Is J.T. Barrett the best QB to ever play at Ohio State?

COLUMBUS, Ohio — J.T. Barrett helped bring Ohio State a national championship but has heard hysterical fans demanding he be benched. He has broken nearly every school passing and scoring record but isn’t considered a top NFL prospect.

The quarterback who plays his final regular-season game on Saturday against Michigan is more driven than naturally talented, more analytical than emotional, more pragmatic than go-forbroke. He has struggled with accuracy and his arm strength is mediocre.

But he’s undeniably a winner.

He’s 35-6 as a starter at Ohio State and holds 35 school and Big Ten records. If he beats the Wolverines again, which has to happen for the No. 8 Buckeyes to have any shot at getting back to the playoffs, he will tie Art Schlichter for most quarterback wins in school history.

Barrett passed four-year starter Schlichter this season in career passing yards, and also holds school records for passing yards per game, completions, completion percentage, touchdown passes, touchdowns responsible for, and total offense. He’s second only to Heisman winner Troy Smith in career passing efficiency (157.1 to 153.7).

“He’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around,” Ohio State senior tackle Jamarco Jones said. “He’s also one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around. He just wants to win, and he’s going to do whatever it takes to win, and that’s something that everybody feeds off of.”

His coach, Urban Meyer, says part of that makes Barrett exceptional is a desire to win that exceeds physical limitations or ego.

I love J.T.,” Meyer said. “J.T. is a member of the Meyer family and the Buckeye family for the rest of his life.”

Yet Ohio State fans haven’t appreciated him as much at times.

Maybe because he was sitting out with a broken ankle when the Buckeyes won the national championship in 2014. Or maybe because he hasn’t managed to be quite as good as that first year. Or maybe because he’s been there so long. Barrett is a four-year starter in a sport where the brightest stars rarely stick around.

He acknowledged as much during spring practice this year, saying he understood the fascination over newcomer Tate Martell, a flashy freshman quarterback popular on social media.

Barrett hesitates to talk about his legacy. Maybe there will be time to think about that when it’s all over. But the story is still being written.

“I think I’ve done some good things here,” he said. “Who knows?”

JAY LAPRETE/AP J.T. Barrett is 35-6 as a starter at Ohio State.