Motivation couldn’t be higher for the four teams left standing in the College Football Playoff. For Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, and Notre Dame, the ultimate prize—a national championship—is just two wins away. But for Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, the stakes feel even more personal as he prepares to face Texas in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Friday.
Howard, now in his first season with the Buckeyes after transferring from Kansas State, is looking to break a personal losing streak against the Longhorns. In his five-year college career, he’s faced Texas three times and came up short each time. While two of those losses were heartbreakers—falling by a touchdown or less—the third was a blowout he’d likely prefer to forget.
Howard’s Record vs. Texas: 2023: 33-30 OT loss, 2022: DNP, 2021: 22-17 loss and 2020: 69-31 loss.
For Howard, the chance to rewrite that narrative couldn’t come at a better time. This Buckeyes squad is easily the most talented team he’s ever been part of. After a tough regular-season finale loss to Michigan, Ohio State has roared back with a vengeance in the playoffs. It obliterated Tennessee 42-17 in the opening round before heading to the Rose Bowl and handing undefeated Oregon a 41-21 defeat in the quarterfinals.
Howard has been nothing short of sensational in those games, throwing for 630 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception. His quarterback ratings of 98.7 against the Vols and 97.7 against the Ducks are among his best of the season. Compare that to his performances against Texas while at Kansas State, where his highest rating was just 57.3, and it’s clear Howard is playing at an entirely different level with Ohio State’s NFL-caliber talent surrounding him.
The Buckeyes enter the semifinal as 6-point favorites, and Howard will need another dominant outing to secure both the win and the cover. Ohio State’s high-powered offense gives him the tools he needs to succeed, but it’s up to Howard to seize the moment. A win would not only punch the Buckeyes' ticket to the National Championship but also allow Howard to finally conquer the Longhorns—a personal triumph that’s been years in the making.
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