Desmond Howard Talks 2025 CFB Season, Michigan-OSU, Lee Corso, More in B/R Interview

Since the turn of the century, 20 of the 25 Heisman Trophy winners have been quarterbacks.

But former Michigan star and current ESPN analyst Desmond Howard isn't buying the notion another signal-caller such as Texas' Arch Manning will undoubtedly be joining the list of winners in 2025.

"I'm so tired of watching people talk about these quarterbacks," he told Bleacher Report. "Talking about what are the odds and Vegas having them at this number. To me, I have not seen a quarterback yet that I should even mention in the Heisman conversation. So much respect for Peyton and Eli, the Mannings are a great family. But I haven't seen anything out of Arch yet where I'm going to put him in that conversation.

"If you really want to talk about somebody, you would talk about [Ohio State wide receiver] Jeremiah Smith. He was just sensational a year ago as a freshman. If you have to talk about somebody, it would be him or [Alabama wide receiver] Ryan Williams. When I talk to NFL personnel and scouts, one thing they say for Williams is 'he's different.' So to me, when you talk about that award, you want to talk about people who excite you when you see them play. None of these quarterbacks have shown me that yet."

Howard's hesitancy when it comes to the quarterbacks who will be under the spotlight in 2025 comes with good reason.

Top programs such as Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama, Miami and Michigan will all be breaking in new starters under center this season, which has given the upcoming campaign something of a wide-open feeling that has caught Howard's eye.

"There are so many blueblood programs that are breaking in a new quarterback for the first time," he said when asked what storyline stands out ahead of the new year. "Whether it's a transfer or a freshman, whatever the case may be, he's new to that particular program. There's a lot on the line for a lot of colleges just from that standpoint alone because we all know the quarterback is the most important position on the team."

Few people would understand how difficult it is for any college player, let alone a new starter, to win the Heisman Trophy better than Howard.

After all, he took home the coveted award during the 1991 season when he starred for the Wolverines. He also won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award with 23 total touchdowns (19 receiving, two rushing, one punt return and one kick return).

Even though he went on to play in the NFL for Washington, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions and took home the Super Bowl XXXI MVP with Green Bay in large part because of a 99-yard kick return touchdown, many fans will always associate him with his collegiate accolades at Michigan.

That Michigan program was missing a playmaker like him last season as it lost five games and ended up in the Reliaquest Bowl. 

It was part of a roller-coaster two years for the Wolverines that included going undefeated and winning the national championship in 2023. That marked the program's national championship since a split title in 1997, although fans surely weren't thrilled with the follow-up effort in 2024.

There was also the specter of the NCAA's investigation into the sign-stealing scandal involving former assistant Connor Stalions hovering over the program the entire time. The NCAA announced its punishment this month with a laundry list of penalties that included a fine equivalent to the anticipated loss of postseason revenue in 2025 and 2026 and show-causes for Stalions and Jim Harbaugh.

But it didn't include a postseason ban, which gives the Wolverines an opportunity to build on the momentum they created at the end of last season with a shocking upset victory over rival Ohio State and a win over Alabama in that Reliaquest Bowl.

Throw in the arrival of quarterback Bryce Underwood—who was a 5-star recruit and the No. 1 player in the class of 2025, per 247Sports' composite rankings—and things are once again looking up for Michigan.

"Even if it's not Bryce Underwood, they're going to start with a new quarterback," Howard said of his alma mater. "But they ended the season as well as any team could end a season that didn't win the national championship. To finish the way they did as a 21-point underdog on the road in Columbus and then to follow that up against Alabama's A team in a bowl game? That was extremely encouraging because it's easy for coaches to lose teams when they struggle, especially when they were coming off a national championship and then the losses happened. 

"But it's so encouraging that the guys stuck together and finished the season strong when they needed it the most. A lot of credit to coach Sherrone Moore and his staff for the job they did to keep that team together to go out there and continuously compete week in and week out and go out there and finish the way they did."

Like is so often the case, Michigan will largely be judged by whether it can defeat the rival Buckeyes. Howard believes it has an excellent chance to do so and extend its head-to-head winning streak to five even if the Scarlet and Gray are the reigning champions.

