Sep 19, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer reacts as the game becomes close during the second half versus Northern Illinois Huskies at Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes won 20-13. Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer declined to identify his starting quarterback for this week’s game against Western Michigan.
“I haven’t decided yet,” he said Monday. “Not one has beaten out the other.”
Cardale Jones led the Buckeyes to a 20-13 victory over Northern Illinois in Columbus on Saturday. Jones, who started both College Football Playoff games for Ohio State to lead the Buckeyes to the national championship last season, could move to No. 2 on the depth chart behind J.T. Barrett. Jones was 4 for 9 with two interceptions as the Buckeyes dodged an upset bid by NIU.
“We’re turning the ball over at an alarming rate,” Meyer said Monday.
Barrett became Ohio State’s starter in August 2014, when Braxton Miller was sidelined by a shoulder injury. Jones became the starter in the postseason when Barrett injured his ankle.
Meyer said after the win over the Huskies that there could be some truth in the idea that he would be better off picking one quarterback for the Buckeyes. Barrett and Jones said in August that they did not want to split reps.
“Not that I’m going to call some armchair (analysts) and ask them what they think, but I do believe in game reps. That’s how players get better, and that’s something that I’m going to spend a lot of time thinking about,” Meyer said Saturday.
