The Ohio State Buckeyes have been on a mission this postseason, erasing past disappointments and rewriting narratives in the College Football Playoff.
After snapping an SEC drought with a win over Tennessee in the opening round and avenging a midseason loss to Oregon in the quarterfinals, the Buckeyes are now eyeing another milestone.
Tonight in the Cotton Bowl, quarterback Will Howard has the chance to settle a personal score against the Texas Longhorns.
Howard, who transferred to Ohio State after the 2023 season, spent four years as the starting quarterback at Kansas State.
During that time, he compiled a respectable 15-12 record and led the Wildcats to their only New Year’s Six Bowl appearance in the CFP era.
However, the Texas Longhorns proved to be his nemesis. Howard never managed to secure a victory against them, either as a starter or a reserve.
“That was the only team I didn’t beat when I was in the Big 12,” Howard said of the Longhorns. “They’re always a good team. But none of those games were unwinnable. Definitely excited to get another chance at these guys.”
Howard’s history against Texas is marked by heartbreak.
In 2020, the Wildcats endured a 69-31 thrashing that was competitive for only the first ten minutes.
The following year, Kansas State led Texas 17-16 at halftime in Austin but was held scoreless in the second half, falling by just five points.
Howard’s final matchup with Texas in 2023 was his most memorable – and painful. He threw for a career-high 327 yards, but the Wildcats fell in a 33-30 overtime thriller.
“That one still sticks with me,” Howard said of the 2023 loss. “I don’t like how that one ended. … I know there’s a lot of people back in Kansas that are rooting for the Buckeyes to get this one done against these guys.”
Now at the helm of the Buckeyes, Howard has an opportunity to rewrite his story against the Longhorns on one of college football’s biggest stages.
Ohio State enters the matchup as a 6-point favorite, but Texas will enjoy a virtual home-field advantage with the game being played in Arlington.
Of course, Howard would be the first to tell you that the only thing that matters tonight is the Buckeyes winning. He’s not focused on any personal revenge against Texas.
Having said that, beating his old rival on such a grand stage would be pretty damn sweet.
What are your thoughts on the matchup? … Will Howard be getting the last laugh tonight???
