Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith took college football by storm during his freshman season, and the world took notice.
The Buckeyes' star wide receiver was one of the driving forces in their run to the national title, and, fittingly, received his fair share of praise and adulation. As a former No. 1 overall recruit, Smith arrived in Columbus, Ohio, with his fair share of NIL endorsements. That number of endorsements only grew after he earned All-American honors in his first year of college ball.
In the lead-up to his sophomore season, Smith was tabbed as one of the cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 26 and signed on as a student-athlete partner with Adidas.
As significant as Smith's deal with Adidas is, it's even more notable considering that Ohio State is one of Nike's premier college programs. Here is how Smith's partnership with Adidas will work while he plays for a school represented by the brand's biggest competitor.
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Jeremiah Smith Adidas deal, explained
Adidas announced that it signed Smith on July 2, 2025.
In its official release, the brand shared that Smith "will represent the three stripes in a variety of brand marketing campaigns, including in an upcoming campaign alongside one of the best young female athletes in the nation."
The brand's vice president of sports marketing called Smith "the face of the next generation of elite football players," adding that he is part of Adidas' adizero NIL class, which also features Ohio State commits Chris Henry Jr. and Kaden Dixon-Wyatt.
He has since appeared in multiple advertisements for Adidas products.
While Smith has signed with Adidas, he continues to wear Nike products during Ohio State practices and photoshoots. This is similar to Cooper Flagg's arrangement during his lone season at Nike, as he appeared in New Balance promotional materials while wearing Nike products in games.
Smith is not eligible for the NFL Draft until 2027.
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Jeremiah Smith NIL deals
Smith's Adidas deal is one of several NIL deals he has picked up. Among them are Nintendo and Red Bull, which he has notably appeared in advertisements for.
- Adidas
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Battle Sports
- EA Sports
- Epic Games
- Lululemon
- Nintendo
- Red Bull
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