The Ohio State Buckeyes have reportedly assembled a $5 million package to retain star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, underscoring how aggressively programs are competing in the NIL era. Smith’s deal is a key part of a much larger roster valuation, now estimated at nearly $43.5 million.
To put it in perspective, the entire Ohio State roster cost around $35 million last year. When rival programs dangled $10 million offers to lure away the team’s best player, securing Smith forced the Buckeyes to raise the bar for everyone else. That dynamic stretched the total roster value to roughly $43.5 million just to keep the championship core intact.
Smith is already a Heisman Trophy favorite after recording 1,243 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 13 games. He became one of the few Buckeyes to achieve back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Despite the outside interest, the sophomore remains committed to Ohio State. “No reason to go back home, not when I’m at the best place in the country,” Smith said. “I came to Ohio State for a reason, to win championships, develop as a player and a person, and keep building on this legacy. I might have grown up in South Florida, but I’m a Buckeye. That’s not changing. I wasn’t going anywhere.”
The growing NIL arms race across college football is becoming more visible, with schools often cutting non-revenue programs to fund football. Miami Hurricanes reportedly threw a massive $6.8 million offer at Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson to coax him into the transfer portal, even after he declared for the NFL Draft, hoping to delay his final decision.
Why is Jeremiah Smith such a prime target? Many regard him as the best offensive player in America and the blueprint for a true freshman wide receiver. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day often compares Smith to LeBron James for his unique combination of size, skill, and discipline. When news surfaced that rival schools were offering $10 million, Day was stunned. “I’m not sure what crazy is anymore,” Day said. “People say, ‘Crazy,’ people say…”