Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer says Cardale Jones will start at quarterback over J.T. Barrett on Saturday vs. Western Michigan.

Meyer said yesterday he had made his choice but didn't make a public announcement until after the Buckeyes' practice Wednesday.

"It's like any position," he said. "If someone is going to replace you, they have to beat you out."

"He was the quarterback of the team that finished the season last year and the quarterback in spring practice, and he finished training camp as the starting quarterback," Meyer added. At times he has played very good, other times he has not. To replace him, the other guy has to pass him up either out there (in practice) or in games, and that has not happened. ... It's not him (that is at fault). It's the offense right now that is in a funk. When you're not getting protected and you're not balanced and you're not controlling the line of scrimmage and you're not perimeter blocking very good, the quarterback struggles."

Jones has started each of the first three games but has been removed for Barrett in the last two, the last time for the rest of the game after he threw two interceptions vs. Northern Illinois. On the year, Jones is 26 for 46 (56.5 percent) for 334 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions with 115 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Barrett has played in all three games and is 20 for 35 (57.1 percent) for 193 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. He has rushed five times for 65 yards.

“Let's be clear. I did go with one guy,” Meyer said Monday after having previously tabbed Jones the startet before the game vs. Northern Illinois. “The guy didn't perform well, so we went with the back-up. There is no set thing saying that we're a two-quarterback system, we're not. The backup's a very good player, whomever that may be. So we are going with the guy.”

The two have nearly identical passing efficiency marks, with Jones at 118.82 and Barrett at 116.61.