Jeremiah Smith, widely regarded as the best player in college football, was seen screaming at his coaches and teammates as Ohio State suffered a loss that could kill off their playoff hopes.
Now there are warnings that the wide receiver may never play another snap before he enters the 2027 NFL Draft, where he is expected to be selected first overall.
The Buckeyes entered the season as the consensus No 1 team in the nation but two consecutive losses - including Saturday's mauling at the hands of Oregon - look set to cost Ryan Day's team a spot in the postseason.
And frustrations boiled over at the end of the third quarter when Smith could be seen shouting angrily toward the sideline.
The meltdown came after he caught a pass near his own goal line. It was his first reception since the first quarter. At that point, Ohio State was trailing 31-14 but it did not get any better for Day's team, who ended up losing 41-28 to No 23 Oregon.
Smith was widely tipped to win the Heisman Trophy - the award given to the best player in college football - but now his and Ohio State's season lies in tatters.
Jeremiah Smith expressing his frustration.
This was his first catch since the 1st quarter. pic.twitter.com/Se64KiZuMA
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 7, 2026
Jeremiah Smith lost his cool
Jeremiah Smith was seen screaming at his coaches and teammates as Ohio State lost [Source: X/@CBSSportsCFB]
During Ohio State's loss to Oregon
During Ohio State's loss to Oregon
Ryan Day's team suffered a brutal 41-28 defeat by Oregon that could kill their playoff hopes
Ryan Day's team suffered a brutal 41-28 defeat by Oregon that could kill their playoff hopes
The wide receiver ended the game with seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown
The wide receiver ended the game with seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown
He ended the game with seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. And afterward ex-NFL running back Damien Harris claimed: 'We just watched Jeremiah Smith play his last snap at Ohio State.'
He told CBS: 'He's done! He's going to pack it up. He's not playing anymore this season. The season is gone, we saw this isn't a College Football Playoff team. They were already on the outside looking in, the season is over.
'He's already etched his name in history, he's got the touchdown record. He has the reception record. He's got a national championship. He's not going to get a Heisman this year. What's there to play for?'
Harris added: 'In my opinion, there is nothing to gain. There is everything to lose if you are Jeremiah Smith. I don't think he plays again the rest of this season for Ohio State.
'And that's not a knock on Ohio State. That's not a knock on Ryan Day, this team [or quarterback] Luke Fahey. It's just there are bigger things out there for Jeremiah Smith.'
It is the first time since October 1992 that Ohio State (6-3, 4-2, No. 12 CFP) has lost back-to-back games to unranked opponents.
'We didn´t expect any of this to happen. I thought the way that we came out was how we thought we would play in this game,' said coach Ryan Day, who has lost three regular-season games for the first time in his eight seasons leading the Buckeyes.
'And then once the momentum swung, we weren´t able to stop that and then swing it.'