Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer watches his team during a punt return against Northwestern Wildcats during the 2nd quarter in the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis, Ind on December 1, 2018.

The Curious Case of Urban Meyer: Will he Take a Coaching job This Offseason and Where if so?

Author:
Mike Huesmann
Publish date:
Oct 13, 2023

By: Mike Huesmann

One of the more mercurial figures in college football is Urban Meyer. One of two men to win national titles in the modern day at two schools. He is arrogant and aloof on his best days, unlikeable and repugnant on his worst. He is also the second most successful college coach of the last 25 years. A proven winner at four colleges who has improved every team significantly, conquered all, and has results above reproach. This brings up two questions; does Urban want to coach again? And, if so, who will take the chance on him? His success almost ensures someone will give him a chance if he wants to coach again. His attitude and past actions also tell us that some schools won’t want the baggage.

Urban is past the point of paying his dues. If he accepts a job it would be a Power 5 job where he believes they can win and where he will be paid handsomely, I’d guess it would take a minimum of $7.5 million a year to even begin discussions. Schools that are rehabilitating reputations or wanting to uphold a specific public image will want to shy away from him. This limits our list to only a few schools, and several of these are not about to fire their head coach but on the off chance they lose him, for reasons I would outline, it may happen. Here are the five.

Arkansas

Things at Arkansas were awful when Sam Pittman took over and he has improved things from the Chad Morris era. The Hogs are competitive, tough, and in most games. But that may not be enough anymore, winning important games in the SEC West has to happen. There is some sense of plateauing here and wondering if they can take the next step forward under Pittman, which they could not do under Morris, Bielema, or Nutt. I feel like it would be unfair to Pittman to part ways with him after this year for the job he’s done. But when you have a proven whale available and massively influential boosters all bets are off and patience is short. Urban Meyer checks all the boxes and has taken teams to where Arkansas wants to be.

Oklahoma State

Mike Gundy is in Year 19 in Stillwater and he deserves a statue outside of the stadium someday. But given the less than impressive results this year and last there are some wondering if his best teams are behind him and the Cowboys need a new vision. The OSU backers may look at this as the perfect storm to become a power in a P5 conference. You have Texas and Oklahoma leaving, NIL money to burn, and are in a position to make a statement in a new look Big XII. Boy would Urban be a statement.

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USC

Seemingly every year we hear rumors that Lincoln Riley will talk to NFL teams. I don’t know if it’s true but one of these years it probably will be. His offensive prowess, game planning, and X’s and O’s are elite. If Riley chooses to jump to the NFL, the Trojans would be a situation that Urban may have an interest in and I feel like that interest would be mutual. USC would want a ready-made winner coming in, not a less experienced guy who would need time to change the culture. Looking at that roster would make nearly any coaches mouth water, with so much talent across the board. This is a true blue-blood school and would have many reasons for Urban to sign on.

Aug 26, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the San Jose State Spartans during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State

Being a good coach but not beating Michigan cost John Cooper his job once upon a time.

Out of all the college fan bases not happy with their coach, OSU is by far the most ridiculous. Ryan Day has gone 50-6 overall and 33-2 in the Big 10. I don’t care if those two losses are to your rival, his only conference losses were to teams that went to the playoff. I’ll step off my metaphorical soap box now. If Day loses to Michigan and Penn State this year and the hotheads prevail it would be sad for him, but Urban would be a name that could be in the mix. He won a title in Columbus, knows the area well, would have a short and easy transition back, and checks all the boxes.

Sep 17, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau (44) celebrates a tackle during the first half of the NCAA Division I football game against the Toledo Rockets at Ohio Stadium.
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas A&M

Another fanbase that has a good coach who just hasn’t done well enough for the money he’s making. The Aggies are clearly improved this year from last season and they look to be an 8-9 win team. For some though, that may not be enough in College Station. Texas A&M is funded like a playoff team and that’s where they want to be. Urban is a man who has proven he can get you there in a hurry. The roster is among the nation's most talented, facilities are elite, and everything is in place that a coach would want.