Kirk Herbstreit Misses Calling Ohio State Games, Says Will Howard Has Been “Much Better” Than He Anticipated

In past years, Herbstreit had often made multiple trips to the Shoe by this point in the season. Back when ESPN was one of the Big Ten’s TV partners, Ohio State was a popular choice for ABC’s game of the week called by Herbstreit and Chris Fowler.

Now that ESPN is no longer part of the Big Ten’s TV contract, however, Herbstreit doesn’t get to call any regular-season Ohio State games. He’s still part of ESPN’s traveling pregame show, however, allowing the former Ohio State quarterback to return to his alma mater this week even though the game will be televised by FOX.

Herbstreit says he misses having the opportunity to call Ohio State games, but he’s glad to still have the chance to come to Columbus with GameDay.

“Selfishly, I always want to come back to Ohio State to call games. I also want to do Big Ten games. But it's just part of the business that I'm in, and I don't control any of that. I just kind of call the games that they tell me,” Herbstreit said Friday. “So I miss calling Big Ten games. I especially miss calling Ohio State games for obvious reasons. But it's cool that GameDay – I wondered when this split happened, if Game Day would still come to the games that matter on a national level. And I think it really says a lot about ESPN and the leadership of College GameDay, we still try to go to the game of the week; no matter who's broadcasting the game, GameDay tries to go to the game. And this week, here we are at what we think is the biggest game of the week. And we've done that all year, which is cool.”

While this is Herbstreit’s first time back at Ohio State this season, he has been with GameDay at three Ohio State games this year, as ESPN’s pregame show also traveled to Oregon and Penn State for the Buckeyes’ top-five showdowns against those teams. He’s watched every Ohio State game this season even though he hasn’t called any of the Buckeyes’ games, and he’s been impressed by what he’s seen from the Buckeyes, especially quarterback Will Howard.

“What stands out to me is Will Howard is much better than I probably anticipated,” Herbstreit said. “I watched him his whole career at Kansas State. I knew him very well. I wondered how he'd fit into a Chip Kelly offense. And what I've seen is just a dynamic playmaker that's in total command of that offense. He's done a really good job with the playmakers around him. 

“I think what he did at Penn State, I don't know if enough people really appreciate the job that he did in leading his team with the offensive line reshuffled there on the left side. And went out there and didn't blink, especially on that last drive. So I think his leadership is outstanding. And you look beyond the Indiana game into the playoff and into trying to win a national championship, you've got to have the right guy at that position. And in my opinion, they have that with Will Howard.

“So you knew about Ohio State's athletic ability, their defense, everything they have. They've recruited and developed so well. But I wondered how they would be in that spot. And boy, Will is, I'm sure Ryan (Day) would tell you that, he's been better than I think what anybody expected.”

“Will Howard is much better than I probably anticipated.”– Kirk Herbstreit on Ohio State’s quarterback

Herbstreit is also grateful to Ohio State for its continued support of his son, Zak Herbstreit, who remains a part of the OSU football program after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy last year. While the former walk-on tight end is no longer able to play as a result of his heart disease, he’s remained a constant presence around the team, and Kirk appreciates Ryan Day and his staff for allowing his son to continue to have that opportunity.

“Zak is so appreciative of what the program did once he got diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. It was a scary time, about a year-and-a-half (ago), and we were facing everything from a potential heart replacement to wondering if it would improve. And just having him here with Ohio State, the trainers, the doctors, cardiologists have been amazing,” Kirk said. “He's improving over time, which has been great, and Ryan Day, Chip Kelly, really the whole staff have done such an amazing job. He's helping out on the scout team, he travels, he's just part of it. And Zak cares so much about his teammates and about the team, I think that means so much to him to be able to have a senior year where he can be a part of it. So, yeah, we're beyond appreciative of what Ohio State's done for him.”

Herbstreit also talked about what he expects from Saturday’s game between the Buckeyes and the Hoosiers, how he thinks Day has handled the pressure that surrounds him as Ohio State’s coach and what he knows from firsthand experience about the pressure Ohio State will face next week against Michigan. You can hear everything he had to say in the video at the top of the page.