The College Football Playoff selection committee says it takes injuries into account when judging which teams are worthy of a spot in the final four.
Now chairman Jeff Long and his 11 committee cohorts have a big one to consider.
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State’s fabulous redshirt freshman quarterback, broke his right ankle in the second half of the Buckeyes’ 42-28 victory against Michigan.
Ohio State took a while to shed its bitter and beleaguered rivals to the north. It was 21-all midway through the third quarter, but Ohio State scored three consecutive touchdowns to put the game away, the final two after Barrett was carted off with an aircast on his leg.
The injury cast a shadow on a thrilling rivalry Saturday brimming with playoff implications.
“With all the scrutiny he’s been under since the loss to (Virginia Tech), for him to rebound the way he did and for him to lead our offense it’s been huge. Next man up when it comes to quarterbacks,” Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee said.
Ohio State has been written off twice so far this season. First when star quarterback Braxton Miller was lost to a shoulder injury in August, and then again when Barrett and the Buckeyes lost at home to Virginia Tech in early September.
They haven’t lost since and have risen to seventh in the playoff rankings, with Barrett turning in a season worthy of Heisman Trophy consideration, accounting for 45 touchdowns.
Ohio State is currently in a beauty contest between TCU, Baylor and Mississippi State, trying to secure the fourth playoff spot. Alabama, Oregon and Florida State appear to be in control of the first three spots.
Ohio State’s performance against Michigan was OK. The bigger question is: What now?
The Buckeyes will play in the Big Ten championship game next week against Wisconsin. It’s their last chance to impress the committee. They have one excellent victory (at Michigan State) and another very good one (at Minnesota).
If Ohio State adds another one without Barrett, how will the committee view the Buckeyes? Sure, the panel factors in injuries, but in a subjective process where just about everything is taken into account, how – and how much – is impossible to quantify.
Ohio State cannot be as good with Barrett’s replacement, Cardale Jones. Does that leave the committee less likely to advance the Buckeyes?
Or, if Ohio State can beat a very good team without Barrett, does that prove the Buckeyes are even more worthy of a spot in the playoff?
With a week to go before the final rankings are released and the playoff field is set, the committee’s decision just got tougher.
