former Notre Dame Fighting Irish Superstar Malik Zaire sparked buzz around Saturday's national championship game with harsh criticism of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
Howard led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff Semi-final win over the Texas Longhorns, 28-14. Howard was 24 of 33 with 289 yards and a touchdown pass. He also had an interception.
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Ohio State Bucs quarterback Will Howard leaves the field after the College Football Playoff's Cotton Bowl Classic semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Zaire was not convinced that Howard would be able to do enough to beat the Fighting Irish on January 20.
“Every great QB at Ohio State has spent the last 15 years, and Howard has beaten the absolute worst, and State fans are trying to convince me he's going to lead them to the chip?!?! It's okay, okay,” Zaire wrote on X. “I'll even take the OG Jalin Marshall at QB before Howard!!!!!!!!”
Zaire added that Ohio State The loss to Michigan before the start of the College Football Playoff was more questionable than Notre Dame's early-season loss to Northern Illinois.
Notre Dame's Malik Zaire waves as he walks off the field after Notre Dame's 45-27 loss to Southern Cal. (Robert Franklin via ftp)
“Well let's be honest, we got beat by NIU and that was embarrassing. But Yale got beat by Michigan for the fourth year in a row, at home as a 20+ point favorite, and the flag was planted in the middle of Yale's field and won.” He added, “I woke up after… The game while the coach was watching you…..You have nothing to tell me about this Ohio State team.”
Notre Dame will be looking for its first national championship of the College Football Playoff era, but will have to face a solid defense and an offense that has the ability to explode on big plays.
The Fighting Irish narrowly defeated Penn State in the semifinal game.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard and defensive end Jack Sawyer celebrate after winning the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on January 10, 2025. (Photos by Tim Hittman-Imagine)
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Howard has 3,779 passing yards and 33 touchdown passes this season. He moved to Ohio from Kansas.
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