Urban Meyer to Ohio State Rumors: Rumors and Facts on the Meyer-OSU Connection

Last week the main story in the college football world was the incidents that happened at Penn State and the firing of legendary head coach Joe Paterno. That news shocked not only college football fans but the country as well.

Once the rioting was done and everything settled a little bit, fans were questioning which coach would replace Joe Paterno. Many names came up from ex-NFL coaches, retired coaches and young coaches who are doing a great job where they're currently at and possibly looking for a new challenge.

The name that seemed to pop up the most was former Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer. He recently left the University of Florida for the broadcast booth but seems to still have the itch to coach again at the young age of 47.

Those rumors lasted for about a week until rumors began infesting the Internet claiming that Meyer is more interested in the Ohio State job.

Ohio State is a prestigious program much like Penn State but they aren't dealing with all of the off the field drama that the Nittany Lions are. It would also be a homecoming for Meyer considering he was born in the state of Ohio. 

Several reports claimed that Meyer had signed a contract with Ohio State for seven years, $35 million dollars. Mike Freeman who is a writer for CBS Sports tweeted that Scout.com reported it and it scattered like wild fires across the Internet.

That tweet turned out to be a hoax but it didn't help the constant rumors that are being reported by the hour.

Later reports were coming out saying that the deal hasn't been done yet but there has been mutual interest between Meyer and Ohio State. They were also saying that numbers have been discussed as far as a contract goes and he has agreed in principle to take the head coaching position next season.

That same night reports were coming out saying that Meyer is already assembling a coaching staff as he prepares for next season as head coach for the Buckeyes.

"In addition to Meyer's generous compensation package, sources said a major factor in the coach's decision to agree to take the position was the school promising him the budget to assemble what is expected to become the highest-paid assistant coaching staff in college football history."

Last Saturday during the Nebraska vs Michigan game which Meyer was covering. He was asked about the Buckeyes job and he replied with, "I've not been offered any job and certainly have not accepted any job."

He later went on to say that all of the rumors are false and there hasn't even been an interview yet between the two.

"I'm in a good place right now mentally and physically. So if something happens with Ohio State, I'll have a decision to make. But there has been no interview. There has been no offer to make a decision about."   

It seems like nobody is believing anything that Meyer says because Bill Greene from Scout.com tweeted yesterday that Urban Meyer has agreed to the deal. He expects an announcement to be made sometime next week after the Buckeyes play the Michigan Wolverines.

Urban had a few more words to try and kill all of the rumors one more time before the holidays.

"I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place," Meyer said in a statement. "I plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family and will not comment on this any further."

There are tons of reports out there saying that Meyer and Ohio State are pretty much a done deal. Which side do we believe, Urban or the rumors?

It's hard not to believe the rumors when they are coming from a lot of credible sources. It seems that Meyer is only denying them because all of this mess really isn't fair to head coach Luke Fickell and the players who still have a season to finish.

It's too good of an offer to pass up. Meyer would be returning home. And it's a prestigious program where he can succeed year in and year out with top recruits.

Meyer is saying all of the right things and trying to do what's right for both sides but it seems like it's only a matter of time before the announcement is made.

He will likely become the new head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]