Nov. 09--EAST LANSING, Mich. -- In the hours leading to the biggest game of his life, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett planned to channel a player who is one of the finest competitors in his sport.
Peyton Manning? Nope.
Madison Bumgarner? Try again.
"I told J.T. the story about Rory McIlroy," Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman said before the Buckeyes stunned Michigan State 49-37 on Saturday night.
Herman read about how McIlroy, after winning the British Open in July, focused on two secret words: "Process" for full swings (stick to the process) and "spot" (pick a spot) on the putting green.
Herman said he told Barrett: "Let's get you a couple of words so when the bullets are flying you can think of them, take a deep breath and re-focus."
Barrett never lost focus Saturday night. He put on a dazzling show, completing 16 of 26 passes for 300 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. He also rushed 14 times for 86 yards, scoring twice.
"This is one for the ages -- that's how much respect we have for our opponent," coach Urban Meyer said. "We played a top-10 team and really played our best -- on the road."
Thanks mainly to Barrett, a seemingly endless supply of skill players and a stacked offensive line, the Buckeyes emerged as the Big Ten's best hope for the inaugural College Football Playoff.
They have a long climb considering they entered the game ranked 14th. But this was a road victory over a top-10 team -- Michigan State was eighth -- and the Buckeyes (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten) can follow it next Saturday with another quality victory at 7-2 Minnesota.
Then the Buckeyes' best hope is that Nebraska, 13th in the rankings, wins out to set up a Big Ten title game of top-10 teams.
Ohio State's making the playoff seemed nearly impossible twice -- when Braxton Miller's throwing shoulder gave out Aug. 19 and when Virginia Tech smothered the Buckeyes at home in Week 2. The Buckeyes offense was embarrassed in that game to the tune of seven sacks and three interceptions, but Barrett has been golden ever since.
On Saturday, the redshirt freshman outplayed Michigan State's Connor Cook, two years his senior.
Miller won the Tribune Silver Football, awarded to the Big Ten's player of the year, each of the last two seasons.
But Michigan State (7-2, 4-1) linebacker Taiwan Jones had a point when he said Tuesday: "I feel that Barrett works better in this offense. I feel like he has a better arm; he's a way better quarterback than Braxton."
They're both incredible rushers -- with Miller flourishing on improvised plays -- but Barrett is a far more accurate passer.
Among his Saturday highlights: Dropping a 43-yard pass into Devin Smith's arms on a third-and-23, a 44-yard strike to Smith on a third-quarter score; and a laser to Dontre Wilson for a 7-yard score that gave the Buckeyes a 42-24 lead.
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio put it this way before the game: "They are two different types of players. Braxton is more tailback-oriented. I think J.T. is more powerful, more downhill, and he leads the Big Ten in completion percentage."
Cook entered the Big Ten fourth with a 60.6 completion percentage and had a solid night, completing 25 of 45 passes for 358 and two scores.
He engineered the game's first scoring drive, rolling right to hit Keith Mumphery, who powered past cornerback Gareon Conley for a 15-yard touchdown.
It marked the 16th straight game in which Cook had thrown a touchdown pass, tying a school record belonging to Kirk Cousins and Drew Stanton.
But Ohio State rallied, despite muffing a punt and fumbling a kickoff. The game actually turned on a holding penalty on center Jack Allen that negated a Jeremy Langford touchdown. Instead of gaining a two-touchdown lead, Michigan State was held scoreless on the drive.
And then Ohio State, going up against the Big Ten's top defense in 2011, 2012 and 2013, was unstoppable. The Buckeyes rolled up 568 total yards.
tgreenstein@tribune.com
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
