Former Buckeye QB Gets Positive News After a Very Rough Preseason Game

Former Ohio State Buckeye star Will Howard is neck-deep in a quarterback competition that will dictate his future in the NFL. He isn't in a battle right now for any significant playing time in 2026, but his future is on the line.

He is fighting with former Penn State star Drew Allar for the backup spot behind Aaron Rodgers and the keys to the future of the Steelers. 

The winner of the job will have the inside track at the position for the future; the loser will be on the outside looking in. 

Friday night was a major night for the battle as the two got the entire game. Howard got the first half while Allar got the second half, and the results were staggeringly different. For as comfortable as Allar looked in his time, Howard looked equally uncomfortable.

Howard threw two really bad interceptions, the first one in the high red zone. The second one was a nice play by the defensive back, but it was still a bad throw and a bad decision.

This was a really big day for Howard because he had the opportunity to strengthen his grip on the backup position, but it's impossible to ignore the fact that his grip is absolutely loosening. 

Allar looks so much more like an NFL quarterback, and the ball jumps out of his hand effortlessly, whereas Howard has to work so hard and be so perfect just to make a couple of completions.

That's truthfully always been his knock, even in his year at Ohio State. He is such a great player and a great leader for any team that he is on. He is absolutely a guy that you want on your side, but from a natural athletic standpoint, he doesn't play the quarterback position with the natural talent that is necessary.

While Friday night was a disaster for Howard, it is still believed that he is going to be on the Steelers' roster. 

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported late on Friday that regardless of Howard's performance, both he and Allar are still expected to make the Pittsburgh roster.

The battle is going to continue into the season regardless of how the rest of this preseason finishes. It will honestly take a Herculean effort for Howard to remain ahead of Allar, who is playing very good, clean football right now.

If there is one thing, however, that we know about Will Howard is that he is never going to quit. He is going to fight until his heart gives out, so he isn't out of it, but it is trending in a negative direction.