Urban Meyer Addresses How Dabo's Ranking 'Disrespect' Helped Buckeyes

Speaking on Big Ten Network after Ohio State's 49-28 blowout destruction of Clemson, Urban Meyer implied Dabo Swinney's "disrespect" of voting the Buckeyes No. 11 in the final coaches poll was the motivation to flip a switch.

"The Buckeyes at one practice had 41 players because of COVID and other stuff going on," Meyer said. He added that morale was down because players had to be away from their families for Christmas.  

“And then something happened. Disrespect. When Coach Swinney came out and ranked them 11th behind Iowa State and Coastal Carolina — you know, I don’t want to make too much of that, but you try to get your teams to practice the best you can," Meyer said.

"I can tell you I was told they had the three best practices they’ve had in a long time right after that.”