Ohio State Buckeyes' Jeremiah Smith Haunted By 'Crazy' Penalty in Loss to Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks escaped with a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes earlier this season in a game that had some controversial calls. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith called the infamous offensive pass interference penalty a "crazy call."

Dec 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Rickey Gibson III (1) in the first half at Ohio Stadium. / Samantha Madar/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes are set for a monstrous rematch at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday with a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals on the line.

In their first meeting on Oct. 12 in Eugene, Oregon escaped with a thrilling 32-31 win in what was one of the best games of the regular season. If only a few plays had gone differently in that game, these two teams would likely have had vastly different CFP paths. Instead, it's Oregon that has a Big Ten Championship and No. 1 seed to its name.

Oct 12, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) runs the ball after a catch during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. / Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

One of these plays -- which was met with some controversy -- happened on the final possession of the game when Ohio State was looking to put together a game-winning drive down by one. With 22 seconds to play, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard found star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith for a completion that put the Buckeyes well within game-winning field-goal range at the Oregon 21-yard.

However, Smith was called for an offensive pass interference penalty, which set Ohio State back to the Ducks' 43-yard line. Smith spoke with the media ahead of the Rose Bowl and admitted he still thinks about that penalty, even calling it a "crazy call."

“I think about that call probably every day,” Smith said. “It was a crazy call. The DB was holding me; I just cleared his hands. I guess receivers can’t be physical in football anymore, but DBs could hold 10 yards, 15 yards down the field. It’s behind me. I know the move from here on out when the DB is grabbing me. I guess you can’t be physical as a receiver in college football anymore. We’ll just see how things play out in this game.”

MORE: Florida Gators To Flip Another Oregon Ducks 5-Star Commit? Offer Lineman Kodi Greene

MORE: Ohio State Coach Ryan Day’s Job At Stake Vs. Oregon Ducks In Rose Bowl?

MORE: Oregon Ducks Recruiting: Ohio State Decommit Zahir Mathis Visiting Ducks, Dan Lanning

Three plays later, Howard scrambled up the middle as the clock ran out on a play that will live in the minds of Ohio State fans forever if they come up short to Oregon once again.

Already speaking like a seasoned vet, Smith certainly plays like one, too. Headed into the Rose Bowl, he's tallied 63 catches for 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. In that loss to Oregon, he finished with nine catches for 100 yards and a score.

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a touchdown pass in front of Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) during the second half of the College Football Playoff first round game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 22, 2024. Ohio State won 42-17. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Fortunately for the Buckeyes, they still have a direct path to the National Championship despite that loss to Oregon along with suffering an embarrassing defeat to Michigan in the regular-season finale.

The Ducks will look to bring more heartbreak to Columbus when the Rose Bowl kicks off at 2 p.m. PT on New Year's Day.

MORE: How to Watch Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Buckeyes: Rose Bowl Preview, Prediction, TV

MORE: Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Betting Odds: Rose Bowl, College Football Playoff

MORE: Bear Alexander Transfer To Oregon Ducks: Exciting Test Of Dan Lanning's Culture

MORE: How Oregon Ducks Landed Transfer Portal Star Isaiah World Over Texas A&M Aggies