Following Ohio State’s hard-fought victory over Tennessee in the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes’ coordinators, Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles, alongside quarterback Will Howard, addressed the media with an air of triumph and relief. The Buckeyes had fought tooth and nail to secure the win, but it was clear that every member of the team was focused on the broader mission: the pursuit of excellence and a national championship.
The first to speak was offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, his face a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction. “We knew coming into this game that Tennessee was going to challenge us in ways we hadn’t been challenged all season,” Kelly began, his voice steady yet filled with conviction. “They’re a fast team, aggressive, and they love to exploit any weakness. We spent a lot of time preparing for their speed and the way they could shift momentum with big plays. But I have to give credit to our offensive line. They were absolutely exceptional today. They gave Will the time he needed to survey the field, and that made all the difference.”
Kelly paused, glancing over at Will Howard, who was sitting to his right. The quarterback looked comfortable, but the glint in his eyes told the story of a fierce competitor. Kelly continued, “And Will, I mean, what else can I say? The kid is mature beyond his years. He’s calm under pressure, makes quick decisions, and most importantly, he trusts his teammates. That trust was evident in the way he spread the ball around today.”
Howard nodded in acknowledgment, but it was clear he was eager to take a backseat to his teammates’ collective performance. The quarterback had thrown for over 300 yards and two touchdowns, but his focus was on how well the offense had functioned as a unit.
“I think it all starts with the offensive line and the running backs,” Howard said, his voice steady and measured. “We’ve got a great group up front, and they’ve been opening up huge holes all year. Tennessee is a tough defense, but we executed our game plan really well. When the offensive line does their job, it makes everything easier for me as a quarterback. I don’t have to do it all myself. I trust my guys, and they delivered.”
Howard’s humility didn’t go unnoticed. It was clear that his leadership had been a stabilizing force throughout the game. His ability to read the defense and make smart throws, even under pressure, was one of the key reasons the Buckeyes had been able to break through Tennessee’s defense. Kelly smiled as Howard spoke, clearly proud of his quarterback’s composure.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was next, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a hint of intensity. “It was a tough matchup for us. Tennessee has one of the most dynamic offenses in the country. Their quarterback, the wide receivers, they can strike fast,” Knowles admitted. “But we came into this game with a mindset: we knew we had to control the tempo. We wanted to take away their deep ball, force them to sustain long drives, and hopefully, they’d make mistakes. That was the key to our success.”
Knowles leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with a sense of satisfaction as he continued. “The guys on defense stepped up when it mattered most. The secondary did a fantastic job containing their wideouts, and our pass rush was relentless. They never really got comfortable in the pocket. And our linebackers? Outstanding. Their ability to read the quarterback’s eyes and react quickly to the run was the difference in the second half.”
The room grew quieter as Knowles finished, the weight of his words resonating. The defense had been rock-solid, with critical sacks and key stops in the red zone. In a game defined by momentum swings, the defense’s ability to clamp down at crucial moments was one of the unsung heroes of the night.
The conversation shifted back to Howard, as reporters pressed him on the key moments of the game. “There was a moment in the second quarter, after they scored that quick touchdown, where we knew we had to respond,” Howard said, his voice calm but laced with determination. “Chip told us on the sideline that we had to stay poised, stay focused. And that’s exactly what we did. We didn’t rush anything. We took what the defense gave us, and the guys made plays.”
As the press conference wound down, Kelly, Knowles, and Howard all shared a final thought: the journey was far from over. While they celebrated the win, their eyes were already on the next challenge. The Buckeyes were not content with simply advancing—they were on a mission to win it all, and their performance against Tennessee had only solidified their belief that this was their year. The road to the championship would be tough, but with leaders like Kelly, Knowles, and Howard, the Buckeyes were more than ready for whatever lay ahead.