Inconsistent Ohio State working to smooth out passing game

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Whether Ohio State can beat Clemson in the College Football Playoff next week could depend on which version of the wildly inconsistent Buckeyes offense shows up to play in the desert.

Or the bunch that bumbled to an upset loss at Penn State, and looked nearly as off-kilter in narrow wins over Northwestern and Michigan State, with spotty pass protection, receivers who can't get open and J.T. Barrett running for his life?

Much of that will be determined by Barrett and whether he can help shore up the Buckeyes' uneven aerial attack and complete passes down the field against a Clemson defense with four All-ACC first-teamers.

Receivers struggled to get open, Barrett could be tentative pulling the trigger and pass protection was leaky, often caving in on right tackle Isaiah Prince.

Never was it more on display than in the Michigan game, when he ran for 125 yards and a TD against a Wolverines defense that took nearly everything else away from Ohio State's offense.

[...] no play was bigger than fourth-and-1 from the 15 in the second overtime, when Barrett faked a handoff to Samuel, stepped left and chugged forward, head down, crashing toward the first down by inches.