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Will Howard calls out Penn State for thinking Ohio State is their rival: 'Ohio State just doesn't really see it that way'

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh05/11/25griffin_mcveigh
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Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Rivalry dynamics inside the Big Ten are interesting, especially for a team such as Penn State. A late addition to the conference back in 1989, it’s taken time to develop a natural dislike for their peers. Many in Happy Valley will tell you that, recently, Ohio State has become the team they consider their main rival.

Buckeye fans, or even players, do not seem to agree with the sentiment, though. Will Howard recently said Ohio State does not view Penn State in the same fashion. Howard was a Penn State fan at one point, knowing how both sides of the matchup feel.

“I was a Penn State fan,” Howard said. “Penn State thinks that their rivals are Ohio State. And Ohio State just doesn’t really see it that way. Being on both sides of it, it’s a little interesting.”

Ohio State-Penn State has become a must-watch game on an annual basis. Usually, more than just a normal win is on the line. Big Ten Championship or College Football Playoff implications are normally on the line, with the winner finding success somewhere down the road.

But one team has dominated in the modern iteration of the series. Ohio State currently holds an eight-game win streak and has won 12 of the 13. Those numbers go back to when Urban Meyer took over in Columbus. James Franklin only has one victory against Ohio State on his resume.

This year’s game was once again an important one. Both teams were ranked inside the top five and a win would set the place to play in the Big Ten Championship game. Penn State got the homefield advantage, even if kickoff was at noon ET.

Howard did not light up the statsheet but got the job done. He completed 16 of his 24 pass attempts, throwing for 182 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Penn State did take the INT back for a touchdown, not getting into the endzone otherwise.

A seven-yard run on third down from Howard with 27 seconds remaining wound up being the difference too. Howard only got one chance at Penn State in his Ohio State career and delivered in a big way.

Nov. 1 brings the annual matchup between them, setting up to be another classic. You have to imagine both teams will be amped up but talking from a rivalry standpoint, Howard says Penn State is not quite on the level.