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ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit blasts vocal minority of Ohio State fans critical of Will Howard

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•10/17/24
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(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit is a prominent Ohio State alumnus and he still carries a large affinity for the program. Occasionally that lends to him voicing his opinion on various goings on.

And Herbstreit had something to say after Ohio State’s loss to Oregon over the weekend.

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“By the way, Will Howard taking shit from Ohio State fans,” Kirk Herbstreit said on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, “Again, it’s that vocal 10 to 12, 15-percent, A.J. (Hawk) knows what I’m talking about. They’re an embarrassment to the fanbase.”

Howard, of course, was scrutinized heavily after losing track of the game clock on the final play of the game and failing to kill the clock in time to attempt a long field goal.

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He slid on the final play, ending the game with Ohio State trailing 32-31.

Kirk Herbstreit further expanded on the criticism he has faced from the fanbase, as well as how he views the Ohio State signal-caller, who transferred in from Kansas State this offseason.

“Will Howard took off and scrambled there. Time got away from him,” Kirk Herbstreit said. “He’s an amazing kid, who I think played pretty well, considering the environment he played in. Will Howard will have another opportunity, another chance to play. I thought so far, he’s doing a really good job of playing quarterback for Ohio State.”

For all the complaints about how Howard ended the game, he put together a pretty proficient afternoon before the final play. He finished the game 28-of-35 passing for 326 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception. He also ran for 13 yards and a score.

He had led Ohio State to an impressive 5-0 start to the season, with a huge average margin of victory. No opponent had come within 28 points of the Buckeyes until Saturday.

So the comments from Kirk Herbstreit certainly make some sense.

And after all, Ohio State will remain firmly in the playoff mix going forward. The Buckeyes just happened to run into a top-notch opponent on the road and tripped up.