Ohio State quarterback Will Howard sealed his staff’s blowout win within the Rose Bowl with a kiss.
After Howard, 23, and the Buckeyes dominated the Oregon Geese 41-21 on Wednesday, January 1, the quarterback made his means over to his girlfriend, Lauren Leiker, for a smooch.
Howard flipped his model new Rose Bowl Champions hat backwards and leaned in for the kiss, which was captured by ESPN social media. The transfer was complimented by Kelly Stafford, spouse of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who wrote by way of her Instagram Story: “Have all the time stated it…Backwards hat = easy accessibility 👏👏👏”
Whereas Howard principally retains his private life near the vest, he posted an image with Leiker by way of Instagram in April 2023. On the time of the submit, Howard was nonetheless the quarterback at Kansas State.
Courtesy of Courtesy of Mady Barnes/Instagram/Instagram College of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and his girlfriend, Mady Barnes, have already survived certainly one of a relationship’s hardest checks: going to rival schools. Barnes, 21, is presently a scholar on the College of Oklahoma whereas her boyfriend, Ewers, 21, is among the most recognizable faces in school […]
Howard transferred to Ohio State forward of the 2024 season, the place he has helped lead the Buckeyes to the semifinals of the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Ohio State will play Texas within the 2025 Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 10 with a visit to the Nationwide Championship Sport on the road.
Will Howard with girlfriend Lauren Leiker. Courtesy of Will Howard/Instagram
Exterior of the kiss along with his girlfriend, the post-game celebration got here with a aspect of awkwardness for Howard.
Regardless of being the staff’s beginning quarterback, Rose Bowl officers denied Howard entrance to the stage for the trophy presentation.
In a clip that circulated on social media, Howard might be seen asking an official for permission to hitch his teammates for the postgame gathering.
“That’s the beginning quarterback!” Ohio State defensive sort out Tyleik Williams pleaded.
Howard seemingly had an excellent humorousness about your entire ordeal, laughing as he instructed individuals close by, “They’re blocking me!”
“Guys, there’s a weight restrict apparently,” Howard stated. He added, “They’re actually blocking me out.”
Howard finally was capable of make his technique to the stage, the place he tossed out celebratory roses to commemorate the large win.
“We got here out and performed offended and I believe it confirmed,” Howard instructed reporters after the sport. “We jumped out to an early lead and it was arduous for them to come back again.”
Howard continued, “We knew they have been going to come back again and do one thing, they’re too good of a staff to not rating any factors. We knew they have been going to mount some kind of a comeback. It wasn’t going to be excellent so we simply needed to climate the storm and guarantee that we received the sport when it counted.”
The quarterback threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns within the win, a revenge victory for the Buckeyes after Oregon defeated them 32-31 earlier within the season.
“It’s unbelievable,” Howard instructed reporters after the sport. “A youthful me can be in awe and I simply bought to take all of it in and luxuriate in this with my boys and we bought two extra [games], so we’re not finished but.”
Ohio State and Texas will battle within the Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 10 at 7:30 pm ET. The winner will face both Penn State or the winner of the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, January 2 between Notre Dame and Georgia within the Nationwide Championship Sport on Monday, January 20.
