Ohio State looked dominant throughout the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Buckeyes defeated Tennessee in the first round and then defeated the top-seeded Oregon Ducks in the quarterfinals. Ohio State then defeated the Texas Longhorns in the semifinals to advance to Monday's championship game.
Quarterback Will Howard will be under center when Ohio State and Notre Dame square off in the highly anticipated title game.
Howard spent four seasons at Kansas State University. However, he announced his intention to enter the transfer portal in 2023 and transfer to Ohio State in January 2024. Howard had the best regular season of his college career in Columbus, Ohio.
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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback, No. 18, after the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on January 10, 2025. Will Howard leaves the field. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The 23-year-old threw for a career-high 3,779 yards and 33 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in his first year at Ohio State. Howard continues to use his feet this season, rushing for seven points.
Former Notre Dame star fuels excitement over national title game with harsh criticism of Ohio State's Will Howard
There are multiple players on this year's Buckeyes roster who are outspoken about their personal beliefs, including Howard. Howard's on-field interview after Ohio State's aforementioned blowout victory over Oregon State in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day was one of many moments in which the quarterback put his beliefs on full display. It was.
“First and foremost, I have to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me the opportunity to stand on this stage at the Rose Bowl,” Howard said. “When I was younger, I would be in awe now.”
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (number 18) passes against Texas State during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
In late November, shortly after the Buckeyes' blowout loss to top rival Michigan, Howard mentioned his faith when asked about his reaction to the loss.
“I sat and thought that the opportunities I had here and the ups and downs and ups and downs that I went through this year were all for me,” he said, via Columbus news station WCMH, before reaffirming his unwavering faith. . “I know God is putting these obstacles in front of us to help us grow. There's a reason for it. I'm just going to trust in that plan.”
Will Howard, No. 18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes, runs with the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Morley/Getty Images)
He added that having an unwavering “faith in the Lord” has proven beneficial in life.
“Through the ups and downs, we learned to trust the Lord and rely on Him no matter what,” he told NBC4. “I read the Bible and prayed a little bit. I just turned to the Lord and said, 'I need you.'”
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“When I come to the Lord in humility, my perspective changes. I confess it for the Lord and say, 'God, I trust you. Why did this happen? I don't know, but there was a reason for that.'I'm going to trust that.'
Howard and several of his Buckeyes teammates arrived at preseason training wearing “Jesus Wong” T-shirts.
The College Football Playoff National Championship Game begins at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20th at 7:30pm ET.
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