EUGENE - Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith remembers the noise. Oregon coach Dan Lanning’s latest joke brought back another unforgettable part of Oregon’s 32-31 win over Ohio State in 2024.

The first top-five showdown in Autzen Stadium history delivered a signature Ducks victory and an atmosphere that left an impression on the Buckeyes’ star receiver.

"It was rocking. Probably the loudest I've ever been in. The fans were definitely getting hyped. Couldn't hear anything. Probably the best stadium I played in last year," Smith told Oregon Ducks On SI reporter Bri Amaranthus at Big Ten Media Days in 2025.

The instant classic game was what college football dreams are made of. The town of Eugene woke up with ESPN's College GameDay on campus, as top teams in the country battled for positioning in the Big Ten conference.

Now, Oregon and Ohio State are facing off again and the Ducks will be met with a sea of scarlet at Smith’s home stadium. Preparing for another matchup with one of college football’s most dangerous receivers in Smith, Lanning joked about needing an extra defender.

“We’re going to see if we can play with 12,” Lanning said, before adding, “No, I guess I realize that’s not funny.”

Dan Lanning’s 12 Man Joke Comes With Ohio State History

For Oregon and Ohio State, that number carries history.

Late in Oregon’s 2024 win at Autzen Stadium, the Ducks put 12 defenders on the field during Ohio State’s final possession. Oregon took a five-yard substitution penalty, but valuable seconds elapsed during the play and were not restored to the game clock. The strategic calculation was straightforward: At that stage of the game, the time Ohio State lost was worth more to Oregon than the yardage lost.

Days later, the NCAA issued an interpretation allowing the offense to have the clock reset to the time at the snap when 12 or more defenders participate in a down after the two-minute timeout in either half. The clock then restarts on the next snap.

Lanning’s lighthearted answer resurfaced that memorable moment. The player who prompted it, however, presents a serious challenge for Oregon. Smith has a chance to make program history against Oregon: Another 100-yard performance would be the 16th of his career, moving him past Marvin Harrison Jr. for Ohio State’s record.

Dan Lanning’s NFL Assessment Of Jeremiah Smith

"Jeremiah's special. He is a special player. You have to know where he's at at all times. he's dynamic in every phase," Lanning said. "He's certainly pro-ready. I think anybody that's played against him already would tell you that. He probably was two years ago, right? So he certainly is now."

Pro ready as a freshman is quite the compliment. Oregon has firsthand experience with how advanced Smith was as a freshman.

In Ohio State’s 41-21 Rose Bowl victory over the Ducks on Jan. 1, 2025, Smith caught seven passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. His scoring receptions covered 45 and 43 yards, helping the Buckeyes establish an early lead Oregon could not overcome.

He hasn't slowed down since then. Through eight games this season, he has caught 62 passes for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns. Since entering college football in 2024, Smith leads all players in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.

"I think Coach (Ryan) Day said it earlier in the year - if (Smith's) one-on-one, he's open. If there's two guys covering him, he's sort of open, right? If there's three, that means somebody else is open," Lanning said. "It's a collective unit that everybody has to play together to try to limit explosive plays for players like him."

Ohio State's Scarlet Out For Oregon Matchup At The Horseshoe

For Smith and the Buckeyes, Saturday is a chance to put the Ducks on the other side of a charged home atmosphere.

Ohio State has designated Saturday’s matchup as its “Scarlet the Shoe” game, encouraging fans to wear scarlet throughout the Horseshoe. The setting adds another challenge for the Ducks, who will try to snap the Buckeyes’ 12-game home winning streak in what figures to be an electric atmosphere in Columbus.

It's Lanning's first time coaching at Ohio Stadium. For the Ducks, a win would make them bowl-eligible at 6-3 and give them back-to-back wins over ranked opponents after beating then-No. 20 Northwestern last Saturday.

One thing is for sure, the Big Ten game will add another chapter to a matchup Smith already viewed as a developing rivalry back in 2024.

"Kind of, a little bit," Smith said. "That's how I think it is going. The way things are going, it is kind of like Ohio State, Oregon. It's starting to be like a little rivalry."

Kickoff for Oregon vs. Ohio State is at 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, Nov. 7.