Will Howard recalls reaction to Tennessee coming out shirtless for CFP warmups: 'What the f**k are these clowns doing?'

The first-round College Football Playoff game between eighth-seeded Ohio State and ninth-seeded Tennessee on Dec. 21 was among the most highly-anticipated games in the new 12-team CFP. It also turned out to be one of the biggest duds as the host Buckeyes routed the overmatched Volunteers, 42-17, inside a freezing Ohio Stadium.

Of course, Ohio State senior quarterback Will Howard knew how it’d go long before the rest of the country, specifically when he saw shirtless Tennessee players run out onto the field for pregame warmups with temperatures in the 20s.

During the first episode of Barstool Sports’ renewed Gruden’s QB Class show with infamous former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, Howard discussed the scene and couldn’t help but clown the Volunteers for their failed pregame stunt.

“It was a cold night in Columbus, and you see these guys come roaring out of here, from the SEC, the Tennessee Vols without their shirts,” Gruden said, “it seemed like they were trying to intimidate you guys.”

“Oh yeah. The funny thing is they came out with their shirts off and they ran over to the opposite endzone and immediately put them back on,” Howard recalled. “I was like, ‘What the f**k are these clowns doing?’ At that moment, I knew that we had them.”

Watch the clip below:

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Ohio State QB Will Howard talking about Tennessee coming out shirtless for warmups:

"I was like, what the f**k are these clowns doing??"

😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/p1vQhNgfcG

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 8, 2025

Howard wasn’t wrong as the Buckeyes dominated from the opening whistle, scoring touchdowns on their first three offensive possessions for a 21-0 first quarter lead before Tennessee even registered its initial first down of the game with 3:22 remaining in the opening frame.

Howard went on to throw for 311 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-29 passing while his counterpart, former five-star Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava, struggled mightedly on the road, managing just 151 total yards on 14-of-31 passing and two rushing scores in the game.

Howard is now vying to be among the top quarterbacks selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, which kicks off April 24-26 from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Longtime ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. currently has the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Howard as his seventh-ranked quarterback in the class despite guiding the Buckeyes to the 2025 College Football Playoff national championship with a Big Ten-leading 42 total touchdowns in 2024.

Todd McShay lists Will Howard-Chip Kelly reunion as option for Raiders after Geno Smith trade

As the Las Vegas Raiders went into free agency, the No. 1 question was who their quarterback would be. Pete Carroll is now in as head coach, and Chip Kelly is heading back to the NFL as his offensive coordinator after one year in the role at Ohio State.

The Raiders opted to make a splash in free agency, trading for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith rather that rely on one of the draft’s top QBs falling to them at No. 6 overall. After that move, NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay suggested former Buckeyes QB Will Howard could be an option for the Raiders, reuniting him with Kelly in the process.

“Getting questions on Pick No. 6 fallout following Geno Smith trade,” McShay wrote on X. “This move wouldn’t prevent them from taking Shedeur but don’t think that was in the cards regardless. Also, Don’t be surprised to see a couple things from LV on draft weekend: RB Jeanty at 6. And QB Will Howard reuniting with Chip Kelly as a Day 2 pick.”

Howard thrived under Kelly’s watch this past season after transferring from Kansas State. He set new career-highs with a 73-percent completion percentage, 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns – leading the Big Ten in all three categories. Those figures helped lead Ohio State to its first national championship under Ryan Day.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.