Will Howard: 2024 is 'natty or bust' for Ohio State

Coming into the 2024 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes know there are big expectations on their shoulders, with transfer quarterback Will Howard acknowledging that the expectation is going to be to win a national championship.

While at the Manning Passing Academy, Howard shared what he sees as the expectation from Ohio State, acknowledging the team’s talent in 2024.

“For us, it’s natty or bust,” Will Howard said. “I mean, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Ohio State’s chief rival, Michigan, is coming off a national championship of its own in 2023. Now, Ohio State is looking to respond and did so by being aggressive in the portal, adding several talented players to the team, including Howard himself.

“We have all the talent. We have all the intangibles,” Howard said. “Now, we’ve just got to go do it. I’m tired of hearing how talented we are and how good our team is. It’s about the work ethic and how we go to work every single day, and I think we’re doing the things that we need to to put ourselves in that position to be there at the end of the year and now we’ve just got to go do it.”

Ohio State is coming off a season where the Buckeyes went 11-2. It was the third season in a row the Buckeyes finished 11-2 and it was the third season in a row losing to Michigan. Now, the expectation is to make it back to the College Football Playoff and at least compete for a national championship.

If the Buckeyes did manage to win a national championship, it would be the first for Ohio State since 2014. That was under Urban Meyer.

Will Howard not shying away from the higher expectations at Ohio State

Expectations are always high for the quarterback at Ohio State. That’s no different for Will Howard and is something he’s choosing to embrace.

“It is tough. The expectations are higher but I knew what I was signing up for,” Howard said.

“I know that the ultimate goal for me is the NFL, being a starter in the NFL, and I knew if I didn’t put myself in uncomfortable positions and push myself and put these expectations on myself, then I wasn’t going to grow. Following in the footsteps of CJ [Stroud], and Justin [Fields], and Dwayne [Haskins], and JT [Barrett]. Like, the succession of quarterbacks there is special and I hope I can carry it on in a good way.”