Chip Kelly compares headset communication with Will Howard to marriage, mocks trip

Will Howard saw nothing but green ahead as the Ohio State quarterback lumbered through the entire Texas defense on a pivotal fourth-and-2 from the Longhorns’ 34-yard line.

Only, it was the green that got him as Howard stumbled face-first into the turf on what ended up being an 18-yard gain on a surprise quarterback keeper in a 14-14 game with under 10 minutes remaining in last week’s College Football Playoff national semifinal.

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It was a humorous moment in what was the game-defining series for the Buckeyes, which capped the 13-play, 88-yard drive with a go-ahead one-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins en route to last Friday’s 28-14 Cotton Bowl win over Texas.

Given the particular circumstance, Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly opted not to give his quarterback a hard time over the one-way in-helmet communication device — though he joked Tuesday, “I could have.”

“He can’t respond, so I can say whatever I want,” Kelly continued during Tuesday’s coordinator press conference. “It’s kind of like being married … (but) reversed. Reversed.”

Marriage jokes aside, Kelly’s close-knit relationship with Howard in the first season the NCAA has allowed in-helmet communication has been a key part of Ohio State’s success in 2024.

Still, the former Oregon and UCLA head coach knows there’s a time and place for everything, especially with the Buckeyes set to face Notre Dame in next Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game from Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“It all depends on the situation, I can’t really pinpoint one thing or another. It was just a huge play for us on fourth-and-2. We had to convert to keep the drive alive,” Kelly added. “And I talked to him (about the trip), but it wasn’t the next play. It was in-between series and we had an opportunity to chat about that. Because we still had to go down and score.”

Will Howard jokes that he fell on purpose on breakaway run

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard has impressed the nation with his strong play throughout the course of the Buckeyes’ run in the College Football Playoff.

He’s been a bright spot for the team over their past three games, and last Friday’s win over Texas was another example of Howard’s ascension, as he passed for 289 yards and a touchdown to help the Buckeyes advance to Monday’s CFP National Championship Game.

Still, one of Howard’s more memorable plays happened on a run where it looked like the quarterback was headed to the end zone, only to trip before getting there. Luckily, the Buckeyes still scored on the drive to take the lead, and Howard had some quips about the moment during his postgame press conference.

“That fourth down was huge. They came out and gave us a good look for the play, and the offensive line blocked it up well. Yeah, I fell on purpose,” Howard joked. “I’m joking. I didn’t fall on purpose. It should’ve been a dang touchdown, but I was trying to keep a couple seconds on the clock. No, I’m joking.

“Yeah, it was a great play, and a statement drive. We needed that. We’d been beating ourselves all day. Penalties and you know, just getting behind the sticks. That was a statement drive. The offensive line did a heck of a job on that drive.

“Guys stepped up and made plays, and obviously what the defense did on the next drive you know, sealed it. But they bailed us out all game, and I can’t say enough good things about [Jack Sawyer] and about our whole defense, because they played their tails off today.”

Steve Samra contributed to this report.