OSU's Will Howard: Penn State Didn't Think I Was 'Good Enough'; 'We'll See Next Week'

Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard is excited for an upcoming Big Ten clash between No. 4 Ohio State and No. 3 Penn State on Saturday, explaining that he grew up as a fan of the Nittany Lions.

"I grew up a Penn State fan," Howard told reporters on Saturday. "I wanted to go there my whole life. They didn't think I was good enough. But, I guess, we'll see next week if I was."

Howard was a 3-star quarterback prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247Sports. He did not receive an offer from Penn State before initially enrolling at Kansas State.

The Pennsylvania native spent the first four years of his college career with the Wildcats before transferring to Ohio State on Jan. 4. Howard then beat out Devin Brown and Julian Sayin to earn the starting job for the 2024 season.

Saturday's matchup features heavy College Football Playoff implications, as the Buckeyes have already suffered one loss this season and could have trouble securing a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game if they're defeated again.

Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions are attempting to remain unbeaten following a 7-0 start to the season.

Howard has been impressive under center in his first year at Ohio State, completing 74 percent of his throws for 1,795 yards and 17 touchdowns while getting picked off just four times. He thrived during the Buckeyes' 21-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday, finishing 13-of-16 for 221 yards and three touchdowns to go along with an interception.

He'll need to stay sharp in a contest that's shaping up to be a defensive battle, as both squads rank within the top three in scoring defense as well as yards per game allowed among Big Ten teams this season.

While the impending clash between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions already contains high stakes, Howard has some extra motivation heading into the showdown.