When Will Howard is playing at his best, the Buckeyes are nearly impossible to beat. Another 300-yard day would be ideal for Ohio State, but Howard doesn’t have to be that to beat Texas … he just can’t turn the ball over.
In the last two games, he has five touchdowns and just one interception, and the lone turnover was a throw in the end zone that Ohio State would live with.
Texas is one of the best pass defenses in the country and has forced 21 interceptions this season. It is a zone-based defense that wants to confuse quarterbacks from pre-snap to post-snap, which sometimes can get Howard in trouble.
Texas doesn’t give up the big plays: It has been beaten by just one pass of more than 50 yards and six longer than 40 yards, so Howard has to take his underneath routes and take the deep shots when available. The good thing for Howard is that Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka are great after the catch. Forcing throws downfield won’t work in this game, although if Smith is left one-on-one, Howard is going to trust him.
Howard has never beaten Texas, although he threw for more than 300 yards last season in a one-possession loss. This game will mean a lot to him, but he just has to play smart, like he did against Oregon.,
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