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Ohio State QB Still On Heisman Trophy Watchlist

Published

1 year ago

October 17, 2024

Ohio State QB Still On Heisman Trophy Watchlist

Will Howard and the Ohio State Buckeyes were unable to pull off a win last week on the road against the Oregon Ducks. It was a tough loss to swallow, but one that truly doesn’t come close to hurting their chances of getting into the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State would have loved to win the game, but they’ll get another chance to make a statement in the near future.

At the end of the game, Howard made a critical mistake when he slid too late as time expired on the final play of the game. His mistake took the chance away for the Buckeyes to attempt a field goal to win the game.

Despite the criticism he has faced for his error, Howard still proved that he’s capable of beating elite teams. With that being said, he’s also receiving Heisman Trophy hype still.

Bleacher Report recently took a look at the players that have a shot at winning the award at this point in the year. Howard was on the list, although he was in Tier 4 on the list.

“So far, the enduring moment of Howard’s year is burning the final seconds in the loss at Oregon. Not great! He’ll be battling the aftermath of that decision all season, but Ohio State has a few marquee opponents—No. 3 Penn State, No. 16 Indiana and No. 24 Michigan—left on the schedule. And if, say, there’s a rematch with Oregon for the Big Ten title, redemption is possible.”

He might be low on the Heisman watchlist, but still being included is certainly something to be proud of for the quarterback.

So far this season, Howard has completed 73.3 percent of his pass attempts for 1,574 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He has also picked up 77 yards and scored five touchdowns on the ground.

Those numbers show why he deserves to be mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate. The chances that he actually wins the award or even becomes a finalist are low, but he has a shot.

If Howard can win out with Ohio State and put up big-time production while doing it, he could make some noise.

While he came into the season as the Buckeyes’ expected weakest link, Howard has proved the critics wrong. He’s shown that he’s the kind of quarterback that can power his team to wins over national championship contenders. Unfortunately, the job wasn’t completed, but the team was in a position to win.

All of that being said, Howard will have another chance to boost his Heisman positioning when Ohio State faces off against Nebraska on October 26th after their bye week.

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Enrollments open for Mid-Ohio School's driving and motorcycle-riding programs

Published

7 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Press Room

Enrollments open for Mid-Ohio School's driving and motorcycle-riding programs

LEXINGTON – Enrollments for course dates opened on Feb. 2 for The Mid-Ohio School’s 34th season which gets underway next month. The full 2026 schedule is available at midohioschool.com, and customers can register online or by calling 419-884-4000. The Mid-Ohio School offers professional driving and riding instruction to drivers and motorcyclists of wide-ranging skill. Courses are customized for inexperienced teenage […]

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Will Ohio State football cancel future games vs. Alabama, Georgia? Here’s what AD Ross Bjork said

Published

19 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Press Room

Will Ohio State football cancel future games vs. Alabama, Georgia? Here’s what AD Ross Bjork said

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Future Ohio State football schedules are stacked with enticing nonconference matchups.

In September, OSU will play the return game of a home-and-home with Texas. The Buckeyes will then open a two-game series with Alabama in 2027 before doing the same with Georgia in 2030.

However, the premier matchups beyond this year carry with them a pressing question: will the games be cancelled?

Ohio State athletics director Ross Bjork, during an appearance on Buckeye Talk, expressed little concern about the Buckeyes going forward with those matchups as scheduled.

“I have not heard from my colleagues at those schools that they’re interested in not playing those games, even though they’re going to nine (SEC) games,” Bjork said. “I think they view those high-power matchups – if anything, right now you play them and you win, and then you’re in a great spot.”

Nonconference games are an ongoing talking point in the sport, particularly after two seasons of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Texas was at the center of debates last year.

The Longhorns went 9-3, missing out on the CFP. However, one of those losses came in their season opener at Ohio State.

Had UT gone 10-2 and played a low-level nonconference opponent instead of OSU, the Longhorns likely would’ve gotten into the playoff field. However, that argument is tainted by Texas’ defeat at Florida – a bad loss that could’ve been prevented and gotten UT into the field at 10-2.

