At Big Ten Media Days this week, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day stepped to the podium with the poise of a seasoned leader, fielding questions from national reporters, regional media, and analysts eager to dissect every inch of the Buckeyes’ 2025 outlook. From the ongoing quarterback battle to the status of rising superstar wideout Jeremiah Smith, Day’s comments struck a confident yet calculated tone—one that made clear the Buckeyes are hungry for redemption, and perhaps something more: domination.
At the center of attention was Smith, the sophomore phenom who entered Ohio State last year as the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation. The hype surrounding Smith was immense when he signed with the Buckeyes out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood, Florida), and he wasted no time making an impression during his freshman campaign. But according to Day, the 2025 version of Smith is on an entirely different level.
“Jeremiah is bigger, stronger, and faster,” Day said without hesitation. “He’s added good weight, cleaned up his route running, and now understands the college game in a way you just can’t teach in year one. He’s becoming a complete receiver.”
Those words carried weight, especially coming from a coach who has mentored a nearly unrivaled lineage of first-round talent at wide receiver. Names like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr. have become not just NFL stars but proof of the development pipeline Ohio State has mastered under Day and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline.
Now, Smith appears poised to take the mantle.
Last season, he gave Buckeye Nation flashes of his freakish athleticism—spectacular sideline grabs, fearless catches over the middle, and blistering acceleration on deep routes. Despite being buried behind older, established stars, he made every snap count. This year, the leash is off.
“He’s starting to take over practices,” Day added. “And when he talks, people listen. That’s new. He’s finding his voice.”
Smith, now listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, has added nearly ten pounds of muscle to his frame, according to Ohio State’s strength and conditioning staff. That physical development, paired with his elite catch radius and uncanny speed, has teammates comparing him to a combination of Julio Jones and Randy Moss.
Reporters asked Day whether Smith could become the next wide receiver to earn Heisman consideration.
“We don’t put ceilings on guys like Jeremiah,” Day said. “If he stays healthy and keeps working the way he has, anything is possible.”
But for all the excitement around Smith, Day was quick to turn attention to the matter that continues to dominate conversation around the program: the quarterback battle.
For the first time in years, Ohio State enters fall camp without a clear-cut QB1. The competition between Julian Sayin, the former Alabama five-star transfer, and returning sophomore Devin Brown has created a high-stakes race that Day said “remains razor thin.”
“This is going to play out into camp,” Day admitted. “Both guys are doing great things. They’re pushing each other. They’re leaders in their own way. But we’re not there yet. We’ll name a starter when it becomes clear.”
Brown, who saw limited action last season behind Kyle McCord, has the advantage of system familiarity. He’s a gunslinger with a big arm and quick feet, capable of extending plays and attacking defenses vertically. But Sayin—widely regarded as one of the best pure passers in his class—is making things hard on the staff.
“Julian has elevated the competition,” Day said. “He came in and picked things up incredibly fast. He’s got the tools, but he also has the mental makeup we look for.”
The two quarterbacks have split reps evenly throughout spring and summer workouts. Teammates have been tight-lipped about who has the edge, which many interpret as a sign that the race is indeed too close to call.
When asked whether he could rotate quarterbacks early in the season, Day didn’t rule anything out.
“We’re going to do what gives us the best chance to win. If that means one guy, great. If it means we play both early on, we’ll figure that out.”
One factor that may influence the decision? Chemistry with Jeremiah Smith.
Day confirmed that both Sayin and Brown have worked extensively with Smith during 7-on-7s and player-led workouts. The goal, according to Day, is to ensure that whoever wins the job already has rapport with the offense’s most explosive weapon.
“You want your quarterback to trust his top receiver,” Day said. “We’ve seen them spend hours together. They know what’s at stake.”
Ohio State fans know, too. After three consecutive losses to Michigan and missing out on the Big Ten title each year since 2020, the pressure is mounting. Day addressed it directly during his podium session.
“No one has higher expectations for this program than I do,” he said. “Losing to our rival is not acceptable. We’ve made adjustments. We’ve added urgency. Everything we do is with November in mind.”
That “everything” includes a revamped defense under second-year coordinator Jim Knowles, who Day says has the unit playing with “more speed and more violence.” The return of veterans like JT Tuimoloau and Sonny Styles should bolster what was already one of the nation’s stingiest defenses last season.
Still, all roads for Ohio State lead through the offense—and that means the quarterback competition must produce a leader who can maximize the Buckeyes’ ridiculous arsenal of talent. Along with Smith, OSU boasts TreVeyon Henderson at running back, tight end Jelani Thurman, and a reloaded offensive line.
“This is a championship-caliber roster,” Day said. “We have to play like it every week.”
Around Lucas Oil Stadium, other coaches and players privately acknowledged the firepower Ohio State brings into 2025. One Big Ten head coach remarked, “They’ve got a Ferrari at every position. If they figure out quarterback, watch out.”
As Day wrapped up his final round of interviews, he made it clear that he welcomes the pressure.
“This is Ohio State. Expectations are high. They should be. That’s why you come here.”
And for players like Jeremiah Smith, that expectation is becoming a lifestyle. Now no longer the talented freshman waiting his turn, he enters 2025 not just as a starter, but as the face of the offense—and possibly the face of college football.
“Jeremiah is ready,” Day repeated. “And this team is ready to compete.”
The quarterback competition will continue to dominate headlines over the next few weeks, but one thing is certain: whoever wins the job will inherit a weapon in Smith that few programs can dream of having.
With a Heisman-level receiver, an elite supporting cast, and a coach embracing urgency like never before, the Buckeyes are gearing up for a season that could define the Ryan Day era—for better or worse.
Big Ten Media Days may be behind them, but for Ohio State, the real questions begin now.
