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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Michelle R. Martinelli

Will Howard had a gnarly looking knot on his hand during Ohio State-Texas at the Cotton Bowl

Football players are tough, and Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is no exception, especially as he pushed through playing in the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Texas on Friday night with a giant knot on his hand.

During the Cotton Bowl matchup with the two teams playing for a chance to play Notre Dame in the national championship game, folks watching the game noticed something peculiar with Howard’s left hand during the first half.

While it’s unclear exactly what happened to Howard — who is right-handed — it seems likely that he took a particularly unique hit or contact to his left hand, which evolved into a huge knot. ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported on the broadcast that it’s about the size of a golf ball.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: A detail view of the hand of Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Yikes. That’s awfully gnarly looking, but it apparently wasn’t bad enough to keep Howard from playing

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