, special teams, and defensively—it’s got to be a team effort to win that game. We’ll get to that game when we get there. We think about that game enough. But [last season’s win] was an awesome performance from Wink Martindale and our staff.”

Smith has made a promise: he’s not going to lose to the Wolverines again. Buckeye Nation will certainly be counting on him to help deliver on that.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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