3 Things We Learned About J.T. Barrett In Michigan Game

3. He Is a Big Game Quarterback

Coming into this season and even leading up to the Michigan game, there were questions about Barrett’s lack of a “signature win.”

He lost to Michigan State in 2015 on a night where his play was similar to some of the ineffective passing games this season.

He had a slip up game at home vs. Virginia Tech in 2014, facing a stout defense.

The Penn State game was the third time in three seasons that Barrett’s ineffective passing played a big role in losing a pivotal game.

Perhaps this year, he has started to realize when all else fails, go back to your bread and butter: pick up yards on the ground, take the hit, repeat.

How well that will work in the playoff remains to be seen, but it’s gotten them this far to an 11-1 record.

For all the criticism of a “lack of a signature win” leading up to the Michigan game, people tend to overlook games like the Week 2 blowout win at Oklahoma (who is now a top ten team riding an eight-game win-streak), or the double overtime win on the road at Wisconsin – a team in the hunt for a playoff spot with a good chance to win the Big Ten – or even the Nebraska game in Week 9, where Ohio State dominated an unbeaten Cornhuskers team by a score of 62-3.

All of those games were critical, but the Michigan game finally cements the fact that he is a big game quarterback.

There were times in the game, where one could have actually said it’s amazing the team was still within striking distance, despite his bad quarterback play.

Malik Hooker saved the team with his sixth interception (third touchdown) to make up for the stagnant offense.

However, from the end of the third quarter to the end of the second overtime, almost all of the offense was courtesy of Barrett leading the way.

He kept the team alive, forced overtime, stepped up when he needed to, and put the Buckeyes in a position for Samuel to end it.

Without Barrett’s impressive stretch, which began late in the third quarter, Ohio State does not win that game.

It’s tough to say how that will translate against any playoff teams.

Clemson has a more potent offense than Michigan, but is not as strong defensively.

If Ohio State eventually plays Alabama, he may not be able to get away with some of the runs he usually pulls off, but then again, Michigan’s defense is not far away from Bama.

Up to this point in Barrett’s career, 2016 is the first full season he has been the starter for every game.

He was off to a great start in 2014 before his season-ending injury, which led to Cardale Jones winning three straight en route to a national title.

We know all about the QB controversy of 2015.

This season, as much as the defense has bailed the team out, at times, he has been able to use whatever is working for him (passing or running) to give the team a lift and come away victorious.

Prior to the Michigan game, it felt like as long as Barrett was effective on the ground and took care of the football, the team could win if the defense played lights out.

That’s pretty much what happened and it might be more of the same in the playoff.

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