“I got nothing”: Will Howard has candid reaction to not being allowed on the stage following the Rose Bowl win

Will Howard led Ohio State to a dominant victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. The Buckeyes went against the odds to defeat the Ducks 41-21 in Pasadena to advance to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

Howard threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns in the highly anticipated CFP game, showcasing one of his best performances for the Buckeyes. He's thrown for more than 300 yards in two playoff games.

Despite his standout play, Will Howard was denied the opportunity to celebrate on stage after the victory. A Rose Bowl security guard prevented the quarterback from climbing onto the platform despite being one of the team's most notable names.

“It was strictly a weight limit thing. I don't know if it was a poorly executed fat joke or what this guy was trying to do — no, I'm kidding," Howard said, via Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors. "I guess he said there was a weight limit, and there were too many people on it. ...That's all it was.

"I ended up going to the other side and jumping on. It was a bunch of us that had to sneak on. You didn't see it, but Caleb (Downs) had to sneak on, and I think Lathan (Ransom) had to sneak on. They were trying to be strict about it, but it is what it is. I guess they're doing their job, so I got nothing."

Will Howard hypes the Cotton Bowl game against Texas

Ohio State will come up against Texas in the Cotton Bowl Classic in the semifinals of the playoff. Will Howard is not new to facing the Longhorns, having played against them in the Big 12. The quarterback is looking to secure his first victory against them in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.

”That was the only team I didn't beat when I was in the Big 12," Howard said, per ESPN's Jake Trotter. "They're always a good team. But none of those games were unwinnable. Definitely excited to get another chance at these guys.”

Texas delivered a resounding 69-31 victory over Kansas State in 2020 during Will Howard's freshman season, setting the tone for what initially appeared to be a lopsided series. However, the Wildcats, with Howard at the helm, turned their next two matchups into much closer battles.

In 2021, they held a 17-13 second-half lead but couldn’t sustain their momentum, ultimately losing 22-17. The 2023 showdown was even more intense, culminating in a nail-biting overtime period where Kansas State fell short once again, this time by a 33-30 score.