Former Kansas State QB Will Howard leads Ohio State to national championship game

Will Howard never beat Texas when he played quarterback for the Kansas State Wildcats.

But he led his his new team to a thrilling 28-14 victory over the Longhorns on Friday in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. His reward is a trip to the national championship game with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Howard’s dream senior season continued as he threw for 289 yards and a touchdown against Texas.

“I love this place. I’m so glad I decided to come here,” Howard said during the televised Cotton Bowl Trophy presentation. “I’m just blessed. This is unbelievable.”

Many left Ohio State for dead when the Buckeyes lost their final game of the regular season to rival Michigan. But they have played like the best team in the country since the College Football Playoff began, thanks in large part to Howard.

The former K-State quarterback, who left Manhattan after he helped the Wildcats win a Big 12 championship in 2022 and reach the Pop-Tarts Bowl in 2023, is on the verge of hoisting a national championship trophy with the Buckeyes.

He has thrown for 3,490 yards and 32 touchdowns this season. Those passing numbers are way up from his days in purple.

Howard has been on fire since the start of the CFP.

Ohio State beat Tennessee in the first round with Howard throwing for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Then he helped Ohio State beat Oregon by throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns.

On Friday, he lifted Ohio State with another strong performance.

His transfer has seemed to work out well for both sides. Avery Johnson took over as K-State’s starting quarterback; the Wildcats won nine games and put an exclamation mark on their season by defeating Rutgers in the Rate Bowl.

And the Buckeyes can claim a national championship by winning more game, against Notre Dame a week from Monday, in the final matchup of the season.