Puskas: Ohio State triumph comes at great cost

Ohio State — as expected — won The Game, but the victory was costly Saturday at the Horseshoe.

The thrill of another victory in college football’s best rivalry was tempered by the loss of quarterback J.T. Barrett to a season-ending fractured ankle.

Ohio State’s redshirt freshman quarterback — a breakout star who entered the game leading the nation with 42 total touchdowns — was injured in the fourth quarter and carted off with an inflatable cast on his right leg.

That combination usually doesn’t end well and this was no exception.

Even before Ohio State officials announced Barrett’s diagnosis, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer confirmed he was out for the Big Ten title game next week against Wisconsin.

“We lost a Heisman candidate today,” Meyer said.

The official word came later. Barrett is scheduled to have surgery today and his season is over.

But the Buckeyes still have more to do.

Ohio State (11-1, 8-0 Big Ten Conference) had already locked up a berth in next week’s conference championship in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes’ 42-28 win over their biggest rival also kept alive their College Football Playoff hopes, but Ohio State is now down to its third quarterback — sophomore backup Cardale Jones.

The Buckeyes were in the process of putting together a strong fourth quarter to finish off the Wolverines (5-7, 3-5) when Barrett kept the ball on a read-option play and was tackled awkwardly in traffic in the backfield. Barrett’s right leg buckled under him and he stayed on the ground — sprawled on his back — as trainers tended to him.

Barrett rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries and completed 13 of 21 passes for 176 yards and another score before the injury. His rise to national prominence came after Braxton Miller was lost for the season to a shoulder injury during preseason camp.

Jones helped Ohio State finish off Michigan — and perhaps Brady Hoke’s career in Ann Arbor — but the Buckeyes kept things simple for the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder. He completed 2 of 3 passes for 7 yards, but all were safe attempts. Jones ran twice for 18 yards.

He’ll be asked to do plenty more next week in Indianapolis.

“The good thing is he’s going to get a lot of reps,” Meyer said.

The other good thing Meyer and Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman have been here before. Few fans and observers gave the Buckeyes much of a chance to survive Miller’s season-ending injury, especially after Barrett was just 9 of 29 for 219 yards with three interceptions in a 35-21 primetime loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 6 in Columbus.

But Meyer and Herman brought Barrett along patiently and the redshirt freshman’s confidence and production grew exponentially as the season progressed.

But the challenge will be exponentially greater now. The Big Ten title and perhaps a berth in the College Football Playoff will be at stake next week against Wisconsin. Jones played in a mop-up role over the last two years, but not with the season on the line.

Jones has to grow up quickly and Meyer and Herman are going to have to devise a game plan to accentuate what he does well and disguise — or minimize — his limitations. They’ve done it before, but never this quickly. They’re already on the clock.

Write Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.

OHIO STATE-MICHIGAN NOTES

Local angles: Fitch High graduate Billy Price and the Buckeyes’ offensive line had a productive day. Ohio State rushed for 233 yards on 39 attempts, an average of 6 yards per carry. Price is a redshirt freshman and the Buckeyes’ starting left guard. … Howland High graduate De’Veon Smith carried three times for 4 yards, all in the second half, for Michigan. The sophomore’s longest run went for 6 yards.

By the numbers: The Wolverines’ 27 first downs are the second-most surrendered by OSU’s defense this season. Michigan State had 29 in the Buckeyes’ 49-37 win on Nov. 8. Michigan’s four TDs came on drives of 80, 95, 75 and 75 yards.

Taking time: The Wolverines’ ability to put together drives helped them win the time of possession decisively. Michigan kept the ball for 34:05 to Ohio State’s 25:55.

Job security: Hoke may be out of a job soon. Speculation about his future has been rampant all season, but Hoke said he was given no word about his future after the game. Hoke said he’ll keep doing the job until he’s told otherwise. “I’m going to be the football coach at Michigan,” Hoke said. “That’s what I know right now.” ... Michigan finished the season 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten.

Staff/wire report