Ohio State’s 32-31 loss to now-No. 2 Oregon ended with transfer quarterback Will Howard sliding to the ground with no time left on the clock, not allowing Jayden Fielding a chance to give the Buckeyes the win on the road in their first West Coast Big Ten matchup.
The ball finished in the quarterback’s hands, with him hanging his head as he sat on the ground, realizing the mistake that he had just made. Howard maintained after the game that he thought he got to the ground in time, but it was still a loss regardless.
Even though that play ended the game in Oregon’s favor, it was also a showing of why going after Howard in the transfer portal was the right decision for the Buckeyes. After Jeremiah Smith’s offensive pass interference three plays before, the Buckeyes were pulled out of field goal territory, and the Ducks knew that OSU needed about 10 yards to feel comfortable with a kick, so they were defending the pass, and doing it well.
Howard might have gone down too late, but the fact that he was both able to and comfortable enough with tucking the ball and getting the yards himself is exactly the type of attitude the Buckeyes need in those close, big games. He didn’t try to force a throw to his extremely talented receivers, he didn’t give up on the play and accept defeat by taking a sack, he made the quick decision to go for it.
That was something the Buckeyes didn’t have last season. Howard has been able to evade tacklers and extend plays in most cases, and hasn’t been afraid to put his head down and run, which has opened up the passing game for Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith to shine as the 1A and 1B receivers.
Through six games, he has already accumulated five scores with his legs, and he feels like he could provide even more in the run game.
“We’ve definitely ramped it up as we’ve gone, and the designed quarterback run stuff is definitely going to be more of an emphasis going forward,” Howard said on Oct. 8. “It adds an element to our offense. Any time you can add something extra that (the defense) has to worry about, we’re going to take every advantage we can get.”
The Buckeyes came into the season as one of the favorites to win the national championship, but one of the big questions was whether Howard would be enough for this talented roster to make it there.
With the loss, Howard and the Buckeyes have put themselves in a tough spot, needing to win out to get to the Big Ten championship game. However they could still have a chance at making the 12-team College Football playoff if they don’t make it to Indianapolis. But the Buckeyes are going to need to have the right person leading the team for that stretch.
The way Howard showed up and performed against Oregon, its obvious that the Buckeyes have the right guy under center.