"Even the superteam they had a year ago lost two games," Howard said when questioning Ohio State's overall ceiling for 2025. "They've got Caleb Downs returning, one of the best safeties in the country, and Jeremiah Smith, he's one of the best offensive players in the country coming back.

"But those two positions can't really control the game because there's a lot that has to go into them being successful. Probably Jeremiah Smith more than Caleb Downs since you have to have a guy who is going to throw him the ball. But because they lost so much, it's going to be interesting to see how it plays out. I can't wait to see them play Texas."

He will get a chance to see the Buckeyes play Texas as part of a special celebration for ESPN's College GameDay.

In April, ESPN announced broadcaster Lee Corso will make his final appearance on the pregame show on Aug. 30 after 38 years with the program. Corso has become synonymous with College GameDay thanks to his memorable catchphrases and the tradition of putting on the mascot headgear of the team he believes will win the day's biggest matchup.

The show will not feel the same without the 90-year-old entertaining the crowd and inspiring his fellow analysts in the process.

"Coach Corso is the ultimate professional," Howard said. "He greets everyone with a big smile and positive words. He's always going to give you some sort of positive comment or something that is inspirational. I call him the grandfather of college football. He's like the granddad who wants the best for you and wants you to succeed.

"One of the things he told me early on when I joined the show was that college football is entertainment. He would say, 'we're in the entertainment business, sweetheart. College football is just our vehicle.' He's incredible. I always tell people, 'whatever you do, wrap that man in bubble wrap and protect him at all costs. He's that valuable. He's like a treasured monument.'"

ESPN announced in June that Corso's final College GameDay appearance will happen on Ohio State's campus ahead of the Buckeyes' showdown against the Longhorns. It was a fitting choice since Corso first donned mascot headgear as a prediction at Ohio State in 1996.

"It's full circle," Howard said. "It's where he made his first head gear pick, so it's only fitting he would make his last head gear pick there, too. You couldn't have written a better script. I'm on board with that, even as a Wolverine. If it makes sense, it makes sense."

Howard will be on the desk alongside his fellow analyst, but he is also celebrating the legend's retirement by partnering with Samsung to make sure Corso has the perfect set up to watch college football from home this season.

After asking fans on social media what should be included, the set up will have a large Samsung TV, a neon sign with Corso's "not so fast, my friend" catchphrase, a larger-than-life version of one of his pencils and much more.

"The partnership has been fantastic," Howard said. "If you like college football, you love Lee Corso. You have to. Because we all love Lee Corso so much, we wanted to do something special for him. This guy, for the better part of four decades, has given his passion and his love for college football to millions of televisions all across the country every weekend. We just wanted to do something in return to show him how appreciative we are for everything he gave us."

Now Corso will have the ideal location to watch this year's championship race unfold even if he won't be on the College GameDay desk after Aug. 30.

And given the uncertainty at quarterback for so many across the country, those teams with experienced options returning stand out among the presumed contenders in that race.

That means Penn State with Drew Allar and Clemson with Cade Klubnik, but Howard isn't necessarily as high on the Nittany Lions as many others are heading into the new season.

"I'm still doing my due diligence, but I'm not the guy who just wants to go with the favorite," he said. "People are backing Penn State, but I'm like, 'I've gotta see it.' I've watched it unfold the way it has unfolded for so many years, I can't just say, 'alright, this year is going to be different.' Based on what?

"I think they're going to be a good team. They're always a good team. But when you look at their schedule, you're pretty much looking at a two-game season. The Ohio State one is the one we're all going to circle and look at. If James Franklin can win that game on the road, then everyone starts to look at Penn State differently."

Penn State faces the Buckeyes and Oregon this year and will be largely judged on those outcomes. That could be concerning since Franklin is 1-10 against Ohio State in his career and just lost to the Ducks in last season's Big Ten title game.

He also lost to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal and fell short of taking home one of the national championships that Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has won twice. That success in big games is also what separates the two programs heading into the 2025 season in Howard's eyes.

"I'm really starting to look at Clemson closely to see what they have returning and their schedule," he said. "And if anyone has earned the benefit of the doubt from the teams people are picking to win it all, it would be Dabo because he's done it. You've got Penn State over here and Clemson over here, I'm like, 'I've gotta go with Clemson because I've seen them do it before.'"

Tigers fans would certainly love to see them do it again.