Why Who Is Playing QB for Ohio State Doesn't Really Matter

If Ohio State beats Wisconsin in Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game, the Buckeyes will have won 12 games this season with, basically, two backup quarterbacks. 

Some might take that to mean the Buckeyes have a group of "system quarterbacks." Call it what you will, but Ohio State calls it an identity. So far, that identity has worked despite two key injuries. 

As you'll recall, starting quarterback Braxton Miller was ruled out for the year in the preseason after he reinjured his right shoulder. That propelled backup J.T. Barrett into the starting role. Despite a slow start, Barrett has flourished in an offense that has dramatically improved over the course of the season.

Statistically, Barrett was having a better season than Miller did a year ago before sustaining his own season-ending injury, a fractured ankle, last week against Michigan. That means reserve quarterback Cardale Jones, who is 10-of-17 passing for 118 yards and two touchdowns on the season, will start against the Badgers. 

Disregard for a moment whether Ohio State should even be in a position to make the four-team playoff. Don't worry how Barrett's injury alters the selection committee's view of the Buckeyes. Just look at this for what it is:

The fact that Ohio State is even in this position is nothing short of impressive. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has his critics, but the job he and offensive coordinator Tom Herman have done recruiting and developing quarterbacks is noteworthy. 

Unless an offense in the Wildcat formation, the quarterback touches the ball on every snap. And unless you run an offense like Wisconsin's, in which running back Melvin Gordon is the cornerstone, the quarterback is the key component that makes the engine turn.

That's especially true in Meyer's offenses, where the quarterback is asked to be a running and passing threat more often than not. The upside to that is Meyer's quarterbacks are often difference-makers. The downside is that they open themselves up to injuries, which has obviously been the case this year.  

Quarterback	School	Year	Passing Stats	Rushing Stats	Total Touchdowns
J.T. Barrett	Ohio State	2014	2,834	938	45
Braxton Miller	Ohio State	2013	2,094	1,068	36
Braxton Miller	Ohio State	2012	2,039	1,271	28
Tim Tebow	Florida	2009	2,895	910	35
Tim Tebow	Florida	2008	2,746	673	42
Tim Tebow	Florida	2007	3,286	895	55
Alex Smith	Utah	2004	2,952	631	42
Alex Smith	Utah	2003	2,247	452	20
Josh Harris	Bowling Green	2002	2,425	737	41

The question now is whether Jones will be asked to be a difference-maker or a game manager. How Meyer handled Barrett's development suggests it will be the former, not the latter. 

Meyer and Herman already showed that they didn't feel the need to hold Barrett back. The redshirt freshman hasn't been the traditional "game manager," simply handing the ball off and making short, easy throws. Quite the contrary, he's been a pleasantly surprising runner while equally capable of making difficult throws down the field. 

Based on recent comments, Meyer clearly has confidence in Jones as a playmaker as well, via Austin Ward of ESPN.com: 

"

Obviously it's going to be a really good environment against a very tough defense. But it's not like he's not taking snaps with the one offense or understands the concepts. He has a very good understanding. We expect our quarterbacks here to prepare a certain way. He hasn't been in this situation [in a game] yet. But he did it in spring [practice], and he did a good job. Remember, he was our backup.

"

One of the concerns about losing Barrett is whether Ohio State can win with enough "style points" to impress the selection committee—if it can win at all. In other words, will Jones come out and play with the same "wow factor" that Barrett has been delivering for the past couple of months? After all, there could be as many as three or four teams vying for one final playoff spot. 

Here's the thing, though: Winning with a third-string quarterback carries its own set of style points. Does it matter if Jones throws for 300 yards? Does it make a difference if he's the team's leading rusher? Winning with a reserve quarterback shows tremendous depth—not to mention that it's a reflection of the coaching staff. 

As Tony Gerdeman of The Ozone points out, Jones has moved the ball well when he sees the field, albeit in garbage time:

Ohio State won't ask Jones to do anything he's not capable of doing, but to suggest Meyer and Herman will throw out the playbook and crawl into a shell seems unlike them. The Buckeyes have gotten this far by refusing to play it safe. What's one more game?

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football.