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...
USC Baseball Mourns A Program Figure Fans Wont Forget
USC baseball is remembering Frank Sanchez, a longtime program figure whose impact stretched well beyond his years in Cardinal and Gold. Sanchez died Nov. 4 at 73 from complications related to a brain tumor, closing the book on a coaching career that included a decade as USCs lead assistant from 1987 to 1996 before he moved on to become head coach at Pepperdine.
For Trojans fans, Sanchez was part of an era that helped shape the programs identity, and his name carried weight in college baseball circles long after he left Los Angeles. He was recognized for his contributions to the sport and is survived by his family, leaving USC and the broader baseball community to reflect on a career that made a lasting mark. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Got Pulled Into A Fascinating Arch Manning Debate
Jayden Maiavas decision to return to USC and skip the 2026 NFL Draft gives the Trojans a clear answer at quarterback for now, and it also sharpens the spotlight on what comes next in Lincoln Rileys offense. Maiava is expected to play his final games in cardinal and gold this season, which keeps USCs immediate plans stable even as the program remains part of a bigger national conversation about quarterback movement.
That conversation picked up when NFL Network draft scout Daniel Jeremiah floated the idea that Texas quarterback Arch Manning could view USC as a landing spot if he ever entered the transfer portal. The reasoning is easy to follow from USCs side: the Trojans have playmakers around the position, and Riley has already built a reputation for developing quarterbacks. For now, it is only a possibility, not a decision, but it is the kind of speculation that keeps USC in the middle of every major quarterback debate. [Read more 🡒]
USC Volleyball Finally Got The Reset Trojans Fans Needed
After four straight losses, USC womens volleyball finally got the kind of reset it had been chasing, taking care of Rutgers in straight sets and looking much more like the team that had been missing in recent weeks. The Trojans were efficient from the start, hitting .351 with 42 kills and 12 blocks, a sharp contrast to Rutgers .133 attack and four blocks.
Mia Tvrdy, London Wijay and Adonia Faumuina were among the key pieces in a performance that gave USC a chance to breathe and regroup. For a team trying to stop a slide and steady itself, this was the sort of clean win that can matter beyond the box score, even if the real test is whether it carries over into what comes next. [Read more 🡒]