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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Oregon travels to Columbus on Saturday to face No. 11 Ohio State in a crucial matchup for both sides.
The Buckeyes enter at 6-2 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten play after suffering a brutal 30-18 loss at USC last weekend. The Ducks, meanwhile, sit at 5-3 and 3-2 in conference play after their 34-26 win over Northwestern. Ohio State needs to respond after its latest loss, while Oregon needs a win to keep its season alive. One more defeat, and their College Football Playoff hopes would be dead.
Leading up to the game, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was asked about how he plans to defend Ohio State's star receiver Jeremiah Smith, joking that his team might need an extra player on the field.
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"We're gonna see if we can play with 12, you know," Lanning said. "No, I mean, Jeremiah is special. He's a special player. You have to know where he's at, you know, at all times. He's dynamic in every phase. I think it's one that our players are excited about that challenge. But there's a real challenge involved in defending a guy like him.
"He's certainly pro-ready," Lanning added. "I think anybody that's played against him already would tell you that. He probably was two years ago, right? So he certainly is now."
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Smith has given Lanning plenty of reasons to be concerned. Through eight games, he's recorded 62 catches for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns, on pace for his best season yet as a Buckeye. He's already cemented himself as one of the greatest wideouts in the history of college football, becoming Ohio State's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Since arriving in Columbus in 2024, he has 225 receptions, 3,625 yards, and 40 touchdowns.
At 6-foot-4, 222 pounds with elite wide receiver traits, he's already viewed as the top prospect at his position in the 2027 NFL Draft, and a potential Heisman candidate this season. The last wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy was DeVonta Smith in 2020 at Alabama, hauling in 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns, leading the FBS in all three categories.
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Both Oregon and Ohio State have three regular-season games left after Saturday's contest. The Ducks will finish against Michigan, Michigan State, and Washington, while the Buckeyes will face Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan. Neither path is a cakewalk, and both would likely need to win out to fight for a spot in the CFP, specifically Oregon, which already has three losses on its season.
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