Ohio State Football: 5 Buckeyes Players Who Must Improve Down the Stretch

Ohio State is in contention for a berth in the College Football Playoff, but if players like J.T. Barrett, Braxton Miller and Tommy Schutt step up, it will be a lock for one of the four semifinal spots. 

The Buckeyes checked in at No. 3 in the latest playoff standings behind No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Alabama. Both are coming off big wins over ranked teams, while Ohio State looked flat in a 28-14 win over a sub-.500 Minnesota team last Saturday.

But if these five players hit a new level, Urban Meyer's team will be very tough to beat down the stretch.

J.T. Barrett

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J.T. Barrett was taking massive strides in the three weeks leading into Ohio State's bye week, and his elevated play was the definitive difference in the Buckeyes' most impressive performances of the year.

But on Halloween weekend, Barrett made a mistake that cost him and his team—both on and off the field—when he was cited for operating a vehicle while impaired. That earned him a one-game suspension that put Cardale Jones back at the helm against Minnesota, and the Buckeyes looked as sluggish as they did in the early part of the season.

At Urban Meyer's press conference on Monday, the Buckeyes head coach said Barrett would start if he had a good week of practice.

The Buckeyes need him to take control and regain the positive momentum he had built before his suspension. 

Braxton Miller

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When Braxton Miller spun his way back into the national spotlight during Ohio State's season-opening rout of Virginia Tech, it looked like the sky was the limit for the talented playmaker at wide receiver.

Miller was sensational in his first action back from two surgeries on his throwing shoulder, piling up 140 total yards and two touchdowns. He showcased his versatility in the run game and as a pass-catcher, and it looked like he was just getting started as the Buckeyes' most dangerous player in an offense filled with dangerous options.

But over the course of the season, Miller has faded in and out. Since his outburst against the Hokies, he hasn't come 50 yards as close to matching that production in a single game, and the coaching staff is continually looking for ways to get him more involved. 

That's not to say Miller has played poorly throughout the season—he just hasn't been the dominant player that flashed in Week 1. If he can bring that kind of production to the field every Saturday moving forward, the Buckeyes would be nearly impossible to beat. 

Tommy Schutt

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Priority No. 1 is getting healthy. After that, the next step is improvement.

Tommy Schutt was getting there before he underwent wrist surgery after the Penn State game. The run-stuffing defensive tackle was surging in a defensive line loaded with superstars such as Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington—making progress Urban Meyer had anticipated for a long time.

Backups Joel Hale and Michael Hill have played admirably while Schutt recovered, but with his return expected this weekend against Illinois, the Buckeyes need their senior to shine. 

Tyvis Powell

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Throughout his career, Tyvis Powell has come up with a number of huge interceptions. Most notably, the junior safety sealed victories over Michigan in 2013 and Alabama in the playoff last season with interceptions on the last play of the game.

But this year, Powell has dropped three easy interceptions, and he hasn't been easy on himself about it either.

Of course, Powell is one of the anchors of Ohio State's fifth-ranked pass defense, and in reality he's one of the best safeties in the Big Ten this year. With an offense still working to find it's groove, the defense needs to take advantage of every opportunity to force a turnover and flip the field. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, Powell knows what he needs to do after he dropped a crucial interception against Minnesota last Saturday.

Jack Willoughby

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At some point during the final stretch of the season, Ohio State is going to need Jack Willoughby to hit a clutch field goal.

Of course, that's not a guarantee or anything, but it's likely with the Buckeyes' toughest stretch of games looming. After this Saturday's showdown with Illinois, Ohio State will host No. 13 Michigan State before traveling to face No. 14 Michigan on the road. And if all goes well there, Ohio State will book a trip to the Big Ten title game, where there's a good chance an unbeaten Iowa team will be waiting.

Close games are likely coming, and in those contests, being able to rely on the kicker is crucial. But Willoughby has been less than reliable this season, connecting on just 7-of-11 field goals and missing all three of his attempts beyond 40 yards.

If a game comes down to the wire and Ohio State needs a big kick from Willoughby, will he be able to come through? That hasn't been the case so far this season, and he'll need to make a big leap in the coming weeks to earn the trust of his coaches.