Ohio State Expected to Have Key Receivers Available for Michigan Game
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Ohio State is poised to have both star wide receivers,Jeremiah Smith and Carnell tate,available for Saturday’s crucial matchup against Michigan,sources have told ESPN. Both players have been managing lower-body injuries that have limited their participation in practice.
Smith and Tate are both listed as questionable on the Big Ten availability report, but are expected to play unless issues arise during warmups. Their presence will be a significant boost for the Buckeyes‘ offense as they attempt to break a four-game losing streak to their rivals.
Smith, a sophomore, missed last week’s game against Rutgers after sustaining an injury against UCLA on November 15th. He currently leads the Big Ten in touchdown receptions, tied with 10, despite the absence, and has amassed 69 catches for 902 yards. tate, a projected NFL first-round pick, hasn’t played since November 1st, sidelined after experiencing tightness during warmups before the Purdue game. He leads the Big Ten with an average of 18.2 yards per catch, totaling 39 receptions for 711 yards and seven touchdowns.
The duo are primary targets for quarterback Julian Sayin, who has completed 79.4% of his passes for 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. Last year’s contest saw Tate lead Ohio State receivers with six receptions for 58 yards, while Smith recorded five catches for 35 yards and a touchdown – his second-lowest receiving yardage total of the 2024 regular season.
