Former Notre Dame battles Irish star Malik Zaire stoked the hype ahead of Saturday’s national championship game with harsh criticism of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
Howard led the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff victory in the semi-finals over the Texas Longhorns, 28-14. Howard was 24 of 33 with 289 passing yards and a touchdown pass. He also had an interception.
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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 could do enough to overcome the Fighting Irish on January 20.
“All the great QBs Ohio State has had over the last 15 years and Howard is by far the worst and Ostate fans are trying to convince me he’s going to lead them to the chip?!?! Lmao ok,” Zaire wrote on would even take the OG Jalin Marshall at QB before Howard!!!!!!!!”
Zaire added The state of Ohio The loss to Michigan before the College Football Playoff started was more questionable than Notre Dame’s early-season loss to Northern Illinois.
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)
“Okay, let’s be honest, we got beat by NIU, which was embarrassing. But you guys got beat for the fourth year in a row by Michigan, at home as 20+ point favorites, got the flag planted in the middle of your field and beat on after the game with your head coach watching… y’all have nothing to tell me about this Ohio State team,” he added.
Notre Dame will be looking for its first national championship of the College Football Playoff era, but will face a tough defense and an offense that has the ability to explode for big plays.
The Fighting Irish narrowly defeated Penn State in their semifinal.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard and defenseman Jack Sawyer celebrate after winning the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl on January 10, 2025. (Tim Heitman-Imagn images)
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Howard has 3,779 passing yards and 33 touchdown passes this season. He transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State.
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