The lights of the stadium glared brightly across the field, casting long shadows that stretched like the reach of an empire. It was the heart of winter, and the College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Tennessee had reached a fever pitch. The game had already been etched into the annals of history, but what came next would leave an even deeper mark on the rivalry between the two powerhouse teams.
Will Howard, Ohio State’s dynamic quarterback, had already demonstrated his prowess on the field. His arm was a cannon, his legs swift like the wind. But it was his presence off the field, in the form of a dramatic social media post, that would cement his place in the minds of fans forever. Howard was known not just for his athleticism but also for his cerebral nature, always calculating the next move, always ahead of the game. Little did the Tennessee Volunteers know, he had been planning a play of his own – a masterstroke that would tie his game-winning performance to the world of fantasy, power, and kingship.
The clock had barely ticked past midnight when the post dropped.
It began with a chillingly familiar scene: a lone figure, cloaked in black and standing atop the highest tower. The image was inspired by the climactic moments of the beloved Game of Thrones series, when characters met their fates, either by sword or by fate. But this was not the land of Westeros. This was a football field, a battlefield of a different kind. The figure in the picture was none other than Howard, his face masked with a determined scowl, reminiscent of a king surveying his conquered kingdom.
The caption was just as legendary: “The throne awaits. The mighty fall. Long may we reign.”
The post was an instant sensation, its metaphorical message cutting deeper than any physical tackle. Howard was declaring himself not just as the leader of the Ohio State Buckeyes, but as the sovereign of the college football world. The references to “the throne” and “the mighty fall” struck at the heart of Tennessee’s proud but fading dynasty, the Vols’ championship hopes dashed by a merciless attack from Howard and the Buckeyes.
To the uninitiated, it might have seemed like a simple Instagram post. But to anyone who followed the rivalry between Ohio State and Tennessee, it was a call to arms. Howard had executed a perfect play both on and off the field, an audacious dunk on Tennessee’s pride and an assertion of dominance.
The Vols’ defense had crumbled earlier in the game. Howard, ever the chessmaster, had pulled the strings. His passes were sharp, his decisions quick. Every move was calculated, and as the clock wound down to its final seconds, the Ohio State offense, led by Howard, had secured a commanding lead. Tennessee, weary and out of answers, had no response to the onslaught.
As if the victory on the field wasn’t enough, Howard’s Instagram post ignited a firestorm. Fans flooded his comment section with fire emojis, memes, and hashtags like #KingWill, as if crowning him the undisputed monarch of college football. The Vols’ players and their supporters felt the sting, their pride wounded by the subtext of the post. The throne, it seemed, had already been taken.
The next day, sports analysts dissected Howard’s post like it was a game-winning play. Some called it a bold psychological move, others admired the confidence, while a few dubbed it the ultimate flex in college football. But what no one could deny was that Will Howard had done something rare in the world of sports: he had turned a victory into legend, weaving together his athletic performance with a cultural reference that transcended the game.
In the end, it wasn’t just the scoreboard that would mark the triumph. Howard’s Game of Thrones-inspired post had forever captured the spirit of that night: a moment of utter dominance, where the king of college football sat atop his throne, watching as the mighty Vols fell.
