For Cardale Jones' next opportunity to start at quarterback for Ohio State, things are pretty simple to his head coach.
"I would imagine, I have not talked to him about this, but I would imagine as a competitor and he wants to play that this is a shot to be the starting quarterback," Urban Meyer said Wednesday of Jones. "You are at Ohio State. We'll worry about next week, next week."
Next week, Ohio State takes a trip west to pay a visit to Illinois, and J.T. Barrett's one-game suspension for an OVI citation is set to be lifted.
This Saturday against Minnesota, however, the responsibility is solely on the immense shoulders of Jones. The redshirt junior has another opportunity to state his case for the permanent starting job with his performance in an 8 p.m. kickoff with the Golden Gophers.
“I made the comment earlier in the year, how do you play not looking over your shoulder? You're a quarterback at Ohio State. It's like playing shortstop for the Yankees, you're looking over your shoulder.”– Urban Meyer
"I'm sure he'll take advantage of his opportunity," starting right guard Pat Elflein said. "You got to."
Chances like the one Jones has in front of him rarely come along, especially with how Barrett torched Rutgers for five touchdowns in a 49-7 victory Oct. 24. The quarterback conundrum looked dead, but the redshirt sophomore's error early Saturday morning brought it back to life.
Jones started the first seven games of the season — all wins to bring his career record as a starter to 10-0 — but the offense was at times stagnant. That was until Barrett's threat as a runner brought back the efficiency fans grew accustomed to seeing last season prior to his ankle injury.
"I don't really think it was just the quarterback position that was making the offense whatever it was at the beginning of the season," Elflein said. "I think everybody's stepped up their play. I think the whole offense has momentum going. We're just going to build on that with Cardale in there."
That remains to be seen, but Jones' performances in the 2014 post-season show he's fully capable of leading the offense to copious amounts of points and huge victories.
He also knew then he was "the" guy at the position because of Barrett's health. Now Barrett's unavailable once again, but for an entirely different reason. Does that mean Jones won't be looking over his shoulder this weekend?
"I think those are all good theories," Meyer said. "Who knows. I haven't really been ... was he looking over his shoulder? I made the comment earlier in the year, how do you play not looking over your shoulder? You're a quarterback at Ohio State. It's like playing shortstop for the Yankees, you're looking over your shoulder."
Ohio State is always under the spotlight, which shines brighter than ever this season as the defending national champion of the sport while also sporting a perfect record.
Saturday, all eyes will be on Jones as he does his best to help keep the No. 3 Buckeyes moving forward and their College Football Playoff hopes alive. He has another shot to show the world what he can do that led to such a magical run to end last season.
"He's human and he's a competitor so I would imagine that's what he's doing, but we all know there's only one way to do that: Play well and win the game," Meyer said.
