Ohio State quarterback Will celebrates after scoring a touchdown over running back Quinshon Judkins during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta.・Howard. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
ATLANTA — Will Howard committed to Ohio State to win a national championship, and he accomplished that goal by playing the best football of his career through four games for the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff.
He was never better than during the first half and end of Ohio State’s 34-23 win over Notre Dame on Monday night.
Howard connected on his first 13 passes, setting a record for consecutive completions in a CFP title game. Then, on third-and-11 after the Fighting Irish had gotten within eight points, he lofted a pass to Jeremiah Smith for a 56-yard gain that nearly sealed the victory.
“I have a lot of faith in this guy here.” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said as he sat Howard on his left side. “I think he ran the ball 16 times and we knew that was going to happen. It was the last game of the season, so we were going to give it our all. He really carried the team.”
Howard arrived in Atlanta with hot hands, but the Irish did nothing to cool him down early. He spread the ball among six receivers, often throwing short and gaining yards after the catch.
He tied the streak with a 20-yarder to Colonel Tate on third-and-7 late in the second quarter, then broke it two plays later with a 15-yard pass to Smith.
The streak ended when Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts broke up a pass to Treveyon Henderson near the goal line.
“Going into the season, one of the things Coach Day emphasized was getting completions.” Howard said. “Maybe I needed to see it or maybe it wasn’t completely written. I just want to keep the ball moving and stay on track.”
Alabama’s Mac Jones set a new record with 12 consecutive complete games against Ohio State in the 2021 title game.
Howard completed 17 of 21 for 231 yards and was named the offensive MVP of the game. He threw touchdown passes of 8 yards to Smith and 6 yards to Quinshon Judkins in the first half.
In four playoff games, Howard completed 75.2% of his throws (82 of 109) for 1,150 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions.
“It could be a lot.” Howard said. “The lights are bright. It’s a spectacle. The TV timeouts are long. It’s all a bit of a show. You have to block it out and eliminate all distractions. It’s a story about someone who overcomes.
Howard’s passing against the Irish was overshadowed by the tough runs he made when called upon. He got first downs on five of his first six designed runs or scrambles, and an 8-yard burst late in the game gave the Buckeyes a big first down. He had a career-high 16 carries for a season-best 57 yards.
“It’s not always pretty, and sometimes you have to pick it up with your feet.” he said.
Howard played his first four years at Kansas State, where he struggled with injuries and lost the quarterback competition in 2022, but stood in position to lead the Wildcats to the Big 12 Championship due to injuries to starters. Ta. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2023, and Day saw enough talent in Howard to release him from his contract through the transfer portal.
The opportunity to play with some of the most talented offensive players in the country will allow Howard to further develop and potentially become a mid-round or late pick in the NFL Draft.
“I saw something in him, an intelligence, a football IQ.” Day said. “I saw him on film playing at Kansas State, winning championships, winning big games, making impact with his feet but still being able to throw accurately. Those are hard to find. That’s it.”
Howard said attending Ohio State University was the best decision of his life.
“It’s crazy to look back on everything that happened in my career. Playing as a freshman at Kansas State, going into my junior year not really knowing what I was doing, never knowing I would play… I never expected to win the Big 12 Championship. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be a Buckeye, even if it’s only for one year. ”
