Why Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith walked away from $10M transfer portal decision

Ohio State football talks about loyalty, and the program backs it up with the right offers. The Buckeyes rewarded standout receiver Jeremiah Smith during his sophomore season, and he delivered in a big way.

Smith pulled in 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns across 13 games in 2025, averaging 95.6 yards per contest. Those numbers put him among the top offensive weapons in college football.

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Jeremiah Smith explains turning down $10 million for loyalty

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith

Elite production surely brings attention. Smith dealt with repeated tampering attempts throughout the season, and he didn’t stay quiet about it. Miami made a strong push to bring the hometown kid back to South Florida.

The Hurricanes were not alone either. Multiple programs contacted his agent trying to get him into the transfer portal.

“Over 10 million dollars, easy. But that’s not how I operate,” Smith told On3’s Chris Low. “No reason to go back home, not when I’m at the best place in the country. I came to Ohio State for a reason, to win championships, develop as a player and a person and keep building on this legacy.”

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Smith could’ve walked away with eight figures if he entered the portal. Instead, he stuck with what got him there. Loyalty to his coaches and teammates mattered more than a quick NIL payday.

He also knows what Ohio State does for receivers trying to reach the NFL. The program’s track record speaks for itself, with wideouts landing major contracts year after year.

A reported $10 million offer would have eaten up at least a quarter of another school’s entire NIL budget. Smith turned it down anyway. He’s chasing another national title before making the jump to the pros, and staying in Columbus gave him the best shot at both.