Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith came into the Cotton Bowl as the breakout star of the College Football Playoff. In wins over Tennessee and Oregon, Smith exploded for 290 yards and four touchdowns as the Buckeyes won the matchups by a combined 45 points.

Smith has already won Big Ten's Wide Receiver of the Year and Freshman of the Year. He was also a first-team All-American by USA Today.

The Ohio State National Championship x-factor to watch is a player flying much further under the radar than Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith.

After opening the College Football Playoff on a tear, Ohio State freshman Jeremiah Smith was held to one catch in the semifinals against Texas.

Ohio State freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has had one heck of a debut season. He's been the best wide receiver in the country, compiling 71 receptions for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns, and has Ohio State on the cusp of its first national title in a decade.