For a team that seemed to have two great quarterbacks, Ohio State is now searching for one.
Cardale Jones started and threw two interceptions, J.T. Barrett finished and was not much better, but linebacker Darron Lee and Ohio State’s defense bailed out the struggling offense and the top-ranked Buckeyes beat Northern Illinois 20-13 on Saturday.
For the second straight week neither quarterback was particularly effective against an opponent Ohio State was expected to blow out. So who starts next week?
”Good question. And I don’t know that right now,” coach Urban Meyer said. ”I haven’t had time to think about it.”
Jones went to the bench in the second quarter. Barrett threw a touchdown pass and a pick. Ohio State had five turnovers in all and averaged only 4.5 yards per play, but still managed to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 16 games.
”It’s discombobulated right now,” Meyer said about the offense.
Lee made a spectacular interception and returned it for a 41-yard touchdown in the third quarter to make it 20-10. Unlike last week, when the Buckeyes shook free of Hawaii in the second half, they couldn’t ditch Northern Illinois (2-1).
The Huskies cut the lead to 20-13 on a field goal with 7:46 left in the fourth quarter and had two possessions where they could have tied it with a touchdown. Both times Joey Bosa and the Buckeyes D did not allow a first down.
”They’re front seven is probably as good as anyone’s in the country,” Huskies quarterback Drew Hare said.
It wasn’t just a quarterback problem for the Buckeyes. Again the offensive line struggled to move a defense that played a three-man front. NIU had shown a 4-3 look in its previous games. Ezekiel Elliott had 108 yards on 23 carries, but none longer than 13 yards.
”Obviously, everybody is going to play odd (3-4) against us now. We showed we struggle against it,” tackle Taylor Decker said. ”That takes away our double team. We like to run the ball up the middle.”
The big question heading into the season for Ohio State was who would start at quarterback: The Big Ten player of the year (Barrett) or the guy who led the Buckeyes to the national championship (Jones)?
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