CFB analyst hails Will Howard's "mentality" as Ohio State gears up to face Texas in crucial clash

The road for Ohio State and quarterback Will Howard hasn't always been smooth this season. However, right now, with how the Buckeyes (12-2) have played lately, it might be easy to forget that.

However, Matt Simms hasn't. The former Louisville and Tennessee quarterback and NFL journeyman lauded Howard's resilience on a recent edition of ESPN's The Wrap-Up.

"Will Howard, hey, he's human," Simms said (5:57). "He had his rough patches, but I love the mentality that he is always ready to go and get better and to fight. That's really what it takes."

Howard's lowest point of his first season at Ohio State came in one of the Buckeyes' two losses — a narrow 32-31 defeat to Oregon on Oct. 12. At the conclusion of that setback, Howard scrambled and slid with no time remaining on the clock, eliminating any chance for Ohio State to put up a game-winning score.

That could have broken the Buckeyes' will, but it clearly didn't. In the end, Ohio State got the last laugh against the Big Ten champions Ducks, dominating them in a 41-21 Rose Bowl victory. That win boosted the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff semifinal, where they will face Texas (13-2) in the Cotton Bowl.

How Will Howard has picked Ohio State up

The Longhorns are dealing with offensive struggles, prompting some to wonder if Arch Manning would be the better play over Quinn Ewers, a former five-star Buckeye recruit. Ewers could have been the quarterback to lead this Ohio State team. He transferred after being stuck behind C.J. Stroud and has since had his fair share of success in his native state.

But, after what could've easily been a loss in the Fiesta Bowl, Texas might be on the downturn. Ohio State, on the other hand, has shellacked the two teams that have stood in their way, starting with a 42-17 home win over Tennessee in the first round.

Then Ohio State flexed its muscles again, powering out to a 34-0 lead against previously undefeated Oregon. Over that two-game stretch, Will Howard has gone 41 of 55 for 630 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.

The Kansas State transfer has unlocked the potential of Chip Kelly's attack, facilitating the ball to freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith and the Buckeyes' all-time leading receiver, Emeka Egbuka. Right now, Ohio State appears to be unbeatable and they're the favorite to win it all.