Now all of Barrett’s scooting is done with his two feet. He will lead No. 3 Ohio State (11-1) into the national semifinals against No. 2 Clemson (12-1) in the Fiesta Bowl at 7 p.m. Dec. 31.
The game in Glendale, Ariz., will be Barrett’s second at University of Phoenix Stadium — the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 44-28 in the Fiesta Bowl a year ago — but his first in the playoffs. A broken ankle prevented him from playing two seasons ago.
Here are seven things Barrett learned from that experience and from the two seasons since:
1. The sideline is no fun: Cardale Jones threw five touchdown passes in three starts against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon. Barrett missed the games after breaking his ankle in the regular-season finale against Michigan.
“The goal was reached, being that we have a national championship ring,” Barrett said, “but I think playing in it is something totally different. I was able to watch and help our team from the sidelines but playing in it, that’s something I definitely want to be a part of.”
2. Fate doesn't owe him a championship: Barrett won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the MVP of the Big Ten in 2016. He accounted for 3,275 yards of total offense and 33 touchdowns. He played at a championship level but knows his bad luck two years ago won't factor into what happens this season.
“You put the time in, the work in and you’re on the better half of things,” Barrett said, “but as far as fate owing me anything, nah, it doesn’t work out that way.”
3. He has been confident in this team since the beginning: The Buckeyes returned six starters. That didn't stop Barrett from thinking they could reach the playoffs.
“We knew we were young and were going to have to get a lot of experience pretty fast,” Barrett said, “and I think that’s what the road games helped us with. Losing at Penn State also helped us in that as well. At the beginning of the season, we weren’t chirping and letting everybody know we were going to be a good team, but we put our heads down and went to work in order to show that for ourselves more than anything.”
4. He doesn't have to be a gunslinger: Barrett said he's good at making decisions that don't hurt the team's field position. He protects the football as well. He threw 24 touchdowns and five interceptions in the regular season.
“There is a fine balance with that, but I think it depends on the situation,” Barrett said. “It might be third down and tight coverage, and you got to give a guy a chance to get the ball. I think that’s just trusting our receivers.”
5. He trusts his offensive line: Barrett is playing behind two first-team All-Americans: center Pat Elflein and right guard Billy Price.
“We talk about grinders here and what that means,” Barrett said. “When the going gets rough, that’s when they get going. It’s really just dominant play. They hone into that aggressive lineman mentality. Billy’s been a three-year starter. He hasn’t missed a game. And same with Pat. That’s rare to come by.”
6. He saw the team start to reach its potential against Nebraska: The Buckeyes bounced back from their only loss, 24-21 at Penn State, by winning their last five games. A 62-3 victory over the Cornhuskers on Nov. 5 proved the Buckeyes, even with one loss, belonged in the playoff conversation.
“We had some tough away games,” Barrett said, “but I think that was really where we wanted to hit our stride going into the back of the season and making sure we were playing our best football. Coach Meyer told us, ‘This opportunity is now.’ ”
7. Adversity has made the team better: Barrett said, "Everybody wants it to be Skittles and rainbows, and that's not how life works. I feel like that was something I had a taste of in high school. My head coach, he definitely had that in our workouts. It was something you just get dumped in the tank when you come here. It's definitely something we hang our hats on, making sure things are hard and that you grow from that."
NEXT GAME
Ohio State vs. Clemson, 7 p.m., Dec. 31, ESPN, 1410
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