Ohio State has slipped in the AP Top 25 Poll for back-to-back weeks, now sitting at No. 7, and their former head coach Urban Meyer is absolutely not having it. Speaking on “Big Noon Kickoff” before the Buckeyes’ Big Ten opener against Illinois, Meyer didn’t pull any punches, declaring, “No. 7? That’s a joke.” He’s convinced that teams playing tough non-conference games early are getting penalized and believes Ohio State is firmly one of the top-three teams in the country.
Meyer’s Rant Has Some Serious Weight
Meyer isn’t just venting, he’s got a point. This team started the season ranked No. 1 overall. They blasted Ball State 56-3 at home, then went on the road to Austin for a brutal game against the now-No. 1 Longhorns. And yeah, they lost that one 24-23, but don’t forget, they were up by 20 points with just over five minutes left in the third quarter! Texas absolutely snatched that victory with touchdowns on their last three possessions, but Meyer is right: playing a tough road game like that exposes weaknesses early, and you have time to fix them. After that heartbreaker, the Buckeyes roared back with a 59-3 beatdown of Kent State. These guys are putting up numbers, ranking first in the Big Ten in total yards with 523.3 per game, second in passing (364.7), and third in points scored (46.0). Quarterback Julian Sayin is dealing, with 839 yards, six TDs, only one pick, and a ridiculous 182.6 passer rating, completing 70.9% of his passes. And receiver Jeremiah Smith? Dude is a superstar, already setting the Buckeyes’ all-time receiving yards record last week, racking up 21 catches for 400 yards and three scores this season. Even on the ground, Bo Jackson has 230 yards and two TDs, with Jakobi Jackson adding 150 yards and four scores.
The “Weaknesses” That Could Derail The Season
But even with all that offensive firepower, Meyer didn’t just sing praises. He highlighted some real concerns that could cost Ohio State down the line. First up? Red-zone offense. Meyer called it a “legit concern,” even pointing back to their losses against Indiana and Miami last year. That’s a killer, leaving points on the field when you’re supposed to punch it in. Then there’s the pass rush, which has managed only four sacks all season. That’s just not enough pressure to consistently disrupt opposing quarterbacks. Finally, the rush defense. Giving up 70 yards rushing against Texas, a team they were dominating, shows there are holes that can be exploited. The good news, as Meyer points out, is that these are all fixable issues. The defense still looks stout overall, ranking third in the Big Ten in opponent total yards (211.7 per game), fourth in opponent rushing yards (85.7), and opponent points (10.0). Safety Earl Little Jr. leads the squad with 17 tackles, and linebacker Payton Pierce has 14 tackles and a forced fumble.
So, while Meyer might be steaming, his insights offer a clear roadmap. The Buckeyes have five ranked matchups left on their schedule,No. 17 Iowa, No. 5 Indiana, No. 12 USC, No. 20 Oregon, and No. 18 Michigan. If they fix these “jokes” of weaknesses, they can absolutely prove Meyer right about being a top-three team and make a serious statement as the season rolls on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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