Six years after the confetti fell, a championship debate is being reignited from an unlikely source. Urban Meyer, the former Ohio State head coach, has thrown a late flag on the 2018 college football season, challenging the notion that the Clemson Tigers were truly the nation's premier team.
On paper, Clemson's case is ironclad. The Tigers authored a perfect 15-0 masterpiece, storming through the ACC before dismantling Notre Dame and then delivering a stunning 44-16 knockout of the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide in the national championship game. Their dominance was historic and seemingly unquestionable.
Yet, Meyer sees a different reality. In a recent discussion, the three-time national champion coach pointed to a pivotal 'what-if' that haunts Columbus: the core-shaking injury to defensive end Nick Bosa. "We had a real shot at that thing if Nick Bosa is healthy," Meyer asserted, suggesting his Buckeyes were the true team to beat.
The 2018 Ohio State squad was no slouch, finishing 13-1 with a Rose Bowl victory. Their lone blemish was a shocking road loss to Purdue. Meyer, however, contends that game—and the entire season's trajectory—would have unfolded differently with Bosa terrorizing quarterbacks opposite future star Chase Young. "I think we win it all with Bosa," Meyer stated bluntly, implying he'd have a fourth national title on his resume.
Bosa's injury, suffered early in the year, was a catastrophic blow. By season's end, with the Buckeyes outside the College Football Playoff, the future NFL Defensive Player of the Year opted to prepare for the draft rather than return for a bowl game. Meyer's argument hinges on the belief that Bosa's presence would have been enough to flip close games, avoid the Purdue upset, and propel Ohio State into the playoff—and ultimately, past everyone.
This isn't the first time Meyer has reflected on pivotal moments from his coaching career. In other candid moments, like those detailed in Urban Meyer's Ultimate Final Week: Family, Football, and Fairways, he's opened up about the personal side of his football journey. His recent comments also echo his continued engagement with the sport's big picture, a topic he's addressed when declining commissioner talk and calling for enforcement over new rules.
The 'what-if' game is a favorite pastime in sports, especially in college football where a single play or injury can alter history. Meyer's claim forces a re-examination of that 2018 hierarchy. Was Clemson's flawless record and title-game demolition the final word? Or was the best collection of talent, as Meyer believes, sidelined by misfortune in Columbus?
While Clemson's trophy case holds the definitive answer, Meyer's provocative stance guarantees this debate will continue in bars, on talk radio, and among fans. It's a reminder that in sports, the most compelling stories are sometimes about the crowns that were never worn, and the legends that live in the realm of 'if only.'
