It’s been over a week since Ohio State fell to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship-a 13-10 slugfest that left Buckeyes fans stunned and the program searching for answers. But if you ask former head coach Urban Meyer, this might be the exact kind of wake-up call the team needed heading into the postseason.
Speaking on The Triple Option, Meyer offered a perspective only someone with his track record could provide. “I think this is kind of what we needed,” he said, reflecting on the loss. And he’s not just talking about bouncing back from a tough game-he’s talking about the mindset it takes to win when the stakes are highest.
Meyer pointed to last year’s Ohio State squad, a team he described as “the most mature group,” and drew parallels to Michigan’s 2022 team-another veteran-heavy unit that made a serious playoff push. The message?
Experience matters when the pressure ramps up. And right now, that’s the question facing the Buckeyes: is this a team built to respond?
The reality is, this year’s group is younger, especially under center. Meyer didn’t sugarcoat it-the quarterback didn’t play his best game against Indiana, and the offensive line gave up five sacks.
That’s not the kind of performance you want to see in a championship setting. But even with those struggles, the Buckeyes still have two of the most dynamic receivers in the country.
That kind of firepower keeps them in any game.
Looking ahead, Meyer noted that Ohio State could draw either Miami or Texas A&M in the postseason. Regardless of who lines up across from them, the key won’t be the opponent-it’ll be the Buckeyes themselves.
“If it’s a mature locker room that goes to work and plays to their potential, there’s a great chance they can win this thing out,” Meyer said. “If it’s a younger team, they won’t.”
That’s the challenge now. The loss to Indiana stings, no doubt.
But it also presents an opportunity-a chance to regroup, refocus, and come back stronger. It’s the same path Ohio State took after their loss to Michigan last November, one that nearly led them to a national title.
Whether this team has that same resolve, that same edge, will start to reveal itself on New Year’s Day. The postseason is coming, and with it, a chance for Ohio State to prove that this setback was just the beginning of something bigger.