Oklahoma

As a true freshman at Oklahoma in 2017, Sermon played in all 14 games and made three starts. He finished the season with 744 yards on 121 carries with five touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2018, he shared time with Kennedy Brooks, rushing for 947 yards on 164 carries and 13 touchdowns. As a junior in 2019, he played in nine games and had 54 carries for 385 yards and four touchdowns.

Ohio State

Sermon transferred to Ohio State University as a graduate student in 2020. In the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern University, Sermon’s 331 rushing yards were the most in a single game by an Ohio State player and the highest ever in a Football Bowl Subdivision championship game.

He was the game’s MVP. In the 2021 Sugar Bowl versus Clemson, Sermon rushed for 193 yards and scored a rushing touchdown along with catching 4 passes for 61 yards in a 49-28 victory. In the 2021 National Championship Game against Alabama, Sermon got injured on the first play of the game and did not return.