Ohio State football: Where does Justin Fields rank at QB in OSU history?
By Ryan Stano
Justin Fields certainly had a prolific Ohio State football career. Where does he rank in Ohio State history at the quarterback position?
The Ohio State football program has had plenty of great players in its history. The one position where they haven’t had a lot of great players is quarterback. In the last 15 years or so, that has improved a little bit. Ohio State has done a better job of recruiting that position.
Justin Fields stepped in and played great. In his two years, he made two College Football Playoffs, only lost two games in his career, and was a Heisman Finalist once. He has a lot of accolades from his two seasons in Columbus. Where do those accolades rank in Ohio State history at the quarterback position?
Based on how he played and how past OSU quarterbacks have played, I’d say he’s the second-best quarterback the Buckeyes have ever had. He was one of the most dynamic players in the country while he was in college and was always a threat to do something great when he was on the field.
The only quarterback who I would argue was better is Troy Smith. When you win a Heisman, you get to be the greatest QB of all-time until someone else can match you. Smith also made a national championship game won a lot of games.
Fields was a great player while he was in Columbus. The game he had against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in 2020 was one of the best performances anyone has had in program history. It was the gutsiest performance I have ever seen from a college player.
Fields will be an Ohio State legend not just because of his play, but because of his leadership. He was one of the leaders in getting college players a season in 2020. He fought for something his teammates and the fans believed in. That alone will get him adulation in Columbus forever.
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I believe that Fields is just behind Smith as the best quarterback in program history. He is ahead of Braxton Miller, Dwayne Haskins, and J.T. Barrett. That is the top five, in my opinion.