Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett has a good case for the starting job. (Jay LaPrete/Associated Press)Northern Illinois entered the Horseshoe Saturday as 31.5-point underdogs, but came within a possession of upending the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer was none too pleased with his team’s careless and occasionally lackadaisical effort in the 20-13 win. “We have good players, good coaches and good scheme,” Meyer told reporters. “We expect much, much higher execution on offense.” The Buckeyes turned the ball over five times, the most in Meyer’s four-year tenure at the helm in Columbus. In fact, only two teams — Charlotte and Texas-San Antonio — have had more turnovers in a single game this season. After throwing two first-half interceptions and completing just four passes, junior Cardale Jones, the incumbent starter this season, was benched Saturday. Sophomore J.T. Barrett — who set two Big Ten Conference records and 17 school records as a freshman, while winning 11 of his 12 games as a starter before going down for the season with a fractured right ankle — captained the offense in the second half, throwing a touchdown and an interception of his own. Even though Jones has started in all three games this season, Barrett has seen playing time in each. …
Continue Reading: Urban Meyer should name JT Barrett Ohio State’s starting quarterback
