'I'm not worried about it': Will Howard not concerned about lack of Heisman attention

Will Howard quarterbacks the No. 2 team in the country and pilots an offense that’s 11th nationally in points per game (38.6) and 15th in total yards per game (454.9).

He himself has totaled 28 touchdowns this season, 22 passing and six rushing.

And, yet, he’s hardly part of the Heisman Trophy conversation right now.

He was asked Tuesday if he thinks he or anyone else on his team should be part of that conversation this year.

“I try not to think about that stuff. I’m not worried about it,” Howard said. “As long as we’re winning football games and the Buckeyes are scoring points, I’m happy. I think all that stuff kind of takes care of itself. And if you focus too much on individual accolades, then a lot of things get cloudy.

“I’ve always been a believer in if you take care of the things that matter, then the individual accolades and all that kind of stuff will come. The more I focus on my teammates and being the best teammate I can be — being the best player I can be for my teammates, being the best leader I can be — then things like that may come into consideration, but I’m not worried about it, man.”

Howard added: “As long as I’m playing good football, grading out a ‘champion’ and taking care of the ball — that’s all I’m worried about.”

Howard did throw an interception in five of six games between Week 4 and Week 10. Generally, though, he’s taken better care of the football in 2024 than he did in 2023 when he threw 10 picks. He’s currently posting a 22:5 touchdown-to-interception.

He didn’t turn the ball over at all in a one-point defeat at Oregon earlier this season, although he did slide a second too late at the end of the fourth quarter, costing the Buckeyes a chance to call timeout and kick a potential game-winning field goal in Autzen Stadium.

That result is practically the only thing, at least on paper, separating Howard and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Gabriel, meanwhile, is a major contender for this year’s Heisman.

Gabriel has completed 74.1% of his passes, whereas Howard has completed 74.0% of his passes. Gabriel has thrown for 611 more yards (2,848) than Howard (2,237), but Gabriel has played one more game. Both have rushed for six touchdowns this season: Gabriel has carried the ball 43 times for 148 yards, and Howard has carried the ball 62 times for 122 yards. They each have thrown 22 touchdowns and five interceptions.

“When I think about the Heisman, I think about the most outstanding player in college football,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Tuesday, when asked about his players not being talked about much for the award this year.

“I think sometimes it can come down to statistics, which I think is unfortunate, but that is what it is. And I know that our team, we’ve had Heisman finalists before, this team is worried about winning, and that’s really the only thing they’re worried about right now.”