{"id":67639,"date":"2024-11-05T18:00:35","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T23:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=67639"},"modified":"2025-11-07T09:25:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T14:25:43","slug":"will-howard-proves-hes-the-guy-for-ohio-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2024\/11\/05\/will-howard-proves-hes-the-guy-for-ohio-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Howard Proves He’s the Guy for Ohio State"},"content":{"rendered":"

Will Howard<\/a> had his “worst game of the year” against Penn State<\/a>. From the jump, Howard struggled. Throwing a pick-six on the third play of the game in a hostile environment in a top-four matchup against a Big Ten pseudo-rival to go down 10-0 is not an ideal way to start. Nor is losing a fumble resulting in social media lighting itself on fire by chiding the player and\/or debating how great\/awful the “fumble out of the endzone results in a turnover” rule is.<\/p>\n

However, while the Kansas State transfer<\/a> is not rocketing up NFL Draft boards as previous Ohio State quarterbacks have, he is showing that he has what it takes<\/a> to lead the Buckeyes to accomplish its goals.<\/p>\n

Despite Early Struggles, Will Howard Proves He’s the Guy for Ohio State<\/h2>\n

Howard was dealt quite the hand by the schedule makers this year. He and the Buckeyes had to travel to two of the nation’s top programs in two of the most difficult venues to play. Against Oregon, Howard played well for the overwhelming majority of the game. However, that slide at the end of the game – forgetting everything that led up to it – sticks in the mind.<\/p>\n

Against Penn State, Howard had to start fast. Unfortunately for him, he made crucial mistakes early.<\/p>\n

He did just that on a third and five from his 30-yard line. It was a play that Penn State saw coming from a mile away and Zion Tracy jumped Jeremiah Smith<\/a>‘s route and sent Beaver Stadium into a frenzy. A frenzy that was temporarily quelled before another Howard mistake.<\/p>\n

Up 14-10, Howard took a designed quarterback run but was met at the two-yard line by Zakee Wheatley. The Penn State defender was able to force a fumble that Howard lost out of the endzone, resulting in a turnover.<\/p>\n

Plenty of Ohio State quarterbacks have had bad games. Heisman Trophy-winner Troy Smith<\/a>‘s performance in the BCS National Championship was bad. J.T. Barrett<\/a> struggled vs. Virginia Tech and Penn State in 2014, vs. Indiana and Michigan State in 2016, and vs Oklahoma and Iowa in 2017. C.J. Stroud<\/a>‘s first few starts were a far cry from where he ended up.<\/p>\n

The difference between Howard’s rough start and some of those other quarterbacks is how Howard finished the game.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s nice to be \u201cthe guy\u201d when things are easy\u2026 who are you when the chips are down and it\u2019s now or never?
I present to you 4th & 1 Will Howard: pic.twitter.com\/VSkA6Iu1ID<\/a><\/p>\n

— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) November 4, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n