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Desmond Howard says Ohio State schedule gave Buckeyes ‘false impression’ of strength

Cory Nightingale

By Cory Nightingale

Published:

Desmond Howard went to Michigan and was a star there, and so when he speaks about Ohio State, it’s always serious business.

Fast-forward over 3 decades to Tuesday, when the current ESPN college football analyst said boldly that the 4th-ranked Buckeyes might think they’re better than they really are because of the softer schedule they’ve enjoyed so far in 2024.

Of course, that schedule will cease to be soft on Saturday afternoon when Ohio State travels to Happy Valley to face off with 3rd-ranked Penn State.

“You get a false impression of how great you are when you’re going up and down the field against inferior opponents,” said Howard on Tuesday’s edition of College Football Live.

While some could say Howard just doesn’t like Ohio State, well, that would be true probably. But a look at the Buckeyes’ schedule in the season’s first 9 weeks tells you that Howard just might be speaking the truth. The only real test Ohio State has faced came in that showdown game on Oct. 12 at current No. 1 Oregon, and while it was a down-to-the-wire contest, the Buckeyes fell short in a 32-31 loss that knocked them from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Ohio State had a bye the following week and then barely squeaked past Nebraska at home last Saturday in a 21-17 victory. Now comes the big trip this Saturday to Penn State, where Howard’s biting words will be put to the test once again.

Cory Nightingale