Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Malik Zaire fueled the national championship hype Saturday with harsh criticism of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
Howard led the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff semifinal victory over the Texas Longhorns, 28-14. Howard was 24-of-33 with 289 passing yards and a touchdown pass. He also had a bug.
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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard leaves the field after the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Zaire wasn’t convinced Howard would be able to do enough to get over the Fighting Irish on January 20th.
“All the great QBs Ohio State has had the last 15 years and Howard is clearly the worst and ostate fans are trying to convince me he’s going to lead them to the chip?!?! Okay,” Zaire wrote on X “I’d even take OG Jalin Marshall at QB before Howard!!!!!!!!”
Zaire added that Ohio State’s loss to Michigan before the College Football Playoff started was more questionable than Notre Dame’s early season loss to Northern Illinois.
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Notre Dame’s Malik Zaire waves as he leaves the field after Notre Dame’s 45-27 loss to Southern Cal. (Robert Franklin via FTP)
“Ok let’s be honest, we got beat by NIU, it was embarrassing. But you guys got beat by Michigan for the 4th year in a row, at home as a 20+ pot favorite, got the flag planted in the middle of yall field and beat up after the game while your head coach watched….. You guys have nothing to tell me about this Ohio State team, Imao, he added.
Notre Dame will be looking for its first national championship of the College Football Playoff era, but will have to contend with a tough defense and an offense that has the ability to explode into big games.
The Fighting Irish narrowly defeated Penn State in their semifinal game.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard and defensive end Jack Sawyer celebrate after winning the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, 2025. (Tim Heitman-Imagn Photos)
Howard has 3,779 passing yards and 33 touchdown passes this season. He transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State.
