Let the “What if Braxton Miller was healthy?” questions begin.
With Miller’s replacement, J.T. Barrett, making his second career start, Virginia Tech trusted in its experienced secondary and blitzed Barrett often, keeping him and the Ohio State offense in check en route to a 35-21 upset win at No. 8 Ohio State.
Barrett finished 9-of-29 passing for 219 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Knowing Barrett’s inexperience, Tech brought pressure from all over and it paid off.
After a missed Tech field goal that would have stretched a 28-21 lead to 10 points, Barrett and Ohio State had one final shot to win the game with just over three minutes left. As the Buckeyes tried to move down the field, Barrett was sacked three times, the final one inducing a third-and-16 with 59 seconds left.
On the very next play, Barrett’s third interception of the night happened as Donovan Riley picked him off and ran 63 yards for a touchdown. There was no receiver in the frame where Barrett was throwing the ball. It had to have been a miscommunication.
Yet the pass summed up the Ohio State offense’s night. Passing was a chore and running the ball wasn’t much easier. Sacks included, Ohio State had 40 carries for 108 yards against Virginia Tech’s stout defense.
There’s no guaranteeing if Ohio State would have won with Miller, its star QB and preseason Heisman candidate in the game. (He’s out for the season with a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.)
Continue Reading: Virginia Tech keeps Ohio State offense in check and upsets Buckeyes 35-21
