USC · L 18-30
3 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack
The other 7 games average 4 tackles. This one was 1 below.
6 stories in the last 30 days, from 3 outlets.
Jermaine Mathews Jr.
Gets targeted often and tackles in space. Fourth year in the Ohio State secondary. One game to point at: 7 tackles against Illinois — Week 4, 2026.
30 tackles · 1 sack
Play style
Targeted often and asked to tackle in space on the perimeter.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
30 tackles. 5 passes defended. 0 interceptions. 3.5 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 3 outlets
Eleven Warriors Nov 2 · 1 outlet
from 3 outlets
Eleven Warriors Nov 2 · 1 outlet
Eleven Warriors
Land-Grant Holy Land
The Columbus DispatchEleven WarriorsLand-Grant Holy LandEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Fans first named Jermaine Mathews Jr. at Texas.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ohio State | 30 | 19 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 5 | -- |
| 2025 | Ohio State | 26 | 20 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | Ohio State | 22 | 14 | 2.5 | 1.0 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Ohio State | 13 | 9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 |
| Career | 91 | 62 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 10 | 3 |
Last game (Wk 9): 1 pass breakup, 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-3vs Ball State | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 23-24@ No. 4 Texas | 5 | 3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 59-3vs Kent State | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 4 | W 42-19vs Illinois | 7 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 2 | Season-high 7 tackles |
| Wk 5 | W 31-14@ No. 14 Iowa | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 6 | W 45-16vs Maryland | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 7 | W 19-15@ No. 5 Indiana | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | L 18-30@ USC | 3 | 3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | 19 | 3.5 | 1.0 | — | 5 |
Oct. 31 · L 18-30 at USC, play by play
3 tackles, including 1 more for loss, 1 sack.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: coverage — 5 passes defended in the 8 games with play by play.
How Ohio State’s defense played that day
USC’s 11 drives: 5 stopped (1 takeaway) · 6 scored. While the game was within a score they held 1 of 5. His pbu came with Ohio State down 4.
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
2 tackles, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
3 tackles, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
7 tackles, including 2 passes broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
2 tackles, including 1 pass broken up. His pass breakup on 4th and 4 ended Kent State’s drive (downs).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Broke up a pass on 4th and 4. Second quarter, up 28-0. Ended Kent State’s drive (downs).
5 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
2 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Ratings of the games shown run from -21 to +24 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
17%5 pass breakupsTackle volume
30tackles this season30 tackles · 3.5 for loss · 1 sack · 5 pass breakups.
4 seasons under Ryan Day — 43-8 over that span.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home4g | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Road4g | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-77g | 3.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Ryan Day
Pass share
45.0%
250 pass / 306 run
Plays / game
69.5
8 games
Team sack rate
5.8%
275 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Former four-star. Now #97 at the position.
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #2 of 18 Big Ten CBs
A base rate for the rank, not a forecast of this player: 49% of returning players who ranked #1–3 at their position in their conference made an all-conference team the next season (95% confidence interval 43–54%).
Returning starter at defensive back for a 12-2 Ohio State team that went -21 in the portal.
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 38 games over four seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coachPlayed every college season under Ryan Day.
