Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is at the centre of college football’s transfer portal scandal, with claims indicating that he received a staggering offer of more than $4.5 million to leave the Buckeyes and enter the portal. According to Pete Nakos of On3, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are playing an increasingly important role in retaining top college football talent.
“Ohio State aims to retain its top talent after winning the National Championship…” Jeremiah Smith has a $4.5 million+ offer and Carnell Tate has a $1 million+ offer to enter the Transfer Portal, according to Pete Nakos. via On3 for X.
The Ohio State football team, fresh off its National Championship victory in the first 12-team College Football Playoff, has shifted its attention from celebration to preservation. Head coach Ryan Day and Ohio State’s NIL collective, The Foundation, are actively striving to keep athletes like Smith in Columbus.
According to the On3 story, sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate has received offers to transfer totalling more than $1 million. Day addressed the difficulties of the present NIL landscape during an interview on The Dan Patrick Show, adding, “Everything is so grey right now. I believe as coaches, we are all seeking for a little more guidance on this.”
Jeremiah Smith will remain with Ohio State.
Smith, widely regarded as a generational talent, reaffirmed his commitment to Ohio State on Friday. Smith responded to conjecture on X (previously Twitter) by quote-tweeting Jay Wimbrow, who said that Smith’s family “is too loyal” for him to leave the Buckeyes. Smith acknowledged this, putting all rumours about his departure to rest.
The Buckeyes’ top freshman made headlines in 2024, catching 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. Smith was instrumental in Ohio State’s playoff success, including a 56-yard reception on third-and-11 in the championship game against Notre Dame, which secured the victory. His outstanding performances have made him a favourite for the top choice in the 2025 NFL draft.
Day emphasised the need of enforcing NIL-related manipulation. “Offers of money can be made directly to someone’s agent or parents…” “That’s only part of it,” Day added. “Until we start enforcing some of these rules, it’s only going to get worse.”
Smith’s current NIL worth is $4 million, thanks to his partnership with Red Bull, which makes him the first college athlete to sign with the company. While colleges like Ohio State are ready to compete in the expanding NIL market, the Buckeyes’ ability to keep Smith is a significant success in the face of mounting financial demands in collegiate athletics.
As the transfer portal saga unfolds, Smith’s commitment to Ohio State demonstrates the program’s culture and capacity to retain elite talent in a quickly changing landscape.