“The most important thing is try to win all your games,” Bjork said. “Put yourself in the best position to win all of your games. If you’re in a high-impact league like the Big Ten, you’re going to be in a great spot – 12-0, 11-1 and even 10-2.”

The future structure of the CFP could help determine whether teams preserve big-time nonconference games.

Various expansion formats have been shared, highlighted by 16- and 24-team fields actively being discussed. With a bigger field comes an increased margin for error, allowing teams to get into the field with more losses, particularly if conferences have more automatic bids.

The field will remain at 12 teams for the 2026 season, with the Big Ten and SEC at an impasse. The former favors a 24-team field while the latter prefers 16. One option on the table is a few years of a 16-team field before an expansion to 24.

Bjork said ADs in the Big Ten meet regularly, speaking often with commissioner Tony Petitti. At the core of expansion talk, Bjork sees opportunity for more content.

While some believe an expanded CFP would diminish regular season games, Bjork thinks it would accomplish the opposite.

“You actually keep the regular season way more active for way more teams where everyone’s alive,” Bjork said.

Conference championship games would likely hang in the balance with an expanded field, but that could be offset by play-in games, opening the door for more revenue streams in an era where schools are paying athletes directly.

Other facets, such as the college football calendar, would factor into expansion talks. But it’s evident change is imminent, which could bode well for premier nonconference games while also providing more postseason contests.

“The conversation is going to continue,” Bjork said. “It’s not just going to die and we’re at 12 for forever. There’s going to be continued conversation, and I hope that Ohio State has a voice in that, the Big Ten has a voice in that.”

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Suspect Arrested in Ohio: Missing teen Hailey Buzbee believed to be deceased

Published

1 day ago

February 1, 2026

Press Room

Suspect Arrested in Ohio: Missing teen Hailey Buzbee believed to be deceased

FISHERS, Indiana — The search for a missing Indiana teenager has taken a tragic turn, with investigators announcing Sunday that a suspect connected to the case is currently in custody in Ohio.

During a press conference Sunday, the Fishers Police Department announced they believe 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee is deceased.

Suspect Arrested in Ohio: Missing teen Hailey Buzbee believed to be deceased

According to police reports, a 39-year-old male suspect named Tyler Thomas has been detained in Ohio in connection with the investigation.

Key Details

Last Seen: Buzbee was last seen on January 5 in Hamilton County, Indiana.
Disappearance: Investigators previously stated she likely left her home late on the night of January 5 or the early morning of January 6.
Initial Status: Early reports indicated police believed she left willingly with a plan, originally categorizing her as a runaway.

Detectives tracked a vehicle seen in Buzbee’s neighborhood to Thomas, who allegedly admitted to picking her up. The investigation, which spans multiple jurisdictions and includes the FBI, suggests Hailey was with Thomas at a residence in Columbus and a short-term rental in Hocking County. While authorities believe Hailey died just days after her disappearance, a massive search involving drones and K9 units in Hocking County has so far failed to locate her body.

Summary of Charges

The defendant faces the following felony charges under the Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.):

Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor (Creation of Material): A second-degree felony. The complaint alleges the defendant recorded or created material showing a minor engaging in sexual acts at a location on Hunter Ave.
Tampering with Evidence: A third-degree felony. The complaint alleges the defendant altered or removed video evidence from a “deleted file” in the form of cache photos to impair an official investigation.
Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor (Possession)

Thomas was booked into the Franklin County Jail on January 31 and currently faces charges of pandering obscenity and tampering with evidence, though murder charges have not yet been filed. Police said the two met initially through online gaming.

Thomas is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, with his attorney,

Allegations

The Incident: Police say the defendant “picked up” Buzbee from out of state. A video was created of the minor performing sexual acts, according to court documents.
The Evidence: Police discovered “cache photos” on the defendant’s cellular phone that depicted the minor. These photos served as evidence of the original video, according to the documents.
The Investigation: The actions occurred while an official missing person investigation for the juvenile was either in progress or about to be instituted.

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This story was originally reported by WRTV in Indianapolis.

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