Eric Boggs
Urban Meyer’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame is not just a milestone for one of the sport’s most accomplished coaches—it’s a moment of pride for Ohio State fans who watched him restore and elevate the Buckeye program to championship heights. Announced at the National Football Foundation’s 67th annual awards dinner in Las Vegas, Meyer headlined a star-studded 2025 class that included icons such as Nick Saban, Michael Strahan, and Michael Vick. More than 1,800 attendees witnessed Meyer receive the ultimate honor a college coach can earn, a fitting tribute to a career defined by excellence, intensity, and transformative impact.
Meyer’s coaching résumé stands among the greatest in the history of the sport. His 187–32 career record gives him the third-highest winning percentage in Division I history (.853), trailing only Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy. Across 17 seasons, he delivered three national championships, 12 double-digit–win campaigns, and just a single year with more than four losses. Before arriving in Columbus, Meyer rebuilt Utah into a powerhouse and then turned Florida into a national juggernaut, winning titles in 2006 and 2008. But for Buckeye Nation, his most meaningful work came when he took over Ohio State at one of its lowest moments—and immediately brought the program back to national prominence.
In his first Ohio State season in 2012, Meyer engineered a 12–0 undefeated campaign despite the program being banned from postseason play. Two years later, he delivered what remains one of the program’s defining achievements: winning the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship. The 2014 Buckeyes surged from the No. 4 seed and barreled “straight through the heart of the South” by knocking off Alabama before dominating Oregon 42–20 in the title game at AT&T Stadium. The season stands as one of the most beloved in Ohio State history, and Meyer’s leadership cemented his place among Buckeye legends.
During his seven-year run in Columbus, Meyer’s teams went 83–9, captured Big Ten titles in 2014, 2017, and 2018, and delivered the school’s sixth undefeated season. He never lost to Michigan, posting a perfect 7–0 record in The Game, and his Buckeyes set an NCAA record with 30 consecutive conference wins. Even his final year showed his trademark consistency—Ohio State finished 13–1 and capped the season with a Rose Bowl victory over Washington.
Yet Meyer’s impact at Ohio State extended beyond wins and championships. His “Real Life Wednesdays” initiative brought CEOs, entrepreneurs, athletes, and business leaders into the program to teach life skills and prepare players for their futures. He and his wife, Shelley, also launched the Urban and Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Meyer’s commitment to service includes roles with Folds of Honor, the Veterans Golfers Association, and the Tim Tebow Foundation, reinforcing that his influence reaches far beyond the field.
Meyer now joins an elite group of Ohio State head coaches enshrined in the Hall of Fame, including Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel, Earle Bruce, John Cooper, and Francis Schmidt. His induction not only acknowledges his historic career but also celebrates the era he created in Columbus—an era defined by dominance, culture, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Today, Meyer remains connected to the game as an analyst on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, but his legacy at Ohio State is firmly set. For Buckeye fans, Urban Meyer will always be remembered as the coach who saved the program, restored its swagger, and delivered one of the greatest championships the sport has ever seen.
