Nico Iamaleava will take the field for the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night, marking his 14th start this season. In contrast, Will Howard is nearing the end of his college career as the quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, who hold a sixth-ranked position. The two players are set to face off in the first-round of the College Football Playoff in Columbus, Ohio, and they present a stark contrast in experience levels. Both must triumph to secure a place in the Rose Bowl against the top-seeded Oregon Ducks on January 1.
“I’ve been playing college football for five years now, and this is all I have left,” Howard expressed. “I have a maximum of four games remaining in my college career, so there’s no alternative but to give my all and leave everything on the field. This opportunity is the culmination of our time as college athletes.”
Iamaleava has been under significant scrutiny since his recruitment to Tennessee, recognized as one of the best prospects nationwide. He spent his initial season as a backup to Joe Milton III, who is now playing for the New England Patriots. Iamaleava’s starting debut came on January 1, during a decisive win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. He then led the Volunteers to a 10-2 record, making him the first Tennessee quarterback to achieve ten wins in a regular season since Casey Clausen in 2003.
Despite the burdens of expectation tied to the position and the legacy of Tennessee football—whose last national title dates back to 1998, following Peyton Manning’s tenure—Iamaleava seems unfazed. “I don’t really think it was too much of a challenge,” he stated. “I knew the responsibilities when I arrived here. Yes, being a quarterback is demanding, but that’s why I came.”
Experience is where Howard shines. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 235 pounds, he joined Ohio State as a graduate transfer after amassing 34 career starts at Kansas State. Howard emphasizes his role in delivering the ball to some of the Buckeyes’ top-tier offensive talent, allowing them to showcase their skills.
So far, Howard has shown competence in executing head coach Chip Kelly’s unique but occasionally conservative offensive strategies. He boasts an impressive completion rate of 72.3% with at least one touchdown pass in each game this season. With over 2,860 passing yards, he ranks fourth in the Big Ten and is tied for second in the conference with 27 touchdown passes, just behind Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.
However, following a disappointing loss to Michigan, where the Buckeyes fell 13-10 and Howard threw for 175 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, he faces a moment of reckoning. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day recognizes Howard’s resilience and believes the quarterback will adequately prepare for the upcoming challenge. The eighth-seeded Buckeyes, currently 10-2 and sixth in playoff rankings, are determined to capture their first national championship since 2014, under the previous guidance of coach Urban Meyer.
Day remarked, “You can see he’s got a bounce in his step right now. He’s eager to get back on the field as quickly as possible. His leadership will be crucial in this game on Saturday night, and he’ll be ready.”
On the other hand, Iamaleava’s development is assisted by the Southeastern Conference’s top running game, but he remains pivotal to the Volunteers’ offensive strategy, which ranks fourth nationally with an average of 492.9 yards per game. Tennessee also places eighth in scoring, averaging 37.3 points per game, a number that could be higher if not for early leads against non-conference teams.
Iamaleava’s stats include 2,512 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and a mere five interceptions for the ninth-seeded Volunteers, currently positioned seventh in the playoff rankings. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has observed Iamaleava step up as a leader, connecting well with his teammates. Notably, his ability to move past setbacks was exemplified when Tennessee found themselves trailing 14-0 during their regular-season finale against Vanderbilt.
“As a young quarterback, that’s really challenging,” Heupel noted. “He’s done remarkably well in that aspect.”
The pressure appears to rest more heavily on Howard, especially with the Buckeyes enjoying home-field advantage despite recent losses. He is acutely aware of the high expectations surrounding his performance. “We have to go out with no other aim than to win it all,” Howard asserted. “That’s my perspective. I want this for this team so badly.”