NEW ORLEANS — On Thursday Ohio State will play Alabama in the first-ever College Football Playoff and what's the biggest game of the Urban Meyer era.
Meyer met with packed room of reporters for the final time before the Sugar Bowl and said today and tomorrow will play out as you might expect.
"I think the term's insanity for how you work the next 48 hours."
If the Buckeyes can overcome the Crimson Tide and a 9.5-point spread they'll play for the National Championship in Dallas.
Notes:
- After a report surfaced Tuesday that injured Braxton Miller had informed Florida State it was on his list of potential transfer options, Meyer said he expects the quarterback back next season. “We’ve had conversations, but I expect him to be back at Ohio State."
- Meyer said Ohio State will treat Wednesday like a Friday. “Every great athlete, every great team has a routine. And it's our job not to disrupt that routine.” For the Buckeyes, the day before a game means what they call the “Best Fridays in Football.”
- Meyer, reflecting on the journey Ohio State embarked on this season: "I've learned from this team. The great teams — you learn from them."
- Meyer on playing psychologist with Ohio State: "I love that part of the game, I think that might be the strength of our team." The Buckeyes are 9.5-point underdogs against Alabama,
- Added Meyer: "Anytime you play in a game of this magnitude, you try and find an edge." Meyer said he’s not going to have to “rock the boat for this one.”
- Meyer said he likes to think Ohio State models itself after the NFL's New England Patriots. He and Patriots coach Bill Belichick are good friends.
- Meyer on Alabama, which has won three of the past five national championships: "I think consistency at this competitive time is impressive ... That's kind of the model people look for."
- Meyer said Alabama coach and old nemesis Nick Saban is “one of the great coaches in college football history."
- Meyer says Alabama star wide receiver Amari Cooper might be good enough to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Cooper was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
- Looking back on how Ohio State clinched the fourth and final spot in the playoff, Meyer was asked whether brand of the program helped pushed it over the likes of TCU and Baylor: "Oh, that's outta my control ... Probably.” Meyer said he’s never thought about it like that. To be sure, the Buckeyes left little doubt after clubbing Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten title game.
- Meyer on the stress a playoff might have on the student-athlete: "This is stressful on a student-athlete … You're talking about 14, 15 games. That's getting very NFLish."
