Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was the breakout superstar of 2024, emerging as a driving force in the Ohio State Buckeyes’ national title run. He now heads into the 2025 season with a major accolade coming his way.
On Tuesday, Smith was announced as one of the cover athletes of the upcoming video Game EA Sports’ College Football 26. He will share the cover with Alabama wide receiver and fellow rising sophomore Ryan Williams.
“Sophomore season loading… Your #CFB26 Cover Stars: [Ryan Williams] + [Jeremiah Smith]. Coming July 10. Full Reveal Thursday,” EA Sports announced today.
It’s a fitting duo to have on the cover. Both of them are heading into their second year of college football while EA Sports is readying its second year of the relaunched video game franchise following its 11-year absence. You could call College Football 26 the “sophomore year” of the new generation of games.
Smith is a very fitting athlete to be on the cover, especially since he’s one of the bonafide superstars that didn’t leave after last season.
Sophomore season loading…Your #CFB26 Cover Stars @Ryanwms1 + @Jermiah_Smith1 Coming July 10. Full Reveal Thursday.🔗: https://t.co/Evtg4x97HP pic.twitter.com/AVoMYokJIr
— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) May 27, 2025
As a result, the congratulations have simply been pouring in for Smith all morning. Some even believe he deserves a spot on the cover all by himself:
“Jeremiah deserves to be on there by himself,” one Buckeyes fan wrote.
“Honestly, Jeremiah should be on there by himself,” wrote another.
“Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs are about to be the only 99 players in the game!”
“Ryan ain’t on Jeremiah’s Level. It should be 1 person here.”
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As a true freshman in 2024, Smith had 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns plus another 52 yards and a touchdown on the ground in 16 games. He earned numerous accolades, including Big Ten Receiver of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-American, First-Team All-Big Ten and Freshman All-American honors.
But the two biggest ones were probably the ones he got in the College Football Playoff. He was the MVP of the Buckeyes’ Rose Bowl win over the Oregon Ducks and finished the year with a national title ring after helping the team knock off Notre Dame.
Related: Ohio State Football Reacts To Jeremiah Smith’s EA Sports Cover
