Honestly, if you asked a hundred Ohio State fans back in January 2024 how they felt about the quarterback room, you would've gotten a hundred different flavors of "cautious optimism" mixed with a healthy dose of "who is this guy?" The memory of the 2023 season was still a bit raw. Kyle McCord had just left for Syracuse, and the fan base was staring at a Kansas State transfer named Will Howard.
People were skeptical. Howard hadn't exactly lit the world on fire in Manhattan, Kansas, finishing his time there with a completion percentage that hovered around 59%. For a program used to the surgical precision of C.J. Stroud or the raw athleticism of Justin Fields, Howard felt like a "safe" pick. A bridge.
But looking back at the Ohio State QB last year, "safe" was the wrong word. "Transitional" was wrong, too. The truth is, Will Howard didn't just manage the offense; he became the engine that drove Ohio State to a 14-2 record and a National Championship.
The Will Howard Era: Stats That Quietly Broke Records
It’s wild how much can change in twelve months. Howard didn't just play well; he set a school record by completing 73% of his passes. Think about that for a second. In an offense with weapons like Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, he wasn't just throwing 5-yard slants. He was vertical. He was efficient. He was exactly what Ryan Day needed to stop the "soft" narrative that had been dogging the program.
He finished the 2024 season with 4,010 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Those are "elite" numbers in any era, but they're even more impressive when you realize he only threw 10 interceptions over 16 games. He was smart.
The Playoff Run
The real magic happened when the lights got brightest. During the College Football Playoff, Howard’s completion percentage actually went up to 75.3%. He averaged over 10 yards per attempt against some of the nastiest defenses in the country.
In the National Championship game against Notre Dame, he was basically a surgeon. He threw for over 300 yards and accounted for multiple scores, finishing the game with a QBR that made the skeptics look pretty silly. It wasn't just the arm, though. Howard brought a physical presence at 6'4" and 235 pounds. He ran for seven touchdowns on the season. When the Buckeyes needed three yards on 3rd-and-short, he didn't slide. He lowered his shoulder.
Why the Doubters Got It Wrong
A lot of the preseason noise was about Howard’s "ceiling." The argument was that he was a high-floor, low-ceiling guy who wouldn't be able to win the "Big One."
That turned out to be a total misread of his situation at Kansas State. At Ohio State, he suddenly had five-star wideouts and an offensive line that actually gave him a pocket. Ryan Day mentioned after the season that Howard’s football IQ was what really separated him. He was making two or three checks at the line of scrimmage before the ball was even snapped.
Basically, he was a pro playing on Saturdays.
The Transition to Julian Sayin
Of course, the Ohio State QB last year conversation isn't just about Howard. While he was winning a ring, the future was already marinating on the sidelines. Julian Sayin, the five-star transfer from Alabama, was the name everyone was whispering about during spring ball.
Sayin played in four games in 2024, mostly in mop-up duty during blowouts. He only threw 12 passes. But even in those 27 snaps, you could see the "it" factor. He had this lightning-quick release and a level of poise that you just don't see from true freshmen.
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- Experience vs. Potential: Howard provided the veteran leadership needed for a title run.
- The Sayin Factor: Sayin spent the year learning the system without the pressure of starting.
- The Depth Chart: Lincoln Kienholz stayed in the mix, but it became clear by mid-season that the Sayin era was inevitable once Howard moved on to the NFL.
It was a perfect storm of roster management. Howard came in, did the job, won the trophy, and handed the keys to a kid who might be the most talented passer to ever walk through the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
What This Means for the Future
If you’re a Buckeye fan, the takeaway from last year's quarterback play is that the "transfer portal era" is working exactly as Ryan Day intended. The program didn't skip a beat. They upgraded.
Howard’s success proved that you don't need a three-year starter to win a title if you have the right culture. It also gave Julian Sayin a blueprint. Sayin officially won the job for the 2025 season after a heated battle with Kienholz, but he’s stepping into a much easier situation because of the stability Howard provided.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the RPO: Expect the offense to evolve even more this year. Sayin’s release is faster than Howard’s, but Howard’s physicality in the run game will be missed.
- Keep an eye on Tavien St. Clair: The true freshman is the next big thing. Even with Sayin starting, the depth in that room is terrifying for the rest of the Big Ten.
- Appreciate the "Bridge": Don't let Howard’s legacy fade. He’s the guy who finally broke the Michigan streak and brought the gold back to Columbus.
The 2024 season was a masterclass in "win now" football. Whether it was Howard’s leadership or the glimpse of Sayin’s talent, the quarterback position in Columbus has never been in a better spot. If you want to keep track of how Sayin is handling the pressure of following a National Champion, keep an eye on his completion percentage in the first three games of 2025; that's usually the best indicator of how well a Ryan Day QB is seeing the field.