Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has told Oregon it would be foolish to use man coverage when trying to defend against the Buckeyes’ star-studded receiving corps in the Rose Bowl.

The Big Ten rivals will face off in Pasadena on New Year’s Day, with a place in the College Football Playoff semifinals on the line. The Buckeyes’ embarrassment of riches at the skill positions is sure to be a huge factor in the game, with the school continuing to enhance its reputation as a pipeline for elite receivers heading to the NFL.

Freshman sensation Smith leads Ohio State in receiving with 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns, with Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate also making big contributions for Ryan Day’s team. The teams have already met this season, with Oregon snatching victory in a 32-31 epic in Eugene back in October.

Smith says if the Ducks have learned anything from that game – and what the Buckeyes have put on tape since – they will not use man coverage on New Year’s Day.

“I’m just laughing in my head. Why are y’all really playing man-on-man against us, or against me, I should say?” Smith said at his pregame media availability. “And when we see man [coverage] against any of our receivers, we’re going to take a shot down the field.

“So I’m just letting everybody know right now that if you play man Wednesday, we’re taking a shot.”

Smith and the Ohio State receiving corps is set to play a defining role in the Rose Bowl

Smith and the Ohio State receiving corps is set to play a defining role in the Rose Bowl

Florida native Smith caught nine passes for 100 yards and a score in the first meeting with Oregon, and he insists he has become a much better player in the two months since.

“They’re going to see a completely different player than the last time,” said Smith. “Even [receivers] Coach [Brian] Hartline told me the other day that I’m a whole different player from the first time we played Oregon until now. It started with understanding the game plan and knowing what the defense is trying to do.”

Recent first-round picks Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are among the star wideouts who have learned their craft in Columbus in recent years, but senior defensive back Denzel Burke believes Smith has the edge on all of them.

“He’s one of the best I’ve seen, and I think will be the best to come through here, and I’ve seen a lot of great ones and played with them,” said Burke. “You see all those same qualities. He’s calm. His work ethic is crazy, and he performs on game day. He’s just different. He’s a dog. You don’t see that in a young 18-year-old coming out of high school.”

Oregon (13-0) is the No. 1 seed in the playoffs after defeating Penn State in the Big Ten championship game, but Dan Lanning’s Ducks are a two-point underdog ahead of the game. Ohio State is favored by the oddsmakers after bouncing back from a demoralizing defeat to Michigan by routing Tennessee 42-17 in the first round of the playoffs.