Skip to content

Don't look now, but J.T. Barrett is building a case for the Heisman

Bruce Thorson / USA TODAY Sports

J.T. Barrett deserves consideration for this year's Heisman Trophy.

He may not deserve to be the favorite, or even in the uppermost echelon of candidates just yet. But if the senior continues to put up numbers like he has in recent weeks, he will be impossible to ignore when thinking of college football's most valuable players.

It was easy for fans to take shots at both Barrett and Ohio State following the Buckeyes early season loss to Oklahoma. They were labelled as a group that was good, even great, but not one capable of reaching the national championship. However, since that loss, Ohio State has not only defeated every opponent in its way, but devoured them with Barrett leading the charge.

After opening the season with a positive start against Indiana, Barrett took a significant step back with a lackluster performance against his toughest competition thus far in Oklahoma.

Opponent Pass Record Pass Yards Completion % Touchdowns Interceptions
Indiana 20-35 304 57.1 3 0
Oklahoma 19-35 183 54.3 0 1

Since the loss on Sept. 9, Barrett has done everything he's needed to do to keep his team in the win column, as well as a little bit more.

Opponent Pass Record Pass Yards Pass Completion Touchdowns Interceptions
Army 25-33 270 75.8 2 0
UNLV 12-17 209 70.6 5 0
Rutgers 15-23 286 65.2 3 0
Maryland 20-31 261 64.5 3 0
Nebraska 27-33 325 81.8 5 0

The crop of opponents the Buckeyes have faced since dropping that game to the Sooners hasn't exactly been star studded. But the Buckeyes gunslinger, as an individual, has been damn near perfect. Barrett has captained one of the hottest and most consistent programs in the nation, and by doing so, has proven he's deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as the other top quarterbacks in the nation.

Name Passing Yards Pass Completion Touchdowns Interceptions QB Rating
J.T. Barrett 1513 63.8 16 1 166
Sam Darnold 1705 64.8 12 9 143.2
Lamar Jackson 1990 62.2 14 4 154.7
Baker Mayfield 1635 74.6 15 0 214.1
Mason Rudolph 1909 67.6 16 4 186.2
Josh Rosen 2135 64.9 17 5 156.9

Oh yeah, and let's not forget Barrett's ability to generate offense with his legs. The senior has left the bulk of the rushing workload to the likes of J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber, but has shown he's a worthy adversary for rush defenses, recording 359 yards and five touchdowns on 70 carries for an average of 5.1 yards per rush.

Make no mistake, Barrett's legitimacy as a true Heisman candidate will be solidified or dissolved in the coming weeks, when Ohio State takes on Penn State, Iowa, Michigan State, and Michigan. But for those living in the moment, Barrett is building his case for the Heisman - one that may be impossible to ignore before long.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox