[Ohioskins]

In 2017 Burrow was not "in the lead" as the backup to Barrett. As an aside, truth is both Haskins and Burrow were far better passers than Barrett. Anyway, there was stiff competition between Burrow and Haskins with neither really having an edge. But during Burrows' lost season after the broken hand, Haskins really developed significantly as the full time backup to Barrett. Haskins lead the amazing 2017 comeback win against Michigan after Barrett was hurt. Haskins made several key completions that won the game, literally. After that season where Haskins really took off, and Burrows' hand healed, Burrow went to Meyer and asked him if Meyer would treat him as equal with Haskins for the starting job in 2018. Meyer told him, no that Haskins had pulled ahead of him and he could not make any promise to Burrow that he would get an equal shot at the starting job in 2018. Burrow then went into the transfer portal. So the biggest factor was probably the amazing completions that Haskins made in relief of Barrett during the 2017 come from behind win against Michigan. One of those passes, one a third and long situation was truly amazing. Haskins fit the throw into an incredibly small completion window for a first down. His performance in the 2017 Michigan game is what sealed Haskins position ahead of Burrow going into 2018.