No. 8 Ohio State’s upcoming game against No. 9 Tennessee could make or break Ryan Day’s career in Columbus. Set at Ohio Stadium on December 21st, they will compete in the first round of the 12-team college football playoffs. But a huge pressure is on the HC’s head after that sore loss to Michigan. So, this time, Ryan Day is set to change some things, starting with his QB, Will Howard. 

A confident and positive leader impacts a team positively. That’s how Ryan Day sees Will Howard in his conversation with Dom Tiberi in a new YouTube episode on WBNS 10TV on December 16. But the main shift that the Buckeyes HC focused on for his starting QB is that “he just needs to be himself.” He also added, “He’s got a tremendous makeup. He’s very positive and the guys feed off of that, and he’s confident, and so he’s got to be himself, and his preparation will allow him to play confidently.”

In big games like this, the pressure falls mostly on the signal caller, but Ryan Day is confident in his 23-year-old senior. But we have to consider this. Ohio State has been receiving backlash for their offensive style of play by running the football rather than having Will Howard make throws. OC Chip Kelly has also been called out several times for not trusting the Buckeyes QB enough to let him throw on big plays. 

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt previously pointed out, “Ohio State has got to play on the perimeter. This cannot be a running team. It cannot be running team. In order to win the national championship, it has to be a passing team.” Could we be seeing a different OSU scheme in the playoffs? It sounds like changes are being implemented, even as we speculate. But a little walk down the history lane might provide more details. 

Is Will Howard a running QB?

You see, Will Howard didn’t come to Ohio State to run. From 2020 to 2023, he played for Kansas State, where he was hyped for his ability to use his legs. He recorded 921 yards and 19 touchdowns on 226 carries in his four seasons in Manhattan. It may not be impressive numbers compared to elite dual-threats, but it did the job. However, when he transferred to Columbus this season, he said, “[Running] was my thing. But now, I feel like that’s not me.”

Why? Because he trusted Ryan Day’s offense. He stated, “A lot of really good stuff that they do. I mean, they protect the quarterback.” This season, Will Howard recorded 2,860 passing yards and 27 passing TDs and was sacked 10 times. He also rushed for 131 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 73 carries. 

The strategy that Ryan Day and Ohio State will use in their upcoming playoff game against Tennessee is a mystery. But they better make the right choice because everybody is expecting no less than a national championship for this Big Ten team.