COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cardale Jones claimed he didn't need it, that it was more about the offense coming together as one than alleviating any individual pressure.
But there was an expression of relief on the Ohio State quarterback's face that hadn't been present for the better part of the past month.
Jones didn't play his best game—a 19-of-33, 288-yard, two-touchdown, one-interception stat line would have looked a lot better if not for a few underthrown balls—but for the first time in three weeks, the 6'5", 250-pound signal-caller wasn't pulled for his backup until the game had gotten out of hand in a 38-12 Buckeyeswin over Western Michigan on Saturday.