Urban Meyer claims key injury cost Ohio State, had edge over 2018 Clemson champions

The 2018 Clemson football squad routed Alabama successful that season’s College Football Playoff National Championship, cementing its spot successful nan sport’s lore.

The undefeated season, punctuated by a 44-16 rout of Alabama successful nan title game, pushed nan Tigers into nan all-time awesome debate. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer based on different squad was superior to Clemson that year, pointing to Nick Bosa’s 2018 wounded arsenic nan cardinal logic nan Buckeyes fell short of a title.

"Nick Bosa is 1 of nan champion shot players I've ever been around. I'd put Percy Harvin No. 1... possibly Nick Bosa No. 2. If Nick Bosa is playing for Ohio State (in) 2018, I deliberation Ohio State wins it all. That's really bully a subordinate he was," Meyer said during a caller version of "The Triple Option" podcast which he co-hosts pinch erstwhile Alabama standout Mark Ingram II and Rob Stone.

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Urban Meyer stands connected nan sidelines earlier nan 2025 Peach Bowl semifinal crippled betwixt nan Oregon Ducks and Indiana Hoosiers astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium successful Atlanta, Ga., connected Jan. 9, 2026. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)

Meyer acknowledged nan logic down preparing Nick Bosa for nan NFL Draft but admitted nan prime still stung arsenic nan Buckeyes chased a title.

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"He sewage wounded (in) crippled 3. When he was getting adjacent to possibly beryllium capable to travel back, they decided to get him fresh for nan NFL Draft... which that collapsed my heart. But I get it."

Ohio State went 13-1 successful 2018, pinch its only nonaccomplishment coming successful Big Ten play against Purdue. The Buckeyes were near retired of nan playoff but rebounded pinch a Rose Bowl triumph complete Washington successful January 2019. Three months later, nan San Francisco 49ers took Bosa No. 2 overall.

Clemson and Alabama built a pseudo title-game rivalry successful nan mid-2010s. After dominating Ohio State successful nan 2016 Fiesta Bowl semifinal, nan Tigers edged Alabama for nan championship, redeeming a 45-40 nonaccomplishment to nan Crimson Tide to adjacent nan 2015 season.

Ohio State protect extremity Nick Bosa sacks TCU backmost Shawn Robinson during nan Advocare Showdown astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, connected Sept. 15, 2018. (Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire)

Meyer besides highlighted nan extent of Ohio State’s 2018 protect line, noting nan beingness of some Bosa and Chase Young.

"We had Chase Young and Nick Bosa (at defensive) end," Meyer continued. "Our defense really struggled that twelvemonth because Chase Young was wounded astir of nan year, and past Nick Bosa... he played 3 games and that was it. The discourtesy was 1 of nan apical 2 (or) 3 offenses successful nan country."

Ohio State Buckeyes protect extremity Chase Young looks connected during nan 2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl assemblage shot playoff semifinal crippled against nan Clemson Tigers astatine State Farm Stadium successful Glendale, Arizona, connected Dec. 28, 2019. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

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Meyer concluded by declaring that year's Ohio State squad "was a nationalist title team." Meyer won 3 nationalist championships arsenic a coach, winning doubly at Florida and erstwhile astatine Ohio State.

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