Things are good at Ohio State right now. The Buckeyes are 2-0 and a top-three team in both polls. Their three major transfer additions that Ryan Day brought in include the team's best quarterback, running back, and defensive player. 

Oh, and the star freshman is doing crazy things each week. However, it's only natural to keep an eye on the ex who frustrated you. With 2023 starting quarterback Kyle McCord earning Heisman Trophy buzz with the Syracuse Orange, should the Buckeyes regret letting him transfer?

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Let's bring things back a bit. Day, the Buckeyes head coach, told McCord after the Michigan game that he was not promised the starting job in 2024. He'd have to compete with Devin Brown and anyone else who was added via the transfer portal. In response, McCord immediately packed his bags and entered the portal himself.

This left the Buckeyes short at the position for their embarrassing loss against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. Shortly thereafter, Ohio State whiffed on adding Cam Ward and Riley Leonard in the portal, but landed on Will Howard. The Kansas State transfer officially won the job in mid-August, but he was the only logical choice since he was added.

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To this point, Howard has been solid. He's still learning what an open receiver is at Ohio State, and there are times when he needs to rip a throw earlier. Howard's accuracy has been inconsistent but good overall. He's completing almost 65 percent of attempts and averaging 9.6 yards per attempt.

Visually, Howard has the tools to be very good for the Buckeyes. He's not Justin Fields or CJ Stroud, but a supercharged Craig Krenzel is a good alternative. All Ohio State needed last year was this version of Howard.

McCord, though, is leading the nation in passing attempts, yards, and touchdowns. He's completing 69.4 percent of passes with eight touchdowns to only one interception. He's playing loose and with more emotion than he ever showed at Ohio State.

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The spotlight on McCord's impressive beginnings follows his exit from Ohio State, where he spent his initial three years and was the starting quarterback throughout the 2023 regular season. 

At first glance, his tenure there appeared successful. As the starting quarterback, he guided the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record and amassed 24 touchdowns, placing him third in the Big Ten and tied for 24th in the country. However, despite these achievements, McCord was often criticized in a year when the Buckeyes' offensive performance was seen as a limiting factor, making him a focal point of scrutiny.

The truth is that McCord lacked an upside with Ohio State. He was afraid to throw receivers open or incapable when he did try. His lack of poise and playmaking made him a benign quarterback. It was legitimately shocking when he led the Buckeyes to a late comeback win at Notre Dame.

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Despite the stats favoring McCord thus far, we've yet to see what made Howard a more attractive choice. A running threat at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Howard only has five attempts for 24 yards and one score so far. This will be a huge part of the Buckeyes' offense when the games get tougher.

It's also key to point out that McCord is thriving against a level of competition that suits his game. He has a weaker arm, and his 8.6 yards per attempt reflects that he's in a quicker-operating system than Day's aggressive vertical scheme. 

It's not as if McCord went to another title contender that has the pressure of the world on his shoulders.

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Buckeyes fans shouldn't let McCord's success ruffle their feathers. It's not as if he's Joe Burrow 2.0 or Day erred with his quarterback evaluation. McCord opted out of competing for the job in Columbus, which is as big of a red flag as you can get in football.