Fifth-year quarterback Will Howard had some extra motivation to beat the team on the opposite sideline in the College Football Playoff semifinals: the Texas Longhorns. An 0-3 lifetime record against the Longhorns preceded the matchup for Howard — but one final chance to down the Longhorns remained.
Fourth Times the Charm: Will Howard Finally Defeats the Texas Longhorns
Will Howard stood on the field, soaking it all in. He had just led the Ohio State Buckeyes to victory in the College Football Playoff semifinals, securing a berth in the National Championship Game. That achievement alone was monumental, but for Howard, the significance was amplified by who the Buckeyes defeated: the Texas Longhorns.
Howard spent the first four years of his college career with the Kansas State Wildcats, where he started the majority of three seasons and became a beloved figure in Manhattan. Despite his successes, one opponent remained his nemesis—Texas. During his time with Kansas State, the Wildcats faced Texas annually, and Howard never managed to beat them.
As a true freshman, Howard endured a 69-31 blowout loss to Texas, throwing for 174 yards and two touchdowns but also committing two interceptions.
The following year, the Wildcats came closer, losing 22-17. Howard struggled in the air with just 65 passing yards but led the rushing attack with 82 yards and a touchdown. In 2023, Kansas State pushed No. 7 Texas to the brink. Howard excelled, completing 26 of 41 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
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The Wildcats forced overtime after Howard orchestrated a game-tying drive at the end of regulation, but Texas prevailed, 33-30.
Determined to rewrite his narrative, Howard transferred to Ohio State for his final season, aiming for a championship run. Operating in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s dynamic system, Howard thrived, feeding star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka en route to an offense averaging 35.8 points per game, eighth in the nation.
Howard guided the Buckeyes through dominant wins over Tennessee and Oregon in the College Football Playoff, setting the stage for a semifinal clash with Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
The storylines were irresistible: Two storied programs meeting, Quinn Ewers facing his former school, and Howard confronting his Texas demons one last time.
When asked about the matchup, Howard acknowledged the personal stakes: “For me, there’s definitely a little extra motivation because I never got the chance to beat those guys.”
That motivation carried Howard and the Buckeyes to a 28-14 victory, exorcising his Longhorn demons.
Such a huge play in last night’s game that we can’t forget. Texas decides to blitz and Will Howard calmly moves out of the pocket and delivers a perfect pass to Carnell Tate. This play allowed Quinshon Judkins to cap it off with a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/S8rGlgWdLU
— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) January 11, 2025
His stat line—24 of 33 passing for 289 yards, one touchdown, and one interception—doesn’t capture the full story. Late in the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 14, Howard delivered the game’s defining play with his legs.
Facing fourth-and-two at the Texas 34-yard line, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day kept the offense on the field. The Buckeyes lined up with a heavy formation to the right—three receivers and a tight end, with running back TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield.
The setup screamed run or pass to the right side. Instead, Howard took the snap, saw a wide-open lane, and bolted up the middle.
Will Howard had an open field in front of him but tripped on this run after converting on fourth down. pic.twitter.com/zVP8XGJhSD
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 11, 2025
Breaking left, he aimed for the end zone but tripped near the 15-yard line. Though the “turf monster” got him, Howard’s 19-yard run had already done its damage. Four plays later, running back Quinshon Judkins punched it in from one yard out, giving Ohio State a 21-14 lead they would never relinquish.
A defensive touchdown sealed the win.
Howard’s poise under pressure stood out. Jeremiah Smith, his top target with over 1,200 receiving yards on the season, was blanketed by double and triple teams all night, limited to just one catch for three yards.
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Instead of forcing the ball to Smith, Howard adjusted, leaning on secondary options. Carnell Tate stepped up with seven catches for 87 yards, and Egbuka contributed five receptions for 51 yards. Howard’s ability to read the defense and take what was available proved critical.
When asked after the game what finally beating Texas meant to him, Howard’s answer was simple: “Means the world.”
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