Three Stars of the Game: Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins and Jeremiah Smith Earn Top Honors For Their Performances in the National Championship Game

In Ohio State's national championship game win over Notre Dame, the Eleven Warriors staff chose quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith as the three Buckeyes who stood out above the rest.

First Star: Will Howard

Since the spring, many questioned whether Howard could elevate Ohio State's offense to championship-caliber play. Howard answered those critics time and time again this postseason and was named the offensive MVP of the game for his efforts in the win.

Howard came out of the gates unable to miss, completing his first 13 passes of the night, which set a national championship record for most consecutive completions. 

"I can't believe God gave me the chance to be a Buckeye." Will Howard leans on the words of Jim Tressel as he celebrates Ohio State's national title.pic.twitter.com/zVHir5kC5t

— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) January 21, 2025

“I’m blessed," Howard said postgame. "I’m just so unbelievably thankful that I got a chance to be a Buckeye, even if it was just for one year.”

Howard was a force both through the air and on the ground, completing 17 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 57 yards on 16 carries. He'll inevitably hear his name called in the 2025 NFL draft this spring, but just how much he boosted his stock is yet to be seen. He threw for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns this season.

On Tuesday morning, Ryan Day was very complimentary of Howard's pro prospects.

"When Will's feet are right, he is as good as anybody I've been around. His accuracy, his ability to see the way he commands the team, the work he puts in," Day said. "I think the thing that nobody is probably going to understand how much credit he deserves is how much he can take on. I don't think there was — to say 90 percent of the calls that went in the other day had two or three plays into it, and he's calling a play or two in the huddle and then checking the play at the line of scrimmage, that's NFL material right there. That's special. Whichever organization decides to draft Will is going to get a pro day one he's walking in the door."

Second Star: Quinshon Judkins

Judkins was a complete back and then some against Notre Dame. The talented ball carrier ran for 100 yards on 11 carries and rushed for two touchdowns, and also caught two passes for 21 yards and a score.

Feels like Quinshon Judkins stiff arms a defender to the shadow realm at least once per game. One of the most physical runners in the 2025 NFL Draft class. pic.twitter.com/3yrKv4Tk2G

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) January 21, 2025

His 70-yard scamper to begin the set half set up his third touchdown of the night, which nearly sealed the contest if not for Notre Dame's late comeback efforts.

Quinshon Judkins vision to find the cutback lanes and his finishing ability as a runner just pops on his tape, especially last night against Notre Dame. Love his willingness as a blocker too, had a couple nice reps in the QB run game. pic.twitter.com/FyAriBS9M9

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 21, 2025

Judkins was part of a two-headed monster in the backfield for Ohio State this season along with TreVeyon Henderson, as the Ole Miss transfer ran for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He and Henderson both surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season Monday.

He'll have until Friday to decide whether to declare for the NFL draft or stay at Ohio State for another season.

Third Star: Jeremiah Smith

You didn't think he was going to be limited for a second straight game, did you? The talented freshman wide receiver proclaimed before the game if Notre Dame deployed man coverage against him, he'd put on a show.

Smith has earned a reputation for talking a big game. But his play speaks even louder than his words. Smith once again stepped up for the Buckeyes in a postseason game, catching five passes for 88 yards and Ohio State's first touchdown of the day.

His biggest play of the game came on 3rd-and-11 late in the fourth quarter, as Notre Dame sent a blitz and went Cover 0, leaving Smith one-on-one against Fighting Irish cornerback Christian Gray. Smith beat Gray badly on a deep route, securing a 56-yard catch that allowed Ohio State to run out most of the remaining clock before kicking a field goal that put the Buckeyes ahead by 11 points.

WILL HOWARD TO JEREMIAH SMITH TO ALL BUT ICE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/X7RwFblX0p

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) January 21, 2025

It seems hard to fathom that Smith will be in Columbus for two more seasons despite being this good already, but this could be the start of a magnificent career arc for the wideout that had all the hype in the world coming into college and lived up to all of it. This season, he caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns.

Our Three Stars of the Game for all 14 of Ohio State’s victories this season.

As the season comes to a close, Jeremiah Smith finishes as Ohio State’s First Star of the Year after earning First Star of the Game honors three times, Second Star of the Game honors two times and Third Star of the Game honors two times. Jack Sawyer finishes as the Second Star of the Year while Will Howard’s national championship game MVP performance propels him into Third Star of the Year position.