Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has used a two-quarterback system before. Could that be in the cards for the Buckeyes next season with J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller?

(Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The question wasn't asked as a way to ruffle feathers. It was asked because Urban Meyer can offer insight into a delicate situation that's played out at other programs around the country.

Wisconsin broke out a two-quarterback look against Purdue last week. So a well-informed Wisconsin reporter, who remembered that Meyer used a two-quarterback system when he won his first national championship at Florida in 2006, asked Meyer on the Big Ten coaches teleconference about the difficulties that come with using two quarterbacks.

"It's actually very hard," Meyer said. "It's risky. We had some issues with it. I didn't see Wisconsin do that. It all depends on the makeup of the individual. If they're egoless and team-first guys, it will be no problem."

Meyer wasn't talking about his team, but couldn't these words apply to the world the Buckeyes could be living in in 2015?

If everything goes according to plan, Meyer will have two quarterbacks he feels "blessed" and "fortunate" to have on his roster. Is it crazy to think he might want use both J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller in some capacity?

Meyer just laid out the blueprint for succeeding with two quarterbacks. If a two-quarterback system ever became an option at Ohio State, why wouldn't it be with a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and a blossoming freshman with plenty of game experience whom Meyer described as "relentless"?

A reader poll conducted in October said Buckeyes fans would be OK with some version of a shared system that has Barrett taking the majority of the snaps and using Miller as change-of-pace weapon. The reverse of that (with Miller taking the bulk of the snaps) finished second.

If Miller returns from shoulder surgery for a fifth year, and Barrett continues to progress in a way that makes it difficult to keep him cooling on the bench, the same scenario that's playing out at Wisconsin now and at Florida eight years ago could be the reality for Ohio State in 2015.

Here's why it could work:

• Meyer was in his second year at Florida when he used senior Chris Leak and freshman Tim Tebow to win a national title. Leak was the passer, throwing for 2,942 yards and 23 touchdowns. Tebow was the runner, rushing for 469 yards and eight touchdowns.

• The argument can be made that Barrett is already a better passer than Leak was then. The redshirt freshman is second in the country in passer rating and fifth in the country in passing touchdowns. He's on pace to finish with better numbers than Leak did in 2006, and will have a young corps of skill players returning next year with a year's worth of experience under their belt.

• Tebow went on to be one of the best college football players ever, but as a freshman he was a bit one-dimensional. A fifth-year, healthy Braxton Miller is capable of doing more than a freshman Tebow. Miller won't be as bruising of a runner, but he can make people miss and is a better passer.

Two different quarterbacks who bring a little something different to the table surrounded by dynamic playmakers, and a veteran offensive line.

It's worked before. It could work again if Barrett and Miller meet the criteria Meyer laid out.

"There's nothing simple," Meyer said. "There's a lot of thought that goes into it."