Jeremiah Smith Responds to Idea He Forfeited NIL Money to Help Ohio State Pursue National Title

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith apparently finds the idea he is making no money in name, image and likeness opportunities rather amusing.

Smith responded to a quote on social media attributed to him that said, "I want to win another National Championship. I figured that money could be used to make our team stronger in other areas" with a laughing emotion and some confusion:

It should be noted the bio of the account he responded to starts with "Everything I do is Satire," so the quote shouldn't be taken seriously.

And as arguably the biggest star in college football, it's a safe assumption Smith is doing just fine in the NIL department.

According to On3's NIL valuations, Smith is the second-most valuable player in all of college sports behind only Texas quarterback Arch Manning. Considering Manning is a quarterback with the name recognition that comes with being the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, him being No. 1 is no surprise.

Smith has certainly earned his spot at No. 2 with a dominant start to his career.

He led the Buckeyes to the national championship during his freshman season in 2024 and was an All-American during his sophomore season. His ability to come through in the biggest moments also stands out, as he has six touchdowns in five College Football Playoff games.

In all, Smith has 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns through two seasons and could solidify himself as a top pick in the 2027 NFL draft with another impressive campaign.

Securing his spot as a top pick would also give him the opportunity to make more money at the next level in addition to the NIL money it is fairly clear he is making in college.