Urban Meyer believes Ohio State is the college football program best set up for long-term success.
On a recent edition of The Triple Option Podcast, the three-time national championship coach ranked the Buckeyes first among 10 programs he considered the strongest bets to stay relevant over time. Meyer's case was straightforward: Ohio State's national recruiting reach gives it an edge that is hard for other programs to match.
That answer fits the broader history of college football. Sustained success is difficult to maintain, even for programs with strong brands and deep resources. Ohio State has managed to stay near the top across different eras, from its earliest national championship in 1942 to its latest in 2024.
The Buckeyes have also handled more than one difficult stretch. At the end of Jim Tressel's tenure, Ohio State entered NCAA sanctions tied to the scandal known as Tattoogate. Meyer arrived after that period and still guided the program through a seamless immediate rebound.
In Meyer's first season at Ohio State, the Buckeyes were barred from postseason competition but still finished 12-0 in the regular season. Two seasons later, they won the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship game against Oregon. That run helped reinforce the point Meyer made on the podcast: Ohio State has the combination of brand power, recruiting reach and organizational stability to recover quickly and stay in the title mix.
Alabama was part of Meyer's broader comparison because it showed how long a powerhouse can go without sustained stability before finding it. Between Bear Bryant and Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide went through 25 years of instability before their dynastic run in the 2010s. Other programs such as Florida, Auburn, Florida State, Clemson, Penn State and Ole Miss have all had major success, but Meyer's ranking placed Ohio State alone at No. 1.
For Meyer, the point was less about one season than about long-term positioning. Ohio State has already proven it can navigate change and still contend, and that is why he put the Buckeyes at the top.
