Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes looked unstoppable for most of the 2025 campaign. They crushed their Big Ten schedule and finally exorcised their demons against the Michigan Wolverines. Then came the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana.
After a bruising 13-10 loss dropped Ohio State to No. 2 in the final playoff rankings, the question isn’t about talent; it’s about toughness.
Why Is Urban Meyer Skeptical of a Repeat Title?
The Indiana Hoosiers jumped the Buckeyes in the rankings on Selection Sunday, entering the playoff as a 13-0 favorite. The upset victory wasn’t just a scoreboard win; it was a physical beating. Indiana’s tenacious offensive line relentlessly pressured Day’s offense, sacking Sayin five times and stalling a unit that had looked dominant all year.
Before that loss, Ohio State seemed destined to repeat as national champions. Now, former head coach Urban Meyer isn’t so sure. During Sunday’s segment of the “Triple Option” podcast, Meyer questioned whether this specific roster has the experience to handle getting punched in the mouth.
“If you’re a coach in a locker room with grown-ass men, older mature guys, that’s what they had last year,” Meyer said. “I just don’t know. This is the first time they’ve been hit in the face. They’ve got a young QB and he did not play exceptionally that day, their offensive line struggled against Indiana.”
Meyer, who led the Buckeyes to the 2014 national title before Day succeeded him in 2018, sees a difficult road ahead depending on the matchup.
“They’re gonna have either Miami or A&M (Texas),” Meyer said. “If it’s a mature locker room that goes to work and plays to their potential, there’s a great chance they can win this thing. If it’s a younger team, they won’t.”
How Does Ryan Day Plan to Bounce Back in the Cotton Bowl?
While Meyer questions the locker room’s maturity, the current head coach is demanding it. During a news conference after his team was bumped to the Cotton Bowl, Day didn’t make excuses for the performance in Indianapolis.
“We’re going to respond like men,” Day said. “We lost. We were not at our best. Everybody, including myself, the coaches, everybody. You’ve got to address the problems and get them fixed.”
The committee clearly still respects Ohio State’s resume despite the stumble. Day emphasized that the opportunity to defend their title is still right in front of them.
“The committee recognized the body of work,” Day said. “We’re excited about where we are and going down to Dallas again and playing against a really good opponent, and going from there.”
The analytics still favor the Buckeyes to make a deep run. According to PFSN’s College Football Playoff Meter, Day’s squad holds a massive 40.57% chance of reaching the national championship game on Jan. 19.
