Urban Meyer couldn’t resist taking a victory lap after the Ohio State Buckeyes claimed their ninth National Championship with a dominant 34-23 win over Notre Dame. As the confetti settled, Meyer seized the moment to silence the doubters and defend head coach Ryan Day, who endured relentless criticism after a turbulent season.
In the weeks leading up to the championship, speculation swirled that Meyer might return to replace Day following Ohio State’s fourth consecutive loss to Michigan. But Meyer dismissed the rumors and instead criticized the toxic culture of online criticism surrounding the program.
“A lot has been said about Coach Day and the pressures of coaching at a place like Ohio State,” Meyer said on The Triple Option podcast. “What needs to change isn’t the coaching—it’s the idiots on social media who hide behind anonymity. When you start dragging families into it, you’ve crossed the line.”
The Pressure Cooker of Ohio State Football
Meyer, no stranger to high-stakes coaching, drew parallels to his own experiences at Florida and Ohio State, where fan expectations are sky-high. He recalled the challenges of following Florida legend Steve Spurrier and the venomous backlash after losses.
“I walked into Florida with people wanting Spurrier back—and who wouldn’t? He was a Heisman winner and a championship coach. But I’ll never forget losing to South Carolina, walking into my radio show, and being booed. I was 7-2 at the time!” Meyer said.
He also recounted the extreme pressure at Ohio State, where personal attacks on him and his family required police protection.
“Just nut job fans would target my daughters. There were times we needed 24/7 police around the house,” he shared.
The strain wasn’t limited to coaches. Meyer recalled a conversation with former Buckeye quarterback J.T. Barrett, who once showed him hateful messages from fans after a tough game. “J.T. is the toughest guy I know, but even he said, ‘These fans are nuts.’ He wasn’t wrong,” Meyer said.
Ryan Day’s Redemption
Despite the intense scrutiny, Day silenced his critics by guiding Ohio State through a historic playoff run, toppling six of the final top-10-ranked teams on the way to the title. Meyer praised Day’s resilience under pressure, saying the best response to criticism is winning.
“Booing over a missed first down or losing to a rival? That’s part of the game. But Ryan Day kept his focus, blocked out the noise, and proved himself with this championship,” Meyer said.
Meyer’s final message was clear: criticism will always exist at programs as storied as Ohio State, but the noise of victory will always drown out the doubters. And for now, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes stand on top, leaving the critics in their wake.
