Michigan State Is Not Ohio State’s Rival, but Urban Meyer Treats Them Like One

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In his numerous media availabilities leading up to his team’s biggest game of the season, Urban Meyer has been careful not to feed the media’s self-proposed storylines.

“We only have one rival,” the Ohio State head coach has insisted. Yes, the color green is allowed—although not preferred—inside of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this week. The Buckeyes’ one and only rival is Michigan, and nobody else.

But if you really wanted to know how Meyer feels about Ohio State’s upcoming opponent, this wasn’t the week to ask. The 13-year head coach is too calculated to provide bulletin-board material for any team that the Buckeyes are about to face, especially as the national media locks in on a rare high-profile Big Ten battle.

Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped Meyer from providing a peak into his true feelings about the team that will be across the field from Ohio State on Saturday.

Two days after the Buckeyes were stifled by Virginia Tech’s 46 Bear defense in their defeat at the hands of the Hokies on Sept. 6, Meyer was asked if he thought other teams would attempt to run the same scheme. Skimming through Ohio State’s schedule in his mind, the Buckeyes head coach stumbled upon one who potentially could.

“I don’t know if people have the personnel,” Meyer said of opponents’ ability to run the Cover zero scheme. “I know one of them does. The team that won the Big Ten last year does.”

Michigan State

That’s who Meyer was referring to, Ohio…

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