Barrett to start at QB for Buckeyes

J.T. Barrett will start at quarterback for No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday against Rutgers, replacing Cardale Jones. Coach Urban Meyer cited “red-zone and thirddown production.”

The Buckeyes (7-0) are 81st in the nation in converting third downs, at 37.5%, and 72nd in converting redzone trips into touchdowns at 60.7% (17 for 28). Harbaugh’s what-ifs

Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh is playing the “what if ” game after Saturday’s 27-23 loss to Michigan State, in which the Spartans scored the winning touchdown on the game’s final play when Michigan’s punter bobbled a snap and Jalen Watts-Jackson recovered the football and ran 38 yards to score as time expired.

The final play began at the Michigan State 47 with 10 seconds to play, and Harbaugh has said he wished punter Blake O’Neill had fallen on the ball, leaving Michigan State with a Hail Mary attempt as its only option. On Tuesday, Harbaugh said running sweeps to take time off the clock was something he considered on first, second and third down.

Etc.

Kansas Coach David Beaty said quarterback Michael Cummings, out for the season with a knee injury, was unlikely to be granted a sixth year of eligibility, likely ending his college career. . . . North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz will miss the rest of the regular season with a broken wrist.