Jeremiah Smith Sends a Message About the Rivalry, Michigan Recruit Responds with Bold Guarantee
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith recently made headlines with strong comments about The Team Up North (TTUN). After experiencing his first loss to Michigan last November, Smith made it clear: he’s done losing to them. Despite his determination, the Buckeyes are currently on a four-game losing streak in the rivalry, a tough pill for fans—and a growing blemish on head coach Ryan Day’s résumé. Day has managed just one win over Michigan since taking the helm.
Smith is intent on changing that narrative, but Michigan’s newest 2026 commit doesn’t seem too worried.
Cornerback Dorian Barney, one of Michigan’s top recruits, made a bold statement of his own: he guaranteed he won’t lose to Ohio State during his college career. That would mean Smith and the Buckeyes would fall to Michigan at least once more—likely during Barney’s freshman season next year.
A Renewed Rivalry Fueled by Guarantees
Ohio State looked reinvigorated after their most recent loss to Michigan, using it as motivation for a run that ended with a national championship. That defeat may have been the spark the Buckeyes needed, even if it wasn’t the one they wanted.
Still, Barney’s confident claim suggests he believes the rivalry momentum remains firmly in Michigan’s hands—a rivalry that, until recently, was dominated by Ohio State for nearly two decades.
But things could be shifting again. Ryan Day appears to have learned that playing aggressively on offense is key, and the Buckeyes are expected to come out swinging next season.
And then there’s Jeremiah Smith—the No. 1 player in college football—who is sure to be a centerpiece in The Game this time around. After being underutilized in last year’s matchup, expect him to have a major role, even with the game taking place in Ann Arbor.
The stage is set for another epic chapter in college football’s greatest rivalry—and both sides are already talking.
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