The air in Pasadena was electric as the Rose Bowl came to a close, Oregon victorious under the floodlights. Head coach Dan Lanning stepped to the podium, his green-and-yellow visor tugged low over his brow. But while the Ducks had just claimed a historic win, all the talk in the press room was about the rising star who had electrified the field: Jeremiah Smith.
“Smith is a beast,” Lanning said simply, leaning into the mic. His voice carried the weight of someone who had just witnessed something otherworldly. “You watch a guy like that, and you realize you’re looking at one of those generational players. Someone who shifts the axis of a game every time he touches the ball.”
Lanning wasn’t prone to hyperbole, and that made his words hit harder. The 6’4” receiver out of Ohio had been the buzz of college football all year, and tonight, he lived up to every ounce of the hype. Smith, despite being on the opposing sideline, had put on a show for the ages, finishing with 203 yards and three touchdowns.
Lanning recounted one play in particular. “There’s this slant route—nothing special, just a standard pattern we’ve seen a thousand times. But when Jeremiah caught it, the whole stadium knew something was about to happen. He hit that second gear, and it was like watching a cheetah in the wild. Our defense? They didn’t stand a chance. He left three of our guys clutching air.”
The reporters scribbled furiously, but Lanning wasn’t done.
“It’s not just the speed, though. It’s the poise. He makes every catch look effortless, whether he’s dragging his toes on the sideline or going over the middle against linebackers who want to take his head off. He never flinches.”
Lanning leaned back in his chair, letting out a low chuckle. “We threw everything at him. Zone, press, double teams—you name it. And still, he found a way to get open. If you ask me, he’s playing chess out there while most of us are still figuring out checkers.”
The admiration in his voice was undeniable, even if Jeremiah Smith had just been the thorn in Oregon’s side all night. And yet, Lanning didn’t seem bitter. If anything, he seemed inspired.
“That kid’s the future of this game,” he said. “Mark my words. If I ever get a chance to coach someone like him, the playbook’s getting thrown out. You just let him do his thing, and you ride the wave.”
As the press conference wrapped up, Lanning paused before leaving. “Look, I’m proud of our team tonight. This win? It means everything to us. But when it’s all said and done, and you’re telling the story of the 2025 Rose Bowl, you’re gonna talk about Jeremiah Smith. And honestly? I’m okay with that. The kid’s earned it.”
With that, Lanning tipped his visor and exited, leaving the room buzzing. Out on the field, Jeremiah Smith stood alone in the moonlight, a phenom whose legend was just beginning.
