Urban Meyer didn’t sugarcoat Ohio State’s position in the College Football Playoff race.
On The Triple Option podcast, the former Florida and Ohio State coach reacted to the first round of CFP rankings and said the Buckeyes are in a dangerous spot after their latest setback. Meyer also took aim at Indiana’s lofty placement, saying the Hoosiers got a major break because of their schedule and that he would have had No. 8 seed UCLA ahead of them.
Then he turned to one of his old teams and delivered the bluntest line of the segment: “They [Ohio State] are on life support,” said Meyer. “They have to win. I mean, we knew that, but this ranking... and I'll tell you the other one, Notre Dame's got zero room for error.”
Ohio State’s path has tightened fast. The Buckeyes were rolling until the 24-23 loss to Texas in Week 2, then got back on track behind quarterback Julian Sayin with wins over Iowa and Indiana. But in that Indiana game, Sayin suffered a right arm/should injury, and after a bye week, backup Luke Fahey stepped in against USC and took the loss, 30-18.
That leaves Ohio State just outside the CFP field with no margin left. The schedule doesn’t offer much breathing room either.
No. 23 Oregon comes to town this weekend, and while the Ducks have struggled, they still have the kind of talent that can make things messy.
After that, the Buckeyes still have Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan ahead. None of those teams are ranked, but all have winning records, and Nebraska in particular looms as a tricky road game on November 21st.
The Big Ten picture is already a mess. UCLA sits at 5-0 in conference play and has the inside track to reach the Big Ten title game and the CFP. Indiana is 8-1 despite the soft schedule Meyer pointed out, and after a bye this week, the Hoosiers’ biggest remaining test is USC at home.
If Ohio State slips out of the race, USC could be the team that benefits most. The Trojans already beat the Buckeyes and are 7-2, with chances left to knock off both Indiana and UCLA. With the Big Ten having won the last three CFP titles, Ohio State’s standing could end up carrying championship weight well beyond Columbus.
In Other News...
Indianas Quarterback Decision Suddenly Feels Bigger Than One Minnesota Win
Curt Cignetti spent part of his radio show this week trying to put Indianas quarterback situation in clearer focus, and the conversation only underscored how much the position now shapes the Hoosiers outlook. Starter Josh Hoover is still recovering from the injury he sustained against Ohio State and is resting for now, while Grant Wilson stepped in after halftime against Minnesota and helped steady the offense in a game Indiana eventually won in overtime.
Wilsons path to this moment has been a winding one, including a return to Bloomington after another player transferred, but Cignetti said he has confidence in the backups ability to handle the job. With Hoover unavailable and Wilson having just delivered in a pressure spot, the Hoosiers suddenly have a quarterback question that reaches beyond one comeback win and into the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Just Gave Hoosiers Fans Another Reason To Rally
Curt Cignetti used his weekly radio show in Bloomington with Don Fischer to do more than break down Indiana football. He also took aim at the College Football Playoff rankings, arguing that the media gives too much benefit of the doubt to SEC teams. For Hoosiers fans, it was another reminder that their coach is willing to say out loud what plenty of people around the Big Ten have been muttering for years.
The comments quickly spread well beyond the local airwaves, giving Indiana another burst of attention at a time when the program is trying to keep building momentum. Cignetti has made a habit of defending the Big Ten, and this latest round only adds to the sense that he is comfortable leaning into conference pride while putting Indiana in the middle of a larger national conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Faces A Real QB Decision As CFP Pressure Builds
With Indiana trying to keep its College Football Playoff push on track, the quarterback situation has become a real week-to-week issue. Curt Cignetti said starter Josh Hoover has been dealing with injuries, and backup Grant Wilson made a strong impression after stepping in during the recent game, giving the Hoosiers at least something to think about as they sort out the most important position on the field.
The timing matters because Indiana has not been getting enough from the offense even while the defense has held up its end. Cignetti also took aim at the way the CFP rankings and surrounding media chatter are being framed, making clear that the only evaluation that really counts will come on the field, where the Hoosiers still have to settle their quarterback question before the stakes get any higher. [Read more 🡒]