How did he compare to Ohio State football’s Will Howard?

Will Howard is Ohio State University’s starting quarterback in large part because last year’s starter, Kyle McCord, entered the transfer portal and is now playing for Syracuse.

Ohio State football: How Will Howard traveled a long, painful road to becoming the Buckeyes’ quarterback

McCord had an 11-1 record as a starter at Ohio State, but wanted to be at a school that would guarantee him a starting job.

How did Howard’s play compare to McCord’s in Week 13?

Ohio State’s Will Howard vs. Syracuse’s Kyle McCord

In Syracuse’s 31-24 win over Connecticut, McCord completed 37 of 47 passes for 470 yards and two touchdowns.

He also ran six times for 1 yard.

Ohio State football: Why did Kyle McCord transfer to Syracuse? QB declares portal change to orange

In Ohio State’s 38-15 win over Indiana, Howard completed 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also had five carries for minus 1 yard.

McCord’s season stats:

341 for 522, 3,946 yards, 26 TDs, 12 INT; 58 carries, -44 yards, 3 touchdowns

Howard’s season stats:

208 for 281, 2,685 yards, 26 TDs, 6 INT; 68 carries, 121 yards, 7 touchdowns

Ohio State’s Will Howard vs. Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel

Dillon Gabriel is a Heisman candidate and admitted before the season that he spoke with Ohio State coach Ryan Day after entering the transfer portal.

The problem for the Buckeyes was that Gabriel wanted to make a quick decision and Ohio State wasn’t willing to make an immediate decision. McCord had entered the portal, but the Buckeyes wanted to see how Devin Brown played in the Cotton Bowl before deciding whether to add a prominent transfer quarterback.

Howard was willing to wait after leaving Kansas State. It wasn’t Gabriel. He had transferred from Central Florida to Oklahoma early in his career and wasn’t interested in a lengthy process. So he chose Oregon.

Oregon didn’t play this week.

Gabriel’s season stats:

259 for 351, 3,066 yards, 22 TD, 6 INT; 54 carries, 155 yards, 6 touchdowns.

Howard’s season stats:

208 for 281, 2,685 yards, 26 TDs, 6 INT; 68 carries, 121 yards, 7 touchdowns

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Will Howard vs. Kyle McCord: Which QB had the better Week 13?