Jeremiah Smith expects new Ohio State offense to “get him the ball” under Arthur Smith

Ohio State’s 2026 offensive identity is starting to take shape around one idea, get the ball to Jeremiah Smith. In a recent interview, Smith described what stood out to him about the incoming offensive direction led by Arthur Smith, framing it as a shift in how the Buckeyes intend to involve their big-play wideout.

Arthur Smith, who is taking over as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, is expected to bring a new structure to the scheme, but Smith’s comments focused on role rather than playbook language. Smith said that one of the biggest differences is that it will “get him the ball,” a matter of usage that can influence everything from spacing and tempo to third-down planning and red-zone design.

That message lands in a season where expectations are already steep. Yahoo Sports’ preview of the conversation notes that Ohio State enters the 2026 campaign as the No. 1 team in the nation and one of the favorites to win the national championship again, setting a context in which offensive efficiency and offensive explosive plays are not optional.

For Smith, the path to production runs through the quarterback room, specifically Julian Sayin. The same preview highlights Sayin as one of the best quarterbacks in college football and links that report directly to why the Buckeyes’ passing attack can shape games week to week. In that frame, “getting the ball” is not just a personal goal, it is a quarterback-to-receiver development point for an offense that is being built to contend for titles.

The Buckeyes’ approach also reflects a wider strategic question that Smith’s comments bring into focus: how Ohio State plans to balance spread-styled concepts with the kind of targeted, highly reliable passing that can repeatedly turn drives into points. Even without getting into schematic specifics, Smith’s emphasis on touches suggests the coaching staff wants him to be central to answers against different coverages, not just a complementary weapon.

Smith’s status on the roster is part of the reason the offense can build around him. Yahoo Sports describes him as, “arguably,” the single best player in college football, which is the kind of designation that usually forces defenses to plan for a matchup from the first snap. In 2026, if Smith is consistently integrated into the game plan early and often, Ohio State could leverage that attention to free up other parts of the offense as well.

There is also a practical measurement to watch once the season arrives. When players and coaches talk about getting a star receiver the ball, the next step is how that shows up in target distribution, route involvement, and the frequency of explosive opportunities. If Smith’s role expands in the ways he suggests, the Buckeyes’ biggest games will likely feature him as a repeated focal point rather than a situational deep threat.

Still, the offseason-to-regular-season gap is always worth keeping in mind. Interviews capture intent, not guaranteed volume or results, and the translation depends on game situations, quarterback decision-making, and how defenses adjust across the year. Ohio State’s 2026 title chase will ultimately be judged by production in the biggest moments, and the clearest early indicator may be how often Smith is actually in the mix when drives start to matter.