J.T. Barrett to replace Cardale Jones as No. 1 Ohio State’s starting QB

J.T. Barrett will start at quarterback for No. 1 Ohio State in Saturday’s game against Rutgers, replacing Cardale Jones. Coach Urban Meyer cited “red-zone production and third-down production” as key reasons for the change.

The Buckeyes (7-0) are 81st in the nation in converting third downs, at 37.5%, and 72nd in converting red-zone trips into touchdowns at 60.7% (17 for 28) — and most of those touchdowns have come with Barrett on the field.

Harbaugh’s what-ifs

Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh is playing the “what if” game after Saturday’s 27-23 loss to Michigan State, in which the Spartans scored the winning touchdown on the game’s final play when Michigan punter Blake O’Neill bobbled a low snap and Jalen Watts-Jackson recovered the loose ball and returned it 38 yards to score as time expired.

The final play began with Michigan at the Michigan State 47 with 10 seconds to play, and Harbaugh said after the game that he wished O’Neill had fallen on the football, leaving Michigan State with a Hail Mary attempt as its only option to win the game. On Tuesday, he acknowledged that running sweeps toward the sideline to take more time off the clock was something he considered on first, second and third down.

Etc.

Kansas Coach David Beaty said quarterback Michael Cummings, who had surgery for a torn knee ligament in June, was unlikely to be granted a sixth year of eligibility, likely ending his college career.

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North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz will miss the rest of the regular season after breaking a bone in his throwing wrist Saturday during a loss to South Dakota.