Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett set both single-game and single-season records in the Buckeyes' 31-21 win over Minnesota on Saturday.
Barrett was 15-of-25 passing for 198 yards, three touchdowns and an interception and ran for 189 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. The four total touchdowns pushed Barrett's season total to 38, which is a single-season Ohio State record.
Barrett's rushing yards were the most any Ohio State quarterback has amassed in a single game. It was a total boosted by his second carry of the game, which was an 86-yard touchdown run. Oh, that's the longest run for an Ohio State quarterback too.
He broke Braxton Miller's total touchdown record of 36 with his second touchdown pass of the game, which was a 30-yard pass to Michael Thomas on an incredible blown coverage by Minnesota. The safety to Thomas' side bit on the underneath route despite the presence of two other Gophers defenders in the area and left Thomas all by himself near the end zone for the easy touchdown.
As you likely know, Miller was slated to be Ohio State's starting QB this year but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in August. And as Barrett has stepped in he's broken the record Miller set just a year ago with at least three games to go in the season. Plus, he's making a great case for an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony as a quarterback competition for Ohio State in 2015 looks more and more likely.
Despite Barrett's success, Minnesota had a chance late thanks to three OSU turnovers, including two fumbled kicks. The Gophers were in position to tie the game if they recovered an onside kick with just over a minute remaining, but the kick went straight ahead and into the arms of an Ohio State player to end any chances of an upset.
Does the win do much for Ohio State's College Football Playoff chances too? The Buckeyes now have a common-opponent victory to share with TCU, who is ahead in the rankings. However, the Horned Frogs beat Minnesota 30-7 at home. A seven-point road win probably isn't going to be a big boost, if anything. Ohio State still needs some help. But if Barrett keeps playing like he is, Ohio State's playoff argument keeps getting better and better.
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