COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.T. Barrett already beat Cardale Jones. That was sometime this July, when Barrett visited the apartment of Jones and Tyvis Powell and took down Jones, the Buckeyes' resident video game guru, in Madden football.
Powell was gloating about Barrett's win. No matter who won, the quarterbacks were competing. Competing for fun as friends.
• Inside a day with Jones and Powell
Both Barrett and Jones have emphasized that friendship for months, but Urban Meyer waded into the friend zone Sunday, a week into preseason camp. And as the coach discussed his quarterback decision to come, it became clear how much easier this should be for him than it could have been.