As the Braxton Watch stretches into its third week, those looking for a quarterback controversy in Columbus are going to be sorely disappointed.
Updating the status of Braxton Miller Monday, Urban Meyer declared the quarterback to be “90-percent” healthy and, “if he has a good week of practice, will start” in the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin Saturday.
Miller suffered a sprained MCL in the first quarter of the Week 2 win over Buffalo and hasn’t played since. The head coach seemed optimistic the junior would get at least a bit of playing time against Florida A&M this past weekend, although both agreed prior to the game that another week on the sidelines would be the best tack to take.
In place of Miller, Kenny Guiton has shined -- and led some to call for his maintaining the starting job even after Miller healed.
Guiton threw a school-record six touchdowns in the win over FAMU, and has been named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week the past two Mondays (he shared Week 4 honors with Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon). His 12 scoring tosses since taking over for Miller are the most ever for a Buckeye during any three-game stretch.
Not only that, but Guiton is No. 13 in the country in passing efficiency and has the highest rating of any Big Ten quarterback. Still, Meyer has continued to stress that Miller will not get Pipp’d.
Meyer did say he is “very comfortable with both quarterbacks,” although it remains unclear if Meyer has any plans to use both players once Miller returns.