Who is backing up Ohio State's Cardale Jones?

Published Jan. 11, 2015 6:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

DALLAS (AP) -- Ohio State has already lost two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries. What happens if Cardale Jones goes down in the national championship game?

The Buckeyes' next option is Jalin Marshall, who doesn't have anything close to Jones' passing ability. Marshall has thrown two passes this season -- both were incomplete -- and the team would likely run a lot of wildcat if he's in the game.

"It's kind of difficult and hard for him because he's a receiver," Jones said. "We don't expect him to get in and do things that a quarterback would do, but he should be able to get in and manage the game."

Marshall was a quarterback in high school. Asked if Marshall could be relied upon to throw a fair amount of passes in a game, co-offensive coordinator Ed Warinner smiled and said: "He's going to be efficient at whatever we need him to do."

Ohio State's other option is freshman Stephen Collier. He's been working with the scout team, portraying Oregon's Heisman-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, and has no desire to get on the field Monday night.

"The plan is for me not to play," Collier said.