Why Ohio State QB Will Howard has extra motivation for Texas in College Football Playoff

Will Howard hasn’t forgotten the last time he played Texas.

It was last season as Kansas State’s quarterback when he had the Wildcats on the cusp of an upset.

Trailing by three points in overtime, Howard completed a pass to a tight end over the middle that put them at the Longhorns’ 6-yard line and in position for a potential game-winning touchdown.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) motions during the second half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21.

Then the drive collapsed in a span of four plays, ending with him lying on his back on the field at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. On fourth-and-goal, he had rolled to his right to escape pressure from Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II before running into defensive end Barryn Sorrell and falling to the turf.

“That one still sticks with me, still pisses me off a little bit,” Howard said. “I just felt like we had it.”

With Ohio State to face Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals this week, he gets a shot at redemption.

Howard was winless against the Longhorns when he was at Kansas State, including three losses as a starter. Excluding some of the new schools that joined the Big 12 in 2023, Texas was the lone conference opponent Howard never defeated.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) throws during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025.

“There’s definitely a little extra motivation there,” Howard said Sunday.

Before leaving for the Southeastern Conference along with Oklahoma last year, the Longhorns were one of the league’s bullies. Kansas State last beat Texas in 2016.

“They were walking around and…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-ohio-state-qb-howard-222438522.html

Author : The Columbus Dispatch

Publish date : 2025-01-05 22:24:00

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