Who Is Ohio State Quarterback Will Howard’s Girlfriend? All About Lauren Leiker (and Their Viral Rose Bowl Kiss!)

Ohio State University quarterback Will Howard has been with his girlfriend, Lauren Leiker, since at least 2023.

Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Howard began his college football career at Kansas State University in 2020 before transferring to Ohio State University to play for the Buckeyes in 2024. Now, Howard and the Buckeyes — who are set to play the University of Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 — are one win away from appearing in the College Football National Championship.

When Ohio State defeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, Howard had Leiker there to support. Following the game, he was seen finding Leiker in the crowd and sharing a kiss with her in a moment that went viral online.

However, Howard and Leiker’s romance started long before he donned scarlett and gray. They met while attending Kansas State together and have been in a long-distance relationship since Howard’s transfer.

So, what else is there to know about Will Howard’s girlfriend? From her studies to her career, here’s everything to know about Lauren Leiker and her relationship with the collegiate quarterback.

She graduated from Kansas State University in 2023

Leiker was born and raised in Kansas, and studied at Kansas State University from 2019 to 2023, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in human health biology and integrative health services, per her LinkedIn. During her time at college, she made the Honor Roll, was awarded a Department of Biology Scholarship and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority.

She works as a medical assistant

Leiker has worked as a medical assistant for a dermatologist in Kansas since May 2022.

Previously, she worked as a sales and logistics coordinator for a golf cart company from May 2017 to April 2022.

Leiker and Howard met at Kansas State University

Leiker and Howard met as students at Kansas State University. She studied there at the same time as Howard, who joined the Kansas State Wildcats in 2020 before transferring to Ohio State University four years later.

The couple have seemingly been together since 2023, when Leiker made her first appearance on Howard’s Instagram. In an April 2023 post, the quarterback shared a carousel of photos and videos with friends, family and KSU teammates, including a selfie with Leiker.

They went viral for sharing an on-field kiss after Ohio State’s Rose Bowl win in 2025

After Howard won the Rose Bowl with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2025, he celebrated by going over to Leiker in the audience for a kiss, turning his cap around to do so.

The moment went viral online, with ESPN sharing a clip of the moment on social media. Kelly Stafford, the wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, commented on the post, writing, “Have always said it…Backwards hat = easy access.”

She stays out of the spotlight

Leiker has managed to keep a low profile throughout Howard’s collegiate football rise. Her Instagram profile is private and she has only appeared in one post on Howard’s Instagram from April 2023.