Ohio State Football: Buckeyes crush Trojans in Cotton Bowl

3. J.T. Barrett went out on top

On a night when his counterpart on the other sideline struggled mightily, Barrett shined. The Ohio State quarterback efficiently carved up the Trojans on the ground and through the air, pacing an offense that moved the ball seemingly at ease from start to finish.

Barrett completed 11 of 17 passes for 114 yards against the Trojans. He added 16 carries for 66 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Those numbers pad an impressive statistical resume that includes 9,423 passing yards, 3,274 rushing yards and 147 total touchdowns.

Barrett’s career will forever be intertwined with that of Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller, but it’s hard to argue that either of those two Buckeye passers was able to do what Barrett did in Columbus.

In the third quarter J.T. Barrett broke the Big Ten all-time total offense record set by Drew Brees. That as the icing on the cake for the fourth year quarterback that goes out with a College Football Playoff Championship, a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame and a Cotton Bowl win over USC. Next up Barrett will await his name to be called at the NFL Draft. His professional expectations aren’t overwhelming, but he’s already proven he can defy the odds.