COLUMBUS – Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer says J.T. Barrett will start quarterback for the to-ranked Buckeyes in Saturday’s game against Rutgers, replacing Cardale Jones.
No. 1 Ohio State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) at Rutgers (3-3, 1-2)Oct. 24 – 8:00 p.m./ABC
Meyer made the announcement Tuesday afternoon during a weekly Big Ten football coaches’ conference call with reporters.
“It was a difficult decision,” Meyer said. Red zone production and third-down production were the two areas that made the difference and [J.T.] earned it with the way he played Saturday.”
Barrett lost the starting job to Jones following a closely watched quarterback battle in the offseason for the defending national champions. But Jones has struggled to find the form that helped him lead the Buckeyes to the national title last season.
Jones has just seven touchdowns against five picks this season. He threw for just 84 yards in last week’s win over Penn State.
Barrett has come on in recent weeks, with seven total touchdowns in the last two games.