**“URBAN SHOCKER ROCKS BUCKEYE NATION! — Meyer Reveals His Top 3 College Football Teams, Leaves Out Ohio State in Stunning and Sobering Snub”**
Urban Meyer’s name carries immense weight in the world of college football. A three-time national champion and the architect of Ohio State’s 2014 title run, Meyer remains an influential voice whose insights command attention, especially when it comes to his former team. That’s why his recent comments on who he believes are the three best teams in college football for the upcoming season sent a shockwave through Buckeye Nation. Meyer, known for his detailed analysis and brutally honest takes, revealed his top three—and conspicuously left out the Ohio State Buckeyes. For fans in Columbus and beyond, the omission wasn’t just surprising—it was borderline devastating.
Meyer’s list included Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama—three traditional powerhouses, no doubt. But to exclude Ohio State, a perennial playoff contender loaded with five-star talent and arguably the best wide receiver room in the country, sparked an avalanche of reactions from fans, analysts, and former players. Coming from almost anyone else, this might be dismissed as a hot take or attention grab. But this was Urban Meyer. The man who recruited countless current Buckeye stars, who built the foundation that Ryan Day continues to lean on, and who is still beloved in Columbus for delivering a national championship and restoring the Buckeyes to national prominence.
The sting of Meyer’s words hits harder considering Ohio State’s offseason moves, particularly the decision to overhaul the quarterback room, bolster the defense, and retain a coaching staff hungry to reclaim supremacy. The Buckeyes have spent the past two years coming agonizingly close to toppling Michigan, falling short in rivalry games that doubled as de facto College Football Playoff elimination contests. Still, with a roster overflowing with NFL talent—Marvin Harrison Jr. may be gone, but Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, and a retooled offensive line return—expectations remain sky-high. The defense, led by Jim Knowles and returning stars like JT Tuimoloau, is poised to be among the stingiest in the nation.
And yet, Urban wasn’t convinced. He cited toughness, physicality, and championship-caliber consistency as the primary qualities driving his selections. He praised Georgia’s suffocating defense, Michigan’s power-run identity, and Alabama’s track record of reloading better than anyone. For Ohio State fans, this cut especially deep because Meyer’s critiques implied that the Buckeyes might be lacking in one or more of those areas. In other words, despite the star power, there may still be a perceived softness or mental hurdle when it comes to matching up with the sport’s most bruising and disciplined teams.
It’s not that Ohio State doesn’t belong in the conversation. On paper, they absolutely do. Talent composite rankings routinely place them near the top. NFL Draft results consistently validate the quality of their player development. Recruiting classes remain elite. But paper doesn’t win national championships. That’s where Meyer’s comments might serve not as an insult, but as a challenge. His words, while harsh, could be interpreted as a call to action—an invitation for this year’s team to prove they belong on that short list of elite programs.
Ryan Day, entering a crucial year as head coach, now faces the pressure of changing that narrative. Fair or not, three straight losses to Michigan have clouded what has otherwise been a wildly successful tenure. Day’s teams have produced top-ranked offenses, Heisman finalists, and playoff appearances. But in Columbus, the standard is crystal clear: beat Michigan, win the Big Ten, and compete for national titles. Anything short of that opens the door for criticism, even from a mentor like Urban Meyer. The presence of a more experienced quarterback and a defensive unit with continuity gives Day a fighting chance to reshape that perception.
The emotional ripple effect of Meyer’s omission cannot be overstated. Buckeye fans are some of the most passionate and informed in the country. They’re used to seeing their team dominate headlines, not get excluded from lists by their own former head coach. The reaction online was swift and unrelenting. Some accused Meyer of turning his back on the program he once led. Others saw it as proof that he’s more loyal to the Big Ten as a whole, unwilling to show favoritism. But beneath the surface lies a more uncomfortable truth—maybe Meyer sees something in this Ohio State team that still needs fixing.
Leadership in the locker room will now be more important than ever. Veteran players like Egbuka, Henderson, and Tuimoloau have to internalize Meyer’s criticism and use it as fuel. Rather than being demoralized, this group should be galvanized. College football is a game driven by narrative, and there’s now a powerful one swirling around the Buckeyes: that they’ve fallen just outside the circle of true greatness. That despite their stars, despite their stadium full of 100,000 screaming fans, and despite their historic legacy, they aren’t among the top three in Urban Meyer’s eyes.
The path to redemption is clear. A season-opening statement win, followed by consistent dominance, and of course, the holy grail—a victory over Michigan—would silence all doubters. Meyer’s comments will linger until that happens. Every close game, every slow start, every defensive lapse will be magnified. Every blowout win and gutsy road performance will be dissected for signs of growth and grit. The bar has been raised, not by an outsider, but by a legend from within the Buckeye family.
Interestingly, Meyer’s picks also underscore the sheer competitiveness at the top of the sport. To be mentioned alongside Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama is a testament to how elite that group truly is. Those programs have each won playoff games in recent years, and each has a clear identity rooted in toughness, structure, and execution. For Ohio State to rejoin them in the minds of analysts and fans, they need more than flashy wins. They need signature moments—game-winning drives, goal-line stands, fourth-quarter takeovers. They need to redefine their brand not just as talented, but as tough and unrelenting.
One can also argue that Meyer’s list is simply reflective of the current national mood. Georgia remains a juggernaut. Michigan, despite losing Jim Harbaugh to the NFL, has a pipeline of trench-dominant players and a culture of physical football. Alabama is, well, Alabama—a program with sustained excellence regardless of coaching changes. Ohio State, meanwhile, is still writing the next chapter. They’ve been close. Painfully close. But college football history doesn’t reward close calls. It remembers champions.
This development might also impact recruiting, at least temporarily. Young prospects often follow headlines, and when a coaching legend publicly omits a school from the “top tier,” it can influence perception. That’s where Day and his staff will need to reinforce belief within the program and among recruits that the Buckeyes are still very much a force to be reckoned with. The facilities are top-notch. The NIL opportunities are strong. The alumni network is unmatched. The path to the NFL is well-trodden. But now more than ever, Ohio State needs to win—not just games, but narratives.
Urban Meyer will likely continue to speak candidly in his media roles, and more evaluations will come as the season unfolds. But this particular comment won’t soon be forgotten. It will live in headlines and highlight packages. It will get replayed in Buckeye team meetings and discussed in film sessions. It has become a mental bulletin board post, a moment that could very well define the emotional tone of the 2025 campaign.
If history tells us anything, it’s that great programs respond to adversity with fire. Ohio State has the personnel, the pedigree, and the pride to do just that. Urban Meyer may have omitted them from his current top three, but the Buckeyes now have 12 regular season games—and maybe more—to show that they belong. They don’t need his validation. They need wins. They need toughness. They need grit. And most of all, they need to remind the world—and perhaps Meyer himself—what Buckeye football truly stands for.
