COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The start was clearly less than ideal, and as J.T. Barrett went back to the sideline cursing himself, he almost couldn’t believe it.
But just in case anybody needed a reminder of how different the situation is for the Ohio State quarterback now compared to a year ago, one popped up right away when Barrett opened his season with an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
There were no calls from the fans in the Horseshoe for the backup. There was no reason for Barrett to look over his shoulder or expect a quick hook from the lineup.