Urban Meyer: Ohio State Job Will Make or Break Meyer's Legacy

Before we go any further, we should acknowledge that Urban Meyer to Ohio State isn't a done deal quite yet.

Pretty much everything you need to know is contained within this report from The Columbus Dispatch. They reported early on Wednesday that Meyer is going to be announced as the new head football coach of the Buckeyes next week. Meyer later denied the report via ESPN, saying that he hasn't been offered a job and that there isn't an offer in pace.

Yada, yada, yada. 

Given the amount of noise we're hearing from the punditry, I'm inclined to believe that Meyer to OSU is pretty much a done deal. At this point, the only thing that could kill the deal is Meyer getting cold feet. Which, for the record, I'm not ruling out.

As for what I think about Meyer becoming the Buckeyes' next head coach, I'll be upfront and admit that I'm skeptical about the idea. I'd explain further here, but I'll direct you to a slideshow that I wrote, about how and why Meyer would come to regret accepting the Ohio State job.

You don't have to agree with me on that. In all honesty, not many people are.

However, I think there is one thing we can all agree on, and that's that taking his talents to Columbus would represent a pretty risky move on Meyer's part. He wouldn't be walking into a cushy job. He'd be walking into a program in need of a rescue, as the Buckeyes are still feeling the effects of the memorabilia scandal that cost Jim Tressel his job.

Meyer will probably also have to deal with NCAA sanctions, which will make rebuilding Ohio State considerably more difficult.

With Meyer at the helm, the expectations for the Buckeyes are going to be immense. At the very least, he'll be expected to beat Michigan and win the Big Ten every year, something the Buckeyes made a habit of under Tressel. Beyond that, he'll be expected to win national championships.

If Meyer actually delivers, we're going to be looking at one of the greatest coaches in college football history, maybe even the greatest. He will be remembered first and foremost as a coach who won multiple championships, but he will also be remembered as a coach who turned every program he touched into gold. That's not an easy thing to do, especially in the day and age in which Meyer has been a head coach.

If Meyer doesn't deliver, history is not going to remember him quite as kindly. Pessimists will view him as a coach who succeeded at Florida simply because he had Tim Tebow. Slightly more optimistic people will view him as a coach who tried and failed at a job he really didn't have to take.

And make no mistake, Meyer doesn't have to accept the Ohio State job. His coaching record is brief, but it's definitely impressive. Besides which, it's abundantly clear that coaching doesn't agree with his health. He's only going to coach again if he truly wants to.

The question he's going to have to answer is whether or not it's worth it. And in order for Ohio State to ultimately be worth it, Meyer is going to have to do a lot.

No pressure.