Ohio State Star Jeremiah Smith Signs Notable NIL Deal

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 1:37 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes may be Nike through and through but one of their biggest stars just inked an NIL deal with the swoosh's biggest rival.

On Wednesday, All-American wideout Jeremiah Smith reportedly signed on with adidas Football as the latest athlete to join the three stripes. Putting himself in a similar situation to former Duke star Cooper Flagg when he partnered with New Balance while attending a Nike-branded school.

"One of the most memorable moments from last season was losing my black stripe and officially becoming a Buckeye," Smith said in a statement. "Fast forward a year and I'm blessed to be adding three, joining the fastest brand in football."

"It's crazy to be partnering with a brand that has such a talented roster of players and that I've been wearing since I was a young kid. We're not done yet."

DIFFERENT❗️

Welcome to the three stripes, @Jermiah_Smith1 pic.twitter.com/gupNG8TbZH
— adidas Football US (@adidasFballUS) July 2, 2025

Smith took the nation by storm last season catching 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns on the way to winning a national championship as a true freshman.

But even though he helped bring OSU its first national title under Ryan Day, he still vowed to make sure the Buckeyes never lose to Michigan again as long as he's on campus.

"I'm not a sore loser, but I hate losing, and losing to that team up north was pretty crazy," Smith admitted to The Athletic. "In the end, I think it really helped us play the way we did in the playoffs. But I didn't want to go to Ohio State and lose to that team up north."

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

"I just hate them. Just something about them. For the next two years, I promise you, I will not lose to them. I can't lose to them in the next two years."

It's been a big year for Smith who also landed on the cover of EA Sports' "College Football 26" alongside Alabama's Ryan Williams. Many feel if he was eligible he would've been a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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