re: I'm not jinxing or looking ahead, I swear...

I can't imagine winning a NC game with a non-running qb going 1-8 passing. Although I haven't looked into it I think they were probably much more lax in letting the clock tick after plays back then than they are now. The game has changed in so many ways in the coaching of qb's at a young age and the sophistication of the offenses. Mason may be much more skilled than Buck but he is just a game manager in the same way. A.J. McCarron is another comparison in your scenario.