ATLANTA – Will Howard reflected on a challenging season, one that began long before he stepped onto the field as Ohio State’s quarterback and continued after a loss to Michigan left the team in disarray.

He spoke about the untold stories behind Ohio State’s confusing path to the College Football Playoff national championship game, narratives that can only be shared if the Buckeyes emerge victorious.

Or perhaps, one of these stories can be shared now for the first time.

In November 2023, Howard met with Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, and their conversation culminated in two choices: pursue a career in the NFL, where he received an invitation to the Senior Bowl to attract NFL scouts, or finish his final season of eligibility at a different school.

Kansas State wasn’t pushing Howard out, but they were clearly looking ahead. Rising sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson was impressive, and the direction of the discussion was apparent.

Although Howard hadn’t yet decided about the NFL, he was aware that he could compete at a high level if he returned to college football.

“We both understood how things were progressing,” Howard relayed to YSL News Sports. “There were no hard feelings on either side.”

But there is definitely motivation at play.

This is ultimately a narrative about the dynamic landscape of college football! K-State opted for Johnson, realizing that with the freedom of player movement and NIL deals making waves, they had to either commit to him or risk losing him.

Howard had one year left to play, while Johnson had three remaining. These types of choices are common across college football in the current era, even among top teams.

For instance, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, despite seeing his NFL draft prospects dip this season, chose to leave early for the draft because the highly touted backup, Arch Manning, required playing time.

And while Howard maintains that he regularly communicates with both Klieman and Johnson and that there’s “no bad blood” between them, this narrative starts with a pivotal choice. K-State decided to back Johnson over Howard.

It’s important to acknowledge that Johnson has shown incredible potential and may develop into one of the best players in the game. However, when Howard had the conversation with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, he aimed to prove that he could lead a team to a national title.

Coincidentally, Day had just moved on from quarterback Kyle McCord and was reworking his offense in collaboration with his former UCLA colleague Chip Kelly. This was a significant turning point for Day at Ohio State.

They had a transfer quarterback eager to make a statement.

“I realized during my sophomore year of high school that I might have a future in football,” Howard shared. “Ever since then, I’ve faced skepticism, and if you’re competitive, you want to prove those naysayers wrong.”

However, this season unfolded like a cruel twist of fate during crucial moments. There were blunders, including a failed clock management situation in a late defeat at Oregon, alongside two critical interceptions in the loss to Michigan.

That defeat, although it didn’t end Ohio State’s season, may have been the best thing for the most skilled team in college football—the program that invested nearly $20 million in crafting a championship-or-bust roster.

“It united us,” said Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. “Our team is brimming with talent; we couldn’t afford to play at the level we were.”

In their three CFP games, they average 37 points per game, including a 28-14 win over Texas, which eliminated the formidable SEC from the CFP final for the second year in a row.

The quarterback who had a 57 percent completion rate against Michigan and averaged 5.3 yards per pass attempt, is now completing 74 percent of his passes in the playoffs and has more than doubled his yards per attempt (10.8) against three top 15 defenses.

The offense is pushing downfield, putting defenses under constant pressure. Most have attempted rolling coverages and doubling star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith while leaving Carnell Tate and Egbuka in single coverage.

This strategy has backfired.

Ohio State has executed 20 pass plays of 15 yards or more in the playoffs, including an impressive seven of at least 30 yards. An offense that dedicated three months trying to showcase its physicality finally remembered what had made it uniquely effective under Day in previous seasons.

No one in college football possesses a deeper understanding of the passing game than Day, whose strategies and play-calling have led to the most prolific offense in college football over the last decade—both as offensive coordinator and head coach at Ohio State.

Before the previous season, Day’s quarterbacks averaged 41 touchdown passes per year. It took him 12 games this season, but he realized that what distinguished this team from his past Ohio State squads that couldn’t secure a national title was the very aspect that made it so threatening.

Sometimes, the apparent decision is indeed the most sensible one. Embracing it is key.

“We put the ball in Will’s hands, and great outcomes followed,” Day stated.

Earlier this week, Howard and Johnson exchanged texts, as they usually do. Howard’s brother, Ryan, is a freshman offensive lineman at Kansas State, keeping Will closely tied to his initial college home.

How could he not maintain that connection? He secured a Big 12 championship at K-State and dedicated four years to Klieman’s program development. He was the first quarterback Klieman recruited in a complete recruiting cycle, an integral player in the program’s growth.

But then he was no longer that player.

Blame can’t be assigned, really, and everyone seems to have benefited from the situation. However, motivation definitely exists.

“I won’t lie; that conversation with Klieman was tough,” Howard admitted. “I cherish Kansas State and the friendships I formed there. I love everything about my time there. Yet, I quickly recognized how special Ohio State is and what we could achieve this season.”

Now, they are one game away from achieving their goal.

Perhaps then every story can be told.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for News Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.