On Jan 20., the Ohio State Buckeyes clinched their first national championship in a decade, largely thanks to quarterback Will Howard’s standout performance.
The Buckeyes emerged victorious with a 34-23 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Atlanta, Ga. The game was a spectacle from start to finish. At one point, the Buckeyes surged to a 24-point lead only to find themselves in a nail-biting finish.
Jeremiah Smith Highlights His QB, Ohio State’s Will Howard
By halftime, Howard had given a near-perfect performance, completing 14 of 15 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. But it was his clutch throw in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that secured the Buckeyes’ victory.
Facing a critical third-and-long, Howard launched a deep pass to true freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. After the catch, cameras caught Howard sprinting down the field with arms wide open and a triumphant smile.
After the game, Smith lavished praise on Howard, who is expected to declare for the NFL Draft this offseason.
“It just shows the type of quarterback he is,” said Smith, per The Sporting News on X. “In my eyes, he’s a first-round draft pick. Will is just a great leader, on and off the field as well. He just had a great week of preparation, just leading us to this victory tonight.”
Howard, who committed to the Buckeyes for his senior year on Jan. 4, 2024, delivered a master class performance against the Fighting Irish defense. The QB completed his first 13 passes to set the record for consecutive completions in a College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Howard’s eighth completion of the night was a memorable 12-yard completion to wideout Emeka Egbuka for a first down. This reception was Egbuka’s 202nd at Ohio State, solidifying his place as the Buckeyes’ all-time leader in receptions.
Howard’s stellar performance in the first half led the Buckeyes to three back-to-back touchdowns. He completed 14 out of 15 passes for 144 yards and tossed two touchdowns against the nation’s second-best pass defense.
In the second half, Howard attempted just six passes and completed three. Nevertheless, his overall performance was outstanding: 17 of 21 for 231 passing yards, two TDs, and 57 rushing yards. He was named the Offensive MVP.
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Howard turned heads throughout the Buckeyes’ playoff journey. His best moment came with a crucial long pass to Smith late in the national championship.
While it’s still uncertain how much of an impact this will have on scouts come draft day, Howard will likely find his way onto an NFL roster when the next season begins. So, is this the beginning of an incredible professional journey for Howard? We’ll have to wait and see.
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