Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer weighed in on the massive upcoming Cotton Bowl game, with a strong message regarding coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.
Meyer coached at the college football program from 2012 to 218, and won one of his three national championships with the school. Based on his recent prediction, he believes this latest version of the Buckeyes has what it takes to win the championship.
During a recent appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Meyer strongly endorsed coach Day’s play-calling and leadership following Brian Hartline’s departure from the staff.
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“Ryan has been a playcaller for most of his career. He certainly was for me. I witnessed it, and he’s fantastic. If Ryan Day was not an elite playcaller or had great experience doing it, I would have certainly brought the coordinator back,” Meyer contended.
Meyer also suggested there should be no “drop-off” in the playcalling, since the coach has been involved in the offense throughout his career and has shown he can handle the responsibility under the bright lights.
The Miami Hurricanes enter the game off a massive upset at College Station this past weekend, as their defense looked impressive, holding Texas A&M to just a field goal in a 10-3 loss.
They intercepted A&M’s Marcell Reed twice despite his 237 yards passing, including preventing a late attempt to tie the game up. Miami’s Carson Beck only recorded 103 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-20 completions.
While Mark Fletcher Jr. went off for 172 rushing yards against the Aggies, Meyer doesn’t believe the Buckeyes will allow that sort of performance against them in this year’s Cotton Bowl.
“I don’t think Miami’s offense can move the ball consistently against that defense,” he told Cowherd on the Fox Sports show.
Meyer praised Miami’s game management against A&M, and said the upcoming Cotton Bowl would be another significant test for Beck to prove his value as an NFL quarterback, but he could struggle.
He offered a strong prediction that Ohio State will win the Cotton Bowl by as much as two touchdowns, with a final score of 20-10 or 24-10.
Meyer didn’t hesitate to mention some inconsistencies for Ohio State’s offense, including their struggles against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship. However, he indicated the Buckeyes are a team with a clear identity and defensive dominance.
The three-time national championship winner made his message clear that this Ohio State team is built for the task at hand and can win another championship under Ryan Day and a strong defense. Their latest CFP run starts with their second-round game against Miami in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.
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