Urban Meyer Admits He Was Wrong About NIL, Transfer Portal

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Urban Meyer hasn’t coached in college football since the 2018 season, but the three-time national title-winning head coach remains close to the sport.

The former Ohio State and Florida head coach serves as a college football analyst for Fox Sports’ “Big Noon Kickoff” and BTN.

Meyer didn’t have to deal with Name, Image and Likeness and the NCAA’s transfer portal during his time in the sport. However, when those two things were brought into the modern college sports world, Meyer felt that the biggest programs in the country would benefit the most. He questioned if it would have a “level-the-playing-field” impact.

The former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach told Colin Cowherd that he was wrong.

Meyer opened up about how he was wrong after watching a weekend full of college football upsets.

“I misfired on the whole conversation about NIL and transfer portal,” Meyer told Cowherd on The Herd. “I thought the rich would get richer. What it’s done is make parity in college football.

“I’ve talked to many of my colleagues in the last couple weeks. You flip on UCLA and then you flip on Alabama, what’s the difference? I don’t know. One team runs the ball a little better, and that’s UCLA. It’s amazing what has really happened to the game of college football with the NIL and with the transfer portal.”

Indiana is perhaps the best example, as the Hoosiers have gone from a doormat program to arguably the country’s best over the past two-plus years.

It would be pretty fascinating to see coaches like Meyer and Nick Saban trying to operate in today’s college football world.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Oct 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos