Is Oregon or Florida State Braxton Miller's Best Transfer Option?

There were plenty of takeaways from Ohio State’s breakthrough College Football Playoff victory over Alabama Thursday night. But one of the most important developments concerning the 2015 season was this: Braxton Miller needs to find a new home for his final season of college football.

When the Ohio State senior was sidelined with shoulder surgery last August, the Buckeyes’ quarterback situation appeared uncertain, at best. Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett and sophomore Cardale Jones were unproven, and Urban Meyer faced a choppy 2014. Or so it seemed.

Following a slow start, Barrett was a breakout star, throwing for 2,834 yards with 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding 938 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns before breaking his ankle in the regular season finale at Michigan.

When Barrett went down, Jones stepped right into the breach, leading the Buckeyes to a 59-0 rout of Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game and performing very capably in the Sugar Bowl while displaying a huge arm and impressive confidence. He averaged 250 passing yards per start while totaling four touchdowns against one interception.

Both Barrett and Jones will return next season, which leaves Miller as the proverbial odd man out in Columbus. He has already graduated and can take advantage of the NCAA’s graduate transfer rule, which allows players who’ve graduated to transfer and spend their final season of eligibility elsewhere.

Before the Sugar Bowl, Meyer told reporters at a news conference he expects Miller to return.

“There are a lot of things that go on out there that are out of his control," Meyer said. "So, we've had conversations, and I expect him to be back at Ohio State."

However, it’d be a surprise if that actually happens.

Per Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post, Miller has been connected most prominently to Florida State and Oregon, which makes sense. Both programs expect to lose standout quarterbacks to the NFL draft in Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, respectively.

But the best fit for Miller, both on the depth chart and in terms of style, is Oregon. If Miller and the Ducks have mutual interest, he’d be a perfect fit in Mark Helfrich and Scott Frost’s fast-paced offense.

First off, though, let’s examine Florida State’s situation.

Assuming Winston departs, the Seminoles would have an open competition for the job. Sophomore Sean Maguire completed 25 of 49 passes for 339 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions this season, but he did lead FSU to a victory over Clemson, throwing for 304 yards when Winston was suspended for yelling a vulgarity on campus. Florida State also has a redshirting freshman in J.J. Consentino and oral commitments from three standouts in the class of 2015.

Deondre Francois is rated by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 4 pro-style quarterback and a 4-star recruit. Kai Locksley is rated by 247 as the nation’s No. 16 athlete prospect and a 4-star recruit. And De’Andre Johnson is rated as the nation’s No. 13 dual-threat quarterback and a 3-star recruit by 247.

There’s also the matter of how Miller would fit into the Seminoles’ offense. While Winston has some mobility, Jimbo Fisher runs a pro-style offense. Miller operated in more of an up-tempo spread with Meyer and Tom Herman at Ohio State.

His stats showed it, too. In three seasons, Miller has thrown for 5,292 yards with 52 touchdowns against 17 interceptions, rushing for 3,054 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground.

His skill set is the closest match to the one Mariota, a mobile quarterback who can throw on the run, leaves behind. This season, Mariota has excelled in Oregon’s offense, throwing for 4,121 yards with 40 touchdowns against three interceptions and rushing for 731 yards and 15 scores.

If Mariota leaves, Oregon’s quarterback depth chart is unaccomplished.

Sophomore Jeff Lockie served as the Ducks’ backup this fall. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown, operating exclusively in garbage time.

"We have total confidence in him," Helfrich told The Oregonian’s Tyson Alger. "If we had to go in a game and had to play X amount of snaps, the playbook would be open."

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

Behind Lockie is a pair of redshirts. Former Georgia Tech quarterback Ty Griffin, a dual-threat type with excellent athleticism, is redshirting after a transfer. And freshman Morgan Mahalak, a 4-star recruit per 247, is also redshirting. Oregon also has a commitment from class of 2015 recruit Travis Waller, a 4-star recruit, per 247, rated as the nation’s No. 5 dual-threat quarterback.

Oregon’s offense fits Miller perfectly. He has experience in a spread offense that favors a mobile, multi-talented quarterback, and there’s plenty of talent surrounding him, most notably standout freshman tailback Royce Freeman and a deep backfield.

If Miller decides his time in Columbus is over, Eugene would be an ideal landing spot to finish a stellar college career.