Ohio State quarterback Will Howard appeared to hit his non-throwing hand on a Texas player's helmet during the first half of the Cotton Bowl against the Longhorns on Friday. Howard stayed in the game despite a gruesome knot the ESPN broadcast noted was the size of a golf ball on hand.

Ohio State football quarterback Will Howard is playing with a large knot on his non-throwing left hand in the CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal vs. Texas:

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.

The Buckeyes took a 7-0 lead early in the game as the Ohio State defense had kept Texas in check. And Howard’s hand was not the only high-profile injury of the first half. Texas’ top receiver Matthew Golden suffered an ankle injury after he got rolled up on in the first half and tried to return before leaving the game.

Will Howard's hand looked like it was growing another knuckle during Ohio State's College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas.

With Ohio State facing Texas in Friday's Cotton Bowl, Howard was spotted with a large lump on his non-throwing hand. There wasn't any confirmation on why the bubble appeared on Ho

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard must be in some real pain this Friday night. The signal-caller is playing Texas in the Cotton Bowl and has a nasty knot on his left hand that’s likely causing him some discomfort.

Ohio State is ascending to another level during the College Football Playoff, and quarterback Will Howard is a big reason why. The Kansas State transfer is intent on helping the Buckeyes climb back to the top of the sport,