Kirk Herbstreit made his opinion clear on who he thinks could have the advantage to earn Ohio State’s starting quarterback job.

And it isn’t the guy who led the Buckeyes to a national title.

The ESPN college football analyst/color commentator believes that J.T. Barrett could win the starting gig. Why?

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a leader like J.T. Barrett as young as he is,” Herbstreit said on ESPN’s Mike and Mike Wednesday morning. “I don’t know how many sophomores in history, in over 100 years of Ohio State football, have ever been voted captain. But he’s a captain this year as a sophomore.

“I think that says a lot about what’s going on behind the scenes with these guys.”

Herbstreit did reference how impressive a feat Cardale Jones pulled off in his three games at starter. Still, Barrett’s skill set, Herbstreit said, could be the difference in Urban Meyer’s offense.

“I think a lot of people still have that on their mind,” Herbstreit said. “And while he’s physically very gifted — he can throw the ball down the field — J.T. Barrett to me brings the intangibles to the table and a little more quarterback run. So it wouldn’t shock me at all to see J.T. Barrett get the edge in the opener.

“But we’ll see. I have no idea. We’ll see when we watch that first series Monday night.”

It can’t come soon enough.