Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett has been suspended one game after being arrested early Saturday morning on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated near campus.
The school announced that Barrett was cited with a misdemeanor offense of OVI and will serve the suspension for top-ranked Ohio State's game on Nov. 7 against Minnesota. The defending national champion Buckeyes do not have a game this week.
The arrest was first reported Saturday by ElevenWarriors.com.
Because Barrett is under the age of 21, his arrest would be considered a second positive under Ohio State's department of athletics student-athlete drug and alcohol program. Under the program, Barrett would be subject to a two-week suspension from his team's competition. OSU athletic director Gene Smith would decide whether to reinstate Barrett to the team, and he would be subject to reasonable cause testing in the future.
But Smith told ESPN on Saturday morning that because Barrett was charged with a misdemeanor, he isn't subject to the mandatory two-week suspension. Smith said Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer decided Barrett's punishment.
Smith said Barrett will be eligible to return for Ohio State's road game at Illinois on Nov. 14 and its Nov. 21 showdown against No. 6 Michigan State at the Horseshoe.
Barrett, a sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas, had regained the starting job from Jones before last week's 49-7 victory over Rutgers. He took over the offense against Rutgers after Jones started the first seven games of the 2015 season. Barrett completed 14 of 18 passes for 223 yards with three touchdowns in what might have been Ohio State's most impressive victory of the season.
Barrett was the starter in 2014 before breaking his ankle in the final regular-season game against rival Michigan.
Information from ESPN's Brett McMurphy was used in this report.
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Barrett, 20, was arrested after trying to avoid a DUI checkpoint near the Ohio State campus, a source told ESPN. He failed a breathalyzer test and was released to teammate and fellow quarterback Cardale Jones, according to the source.
The arrest was first reported Saturday by ElevenWarriors.com.
Because Barrett is under the age of 21, his arrest would be considered a second positive under Ohio State's department of athletics student-athlete drug and alcohol program. Under the program, Barrett would be subject to a two-week suspension from his team's competition. OSU athletic director Gene Smith would decide whether to reinstate Barrett to the team, and he would be subject to reasonable cause testing in the future.
But Smith told ESPN on Saturday morning that because Barrett was charged with a misdemeanor, he isn't subject to the mandatory two-week suspension. Smith said Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer decided Barrett's punishment.
Smith said Barrett will be eligible to return for Ohio State's road game at Illinois on Nov. 14 and its Nov. 21 showdown against No. 6 Michigan State at the Horseshoe.
Barrett, a sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas, had regained the starting job from Jones before last week's 49-7 victory over Rutgers. He took over the offense against Rutgers after Jones started the first seven games of the 2015 season. Barrett completed 14 of 18 passes for 223 yards with three touchdowns in what might have been Ohio State's most impressive victory of the season.
Barrett was the starter in 2014 before breaking his ankle in the final regular-season game against rival Michigan.
Information from ESPN's Brett McMurphy was used in this report.
