“This is it”: Former Buckeyes HC Urban Meyer labels Ohio State-PSU matchup the “Super Bowl”

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has reminded the team of the importance of this weekend’s game against Penn State. The Buckeyes square up against the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park on Saturday in what is Ryan Day's team's second top-5 encounter of the season.

In his appearance on “The Tim May Show” released on Thursday, Urban Meyer discussed the Ohio State run game, which likely has to deal with a reshuffled offensive line due to injuries.

Amid the injury concerns, Meyer tagged the highly anticipated Big Ten showdown in Week 10 as “Super Bowl.” While the matchup doesn’t round out the 2024 season, it has a lot of postseason implications for both teams. (Start at 8:55)

"I would make this thing simple stupid for that offensive line and get the ball to your best players,” Meyer said. “The skill level at Ohio State is still arguably the best they’ve ever had. And I’d run the quarterback. I’d run him a lot. ...He's the great equalizer."

“I understand the concern about not wanting to get guys hurt, but this is it now. This is the Super Bowl. This is the, obviously [there’s] the one at the end of the season, but this is the game."

Urban Meyer explains how Ohio State can solve offensive line woes

Ohio State is grappling with significant offensive challenges, as injuries have laid bare the depth issues on its offensive line. After barely avoiding a defeat against Nebraska last weekend, the Buckeyes face the urgent task of finding solutions ahead of their game against Penn State.

Urban Meyer laid out a series of crucial strategies that he believes the Buckeyes need to implement during this week's practices on the “Triple Option” podcast, which was released on Tuesday. The former coach believes the tactics will help jump-start their faltering offense and regain momentum. (Start at 9:15)

“First of all, simplify the run game," Urban Meyer said, via "The Triple Option" podcast. "You're going to go zone right, zone left, power right, power left and that's it. ... And then I would also run gap scheme right and gap scheme left and that's it.”

“But I would run the quarterback 15 to 20 times because the ultimate equalizer is that guy. You gain a hat that way when he runs the ball. So, direct snap to him and also every play a replay. And they have not done that yet.”

Ohio State has its dream of playing in the Big Ten championship game on the line as it makes its way to University Park this weekend. A loss could also place the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff hopes in jeopardy.

However, the Buckeyes have been dominant in the series in recent years, winning 11 of the last 12 encounters.