How Cardale “12 Gauge” Jones Brought the Buckeyes all the Glory

Looking back at Ohio State’s last couple of seasons as I was going through trying to pick a major injury that hurt the team I decided to take a different approach to things. I decided to take the positive approach to the injury side of things and I will tell you why.

As the Buckeyes opened their fall camp on August 4th, 2014 I, and so many other fellow Ohio State were pumped to get the season under way. As Ohio State had the 4th best title odds to win it all at 10/1 in all the nation, but on August 19, just 15 days after camp started, we were dealt some divesting news. It was announced that returning senior quarterback Braxton Miller, who had surgery on his throwing shoulder that February of 2014, would miss the entire season, after re-injuring his shoulder during camp.

This injury forced redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett to come in and fill in for the injured Miller and make his first career start against a solid Navy team. OSU would end up winning 34-17 with Barrett finishing 12/15 for 226 yards, two TD’s, and one INT as well as nine carries on the ground for 50 yards. OSU would then get upset by a underrated Virginia Tech team at HOME in Barrett’s second career start where he went a dreadful 9/29 for 219 yards, one TD, and three INT. So after that loss every OSU fan around the world, including me had the exact same thought “Oh Lord, WHY did Miller have to get hurt?!?”

Barrett would put the terrible loss behind him and go 10-0 in the next 10 games while even beating the number seven ranked team in the nation Michigan State in East Lansing 49-37. This would then set up a meeting with (5-6) Team Up North, and even know they weren’t the best that year it’s always a battle in “The Game”. Just like every game between these two rivals, it was all tied up 14-14 at half. OSU began to take control early in the fourth quarter, on a Elliott TD run making the score 35–21 Ohio State.

Once again tragedy struck the whole entire Buckeye nation, during that previous touchdown drive, J.T. Barrett sustained an injury to his right leg and was carted off the field and could not return for the remainder of the game. Third string redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones would have to come in for remainder of the game. (Yes some of you may know him “We aint come here to play school” tweet that went viral during his playing days) OSU would go on to win the game 42-38.

Later, it was, in fact, determined that Barrett broke his right leg and was out for the rest of the season. At this point, Ohio State finished the regular season with a record of 12-1 and 8-0 in conference play and was lined up to play number 11 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game. Well with both starter Braxton Miller and backup J.T. Barrett both out with injuries, Urban Meyer had to rely on third string Cardale Jones to make his first career start at the B1G Championship Game vs Wisconsin!

Well, Ohio State DEMOLISHED Wisconsin by the final score of 59-0 and Cardale Jones had a field day in his first start. Jones finished 12/17 for 257 yards and three TD’s all to the same receiver, Devin Smith (by far his favorite target). All of Buckeye Nation held their heads up high after this statement win and hoped for a spot in the College Football Playoffs!

We got just what we wanted for and we squeaked into the CFP’s as the number four seed and had to play the powerhouse one seed, Alabama. Now, everyone was freaking out because we had to play Alabama but Cardale Jones had other plans. Cardale lead the underdog Buckeyes to a beautiful 42-35 upset win over the best team in the nation and into a spot in the Championship game. In that game, we would take on the number two seed, Oregon Ducks who were led by Marcus Mariota.

Cardale, or “12 gauge” as we like to call him, with a little help from back up RB Ezekiel Elliott would take down the Ducks by the score of 42-20 and took home the first ever College Football National Championship! Cardale finished the game going 16/23 for 242 yards with one TD and a INT while also rushing for 38 yards and a score as well. Jones finished the three most important games of his career going throwing for 860 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

So as you can tell, unlike other injuries where it actually hurt the team’s chances at championship, these two injuries gave Cardale the chance to shine and it brought them the title. Now, I’m not saying that Miller or Barrett wouldn’t of won them a championship, but with them going down it gave Cardale a chance to prove everyone wrong.