Only four teams in the College Football Playoff remain to be crowned national champion on Jan. 20, and none of them are the top four seeds.
Though a late-season loss relegated Ohio State to the No. 8 seed, the Buckeyes were a top-three team for much of the regular season and many experts consider them to be perhaps the most talented squad in all of college football. They will square off against Texas in the Cotton Bowl Classic semifinal on Friday.
>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<
Led by quarterback Will Howard, the Buckeyes have responded to their 13-10 loss to unranked Michigan on Nov. 30 by racking up 42 points against No. 9-seeded Tennessee and 41 points against No. 1-seeded Oregon in the first two rounds of the CFP. Howard posted the highest (98.7 against the Volunteers) and third-highest (97.7 against the Ducks) quarterback ratings of his season in those two matchups, combining for 630 yards and five touchdowns with only one interception.
He’s hoping to continue his stellar play against the No. 5-seeded Longhorns.
This Will Howard-Emeka Egbuka connection was 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IBzAiUenJ1
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 1, 2025
Howard, a 23-year-old fifth-year senior from Downingtown, Pennsylvania, played four seasons with the Kansas State Wildcats before entering the transfer portal in November 2023 and committing to Ohio State on Jan. 4, 2024.
Howard has thrived on the field in Columbus, setting career highs in every major statistical category and turning himself into one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Thus far, he’s tossed 32 touchdowns against only nine interceptions. He’s 12th in all of the FBS in passing yards (3,490) and fifth in touchdowns, and he’s the only quarterback in program history to have six games with at least an 80% completion percentage in a single season. What’s more, he also rushed for seven scores.
Howard has been a perfect fit for the Buckeyes this season, and in more ways than just on the football field. In addition to football success, Ohio State has made waves this fall for the culture of faith in Christ that has cropped up in the locker room. The roster is littered with players who boldly declare their faith in Jesus, and Howard fits right in.
Moments after the 41-21 trouncing of No. 1 Oregon at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, Howard was interviewed on the field by ESPN. He made sure to deflect the praise to God.
“First and foremost, I gotta thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me this opportunity to be on this stage in the Rose Bowl,” he said. “Younger me would be in awe right now.”
Will Howard gives thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ at the Rose Bowl yesterday. pic.twitter.com/dDlnL6Qu0n
— James Blazsik (@BlazsikJames) January 2, 2025
New Year’s Day was not the first time Howard had mentioned his faith. Last month, NBC4 (WCMH) in Columbus asked him for his thoughts after losing to Michigan.
“I sat back and thought the opportunity that I have here and what I’ve gone through this year, the ups and the downs, everything has been for my own good,” he said. “… I know that God is putting those obstacles in front of us to grow us and there’s a reason for it. I’m going to just trust the plan.”
Howard said the numerous strong believers he now shares a locker room with have helped in his walk with the Lord as well. He was among the many players who wore “Jesus Won” shirts at preseason camp.
View this post on Instagram
“We got to trust in the Lord and lean on Him no matter what, through the ups and the downs,” he told NBC4. “I tried to just get into my Bible and pray a little bit. Just come back to the Lord and say, ‘I need You.’
“When you come to Him in a humble way, it changes your perspective. I lay it down for Him and say, ‘God, I trust You. I don’t know why this happened but it happened for a reason. I’m going to trust it.'”
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
As he prepares for the titanic matchup with Texas on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, Howard and many of his teammates will seek to stand on Christ — their firm foundation — regardless of the result.
RELATED STORIES:
— Ohio State players host on-campus faith event: ‘Let’s give Him the glory’
— WHAT’S UP PODCAST: Gee Scott Jr. – Ohio State Buckeyes Tight End
— SS PODCAST: Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka on being bold for Jesus
— SS PODCAST: Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson on playing for Jesus
— JT Tuimoloau leading Ohio State’s defense, giving ‘all the glory to God’
— Texas QB Quinn Ewers seeks to ‘lean on Jesus’ as Longhorns remain No. 1
