Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett has one final send off in the Cotton Bowl

“I never played in Cowboys Stadium, even in high school. So the last time for me playing a football game in Texas was in high school. I think it will be good to be in the atmosphere and going against a team like USC, it will be good.”

- J.T. Barrett via Bill Landis, Cleveland.com

J.T. Barrett secured a Big Ten championship win over an undefeated Wisconsin team, and helped secure his legacy as one of, if not the, greatest quarterbacks in Ohio State history. Barrett’s had his ups and downs with the Buckeyes and has been criticized harshly by fans, but has unquestionably brought plenty of success to Columbus in his time with Ohio State. Now, Barrett will have one final showcase to add to his legacy in the Cotton Bowl against the USC Trojans. And with that, he heads to his home state of Texas to finish his career in the Scarlet and Gray.

Hailing from the Lone Star state, Barrett came to the Buckeyes as a part of the 2013 recruiting class and started as a redshirt freshman in 2014, helping Urban Meyer’s squad secure a place in the Big Ten championship where Cardale Jones took over and led the Buckeyes to a National Championship. After splitting time with Jones the next season, Barrett reeled over several straight wins and ended with a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. Last season, Barrett led the Buckeyes on his own to another appearance in the College Football Playoff, but wasn’t as successful, being shut out by Clemson. And finally, this season the senior quarterback helped knock off the top team in the Big Ten.

“[Big Ten Power Rankings] No. 1: Ohio State”

- Tom VanHaaren, ESPN

Though Ohio State was left out of the College Football Playoff in a decision that is still being debated, the Buckeyes did clinch the Big Ten championship when they defeated Wisconsin on Saturday 27-20. It’s Meyer’s third conference championship with Ohio State and ESPN now ranks the Buckeyes as the top team in the conference (duh). The Badgers swapped with Ohio State and now sit second. Had the Badgers won on Saturday, they undoubtedly would have been in the College Football Playoff, but instead dropped to a talented Ohio State team.

Now, the Buckeyes head to Texas to take on the USC Trojans in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, while Wisconsin will face off against the Miami Hurricanes in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl.

“Ohio State center Billy Price was named as one of three finalists for the Rimington Trophy on Monday.”

- Tim Bielek, Cleveland.com

Billy Price has followed in the steps of Pat Elflein before him and has been named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the nation’s best center. Elflein had a similar career path to Price’s, as last season he shifted over from guard and became the center for Ohio State while helping the team get to the College Football Playoff. He also finished as the winner of the Rimmington Trophy and was eventually drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. Now Price has done the same thing, switching from guard to center and helped Ohio State get to the Cotton Bowl against USC in his final season.

The two other centers that made the finalist list were Alabama’s Bradley Bozeman and LSU’s Will Clapp. The announcement of the winner for the trophy will be just a couple of days from now, on Dec. 7.

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