Why is this news?: Superior talent at QB makes Ohio State's system run, Gary Patterson wins AP Coach of the Year

"I get a little upset when I hear, 'He's a system quarterback.' Damn right he is. He's not a grab bag quarterback, I can promise you that. That's why I like the way we do our business."

- Urban Meyer on Cardale Jones, via Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones is just over a week away from his second ever start and it comes in what will likely be the biggest game of his life. Jones leads the Buckeyes against Alabama in the second game of the College Football Playoff at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

The Buckeyes' coaching staff has been hard at work in ensuring that their quarterback will be ready to play. Tom Herman, who will be leaving Ohio State after this season for a head coaching job at Houston, say Jones doesn't have to be Braxton Miller or J.T. Barrett. Just being himself will be enough for Ohio State to win. Regardless, it's going to be a tough challenge for Jones and company to beat the first-seed Crimson Tide.

"Him being around really gives us motivation and makes us look in the mirror a little bit. Sometimes we might come out here and have a little bit of a bad attitude (from the grind of football). Then you realize that other people have a little bit more going on in their lives, and we have to have a more positive outlook."

- Joshua Perry on Jacob Jarvis, via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Bill Rabinowitz ran a great story on Jacob Jarvis' relationship with Ohio State's head coach and its players that I really recommend you read. It's a heart-warming read for the holidays. Jacob Jarvis had been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but his relations with the Buckeyes has helped him feel like another one of the gang.

From the story itself:

Ask Ohio State's players and coaches, and the answer is clear. They say they are getting more from the friendship than they are giving.

"Not even in the same ballpark," coach Urban Meyer said.

"Under Urban Meyer, Brett Hundley would be a college star unlike any we've seen in some time."

- Bellerophon, via Menelaus, Bruins Nation

The staff over at Bruins Nation, the SB Nation blog covering UCLA athletics, took a look at what would have been if Brett Hundley would have played quarterback for Urban Meyer at Ohio State. Opinions varied, but the consensus was that Hundley was a perfect fit for the Buckeyes' head coach. Without much mention of Braxton Miller, the Bruins fans also discussed who was better between Hundley and J.T. Barrett/Cardale Jones.

Not surprisingly, the opinion was heavily in favor of Hundley over Barrett and Jones. Said one of the responses:

"No, neither one is better than Hundley. J.T. Barrett is going to be a special player, but if you put him in Westwood, he'd suffer under Mazzone's "coaching" or lack thereof."

"Patterson received 27 of 54 votes from the AP Top 25 media panel. Urban Meyer of Ohio State was the runner-up with 14 votes."

- Associated Press

It looks like Urban Meyer won't be winning a coach of the year award this time around. Despite losing both of his Heisman-contending quarterbacks to season-ending injuries (and still winning all but one game, including the Big Ten championship), Meyer fell short to TCU's Gary Patterson, who was also a worthy candidate. Coach Meyer won his first Big Ten championship as Ohio State's lead man and did it in impressive fashion after beating down Wisconsin in Indianapolis.

Still, Ohio State has a spot in the College Football Playoff, something that TCU can't say they have. I guess that's a pretty good consolation prize. Now coach Meyer will have to do his best to prepare his team for what should be a fantastic display of football when he faces off against Nick Saban and Alabama.

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