Ohio State Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Penn State in Week 9
By Shawn Ekwall
2. J.T. Barrett will outplay Trace McSorley
How could one forget the dejected look on Barrett’s face on the sideline late in the Buckeye’s 31-16 loss to the Sooners last month. That seemed to be a turning point for the senior quarterback.
Barrett has been on a mission since the Oklahoma loss. Two weeks ago, Barrett accounted for seven touchdowns (five passing, two rushing) in Ohio State’s 56-14 throttling of Nebraska. In the past, teams have dared Barrett to throw the ball downfield, and you can bet with the weather forecast as is, Penn State will do the same.
Barrett has now amassed seven 300-yard passing games in his career. In the Buckeyes’ current five-game winning streak, Barrett is completing 72 percent of his throws and has 18 touchdowns and zero interceptions. That is getting the job done, folks. I expect a completely different J.T. Barrett come Saturday than the one that struggled in September vs. Oklahoma.
Barrett’s receiving corps has also stepped up. Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill lead the way with 28 receptions each. The inexperienced group, has had time to gel, and receivers’ coach Zach Smith is using six different players in the rotation. All six have caught 10 or more balls, giving Barrett plenty of options in the Ohio State passing game. If Barrett protects the football and his receivers continue to come up with clutch catches, Ohio State will find itself on the winning side of the scoreboard.
This prediction isn’t so much an indictment of McSorely, it’s just that Barrett has been blazing hot. I’m giving the edge to the quarterback playing in front of the home crowd. Barrett has had two weeks to prepare for the Nittany Lions, where McSorely — while coming off a terrific outing against Michigan — has to go on the road, into a hostile environment.