Where did Kyle McCord go? Why Ohio State has new quarterback in 2024

There is perhaps no position in college football that comes with as much pressure and expectations as that of quarterback — especially at Ohio State.

It’s a position that is expected by fans to beat “that team up north” and help the Buckeyes challenge for a national championship, year in and year out.

For the second consecutive season, the Buckeyes will have a new starting quarterback after Kyle McCord transferred out of the program following last year. Unlike in recent years, Ryan Day and Co. this time went searching in the transfer portal for the Buckeyes’ new quarterback, ultimately landing on Kansas State transfer Will Howard.

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At Ohio State, Howard will be looked to by Day and first-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to make big plays as the leader of Ohio State’s offense, which enters the 2024 season as one of the best in the country.

It raises the question, however, of why McCord is no longer in Columbus — and where he has ended up after an 11-1 record as Ohio State’s quarterback in 2023.

Here’s what to know on why McCord is no longer at Ohio State and who his successor is as the Buckeyes start the season on Saturday vs. Akron:

Where did Kyle McCord transfer to?

McCord transferred to Syracuse from Ohio State over the offseason. The Mount Laurel, New Jersey native entered the portal on Dec. 4, prior to the Buckeyes’ bowl game vs. Missouri on Dec. 29.

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Why did Kyle McCord transfer to Syracuse from Ohio State?

McCord called the decision to leave Ohio State for Syracuse a “business decision” during an appearance on “The QB Room” podcast on Jan. 3.

“At the end of the day, the top level of college football and then especially onto the pros, it’s a business,” McCord said on the podcast. “At the end of the day, Ohio State had to make a business decision they felt like it was best for them. And I had to do the same thing.”

The Dispatch previously reported that sources close to The Dispatch confirmed it was McCord’s “own” decision and “that he would have been the front-runner to start for the Buckeyes in 2024.” However, McCord was not given assurances by Day and his staff that he was the lock for the job, leading to his transfer.

McCord announced his transfer to Syracuse on Dec. 17 with a caption that included an orange fruit emoji. On top of name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities, the decision to transfer to Syracuse can be linked to his previous ties with the Orange’s coaching staff.

Of those ties, perhaps the most notable one was with first-year coach Fran Brown, who watched McCord play in middle school thanks to a tip from his wife, Teara, who worked at a hospital with McCord’s dad, former Rutgers quarterback Derek McCord.

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Kyle McCord Ohio State stats

In his first season as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, McCord threw for 3,170 yards with 24 touchdowns and a pass completion of 65.8%.

Here’s a full breakdown of McCord’s stats at Ohio State:

2021: 25 of 38 passing (65.7%) for 416 passing yards and two passing touchdowns to two interceptions
2022: 16 of 20 passing (80%) for 190 passing yards and one passing touchdown
2023: 229 of 348 passing (65.8%) for 3,170 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns to six interceptions

Who is Ohio State football’s quarterback?

Ohio State coach Ryan Day named Howard as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback for Week 1 vs. Akron on Aug. 15.

“(Offensive coordinator) Chip (Kelly) has done a great job of rolling the quarterbacks from the first day of spring all the way to now, so you’re talking about 27-28 practices,” Day said. “When you take the aggregate of all the numbers, You will grade out significantly ahead of the other guys.”

He added: “Will has really taken command of the offense. You feel him in the huddle. You feel his experience. He did a really good job, as we’ve talked about, of changing his body in the offseason. He’s become a threat, both with his legs and with his arm. The more he understands what he’s doing out there, he’s executing very well. I think the guys are excited when he gets in the huddle.”

Who is Will Howard?

Howard enters his first season as the starting quarterback at Ohio State after transferring to the Buckeyes from Kansas State over the offseason.

The Downingtown, Pennsylvania native spent three seasons with the Wildcats. Last season at Kansas State, Howard set the program’s record for career touchdowns with 48, and tied the program’s single-season record with 24 touchdowns.

Howard, who earned All-Big 12 second-team honors last season, led the Wildcats to a No. 18 rank finish in the US LBM Coaches Poll. He did not participate in Kansas State’s Pop-Tarts Bowl victory over NC State.

He announced his transfer to the Buckeyes from the Wildcats on Jan. 4, choosing Ohio State over the likes of Miami and USC.

“I’m glad I took my time with this decision,” Howard told ESPN’s Pete Thamel after he announced his transfer. “Through it, I got to learn a lot about myself and college football in general. It was a great process. I’m really glad I ended up choosing Ohio State.

“I knew that if I passed this up, I’d regret passing up the chance to go be the quarterback at Ohio State. I knew I’d be kicking myself if I passed up this opportunity.”

Here’s a breakdown of Howard’s stats at Kansas State:

2020: 90 of 168 passing (53.5%) for 1,178 yards and eight touchdowns to 10 interceptions | 78 carries for 364 rushing yards and three touchdowns
2021: 30 of 55 passing (54.5%) for 332 yards and one touchdown to one interception | 32 carries for 184 rushing yards and four touchdowns
2022: 119 of 199 passing (59.7%) for 1,633 yards and 15 passing touchdowns to two interceptions | 35 carries for 22 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns
2023: 219 of 357 passing (61.3%) for 2,643 yards and 24 passing touchdowns to 10 interceptions | 81 carries for 351 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns

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