The world of college football is shifting. Even a few years ago, the sport was somewhat different from what it is today. However, this progress has been centered on NIL and the new 12-team playoff format. And the NIL era has started already as the season proceeds, approaching challenging grounds with the former. At this point, OSU’s quarterback, Will Howard, gives a sneak peek of CFB’s new era through his latest interview. Meanwhile, OSU’s WR Jeremiah Smith battles for fame with $1.5 million. But be mindful of Howard’s concern before focusing on Smith.

In an interview on November 19, Will Howard voiced his concerns about the new era of CFB. Howard, who played for Kansas State before transferring to OSU in January 2024, put it bluntly: players used to pick programs for the coach, culture, or team. Now? It’s all about the money. “The college football landscape has changed so much. And when I got to college, guys were still getting recruited based on their stars, and there wasn’t any money involved. It was where you felt like it was the best fit. Now guys are throwing bags of money at freshman in college and it’s. It’s crazy, man. It’s a whole different atmosphere,” he said.

However, the OSU QB, who is from the old era of CFB, did not come to Ohio State for financial reasons. When he was asked why he came to OSU, he stated, “The goal I have is to win a national championship. I want to go be a starting quarterback in the NFL; Ohio State gives me a chance to make a jump and leap into that conversation.”

Despite his NIL opinions and concerns, the standout QB boasts a $1.5 million NIL valuation, which makes sense given his impressive performance. Howard demonstrated his abilities by throwing for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in a recent game versus Northwestern on November 16. With this performance, the Buckeyes improved their overall record to 9-1 and won by a resounding 31-7.

However, there is still a question regarding Jeremiah Smith’s $1.5 million. Is it his NIL value, his net worth, or something else? 

OSU’s young WR Jeremiah Smith is already chasing NIL deals

In a 31-7 victory over Northwestern, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith excelled, recording his third 100-yard receiving performance as a freshman, an unheard accomplishment in Buckeye history. Smith participated in a spectacular but contentious play throughout the game and recorded 4 catches for 100 yards. With 15 freshmen playing in the game at Wrigley Field, his performance helped the Buckeyes win. He is getting close to reaching the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 865 receiving yards, which is a huge improvement over his prior freshmen totals.

The outstanding wide receiver has a large NIL valuation, even though he is only a freshman. At the moment, according to the On3 NIL 100 rankings, Jeremiah Smith is ranked 28th with a valuation of $1.5 million—the same as Will Howard, who sits at 25th. While the QB and freshman WR are neck-and-neck in NIL fame, Smith’s play and social media presence clearly drive his value. With 19 receptions, 364 yards, an impressive 19.2 yards per catch, and five touchdowns, plus 376,000 social media followers, Smith’s impact goes well beyond the field.

Now that CFB has entered a new era, the players have also established impressive records. Although the primary issue is money, we cannot ignore their abilities. Let’s see what fans might expect from the new era.