Ohio State Football: Candidates to replace Urban Meyer if he is let go
By Chris Bruns
Tom Herman — The current Texas head coach led the OSU offense to the 2014 national championship, earning national awards in the process. It was hard not to notice the drop in production when Herman left for Houston the following year.
OSU fans might love to see Herman return to Columbus but he’s a Texas native with the premier job in his home state. Texas is one of a handful of programs that can compete with OSU in terms of national prestige.
Herman would be a tough pull, and maybe an undesirable one. He was on the staff with Zach Smith, and the questions about what he knew and when would certainly dog his hiring.
Mike Vrabel — Another young Buckeye alum on the path to stardom, Vrabel coached the defensive line at Ohio State under Meyer before rising through the NFL ranks. As the newly minted head coach of the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel would have to want to give up the NFL to return to college.
And OSU would have to want to bring in a guy with very little college coaching experience. This might not be a great fit.
Other — Luke Fickell had his chance. If he turns around Cincinnati more quickly than anticipated, his long-time loyalty to the Buckeyes might earn him another shot.
Pete Carroll, Les Miles, Brian Kelly and the recently retired Bob Stoops are among the biggest names in the profession with Ohio ties. Gene Smith could go big game hunting among that group.
Mark Dantonio has had a ton of success in the conference but faces his own challenges with a scandal. And do you think Smith might be able to lure a certain Kent State graduate by the name of Nick Saban out of the SEC? (Just joking, Buckeye Nation).