The McShay Show

Episode: Previewing Ohio State–Michigan With Coach Urban Meyer. Plus, Talking Lane Kiffin’s Big Decision

Date: November 26, 2025

Host: Todd McShay (with Steve), Guest: Urban Meyer

Episode Overview

In this special Thanksgiving week episode, Todd McShay brings on legendary college football coach Urban Meyer to preview the highly anticipated Ohio State–Michigan game—one of college football’s greatest rivalries. Meyer reflects on his years coaching in the game, discusses Ohio State’s mindset and preparation, evaluates this year’s defenses and quarterbacks, and provides rare insight into the emotional and practical challenges facing coaches during big transitions, such as the one Lane Kiffin is rumored to be considering. The episode is peppered with betting talk, picks of the week, and Meyer’s unique mixture of intensity, old-school values, and candid storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rivalry Week and Ohio State–Michigan: The Stakes and Psychology

• Rivalry Intensity

  • McShay notes the significance of the week for college football and brings on Urban Meyer, who boasts an 85.4% career win record, to dissect the gravity of “The Game.”
  • Meyer doubles down on how seriously the rivalry is taken:

    “Did I take it to the extreme? I probably did. But there was a guy that coached for 28 years named Woody Hayes that took it pretty serious.” (Urban Meyer, 18:18)

• Institutionalizing the Rivalry

  • Meyer emphasizes how he treated preparation for Michigan as a year-round project:

    “…once a week have a ‘team up north’ workout. And all we do though is just to make sure it’s on their mind.” (Urban Meyer, 19:54)

  • Rivalry-themed practices, motivational videos, and symbolic gestures (e.g., taping scout team helmets to resemble Michigan's) keep focus sharp.

• Mindset and Motivation

  • Meyer’s golden rule for his teams: never disrespect the opponent, always acknowledge Michigan’s talent:

    “If I ever heard a player say something about, well, we’re gonna kick their ass... Never say that. Because the minute someone thinks the Wolverines don’t have great players, you have no idea what you’re talking about.” (Urban Meyer, 19:02)

2. Urban Meyer’s Relationship with Ryan Day and Succession at Ohio State

• Mentorship and Boundaries

  • Meyer discusses passing the baton to Day, emphasizing their closeness but recognizing Day’s autonomy:

    “That chair is the loneliest chair that exists....I think I’m more there to check on him because I care about him.” (Urban Meyer, 22:07)

  • Critical post-loss conversations are more about personal support than football advice.

• Modern Pressures

  • He shares personal experiences of coping with fan and media pressures, family stress, and the singular intensity of leading Ohio State.

3. Ohio State’s 2025 Defense: Historically Good?

• Reloading After NFL Departures

  • McShay notes Ohio State’s loss of eight defensive starters to the draft, yet their current unit’s dominance.
  • Urban Meyer likens the defense’s unpredictability to legendary units of Miami, USC, Alabama, and Georgia.

    “I don’t know where it’s coming from and I’m a pretty good eye....If you don’t have any idea where it’s coming from, your players don’t have the advantage you as a coach should give them.” (Urban Meyer, 26:48)

• Gameplanning Against OSU’s Defense

  • Meyer would focus on quarterback runs to simplify things and avoid forcing a young QB into errors:

    “I’d put double tape on his ankles. I might even throw a neck roll on his ass....I might run this quarterback a bunch. Why? Just get first downs. That’s the great equalizer.” (Urban Meyer, 28:22)

4. Quarterback Development: Risks, Rewards, and Wisdom

• Managing First-Year Starters

  • Both hosts discuss the new wave of premier programs starting first-year quarterbacks in title hunts.
  • Meyer about prepping a first-year starter:

    “J.T. Barrett was a grown ass man....After five games...I challenge players. I don’t want to hear that freshman nonsense anymore.” (Urban Meyer, 32:38)

  • Notes that some (e.g., Bryce Underwood) aren’t progressing as rapidly as he expected, which is especially risky against elite defenses.

• Evaluating Top QB Talent

  • Meyer lavishes praise on Julian Sayin for his efficiency and accuracy:

    “He could be, I think, the most accurate quarterback of all time at 80% completion rate or something....His 50/50 balls are not 50/50 balls. They’re 90/10.” (Urban Meyer, 34:53)

5. Injuries, Priorities, and Playoff Calculus

• Playoff Implications vs. Rivalry Importance
  • On whether playoff prospects alter how you play “The Game” with questionable starters:

    “I drank the Kool Aid too long ago. That doesn’t even compute with me...This is the most important thing in our life other than your family, your faith, beating the team up north.” (Urban Meyer, 31:11)

  • Meyer insists full commitment to the rivalry game, regardless of college football playoff logistics.

6. The Lane Kiffin Decision—Coach’s Candid Perspective

• Inside a Head Coach’s Big Decision
  • Urban Meyer talks about what it’s like to consider accepting new opportunities while emotionally invested in a team:

    “This is a whole different animal....You got a team in the same conference...They could legitimately be in the hunt for the national title. I don’t know how that’ll sit with you the rest of your life, and certainly a player’s life, you know, when you’re leaving a program.” (Urban Meyer, 38:19)

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On The Pressure at Ohio State:

  “When it’s going great, it’s going great. When it’s going bad, it’s going awful.” (Urban Meyer, 22:07)

• On Rivalry Mindset:

  “We trained on this one for 365. So. No, no, this, if you can go, we can go. We’re gonna win this game.” (Urban Meyer, 31:54)

• On McShay's Talent:

  “He’s a pain in the ass, yes...But he’s also a great friend, and I think the best guy out there that evaluates talent and does his work on it.” (Urban Meyer, 37:09)

• Show’s Funniest Flashpoint:
  When asked if working with McShay at ESPN was what drove him back to coaching:

  “Yes, he’s a pain in the ass, yes....But he’s also a great friend....” (Urban Meyer, 37:09)

Key Timestamps

• 15:05 – Urban Meyer joins, tales from the boat with grandkids.
• 16:43 – Meyer explains the psychology behind his “all in” approach to beating Michigan.
• 19:54 – Year-round rivalry prep: “team up north” workouts, videos, etc.
• 21:48 – Meyer’s relationship with Ryan Day and the demands of the job.
• 25:40 – How an offensive coach might (unsuccessfully) try to gameplan against this year’s Ohio State defense.
• 28:22 – Tactics for handling a true freshman QB in The Game.
• 31:11 – Meyer’s unwavering priority on beating Michigan, regardless of playoff stakes.
• 32:38 – Managing first-year quarterbacks in championship runs; J.T. Barrett stories.
• 34:30 – How far Julian Sayin can go as an elite college QB.
• 38:19 – On the enormous weight of coaching transitions, specifically in Kiffin’s situation.
• 37:09 – Urban’s generous words for Todd McShay—mixed with trademark teasing.

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, immersive, peppered with anecdotes, and often blends seriousness with locker-room humor. Meyer is direct, old-school, and intensely loyal, while McShay and Steve expertly balance professional analysis with personal rapport and timely needle drops. Plenty of locker-room energy and inside jokes—making it highly entertaining to any college football fan.

In a Nutshell

This episode is a deep dive into the culture, tactics, psychology, and emotional stakes of The Game between Ohio State and Michigan—told through stories, hard-earned wisdom, and occasionally hilarious banter with Urban Meyer, one of the rivalry’s modern architects. The show also peels back the curtain on the pressures facing top head coaches and provides actionable insight for fans, including picks of the week and rare scouting breakdowns. For anyone looking to understand why this rivalry—and this week—mean so much, this episode delivers.