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Desmond Howard evaluates if Ohio State can survive another quiet Jeremiah Smith game vs. Notre Dame

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly•about 12 hours•

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Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Ohio State freshman phenom and leading receiver Jeremiah Smith managed only one catch for three yards in a College Football Playoff semifinal game against Texas, yet the Buckeyes still won by 14 points.

ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard was asked on SportsCenter Saturday morning if the Buckeyes can beat Notre Dame in the national title game if Smith has another quiet game.

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According to Howard, Ohio State has enough weapons that it can win the national championship, even if Jeremiah Smith doesn’t contribute much.

“I really think they can, because they’re far from a one-trick pony,” Desmond Howard said. “Like, they have a lot of weapons all on their offense, but especially the perimeter. You know, you have Emeka Egbuka; you have Carnell Tate.”

Jeremiah Smith leads Ohio State with 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns and is without a doubt the top big-play threat for the Buckeyes. But it’s Emeka Egbuka who leads Ohio State with 75 catches. He has proven to be Mr. Reliable for quarterback Will Howard.

“Listen, my man Jeremiah’s been sensational. He’s going to make those splash plays, one-handed plays,” Howard said. “But guys like Egbuka – I spoke to coaches who have had to defend the Buckeyes offense, and they said No. 2 is really the glue. He’s a senior receiver; he makes all the catches. He’s always where he’s supposed to be. And he’s going to keep the chains moving.”

And then there’s Carnell Tate, who is the No. 3 receiver for Ohio State but who is arguably the top No. 3 receiver in the country.

Tate was ranked as the No. 41 overall player and No. 8 receiver in the country in the class of 2023, per the On3 Industry Rankings.

The sophomore has 50 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

“Tate, he averages about 14 yards per catch himself. So they have a lot of weapons out there on the perimeter that they can still win this game, even if Jeremiah Smith does not have a big game,” Howard said.

Ohio State and Notre Dame will kick off on Monday at 7:30 p.m. with the winner clinching the national championship. Howard believes the Buckeyes have enough weapons that they can win, no matter how much Smith contributes.