Urban Meyer Doesn't Think Clemson Was Country's Best Team In 2018

The Clemson Tigers won college football's national championship during the 2018 season. Clemson went a perfect 15-0, 8-0 in the ACC, during the 2018 season. The Tigers topped Notre Dame, 30-3, in the College Football Playoff semifinals. They then blew out Alabama, 44-16, in the national title game. ...

by Andrew Holleran

Apr 22, 2026

Ohio State Buckeyes former head coach Urban Meyer.

The Clemson Tigers won college football's national championship during the 2018 season.

Clemson went a perfect 15-0, 8-0 in the ACC, during the 2018 season. The Tigers topped Notre Dame, 30-3, in the College Football Playoff semifinals. They then blew out Alabama, 44-16, in the national title game.

They were truly dominant.

But former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer thinks another team that season might have been better.

Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Urban Meyer looks on during the second half the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Ohio State went 13-1, 8-1 in the Big Ten Conference, in 2018. The Buckeyes missed the College Football Playoff, but topped Washington in the Rose Bowl, 28-23.

However, Ohio State played much of that season without future top NFL Draft pick Nick Bosa. The future NFL star suffered an injury early in the year. By the time he was ready to return, his team felt it was best to prepare for the NFL, instead.

Meyer thinks Ohio State would've won national title with Bosa

Meyer said this week that he thinks Ohio State would've won it all with Bosa, playing full-time at defensive end. Ohio State had future top NFL Draft pick Chase Young on the other side.

The three-time national title-winning head coach thinks he would've had national title No. 4 if Bosa was healthy.

Ohio State suffered just one loss that year, falling on the road to Purdue in a huge upset. But Meyer seems to think that wouldn't have happened if Bosa was healthy and playing.