Ohio State responds to Jeremiah’s Smith involvement in Christian scandal

On Friday’s episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out, investigative sports reporter Pablo Torre and The Rooster’s D.J. Byrnes reported on multiple prominent figures tied to the Ohio State football program’s involvement in Life Surge, a Christian organization that presents attendees at its events with introductory courses and a pamphlet that includes several options, all upwards of $10,000, with some reaching as high as $50,000, to receive what is framed as mentorship and coaching on how to succeed in the stock market or flipping real estate, a practice Torre contends is predatory.

Torre and Byrnes asserted that members with ties to the Ohio State football program who have appeared at Life Surge events include ESPN analyst and former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Kirk Herbstreit appeared on stage for a Life Surge event, along with former Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer, as well as former star Caleb Downs, current quarterback Tavian St. Clair, and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

“I mean, what you’re saying and what you’ve reported here is that this focus on God at the expense of ostensibly the Constitution, it has transcended Urban and entered, yes, the 5th-ranked program as we sit here today,” Torre said.

Three Ohio State football players, Urban Meyer and Kirk Herbstreit (and his dog) headlined a Life Surge event in Columbus:

“I was stunned that it really wasn’t a bigger story… These guys are literally funneling well-intentioned, financially illiterate Christians into a meat… pic.twitter.com/KFVqUoVNSJ

— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) October 2, 2026

Byrnes said of the situation, “I was stunned that it really wasn’t a bigger story about, like, hey, these guys are literally funneling well-intentioned, financially illiterate Christians into a meat grinder.”

Torre also revealed that he reached out to the Ohio State in regard to Smith and St. Clair’s appearances at Life Surge events and shared the university’s response on X.

“All Ohio State student-athletes may attend or make appearances at events of their choosing, provided those activities comply with applicable NCAA and Ohio State policies,” OSU told Torre.

UPDATE — We requested comment from Ohio State about Jeremiah Smith and Tavien St. Clair’s appearances at the Life Surge event held at the university’s basketball arena (the Schottenstein Center).

Ohio State’s response: https://t.co/2qAkBhrgL3 pic.twitter.com/0AadTWZJ8d

— Pablo Torre 👀 (@PabloTorre) October 2, 2026

“The appearance in question was independent of Ohio State. We therefore have no further comment on the matters raised.”

Of Smith and St. Clair’s involvement, Torre said, “The athletes in this case at Ohio State were used as seemingly part of the lure Life Surge dangled at the end of that stick as the carrot. 25 lucky customers at LifeSearch would receive a photo op with Urban Meyer and the players.”