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Ohio State Football: Comparing careers of Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel

By Shayne Nissen

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 08: (R-L) Head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators shakes hands with head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes after the 2007 Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 8, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona. The Gators defeated the Buckeyes 41-14. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 08: (R-L) Head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators shakes hands with head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes after the 2007 Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 8, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona. The Gators defeated the Buckeyes 41-14. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 12: Head Coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes hoist the trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 42 to 20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 12: Head Coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes hoist the trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 42 to 20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT /

As for Urban Meyer, he inherited an Ohio State team that went 6-7 the year prior under the one guidance of Luke Fickell. He immediately turned the team around and sustained a fantastic seven year run.

In 2012 he led the team to a 12-0 season under a bowl ban, in 2013 he went undefeated in the regular season before falling in the Big Ten Championship. In 2014, he of course led the Buckeyes to the first “undisputed” national title by defeating college football dynasty Alabama and Oregon en route to the first ever College Football Playoff Championship.

Meyer like Tressel could never get a national title again while at the helm but led the Buckeyes to two more Big Ten titles and another College Football Playoff berth.

Most importantly though, Meyer never lost to Michigan during his tenure, a feat that had never been accomplished in Ohio State football history.

His overall record as the Buckeye head coach was 83-9, never losing more than twice in a season and that includes bowl games.

As for his place in the record books, Meyer ranks first in overall winning percentage, conference winning percentage and is tied for first in postseason wins. He is fourth in total wins as well as tied for fourth in conference championships and is fifth in conference wins.

Some of Meyer’s most notable players include Ezekiel Elliot, Joey Bosa, Michael Thomas, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, Carlos Hyde, Cardale Jones, Devin Smith, Malik Hooker, Darron Lee, Marshon Lattimore, Curtis Samuel and Nick Bosa.

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There are plenty more outstanding players I could add to the list.

As for who was the better coach, it’s tough for me but I would actually give the nod to Tressel. People seem to forget that Tressel was always in the mix for the national title whether he reached the big game or not.

He nearly always beat Michigan and he consistently won Big Ten titles which is something to brag about  Urban struggled to do so a little bit.

Tressel also made the national title game twice more than Meyer and harbored a Heisman Trophy winner

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Honestly, it almost depends on the day with these two. They are both Ohio State football Legends Buckeye fans will remember forever.

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