The performance Cardale Jones put on against Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game caused his head coach to use a word he tends to avoid as much as possible.
“I guess I’ll use it for the first time, I was a little surprised," Meyer joked during his press conference Sunday following the news Ohio State had been selected as one of the four teams in the College Football Playoff.
To be honest, how could he not be?
Jones was the Buckeyes' third-string quarterback just two weeks before the season started. He entered Saturday's title game against the Badgers having thrown just 19 pass attempts in his entire career.
But if the redshirt sophomore from Cleveland was nervous making his first career start, he certainly didn't show it.
Jones completed 12 of his 17 passes against Wisconsin's No. 2 ranked defense. He threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns to wide receiver Devin Smith. It looked like he had been doing it at this level for years.
"It was very fun going out there showing everybody what we can do when we all come together as one," Jones said following the 59-0 win over the Badgers. "This is the first time I think we played as a nine-unit strong all the way across, from the kicking game to offense to defense. It was a great game plan executed by the players."
Jones' ability to step in and not miss a beat was kind of a microcosm of Ohio State's entire season, though.
The Buckeyes have been dealt some tough blows throughout the year, starting back in August when start quarterback Braxton Miller suffered a season-ending injury. It continued when key players Noah Spence and Dontre Wilson were lost and, perhaps the biggest blow, was losing J.T. Barrett for the rest of the year on the very first play of the fourth quarter in the Michigan game.
Add in the fact Ohio State had to replace four starters on the offensive line and an All-American running back at the beginning of the season and it seemed like everything had been working against the Buckeyes.
But all season long Ohio State had been claiming its "next man up" mantra. And even though at times it may have seemed unrealistic, it had proved it was capable of living up to it.
“Didn’t think Darron Lee would perform like an All-Big Ten outside linebacker — and he’s not quite there yet but he’s close. To see the development of Eli Apple, I thought he was a very average player and now he’s a pretty good player," Meyer said. "Two sophomore safeties that had never started before and J.T. Barrett, I thought he’d be OK."
"Then, are you kidding me?" Meyer added. "To say, ‘By the way, that guy right there, that tall kid from Glenville, he’s going to lead your team to the Big Ten championship.’"
But it happened.
And now, despite all of the injuries, setbacks and an early-season loss, Ohio State has a shot to play for something only three other teams do: a national championship.
