However, in Jones's first and only game as a starter against Georgia Tech, Jones was 1-of-3 passing for 4 yards and lost two fumbles before being pulled in favor of freshman Jimmy Clausen. The following week, Jones did not make the team's bus trip to Michigan, and the sports media began to report that Jones was transferring to Northern Illinois. Those plans were thwarted when, at first, the Notre Dame athletic department refused to release Jones from his scholarship, but later they gave permission for him to speak to Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly, and Jones joined the Bearcats shortly thereafter.