You Won't Believe Which Ohio Star Shockingly Boosts Indiana Hoosiers' Playoff Hopes!

COLUMBUS, Ohio — While the Ohio State Buckeyes are not competing in the College Football Playoff National Championship game, the event still has significant ties to the state. The Indiana Hoosiers will face off against the Miami Hurricanes on Monday night, and one player in particular stands out in this championship spotlight: offensive lineman Carter Smith.

Carter Smith, who graduated from Olentangy Liberty High School in 2022, has made a remarkable impact during his time at Indiana. After a challenging start to his collegiate career—where the Hoosiers managed only three wins in 2023—Smith has been a pivotal player in a dramatic turnaround. Since those lean years, the team boasts an impressive record of 26 wins and 2 losses, with Smith starting in every one of the last 36 games.

His high school football coach, John Sansbury, shared his pride in Smith's achievements. “Carter, he’s a great person. Obviously he’s a really good football player. He’s having a heck of a season the last couple years, so yeah, we’re all really excited for him here at Liberty High School. He had a big impact here when he was here so we’re all rooting for him,” said Sansbury.

Smith’s journey to this point included a stint in the transfer portal after his redshirt freshman year. Despite receiving offers from all four Power Five conferences, he ultimately decided to remain with the Hoosiers. His father, Andy Smith, expressed joy about his son’s decision, particularly now that he is headed to the National Championship game. “It’s surreal, I mean, it’s unbelievable. The journey he’s been on his entire career to have it come to this this year, we still talk about it, we still pinch ourselves,” Andy said. He emphasized the team’s focus on taking one game at a time: “The whole focus all year has just been go 1-0 every week, just approach each week with a game as its own, don’t worry about the rest of the season so it’s worked so far we got one more to go.”

Adding to his accolades, Carter Smith has recently made history by becoming the first player from Indiana to be named the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year and has also been recognized as a consensus All-American.

The Hoosiers will take the field against the Miami Hurricanes at 7:30 p.m. on Monday night, with Smith playing a crucial role in what promises to be a thrilling championship match. As the game approaches, the excitement in Ohio and beyond is palpable, not just for the Hoosiers’ success, but for the local talent making waves on a national stage.