Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith said his hate for Michigan started on a recruiting visit as a high school prospect:

Jeremiah Smith was a different kind of freshman for the Ohio State Buckeyes last season with the way he exploded onto the scene. From the start, Smith was the focal point of the offense, and the Buckeyes rolled all year—until they didn’t,

Smith, in a recent interview, added some fuel to the rivalry's fire by taking his first shot at Michigan of the 2025 campaign. Smith made an appearance in an Aug. 20 episode of "The Triple Option" podcast, which is hosted by FOX Sports personalities Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram and Rob Stone.