It may have already been assumed by many, but No. 2 Ohio State made it official on Aug. 15 when head coach Ryan Day named Kansas State transfer Will Howard as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback for the season opener against Akron on Aug. 31.
"We're really excited about Will being the starter," Day told ESPN. "He has really taken command of the offense. You feel him in the huddle, you feel his experience. He did a really good job of changing his body in the offseason, so he's become a threat, both with his legs and with his arm. The more he understands what he's doing out there ... he's really executing very well."
Howard, 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, led Kansas State to a Big 12 Conference championship in 2022 and was an All-Big 12 pick in 2023. He set the Kansas State career record with 48 touchdown passes and the single-season record with 24 touchdown passes in 2023. Howard was competing against Devin Brown and Alabama transfer Julian Sayin to be Ohio State's starting quarterback.
Howard transferred to Ohio State in January and left Kansas State before the Wildcats' 28-19 win over No. 19 North Carolina State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Sophomore Avery Johnson, this year's starting quarterback, made his first career start against the Wolfpack and was the Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP.
Will Howard’s 68-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Imatorbhebhe was the highlight play of Kansas State’s win over Nevada.
— Kellis Robinett (@KellisRobinett) September 21, 2021
Here’s an inside look at how the Wildcats pulled it off.
🦅 https://t.co/FzvAa8ngfe
⭐️ https://t.co/RN6ZprNiaD pic.twitter.com/cncWgzAcdU