Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was excellent for most of his 2024 campaign. but in the regular season finale against Michigan, he played one of the worst games of his career. 

The Wolverine defense got after Howard and forced him to throw two pivotal interceptions, one that led to a Kalel Mullings touchdown and the other being in the red zone where the Buckeyes could have taken the lead late. The play calling was not in Howard’s best interest as he threw the football thirty-three times, but only completed nineteen of those passes. After a huge hit in the first half, Howard’s performance visibly changed. He was unable to find his star wideout Jeremiah Smith for large gains but did find a way to link up with the freshman in the end zone. This will be Howard’s first College Football Playoff game, but the Buckeyes will be counting on his veteran leadership to help them prevail past a gritty Tennessee Volunteers team who has been pitted as the underdogs since the matchup was announced.

Howard in his postgame press conference apologized multiple times about being at the forefront of a fourth consecutive loss to the Wolverines as seen below. 

 

“I still love this team… I’m just… I’m sorry man”

Will Howard gets emotional apologizing to Buckeye Nation. pic.twitter.com/7NTpk7t575

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) November 30, 2024

 

Why is Will Howard the X-Factor on Saturday? 

When Howard plays a near perfect game whether that was for Kansas State or now Ohio State, he finds a way to pull out a victory. Earlier this season in Eugene, Oregon, Howard threw for two touchdowns along with a rushing touchdown but what will be remembered is his slide with no time left on the clock. 

Will Howard scrambled and slid as time expired and Ohio State loses 😳 pic.twitter.com/g2umhjqasX

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 13, 2024

Howard needs to play smart and secure football for Ohio State to pull off the victory. If Howard plays scared and risky then it will be a close game and could end similar to the regular season finale against Michigan. The run game cannot be consistent if Ryan Day and Chip Kelly have to rely on it,-the play calling on runs have been predictable since Ohio State’s offensive line shakeups which has made it difficult to get Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson going consistently. Against AP Top-25 teams Judkins and Henderson have both rushed for under 300 yards, while in the Buckeyes two losses Judkins has averaged 2.9 yards a carry and 69 total yards. Henderson has averaged 5.4 yards a carry as well as 108 total yards in the losses. 

When Howard is able to throw the football accurately and consistently the Ohio State offense is one of, if not the best in the entire country. Will Howard is the Thanos to the Avengers, he has all the infinity stones and all he has to do is snap his fingers to help guide Ohio State to a National Championship. The Buckeyes were able to claim the first ever College Football Playoff Championship in 2014, and Howard is the player who has to step up to win the first Twelve-Team College Football Playoff Championship.