Sometimes you just love to see someone with a horrible take be put in his place, and to be fair, former Michigan wide receiver and Heisman winner and current ESPN College GameDay analyst Desmond Howard has had his fair share of bad takes.
I don't think I've ever seen Howard pick against Michigan; he rarely gives Ohio State players or coaches credit, and he has had some pretty poor analysis on the set. One needs only go as far as his College Football Playoff picks back in 2022 as an example, or his decision to pick Michigan to win against anyone, or his bad-taste jab at C.J. Stroud during the Heisman ceremony. He'd probably pick the Wolverines over the '85 Chicago Bears if it were a thing.
The latest came in Howard's unwarranted criticism of Jeremiah
Smith. Of course, we might be a little biased here, but Howard's comments about Smith not being worthy of the Heisman because he hasn't shown up in big moments was a ridiculous take, and there's one former Heisman winner who has decided to take up the battle against such nonsense.
Former Baylor Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III not only called out Howard on the Ohio State vs. Northwestern telecast on Saturday, but he also clapped back at Howard's disdain for his criticism on X with a pretty succinct and fact-based response. The two got into a back-and-forth, and it was worth getting the popcorn out and reclining in the La-Z-Boy.
After the telecast, Griffin explained his position even further on X.
If Ohio State wins out, Jeremiah Smith should win the Heisman Trophy.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 14, 2026
He is the best player in the country.
But I also need to address something.
Buckle up, I got time today.
My Heisman brother @DesmondHoward said that Jeremiah Smith has never been the difference in any big… pic.twitter.com/q9Yi9iXT3Q
Howard then took offense at the shot across the bow in public and shot back.
Oh Robert, are you STILL on this app manufacturing Twitter beef for attention? I thought you would have stopped doing that based on how it has worked out for you in the past. Oh well.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) November 15, 2026
Jeremiah Smith is an extraordinary talent. Nobody is questioning that. My point was whether…
But that wasn't the end of it. Griffin then fired back with a further hit straight into the kitchen, just to hammer things home with a picture of him dunking on Howard.
Brother Desmond,
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 15, 2026
I didn’t challenge your opinion.
I destroyed it.
The problem is you are never being honest.
Not honest when it comes to Jeremiah Smith and don’t you think we forgot about CJ Stroud.
It’s all fun and games in a rivalry until you start letting it make you do… pic.twitter.com/jcSRf2huYA
Pure gold, and I think you have to agree that Griffin won this argument. It probably won't stop Howard from his horrible opinions, and he'll never back away from them, but the hate for Ohio State and his inability to be unbiased and take his Maize and Blue colored glasses off need to be addressed.
He could probably learn a lesson or two from his colleague, Kirk Herbstreit, but we doubt that happens because ... "Michigan Man" can never be wrong or humble these days.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Robert Griffin III dunks on Desmond Howard over Jeremiah Smith chatter
