For the second time this calendar year, Ohio State lost its starting quarterback. J.T. Barrett fractured his right ankle in a win against Michigan on Saturday, ending his promising Heisman-hopeful season in the final week of the regular season. Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer said during a Big Ten Championship Game conference call Sunday that Barrett had undergone successful surgery to address the fracture. Meyer said Barrett will be on track to return to the team for spring football. He is expected to be limited in the spring.
This, of course, means Barrett will miss Ohio State’s bid for a Big Ten title in this week’s Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin. Barrett will also miss Ohio State’s postseason, be it a single bowl game or spot in the College Football Playoff. With Barrett in recovery mode, Ohio State will put the offense in the hands of Cardale Jones. The sophomore has appeared in seven games this season, with 17 pass attempts leading to 10 completions for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
In the weeks before the start of the season, Ohio State lost Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller to a shoulder injury. Miller underwent surgery and was set to miss the entire season as a result. Now, his future with the Buckeyes appears to be complicated due to the success of Barrett this season. Rumors of a transfer have been floating around, but for now Miller remains a Buckeye. Miller is not expected to be available for Ohio State’s postseason either, although that would have made for quite a story.