‘On Life Support’: Urban Meyer’s Stark Warning Puts College Football Playoff Contender on Notice

Meyer questions the rankings

On The Triple Option podcast, Meyer discussed the first College Football Playoff rankings and the Big Ten race. He said Indiana received a major break at No. 4 because of its light schedule, and said he would have ranked No. 8 seed UCLA ahead of the Hoosiers.

Meyer also cautioned that Ohio State and Notre Dame could not afford mistakes. “They are on life support,” Meyer said of the Buckeyes, adding that they had to win. He said Notre Dame had “zero room for error.”

Ohio State faces a difficult stretch

Ohio State’s season had been going smoothly after its 24-23 loss to Texas in Week 2, with quarterback Julian Sayin leading wins over Iowa and Indiana. Sayin injured his right arm or shoulder in the Indiana game, according to the article.

After a bye, backup Luke Fahey took over against USC, and Ohio State lost 30-18. The Buckeyes now sit just outside the CFP field and cannot afford further stumbles, with No. 23 Oregon up next.

Big Ten race remains unsettled

Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan are also on Ohio State’s schedule. None is currently ranked, but each has a winning record; Nebraska hosts the Buckeyes on November 21. UCLA is 5-0 in Big Ten play and has the inside track to the conference title game and a CFP place. Indiana is 8-1 and, after a week off, hosts USC, its biggest remaining challenge; USC is 7-2 and can still face both Indiana and UCLA.