Unfortunately for the player and the football program -- and potentially the football program’s playoff hopes -- an injury to the star quarterback was as bad as it looked initially.
Ohio State confirmed a short time ago that J.T. Barrett sustained a fractured right ankle in the fourth quarter of the win over Michigan and will be lost for the remainder of the season, including the postseason. The redshirt freshman will undergo surgery Sunday to repair the damage.
Redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones will quarterback the Buckeyes moving forward, and will make his first career start in the Big Ten championship game next Saturday against either Minnesota or Wisconsin.
Barrett will finish his first season as a starter with 2,834 yards passing and 34 passing touchdowns. He also had 938 yards rushing and 11 rushing touchdowns. His 45 total touchdowns broke Drew Brees’ Big Ten record of 42.
Despite the injury, Barrett should earn a trip to the Heisman Trophy ceremony as a finalist for the award.
How Barrett’s injury will be viewed by the College Football Playoff committee and thus impact OSU’s postseason chances remain to be seen.