Where Might Urban Meyer Coach Next?

Retirement is always a flimsy concept for coaches who aren’t of a particularly advanced age, and that holds true for Urban Meyer more than any other college football coach.

Meyer acknowledged, and at times on the sideline couldn’t hide, his most recent health issues last season at Ohio State. A step back was in order then, even if he’s slated to remain involved in the Buckeyes’ football program and even co-teach a class at the school.

ESPN’s “College Gameday” is the unchecked gold standard among college football pregame shows. But FOX is ready to challenge this fall, with a move off FS1 to the main network along with the hiring of Reggie Bush and Meyer to join incumbent analysts Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn.

After retiring from the head coaching job at Florida due to health concerns, Meyer worked as an analyst for ESPN/ABC during the 2011 season before taking the job at Ohio State in 2012. So that invites the question if Meyer will be taking another one-year hiatus as a broadcaster, only to return to coaching in 2020.

FOX’s pregame show is not expected to travel on a weekly basis, like ESPN’s does. That means it will originate from the network’s home base in Los Angeles, and the lack of travel requirement surely appealed to Meyer.

Based purely on the location of his new job, and Clay Helton on a scorching hot seat entering the 2019 season, USC stands out as a potential landing spot for Meyer.

If Florida State bails on Willie Taggart two seasons in, they’d become a potential new job for Meyer too. Otherwise, though less likely on the surface, potential openings at Auburn, Oklahoma State or Oklahoma (if Lincoln Riley can’t keep the NFL at bay any longer) may appeal to Meyer

By Brad Berreman