The college football season may be over, but the conversations around what comes next are just heating up-especially in Columbus. After falling short of a repeat national title run with a loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl, the Ohio State Buckeyes head into the offseason with more questions than answers. But if you ask Urban Meyer, there’s a different energy building inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Meyer, who knows a thing or two about building championship-caliber teams in Columbus, recently shared his thoughts on Ryan Day’s mindset heading into 2025. And according to the former Buckeyes head coach, Day isn’t just reloading-he’s retooling with purpose.
“I actually talked to Coach Day about that yesterday,” Meyer said on The Triple Option podcast. “We talked about it before the [national title] game and he mentioned that. That everyone’s talking about it-how do we get a locker room of grown-ass men that have been through it?”
That’s not just coach-speak. It’s a real acknowledgment of where the game is heading.
In today’s college football landscape, experience isn’t just a bonus-it’s a blueprint. Meyer emphasized the difference between coaching a freshman who’s just getting his feet wet and a seasoned junior or senior who’s been through the wars.
“Coaching that 21-year-old is a much different cry from coaching that 18-year-old,” Meyer said. “You’ve got a grown-ass man with experience that understands the game.”
That veteran presence has been a common denominator among recent national champions. The Big Ten has now claimed three straight titles, and Meyer pointed out that those teams shared a key trait: maturity. These weren’t just talented squads-they were battle-tested, physically developed, and mentally tough.
“I think the template has all been set now, with the Big Ten winning three years in a row [with the] most mature, veteran teams,” Meyer said. “Every team average age is what-someone said they were about the same age as NFL teams… The average experience was almost four years.”
That’s not hyperbole-it’s a reflection of how the transfer portal and COVID eligibility extensions have reshaped roster construction. Programs that can stack experience with elite talent are the ones standing tall in January.
Michigan just proved it. Ohio State’s done it before.
And now, the Buckeyes are aiming to do it again.
Of course, having the right pieces matters too. The return of quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith gives the Buckeyes a dynamic offensive core to build around. Sayin’s poise and arm talent are already drawing attention, and Smith’s explosiveness on the outside could make him one of the most dangerous weapons in the country.
But as Meyer hinted, it’s not just about stars-it’s about scars. It’s about having players who’ve felt the sting of a tough loss and know what it takes to climb back. That’s the kind of locker room Day is trying to shape.
Whether that vision turns into a title run remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: there’s a renewed sense of urgency in Columbus.
The bar hasn’t moved-it’s still national championship or bust. And with the Big Ten evolving into a deeper, more competitive conference, the Buckeyes know they’ll need more than talent to get back to the mountaintop.
Come August, we’ll get our first real look at what this version of Ohio State is made of. Until then, expect the work behind the scenes to be as intense as ever. Because in today’s college football, experience isn’t just the edge-it’s the expectation.