Urban Meyer Exposes the Challenges of Repeating as National Champions
Urban Meyer Reveals the Harsh Reality About Repeating as National Champions
After an impressive playoff run, the Ohio State Buckeyes secured the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff national championship, defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 in the title game. Now, their goal is to accomplish something only three teams have done since 1980: win back-to-back national championships.
Since 1980, only the Georgia Bulldogs (2021-22), Alabama Crimson Tide (2011-12), and Nebraska Cornhuskers (1994-95) have achieved this feat. Urban Meyer, Fox Sports college football analyst, won two national titles with the Florida Gators in a three-year span but never managed to win consecutive championships.
Meyer joined “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on Tuesday, where he spoke about the challenges facing Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day this season.
Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day
“My 2009 team was more talented than the 2008 national champion Florida Gators,” Meyer said. “By ‘more talented,’ I mean they had more depth. My 2015 Ohio State team was more talented than the 2014 team, yet we didn’t win it. Why? Because it’s different. There are always challenges. Climbing to the top requires energy and passion, but staying at the top feels like you’re constantly under attack.”
In 2009, the Florida Gators, led by quarterback Tim Tebow, completed the regular season undefeated at 12-0, seeking to be the first Florida team to go perfect. However, they lost to Alabama 32-13 in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama went on to win their first national championship under coach Nick Saban that year.
In 2015, the Ohio State Buckeyes finished the regular season with a 12-1 record. They were ranked in the top two throughout the season until a surprise 17-14 loss to Michigan State, which eliminated them from the College Football Playoff race and ended their bid for back-to-back Big Ten titles.
Now, Ryan Day faces the challenge of achieving what Meyer couldn’t: winning consecutive national championships.
ESPN college football analy
st Paul Finebaum.
