The defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes are back, but they look like they've never left.

OSU coach Urban Meyer started Cardale Jones at quarterback after keeping his team's starter a secret all summer. Jones began last season as the third-string QB, but after injuries to starter Braxton Miller and second-stringer J.T. Barrett -- the reigning Big Ten quarterback of the year -- Jones started and won the national championship game against Oregon in January.

The decision paid off early for Meyer, as Jones connected with Curtis Samuel on the team's first drive of the season for a terrific touchdown.

Ezekiel Elliott, who ran all over the competition in the inaugural college football playoff, took his first handoff of the season 80 yards for a score in OSU's second drive of the game.

Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger, a former Buckeye himself, was pretty excited.

It's not a bad start for the champs, and has to have the rest of the FBS teams on high alert in what was pegged as a potential "upset special."

Thumbnail photo via Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports Images