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Ohio State Football Roster 2015: QB Competition Still Unresolved, Possibly Set Back After Northern Illinois Win

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Even three weeks into the regular season, Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer is not ready to name either Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett his full-time starter at quarterback and both players' performances Saturday did not help.

Ohio State survived against Northern Illinois, winning 20-13 despite underwhelming play from both quarterbacks. Jones started the game, as he has for the Buckeyes' two other games, but threw two interceptions in nine passing attempts for a mere 36 yards.

Barrett came in and completed 15 passes among 19 attempts for 97 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Additionally, both were nonfactors in the running game, combining for 29 yards on five carries.

"I haven't decided yet," Meyer told reporters at a press conference Monday, according to ESPN. "We're going to have conversations, and [as of] today, not one has beaten out the other and they're not playing great."

Ohio State's win was a testament to their overall talent, as running back Ezekiel Elliot compiled 108 rushing yards on 28 carries. The Buckeye defense also caught two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Jones started for the Buckeyes' season opener against Virginia Tech and played well enough to keep Barrett on the sideline until the very end of the game. Starting a week later against Hawaii, Jones came out a bit earlier en route to a 38-0 blowout win.

But while neither QB has distinguished himself, the offense has thrived thanks to its deep depth chart of playmakers led by Elliot and receiver/hybrid back Braxton Miller. Regardless, Meyer denied the uncertainty is playing affecting his QBs.

"I hear someone say, 'How can you play quarterback with someone looking over your shoulder.' My comment to that person was, 'How do you not?'" Meyer said. "If you think you're going to play at the next level, there's going to probably be one better than you standing right next to you, so get used to it. It doesn't mean you get hooked [permanently], but if you have a bad day, you get replaced. That might not be everyone's philosophy, and that's OK."

(Source: ESPN)

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