Jeremiah Smith Comments on Ohio State QB’s Decision to Enter Transfer Portal
Jeremiah Smith and No. 2 seed Ohio State were eliminated from the College Football Playoff on Wednesday. They lost to the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
The Buckeyes ended their 2025 season with a 12-2 record; the other loss came to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship Game.
A day after losing to Miami, On3's Pete Nakos reported Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz plans to enter the transfer portal. The portal is open from Friday through Jan. 16.
As a redshirt sophomore, Kienholz will have two more years of eligibility for whichever program he lands with.
Kienholz has spent his entire collegiate career with Ohio State, committing to the Buckeyes out of high school in the 2023 recruiting class.
After Kienholz' decision to enter the portal was revealed, Smith took to Instagram to support his soon-to-be former teammate.
"Be great my guy," Smith wrote on an Instagram story.
In his time with Ohio State, Kienholz completed 21 of 36 passes for 250 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions and a 125.8 passer rating. He's rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. In 2025, he played in seven games, completing 11 of 14 passes for 139 yards and a score and 66 of his rushing yards and both touchdowns.
During a July appearance on 97.1 The Fan, Smith praised the quarterback, saying, "Lincoln, he's a dog. ... Me and him went at it this summer in competitions, and he definitely is a tough guy."
During the offseason, Kienholz was in a battle to be the Buckeyes' starting quarterback, but was beaten by redshirt freshman Julian Sayin. Considering Sayin isn't eligible for the NFL Draft until 2027, the chances of Kienholz getting much playing time next season were slim.
Kienholz enters the portal seeking a larger role wherever he lands. Despite his decision to leave, it's clear Smith has no hard feelings.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
