Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer continues to have high praise for this year’s Buckeyes.
In his new podcast, “The Triple Option,” with fellow college football analysts Mark Ingram and Rob Stone of Fox, Meyer wasted no time in sharing his sky-high expectations for the Buckeyes.
“I’ve talked to Jim Tressel about it. I’ve read about them. I’ve watched them,” Meyer said. “This might be the best roster in college football in the last decade. As far as NFL talent and depth. They have the second-string running back, whoever it is, probably a first-round draft pick. I mean, they’re loaded.”
Meyer echoed that sentiment in an interview with WBNS 10TV in June, saying he had “never seen anything like” coach Ryan Day’s roster for the 2024 season.
But during his conversation with former Heisman Trophy winner Ingram, Meyer compared the amount of talent Ohio State will have to the schedule that awaits the Buckeyes at the start of the season.
“Their schedule is a joke to begin with,” Meyer said. “I mean, they’re going to be 50-point favorites in the first three games. They have a week off and then they play Michigan State, which is a shadow of its former self right now.”
Meyer expects Ohio State’s core players to “probably play 30 to 40 games in the first month of the season” and not see much action in the second half.
Ohio State opens the season with non-league games against Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Ohio State is a 50.5-point favorite in its season opener against Akron on August 31. The Buckeyes are also double-digit favorites against Iowa (-24), Nebraska (-25.5) and Michigan (-10).
Urban Meyer: Will Howard and Chip Kelly “married for each other”
Meyer called Will Howard, the quarterback transferred from Kansas State, a “big question mark” for Ohio State and said Howard is in the best possible situation because of the person calling the plays.
“I think he and Chip Kelly, the new offensive coordinator, are made for each other,” Meyer said.
During a recent appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Meyer said he expects Ohio State’s offense under Kelly to be similar to the one he fielded at UCLA with Howard as his starting quarterback.
In his podcast, Meyer said Howard is “surprisingly fast,” a “big guy” and a “perfect fit” at Ohio State.
In four seasons at Kansas State, Howard had 48 touchdowns, 25 interceptions and 5,786 passing yards. He also had 19 touchdown runs and averaged 4.1 yards per run.
Ohio State opens the 2024 season at home against Akron on August 31 at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
Ohio State Football Schedule 2024
- August 31: Ohio State vs. Akron; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- September 7: Ohio State vs. Western Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- September 21: Ohio State vs. Marshall; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- September 28: Ohio State at Michigan State; Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
- October 5: Ohio State vs. Iowa; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- October 12: Ohio State at Oregon; Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
- October 26: Ohio State vs. Nebraska; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- November 2: Ohio State at Penn State; Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
- November 9: Ohio State vs. Purdue; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- November 16: Ohio State at Northwestern; Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
- November 23: Ohio State vs. Indiana; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- November 30: Ohio State vs. Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
