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Jeremiah Smith celebrated his 20th birthday in epic fashion Saturday with a huge touchdown catch against Michigan in Ohio State’s 27-9 victory, but it didn’t come without controversy.
Smith’s 35-yard touchdown and PAT in the second quarter gave Ohio State a 10-3 lead, but he appeared to move the ball near the goal line.
It was never really clear whether Smith lost possession before crossing the pylon, but it was clear that he only regained it after going out of bounds beyond the pylon.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a touchdown pass in front of Michigan Wolverines defensive back Zeke Berry (10) at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 29, 2025. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
A fumble by the offense that goes out of bounds in the end zone results in a touchback. Officials looked into it, but the appeal was upheld, causing an uproar on social media.
Maybe the touchdown didn’t mean much considering Michigan couldn’t find the end zone all day, but it was an obvious turning point in the game.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a pass against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, November 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Michigan player draws unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after helmet makes contact with referee in heated exchange
Michigan kicked another field goal after Smith’s score, but the Buckeyes marched down the field again to end the first half with a Brandon Innis touchdown run to go up by eight points. The snow then started to fall, and it seemed like it was playing into Ohio State’s hands.
Ohio State and Michigan traded punts to start the second half, but Michigan’s was just an 11-yarder that gave OSU excellent field position. On the second play of the campaign, Carnell Tate, playing his first game since November 1, scored a 50-yard touchdown to give his team a 24-9 lead.
It’s been since 2019 since Ohio State last beat Michigan, and last year’s loss in Columbus as a three-touchdown favorite was the biggest upset in the rivalry’s history. Michigan players planted their flag at midfield in Columbus, provoking a brawl. Surely, that was all the scoreboard material the Buckeyes remembered for nearly 365 days.
The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot takes the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. (Rick Osentoski/Imagn Images)
Ohio State and Indiana, the two top-ranked teams in the country and both 12-0, will now face off in next week’s Big Ten Championship.
