Ohio State steals DeVonta Smith TD play from '20 Alabama title for Jeremiah Smith score vs. Notre Dame

Ohio State needed a response after a nice opening drive for Notre Dame, eventually getting their wish. Will Howard connected with Jeremiah Smith for the touchdown, tying the game at seven. And if Ohio State fans think they have seen that play before, it’s because they have.

Smith started on the left side of the formation but as the ball was snapped, worked into the backfield. The freshman receiver then hit the brakes and moved back out to the field side. Howard then had a wide-open throw as Smith went into the end zone untouched.

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It’s one Ohio State saw go against them all the way back in the 2020 national championship game. But Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith of Alabama were the ones enjoying the touchdown, not the Buckeyes. Ryan Day must have been saving the play for a few years now, pulling it up in the biggest game of his tenure.

You can check out both here, seeing the symmetry between them via Blakey Byler of On3’s BOL.

Ryan Day took notes https://t.co/zlCT9t7pz2 pic.twitter.com/chnxsdSFRY

— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) January 21, 2025

Plenty of people on social media recognized the play. Jones himself even confirmed it was the same one, giving his reaction on X.

“Seen that one before,” Jones said, keeping it short and sweet.

If DeVonta Smith were not still alive and preparing for the NFC Championship Game with the Philadelphia Eagles, he might have given a reaction as well.

The respective positions Alabama and Ohio State were in were not too dissimilar. Both occurred early in the second quarter in a tight game. Ohio State tied it up against Notre Dame but when Alabama scored in 2020, it put the Crimson Tide up a score at 14-7.

From there, a blowout ensued in Miami. Alabama won the national championship, giving Nick Saban his seventh title. A team that will be remembered in Tuscaloosa forever, some nice flashbacks in a game they are not participating in.

Ohio State might be hoping for something similar after settling into Monday’s contest. Notre Dame is going to be a tough out though, showing some serious physicality on their first drive. An exciting game should unfold in Atlanta.