Urban Meyer says college football’s best coach isn’t in SEC originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer ignited discussion ahead of rivalry week by naming college football’s best coach. His pick wasn’t a surprise considering his background, but it’s still objective.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day the best leader in college football, according to Meyer. The FOX Sports analyst hopped on The Triple Option Podcast and evaluated the sport’s current landscape. He crowned his former assistant-turned successor atop his personal rankings, placing Day ahead of multiple national champions.
The endorsement arrives days before top-ranked Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on Saturday, adding weight to the praise as Day attempts to snap a four-game losing streak against his program’s fiercest rival.
Meyer listed Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney as his No. 2 and No. 3 coaches, respectively, and acknowledged Day’s resume has produced a “strange dichotomy” in Columbus.
“Ryan’s done something only a few ever do win it all and he does it at a level of consistency that sets the standard,” Meyer said. “Until someone knocks him off that pedestal, he’s the best coach in the sport.”
Meyer left coaching following the 2018 season, and has no desire to return to the sideline.
The praise frames a pivotal Saturday. Ohio State enters the weekend peaking statistically, owning the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 7.6 points per game under Matt Patricia. The former NFL coach is cooking for Day and the Buckeyes.
Quarterback Julian Sayin leads FBS in completion percentage, while quarterback play and defensive structure have been central themes in Day’s evolution. But history weighs heavier than numbers this week. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore has beaten Day twice, including once as acting coach and again last season as the full-time leader.
“It’s the last Saturday of the year, but the stakes feel bigger,” Meyer said. “This rivalry can change narratives in a blink. The best coach handles moments like these.”
Ohio State could roll on this contest, but it only gets harder from here on out.
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