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Ryan Day Faces Backlash Over Jeremiah Smith Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 2:39 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes opened their season with a hard-fought 14-7 victory over the Texas Longhorns in Week 1, jumping from No. 3 to the top spot in the nation and claiming the No. 1 ranking from Texas, who had started the season at the top.

The win came despite star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith having an unremarkable outing, catching just six passes for 43 yards while also handling punt returns—an unusual role for him.

Head coach Ryan Day announced on Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s matchup against Grambling State, that Smith will continue returning punts—a decision that has drawn criticism from fans concerned about exposing the standout receiver to unnecessary hits.

Ryan Day said Jeremiah Smith will continue to get some reps as a punt returner. pic.twitter.com/G96N68DK2d
— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) September 4, 2025

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," a fan said.

Someone else added, "NOOOOO STOP!!!!"

Another person wrote, "Last week I liked it to give him confidence of catching the ball after two drops. But we absolutely should not make this a habit."

"Things we should not do for 500 please," a fan shared.

One more person commented, "Please God no."

Jeremiah Smith’s value as an offensive weapon is second to none in college football, and for Ohio State to compete for a second consecutive national championship, keeping him healthy will be pivotal.

As a true freshman last season, Smith hauled in 76 receptions for an impressive 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He elevated his play in the biggest moments, catching five of those touchdowns across four College Football Playoff games.

At just 19 years old, Smith is already regarded as a generational talent, projected to make a major impact at the next level when he becomes eligible for the NFL draft in 2027.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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