Paul Finebaum: Urban Meyer 'underachieved' at Ohio State

Paul Finebaum claimed Urban Meyer underachieved at Ohio State during his spectacular tenure. Buckeye fans loved what Meyer brought to the table, especially a national title.

But Finebaum said it should’ve been more during Meyer’s tenure. He brought up the point when discussing how Ryan Day should have a national championship already.

In fact, Meyer should’ve won more than one during the inaugural College Football Playoff. Where were the back-to-back titles?

“Ryan Day, they should have had a national championship by now,” Finebaum told Matt Barrie on ESPN’s YouTube channel. “I would argue going back in time, Urban Meyer underachieved with only one national championship during his tenure. He missed out a couple of times. The year after the national championship in ‘15 with Ezekiel Elliott, when they lost that game to Michigan State, they were the best team in the country that year.” 

Ohio State lost just one game in 2015 and Michigan State can lay claim as Finebaum alluded to. Meyer’s squad finished 12-1 and won the Fiesta Bowl 44-28 over Notre Dame but didn’t even make the Big Ten Championship.

The Spartans went on to win the Big Ten and make the College Football Playoff, losing to Alabama in the semifinals.

Of course the argument is Ohio State had a great chance for back-to-back titles under Meyer, especially with Elliott in the backfield.

But after that season, Ohio State, under Meyer, lost the CFP semifinal to Clemson 31-0 in 2016, missed the playoff in ‘17 and again in ‘18 but won the Rose Bowl to finish 13-1.

Day took over in 2019 and led Ohio State to the CFP, but lost once again to Clemson 29-23.

Day, like Meyer, saw some heartbreakers in the postseason. Ohio State lost to Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game the following year after winning a rematch with Clemson in the semifinals.

So did Meyer underachieve? Not necessarily. Sure, the playoff success could’ve been greater, but you can’t discount his record of 83-9 from 2012-18, a national title and three Big Ten championships.

So it might be safe to assume Ohio State feels like it missed a shot last year with Day, just like Meyer.

“Buckeye fans understand that so they hold their coach to a high level and you can’t help but feel badly for Ryan Day but okay, what are we talking about,” Finebaum said. “Well, I (never) heard more about a loss in the offseason. Every time I’m in New York or Washington or somewhere else in the country. I have (Buckeye fans telling me about that missed field goal). I don’t care about that field goal. You lost the game. Move on.”