Why Urban Meyer was back with Utah football during 2026 fall camp

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The Utah Utes are close to wrapping up the first week of fall camp in Salt Lake City. There was a surprise guest on hand to check out Morgan Scalley's "work-in-progress" roster ahead of his first season.

Former Utah coach Urban Meyer was on campus Thursday to take in the sights and sounds under new leadership. The FOX Sports commentator not only has history with the program, but still drops in from time to time.

This marks the first time Meyer has returned since Scalley took over as head coach before Utah's Las Vegas Bowl win over Nebraska last year. He also went over to nearby Olympus High School to talk to the players after practice.

Sneaky work!
Urban Meyer was at Utah practice today. https://t.co/3ZLd9aXaua
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) August 7, 2026

Meyer coached Scalley during the final two years of his playing career. The former Utes defensive back was named an All-American, Mountain West co-defensive player of the year, and a unanimous first-team all-conference in 2024.

Meyer led the Utes to a 22-2 record in two seasons starting in 2003. The following year, 'The U' ended with a perfect 13-0 record and No. 4 AP Top 25 finish. Utah deserved to play for a national championship and was left out by an outdated and highly controversial BCS system.

The USC Trojans won the national championship that year, while Utah defeated Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. Utah quarterback Alex Smith was a Heisman Trophy finalist and eventual No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. USC, Auburn, and Utah all finished with undefeated records that season. Matt Leinart and the Trojans beat No. 2 Oklahoma for the title.

Meyer moved on to Florida and won two national championships in a three-year span starting in 2006. He capped off his Hall of Fame coaching career with another title at Ohio State in 2014. Overall, he won 85 percent of his games, finishing with a 187-32 record, which ranks third all-time in college football history. He's the only coach to have two undefeated seasons with neither one tied to a national championship win.

Meyer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025, becoming just the second Utah coach to earn the honor. Ike Armstrong, who led the Utes from 1925 to 1949, compiling a record of 141-55-15, was the other. Like Meyer, the "Rockne of the Rockies" dominated during his era. His Utes teams were undefeated in 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1941.

As for Scalley, his journey continues in less than a month. Utah opens the 2026 football season against Idaho on Thursday, Sept. 3 (9 p.m. ET, ESPNU).