Skull Session: Urban Meyer Likes the Buckeyes This Season, a Sleeper Team Could Emerge From the Big Ten West and Michael Redd Turns 43

By Chase Brown on August 25, 2022 at 5:00 am
Urban Meyer
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There are officially single-digit days until Ohio State starts its 2022 season against Notre Dame.

That's right. Only nine days separate you from watching the Buckeyes and Irish battle on the artificial grass inside Ohio Stadium.

Let that fuel your Thursday. Or, if you're like me, this works as fuel too.

 MEYER LIKES BUCKEYES IN 2022. Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer thinks the Buckeyes are among a handful of teams that can win the national championship this season.

Meyer appeared on Don't At Me with Dan Dakich earlier this week to explain what makes Ohio State capable of winning it all. He also shared his thoughts on current head coach Ryan Day and offered insight into how the Buckeyes stack up with Alabama and Notre Dame.

In 2018, Meyer hand-picked Day to be his replacement as the next program leader for Ohio State football. Meyer was comfortable with his decision at the time, and he feels even better about it now, knowing what Day has done for the Buckeyes in a short time.

“I just like to use the word elite (for Ryan). He was an elite offensive coach. There’s a lot of elite offensive coaches. I loved his work ethic. I loved the fact he’s a player-first coach like we all were at Ohio State. Wanted to make sure he carried on the infrastructure of safety of players in the offseason and nutritional that makes Ohio State if not the top program, one of the top two programs in America. He also had a great infrastructure around him and he kept those guys. He makes good decisions. This is a big year for him. I love Ryan Day and we’re still extremely close. They are loaded right now.”

Even though Ohio State ranks second behind Alabama in the preseason polls, Meyer believes the Buckeyes are as talented as the Crimson Tide across the board.

"I do (think that). The one thing about Ryan too – funny story – he was in the NFL for two years. He got let go by the Eagles, and he got let go in San Francisco and I remember I was talking to Gene Smith that I wanted to hire Ryan Day. He was a grad assistant for me at Florida. Tremendous coach. (Smith) said, ‘Are you sure you want to hire Ryan Day? The last two jobs he struggled.’ I said, 'That’s not Ryan Day.' I think they’re every bit on the talent level of Alabama right now.”

Ohio State's first test will come against No. 5 Notre Dame in the season opener. Meyer thinks the Irish can hang with the Buckeyes and expects a back-and-forth battle on Sept. 3.

“I’ve watched a lot of their tape. Marcus Freeman played at Ohio State, I know him a little bit. Great person, everybody respects him. He’s 36 years old, head coach at Notre Dame. He lost in the bowl game and here he goes into Ohio Stadium. That’s a tough two first two games. I think Notre Dame’s very talented. I think (Tommy) Rees does a really good job on offense. I think it’s going to be a great game.”

 ROW THE BOAT? Ohio State enters the 2022 season as the favorite to win the Big Ten championship in December. If all goes as planned and the Buckeyes claim an East division title, who will be their challenger out of the West?

According to Big Ten Network analyst Anthony Herron, Minnesota is the team Ohio State should expect to meet in Indianapolis. In an appearance with VSiN's Mitch Moss and Paul Howard on Follow the Money, Herron explained what makes the Golden Gophers a sleeper pick to face the Buckeyes in the conference title game.

“We've seen what this offense can be with Tanner Morgan, the most experienced returning starter in the Big Ten,” Herron said. “They have Mohamid Ibrahim coming back – the tailback – and a slew of talented receivers. Joe Rossi, the defensive coordinator, has really turned, in recent seasons, the Gophers' defense into one of the best in the Big Ten.”

Last season, Minnesota went 9-4 with a 6-3 record in the Big Ten. The Gophers were in contention for a West division title, but a late-season loss to Iowa allowed the Hawkeyes to run away with the crown.

Buckeye fans may also be quick to forget that Minnesota held its own against Ohio State in 2021 before Ibrahim suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. Before his injury, the All-Big Ten running back had run rampant for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries against the Buckeyes.

With that said, maybe Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and his staff will need to keep an eye on the Gophers after all.

 NO. 43 FOR MICHAEL REDD. Former Ohio State shooting guard Michael Redd celebrated his 43rd birthday on Wednesday, and some basketball Twitter accounts offered the deadly lefty a shoutout:

Redd was a bucket and a problem at all three levels of competitive basketball. He was a standout at Columbus’ West High School before committing to play for Ohio State in 1998. In three seasons as a Buckeye, Redd collected point averages of 21.9, 19.5 and 17.5, respectively.

In 2000, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Redd with the No. 43 overall pick. Over the next 12 years, Redd became one of the league's best sharpshooters, earning an All-Star nod and third-team All-NBA recognition in 2004. He also ranks second in Bucks history with 1,003 3-pointers made and fourth with 11,554 career points.

As I said, he was a bucket and a problem.

 OLYMPIC VILLAGE. Former Buckeyes Ryan Armour and Bo Hoag will return to their alma mater when the Korn Ferry Tour visits The Ohio State University Golf Club this weekend for the Nationwide Children's Championship.

Armour was one of the best junior golfers in America before playing at Ohio State from 1994-98. He won several tournaments in his youth and even finished runner-up to Tiger Woods in a playoff during the 1993 U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship. As a Buckeye, Armour became a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and was a third-team All-American in his final season.

The 46-year-old from Akron has two professional wins. The first came in 2016 at the Web.com Tour's Panama Claro Championship and the second was in 2017 at the Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour.

Hoag, 34, grew up a few blocks from renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus’ home in Upper Arlington. After a stellar junior career, Hoag became a two-time All-Big Ten recipient and honorable mention All-American for the Buckeyes. His lone professional win came at the Korn Ferry Tour’s WinCo Foods Portland Open in 2019.

General admission to the Nationwide Children's Championship is free, and attendance supports local charities in Columbus.

 SONG OF THE DAY. “Ophelia” by The Lumineers.

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