Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Malik Zaire fueled the hype surrounding Saturday’s national championship game with harsh criticism of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
Howard led the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff semifinal victory over the Texas Longhorns, 28-14. Howard finished 24 of 33 with 289 passing yards and a touchdown pass. He also had an interception.
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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard leaves the field after the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Zaire was not convinced that Howard would be able to do enough to defeat the Fighting Irish on January 20.
“Every great QB Ohio State has had in the last 15 years and Howard is by far the worst and the Ostate fans are trying to convince me he’s going to lead them to the chip?!?! Lmao ok,” Zaire wrote on X. “I would even take OG Jalin Marshall at QB before Howard!!!!!!”
Zaire added that Ohio State’s loss to Michigan before the start of the College Football Playoff was more questionable than Notre Dame’s early-season loss to Northern Illinois.
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Notre Dame’s Malik Zaire waves as he leaves the field after Notre Dame’s 45-27 loss to Southern Cal. (Robert Franklin via FTP)
“Okay, let’s be honest, we got beat by NIU, that was embarrassing. But y’all got beat by Michigan for the 4th year in a row, at home as a 20+ point favorite, you planted the flag in the middle of your field and you have beaten.” “I stood up after the game while your head coach was watching…lmao you have nothing to tell me about this Ohio State team lmao,” he added.
Notre Dame will be looking for its first national championship in the College Football Playoff era, but will face a tough defense and an offense that has the ability to explode for big plays.
The Fighting Irish narrowly defeated Penn State in their semifinal.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard and defensive end Jack Sawyer celebrate after winning the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl on January 10, 2025. (Tim Heitman-Imagn Images)
Howard has 3,779 passing yards and 33 touchdowns this season. He transferred from Kansas State to Ohio State.
