OSU QB Barrett playing like Heisman contender
Buckeyes have put up 50-plus points in four straight games.
As his head LINCOLN, NEB. — coach heaped praise upon him in the bowels of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett stood nearby playing with his phone.
Shortly after torching Nebraska for 325 passing yards and 7 total touchdowns, Barrett killed the time before his news conference with a game of solitaire. It was hard to tell how it was going, but the card game was undoubtedly the biggest challenge he faced all night.
Right now, defenses are no match for Barrett. Here are the numbers from Saturday’s 56-14 rout of a Nebraska team that he dismantled:
Barrett was 27 of 33 passing for 325 yards.
He had 5 touchdown passes.
He had no interceptions. He also ran for 2 scores. Ohio State finished with 41 — FORTY ONE! — first downs and racked up 633 total yards.
Nebraska isn’t the Nebraska of old, but those are insane numbers against any Power 5 squad.
“He had one of his better days he’s had as a Buckeye,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.
Despite what the more critical segment of the fan base might say, that’s awfully high praise. Barrett was fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a redshirt freshman, piloted Ohio State to a Fiesta Bowl blowout in the 2015 season and then led the Buckeyes to the playoff in 2016. He’s had his share of dominant stretches, but this might be his best yet.
It’s easy to point out the deficiencies of opponents in this stretch, but Barrett is currently making throws that he wouldn’t have completed earlier this season. In the second quarter, he cut through the wind with a dart to Terry McLaurin for a 31-yard touchdown. It would have been a good throw against any opponent.
That’s the type of throw he wasn’t hitting against Oklahoma, when he completed 19 of 35 passes for no touchdowns and an interception. Some of his improved numbers are a product of inferior competition. Nobody is denying that. But it’s also true that he’s flat-out playing well. Flawed teams don’t fluke their way into scoring 50 or more points in four consecutive games, no matter the opponent.
“I just feel like there’s a good chemistry on offense. The receivers and quarterbacks are playing at a very high level,” Meyer said. “Very efficient. J.T.’s efficiency was elite.”
Barrett himself recognizes the level he’s currently operating on. When asked if he could remember ever playing better, he paused to think but never named a game in which he’s played better.
“I think I’m playing well right now,” he said. “That goes into great practice and preparation, and I think there’s been great communication from [quarterbacks coach Ryan] Day and what he needs from me and how we’re attacking each and every team each and every week, so I think we’ve just got to keep on building off that.”
Meyer referred to Barrett having “elite confidence” right now, and that’s a positive development. Against Oklahoma, on his way to a fourth poor showing in his last five games, Barrett looked lost at times. Now, he looks like he’s in complete control.
His receivers seem to agree with that assessment, too.
“He’s really playing at an elite level right now,” McLaurin said. “He has command ...and we’re just trying to match his level.”
Ohio State knows what’s up next. The Stat-padding Olympics are over, and after a bye week, Penn State will come to town looking to shut down Barrett and the Buckeyes. If Barrett plays like he did against Nebraska, the Buckeyes will beat Penn State. Ohio State has what appears to be one of the nation’s three most-talented rosters, and very few teams can challenge the Buckeyes when Barrett is feeling it.
Completing 27 of 33 passes is exactly what Ohio State needs Barrett to do in big games. Now, with a game of monumental importance on deck in two weeks, there’s no denying that he’s playing his best football and raising his teammates to that level.
“This is a good time to be cooking,” Meyer said.