Urban Meyer Admits He's 'Lost Respect' For Michigan Football

Urban Meyer knows the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry better than anyone.

The legendary college football head coach grew up close to the rivalry. He played college football in the state of Ohio, too, before getting into coaching. Meyer led the Ohio State Buckeyes football program from 2012-18, winning seven straight games against the Wolverines.

But in recent years, Meyer admitted that he has lost some respect for the Ann Arbor, Michigan football program.

Meyer spoke out during an appearance on The Script podcast.

Former Ohio State coach sounds off on Michigan

"I've said this many times … name another person who respects that school more than I do," Meyer said on The Script podcast. "And I'm including, probably, some people that have gone there. That's how much I respect that school. That's why we worked so hard to beat them. I know their history. I was friends with Bo Schembechler, I was friends with Lloyd Carr, Gary Moeller, I know those great players. When someone says they have great players, I snap all over people and say, what are you talking about? The respect I have for that school academically, the school as a football program.

"I'll tell you, it's taken a little bit of a hit, though. What's gone on the last four or five years, I lost a little the respect. I know this is going to make some headlines, but the nonsense that has gone on up there, that's not the Wolverine team or program that – I mean, when I started hearing about all the violations and then, the most recent stuff. They hired the right guy to get him back."

Meyer thinks that Kyle Whittingham, who coached at his old school, Utah, is the right man for the job.

"He's 66 years old, but he's a 50-year-old body and mind," Meyer said. "And then, after we talked for about 20 minutes, my comment was, ‘That's a perfect fit. I get it. Of all the people in the United States of America that they should call, it's you.'

"I know what he stands for, I know he's about doing the right thing. It's about toughness, it's about line of scrimmage, it's about academics. He's about the right stuff. And they got a great one."

The Game will be interesting this year.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 6:45 AM.