Will Howard had to execute a covert operation to join the celebration on the postgame stage with his teammates at the Rose Bowl.
Following Ohio State's emphatic 41-21 win over Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, staffers for the contest refused to allow Howard on stage due to weight limit concerns despite the crowd of people around him pointing out that he was the Buckeyes' quarterback.
Will Howard cant get on the stage!
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) January 2, 2025
Let Will on the podium. pic.twitter.com/6lEGb5H7US
While there was clear confusion from Howard and those around him at the time, on Sunday he said that there was no ill intent on the part of the staffer who kept him off.
"That was strictly a weight limit thing," Howard said. "I don't know if it was like a poorly executed fat joke or what this guy was trying to do (laughs). No, I'm kidding. But I guess he said there was a weight limit and there's too many people on. Everyone's making up stories, but that's all it was."
Howard wasn't the only Buckeye to test his stealth skills out to join in the trophy presentations and general elation following the win. Ohio State's star safety tandem of Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom had to take the same back route he did to climb aboard.
"I ended up going to the other side and jumping on," Howard said. "A bunch of us had to sneak on. Like, you didn't see it, but Caleb had to sneak on, and I think Lathan snuck on. So they were trying to be strict about it, but it is what it is, man. I guess they're doing their job."
Should Ohio State beat Texas in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl this Friday, hopefully Howard will be let on the stage postgame without having to perform another quarterback sneak. The Buckeyes and Longhorns kick off at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
