Scarlet and Game
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Ohio State ready to reclaim top spot in FBS

By Thomas Scurlock

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 3: Head Coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes calls out instructions to his players during the second quarter of the game against the Bowling Green Falcons on September 3, 2016 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 3: Head Coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes calls out instructions to his players during the second quarter of the game against the Bowling Green Falcons on September 3, 2016 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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The Ohio State football team hasn’t met expectations since the 2014 national championship season. Expect that to change this year.   

Urban Meyer is entering his seventh year as the head coach of Ohio State.  Will this be the season that he earns a second title?

There is so much to appreciate what Meyer has brought to the program.  He has a terrific record, two Big 10 championships and the national title in 2014.

Still, the program has underachieved against potential over the last three seasons.

Watching players like Joey Bosa, Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore and many others thrive in the NFL just confirms that this program is not meeting expectations.

To be fair, Buckeye Nation’s expectations are obscene.  Winning a playoff championship every season is unrealistic.

Regardless, I  believe Meyer has only one peer in the game, Nick Saban.  He has five championships in 11 seasons at Alabama.  Two since Ohio State won its title in 2014.

Meyer would have to win the next four to stay on par with Saban.

Maybe that should not be the goal, but it is.  The talent is too good to keep falling short.

The program also has the best coaching staff in college football. Winning conference titles is nice and will always be cherished.  National Championships are better.

Meyer’s competitive nature is legendary.  I want to see it again.  It has been a while since he’s gone full Saban on the sideline.

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Those antics are typically unnecessary but it is time for a shift. A little bit of the old Meyer needs to seep into this team.

Over the last two seasons Meyer was loyal to J.T. Barrett and I understand why. Barrett was a leader and positioned the team for success.

I also think he was a crutch.

The coaches leaned on him too much to be the playmaker in tight situations.

That period is finished and I think the team and Meyer will be better.

Not much is needed to elevate the team to a championship level.  This spring is about finding their soul.

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I expect the team to emerge from the spring with a laser focus on domination. If it does, Meyer will earn his fourth national championship and Ohio State will reclaim its stature as the best program in college football.

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