Ohio State Football: 3 takeaways from win over UNLV
1. J.T. Barrett throws a near-perfect game in only one half of action
J.T. Barrett’s Ohio State career has been a roller coaster.
After being anointed a rising star for the Buckeyes in 2014, and leading his team to an 11-1 record after then-starting quarterback Braxton Miller lost the season to a shoulder injury, Barrett has struggled to live up to the 2014 Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year award.
After splitting wraps with Cardale Jones in 2015, Barrett took over as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback last season to mixed results.
Though the team did finish the season with an 11-2 record, they also lost to Penn State on Oct. 22 and ultimately failed to win the Big Ten East as a result.
The team did earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, though, but got blown out in a 31-0 defeat at the hands of No. 2 Clemson.
But in Ohio State’s Week 4 victory over UNLV, it appeared as though Barrett have regained some of his old form.
In less than two quarters of action, Barrett led the Buckeyes’ offense to 37-0 run to start the game with 209 passing yards on 12 completions and five touchdowns through the air.
After only fielding the 43rd-ranked passing offense in the nation thus far in 2017, Barrett’s performance showed that he is without a doubt capable of leading this team.
And if Barrett can continue to perform at this high level in the coming weeks, it could breed success for the Buckeyes.
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The triple threat of Barrett, Dobbins and wide receiver Parris Campbell surely gives Urban Meyer’s offense enough firepower to continue to fight for a spot in the playoff.