Video showed that Rose Bowl officials initially wouldn't let Ohio State QB Will Howard on stage to celebrate

Following the theme of much of this College Football Playoff (well, besides the Peach Bowl), the Rose Bowl was yet another blowout with Ohio State knocking off top-seeded Oregon. But given that these second-round playoff games are bowl games, teams get to celebrate the win as they would for a standalone bowl game.

There’s a stage, trophy presentation and everything.

Yet, for Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, he had to watch the festivities unfold from the stairs in the back.

As the Buckeyes were celebrating the 41-21 win on stage, Howard tried to get up there to join his teammates. We’d see in a video, though, that Howard wasn’t allowed up there. It was nothing personal against the Buckeyes quarterback — just that the team had reached the stage’s weight capacity.

Will Howard can’t get on the stage!

Let Will on the podium. pic.twitter.com/6lEGb5H7US

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) January 2, 2025

Of course, an easy solution would have been for one player to switch spots with Howard and let him get up there. Voices off camera tried to explain to the official that this was the team’s quarterback, but Howard had to wait his turn.

He did eventually get on stage, but the Rose Bowl should look into some equipment that can support a team of literal football players. Just a thought.

Ohio State will head to Arlington to take on Texas in the semifinal.