A Buckeye Legend: J.T. Barrett Cements His Legacy at Ohio State
A legend was created Saturday night in the horseshoe.
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett etched his name as one of Ohio State’s and college football’s all-time greats as he led the Buckeyes to a 39–38 comeback win over #2 ranked Penn State. His epic, near-perfect performance, was nothing short of legendary. 33–39 for 328 yards and 4 touchdowns with no interceptions through the air, and 17 rushes for 95 yards, according to The Score. Add to those numbers that he was 13–13 for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone, and it’s easy to see that the Buckeyes could have asked for little more out of their leader.
Down 35–20 in the fourth quarter of the biggest game of his career, Barrett led Ohio State on a comeback for the ages. His fourth quarter performance with help from his defense saw the Buckeyes outscore Penn State 19–3 in the final frame. He found the gaps in the Penn State defense, and every ball he threw was in the perfect spot for his receivers. Barrett’s long-time criticism has been his inability to throw the ball downfield, and he put that to a rest Saturday night.
Think back to the 2014–15 season when Braxton Miller went down with an injury before the season even started. Buckeye fans, players, and coaches were left to wonder who could possibly step in to fill such a large void. Enter the then-redshirt freshman from Wichita Falls, Texas. Barrett started the year with a nightmare loss to Virginia Tech at home but then went on to dominate. Barrett was responsible for 45 touchdowns that season, 34 passing and 11 rushing, according to ESPN. He led the Buckeyes to an 8–0 conference record and an 11–1 overall record before breaking his ankle in the regular-season finale against Michigan. Cardale Jones would take over and lead the Buckeyes to a National Championship.
Barrett started his sophomore season on the bench, but as Jones’s play declined, he eventually took over for the remainder of the year. He would finish with 1,674 all-purpose yards and 22 total touchdowns, according to ESPN. The Buckeyes would miss the College Football Playoff but would go on to beat Notre Dame 44–28 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Barrett’s junior year was arguably the worst of his career, and it still wasn’t terrible. He posted a career low in rushing touchdowns with 9 and passer rating with 135.3, according to ESPN. Barrett still threw for 24 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions. The Buckeyes’ offense struggled all year, but they still managed to find their way in the playoffs. They ended the year with an embarrassing 31–0 loss to Clemson.
Barrett’s struggles continued into his senior campaign, as he posted the worst performance of his career against Oklahoma in the Buckeyes’ second game. Since that game, Barrett has found his form again, and when given the chance against Penn State to prove he and his team are not to be written off, he delivered in a big way. The Buckeyes now control their own destiny in terms of the College Football Playoff, and Barrett has inserted himself into the Heisman conversation.
To this point in his career, Barrett boasts a 33–5 win-loss record and the Big Ten single-season record for touchdowns responsible for with 45. He also holds the Big Ten record for career passing touchdowns with 94 and counting, and currently holds 23 school records, according to The Lantern.
Barrett has the opportunity to add more records as the season continues, and still has some work to do if he wants to play in and win a national championship. Regardless of what happens as Barrett’s career comes to a close, he has already cemented himself as one of the greatest Buckeyes of all time, and Buckeye fans should be thankful that they have had the opportunity to watch him over the past four years.
