Its new frontrunner , Ohio State , had rebounded beautifully from a loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 6 .
Its new frontrunner , Ohio State , had just lost surging quarterback J.T. Barrett to a fractured ankle on Nov. 29 .
Its new frontrunner , Ohio State , had rebounded beautifully from a loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 6 , but had just lost surging quarterback J.T. Barrett to a fractured ankle on Nov. 29 .