'Howard's Brilliance Leads Ohio State to Championship Victory'
Ohio State's quarterback, Will Howard, had always yearned for an opportunity to showcase his skills. On Monday night, he finally had the spotlight all to himself.
Howard's impressive performance in the first half, where he completed 17 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, helped lead the Buckeyes to a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff title game in Atlanta.
It wasn't until late in the game, after a 56-yard completion to Jeremiah Smith, that the reality of the moment seemed to hit Howard. As he ran downfield, he couldn't help but show off a bit, throwing his arms up in celebration while his coach and even NBA star LeBron James cheered from the sidelines.
This was always the dream for Howard, a transfer from Kansas State who had always envisioned playing on the biggest stage in college football.
Reflecting on his journey, Howard said, "If you were to ask a 19-year-old or 18-year-old Will Howard if he'd be at Ohio State playing in the national championship, I think he'd probably say, 'You're crazy, man.'"
But now, Howard is a champion and his teammates believe this is just the beginning for the 23-year-old quarterback.
According to Smith, "In my eyes, he's a first-round draft pick. Will's just a great leader - on and off the field."
Howard made history in the CFP championship game by completing his first 13 passes and finishing the first half with 14 completions for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State's strong start gave them a commanding 21-7 lead at halftime.
Although Notre Dame made a comeback attempt, they couldn't overcome Howard and the Buckeyes. In fact, Howard was named the Offensive MVP of the game.
Reflecting on his team and coach, Howard told ESPN, "They've changed my life in more ways than I can say, man. Coach Day and these guys here have completely, completely changed my life...I can't believe God gave me the chance to be a Buckeye."
