Barrett
redshirted as a freshman at Ohio State in 2013. Barrett was expected to be the backup quarterback to senior
Braxton Miller in 2014. However, he became the starter after Miller was forced to miss the season due to injury. On November 29, during the
Ohio State-Michigan matchup, Barrett went down with what was later determined to be a broken ankle early in the fourth quarter. The injury happened on a run play, with Ohio State leading 28–21, after Barrett had thrown for 176 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State went on to win the game with
Cardale Jones at quarterback. Barrett was cited in the weeks before the injury as a potential
Heisman Trophy contender but ended up finishing fifth in the voting. His injury prevented him from returning during the 2014 season, but he had a successful surgery and was expected to be available in a limited capacity for spring practice. Ohio State went on to win their next game against Wisconsin, the
2015 Sugar Bowl against Alabama, and the
2015 CFP National Championship, behind the play of third-string quarterback Cardale Jones. As a redshirt sophomore in 2015, Barrett passed for 992 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions, splitting time with Jones. As a redshirt junior in 2016, he passed for 2,555 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Barrett returned to Ohio State for his final season of eligibility in 2017. As a redshirt senior in 2017, he passed for 3,053 yards, 35 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Awards and honors Barrett was named Conference Freshman of the Week seven times and received the
Big Ten's
Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year award. He received the Big Ten's
Griese–Brees Quarterback of the Year award in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Barrett was named First-team All-Big Ten in 2014, 2016 and 2017 by both conference coaches and media. Barrett earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors nine times. Barrett is the only quarterback on either side of the
Michigan-Ohio State rivalry to go 4–0 as a starter. Barrett was the first three-time captain in the history of the Buckeyes football team, preceding
Tuf Borland as the second.
School and conference records Barrett accumulated more than 25 Ohio State records including most total yards in a season (3,851) and the second most touchdowns in a season (47) as well as most career passing yards (9,434) and completions (769). Additionally, he has several Big Ten Conference records including most career passing touchdowns (104) and total touchdowns (147). He also passed
Drew Brees for most career offensive yards, with 12,697.
College statistics == Professional career ==