The Deadline for Urban Meyer to Settle Ohio State's QB Competition
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A routine, out-of-conference shutout for the nation's No. 1 team rarely leaves it facing such uncertainty.
But following Ohio State's 38-0 win over Hawaii on Saturday, the biggest question in college football remains unanswered.
Who is Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes' top option at quarterback?
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"I can't recall in major college football history when I remember witnessing something like this," the head coach said after the game. "Where you have two good guys."
Only on Saturday, neither Cardale Jones nor J.T. Barrett lived up to their billings as two of the country's top signal-callers, inconsistencies plaguing each in their respective time on the field. Jones got the starting nod for the second straight game, but was pulled midway through the second quarter after a 6-for-9, 82-yard passing performance only netted seven points for Ohio State's typically high-powered offense.
In his absence, Barrett didn't fare much better, completing just five of his 12 pass attempts for 41 yards in the first half, leading the Buckeyes on a 35-yard scoring drive after a Rainbow Warriors interception put Ohio State in Hawaii territory.
At halftime, Meyer turned back to Jones as the quarterback carousel in Columbus continued.
The Buckeyes offense continued to look sluggish in the second half, scoring 17 points while being aided by a strong effort and even a touchdown from its defensive counterpart. Given the quick turnaround following last Monday's win over Virginia Tech, the sloppy outing was understandable—if not expected—and was also due in part to an underwhelming performance from the OSU offensive line.
"We did not protect very well today," Meyer admitted. "We have to get that fixed."
But while Meyer is often adamant that the quarterback is a "product of those around him," neither Jones nor Barrett did much Saturday to distinguish himself from the other with their individual play. Jones directed the offense for the majority of the second half, but Barrett took over the OSU offense with just more than five minutes remaining in the game, helping to lead the Buckeyes on a 45-yard touchdown drive that Jones actually started due to a miscommunication on the sideline.
On the day, Jones completed 12 of his 18 pass attempts for 111 yards. Barrett, meanwhile, completed eight of his 15 passes for 70 yards.
Neither quarterback threw a touchdown or an interception on the afternoon. Neither managed to muster much on the ground either, a staple at the position in Meyer's spread offense.
After the game, Meyer remained noncommittal when it came to his quarterback conundrum.
"I have to self-evaluate and make sure we're doing the right thing by those guys," he said. "I'll have more answers for you after I think it through and watch the film."
It's worth noting—again—that the Buckeyes did win the game in blowout fashion and did so by relying on a heavy dose of running back Ezekiel Elliott. The preseason Heisman Trophy favorite totaled 101 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, despite not having a reliable passing game to assist him.
And with the schedule Ohio State has ahead of it, which may not see the Buckeyes truly challenged until a Nov. 21 date with Michigan State in Columbus, the reality is that Meyer may not have to make a call on who his No. 1 quarterback is anytime soon.
Because while both Jones and Barrett maintained in the preseason that they would prefer to not play in a two-quarterback system this fall, Ohio State's overwhelming talent advantage against the remainder of its schedule has bought Meyer time when it comes to college football's most talked about quarterback competition.
Jones admitted after the Buckeyes' season-opening win over the Hokies that he was yet to feel like his team's solidified starter, and on Saturday that sentiment remained.
"Yeah, of course," Jones answered when asked if he felt like Ohio State's quarterback battle was ongoing. "In my opinion, that's good, because we're going to keep each other razor sharp, week in and week out."
But sooner or later—whether it's in an unexpected early season battle against the Spartans, in the Big Ten title game or even the College Football Playoff—the Buckeyes are going to need to know who their top signal-caller is. On Saturday, that would've been easier said than done, as neither passer played as well as he did during Ohio State's run to the national title a season ago.
"Our execution is not where it needs to be," Meyer said of Jones and Barrett.
And until it is, it's clear the quarterback competition in Columbus will continue.
Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten lead writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
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