Urban Meyer and Ohio State didn't win the Big Ten Championship this past season, but the head coach has his program in position to be a perennial contender in not only the conference but also nationally. He also didn't do that without keeping a sharp eye on what else is happening around him in the Big Ten.
"We certainly monitor everything," Meyer said on National Signing Day Feb. 3, when asked about the University of Michigan and Jim Harbaugh specifically. "Not just them but the Eastern side is one of the most competitive conference divisions in college football."
Michigan State beat the Buckeyes, 17-14, Nov. 21 in Columbus and then beat Iowa by three in the Big Ten Championship Game two weeks later to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Meyer's Buckeyes and Mark Dantonio's Spartans both beat the Wolverines in 2015 to remain above them on the Big Ten East ladder of supremacy. Michigan finished 10-3 in the first year of Harbaugh's return, though, turning a once proud program back in the positive direction after three straight meddling seasons under Brady Hoke.
Harbaugh's antics—like holding sleepovers at recruits houses, climbing trees in Southern California and much more—have been well documented here and elsewhere. Michigan held a "Signings of the Stars" event on National Signing Day, the first of its kind. Harbaugh welcomed stars like Ric Flair, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, Randy Sklar and others to raise money and awareness for the Chad Tough Foundation — and to put the nation on notice of what is happening in Ann Arbor.
And don't let yourself be fooled — Meyer and Ohio State paid attention, as always.
"We monitor the best recruiting schools in the country and see what they do," Meyer said.
Harbaugh failed to beat Meyer last November in their first head-to-head meeting on the field, but signed the top player in the country for 2016, defensive tackle Rashan Gary. The Buckeyes finished fourth in recruiting team composite standings according to 247sports. Michigan finished fifth in Harbaugh's first recruiting cycle as Michigan's head coach.
Harbaugh's presence is everywhere, and Feb. 4 the head coach confirmed he and his program will hold its first week of spring practice at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
The week doubles as the University's spring break, and a swarm of SEC schools are trying to prevent the big bad Big Ten from imposing on its fertile recruiting ground for practice.
Because that's what this is all about — recruiting, recruiting, recruiting.
It is a 365-day a year (or in our current calendar's case, 366-day) process and coaches try to gain any advantage they can to impress the nation's best prospects.
A bulk of that talent resides in the south, where Harbaugh is heading with his team for a week of drills. The move is calculated, just like his shirtless tomfoolery was last summer in Alabama.
Dantonio feels it too, and even him and his steely-eyed self didn't shoot down the chance the Spartans might follow suit.
“I'll tell you this about our conference: They're recruiting their tails off. Big Ten is on fire right now. And I can tell you on a national respect, I can feel it. I've heard about it. Guys are really working.”– Urban Meyer
"I think it’s creative, there’s no question about that,” Dantonio said, according to The Lansing State Journal. “From our standpoint, we’ve never thought to do that — but we’re thinking about it nowadays.”
When will Ohio State join the fray? And where will Meyer take his team? Or will it even be in the plans?
The smart money is answering that question with a "yes." Recruiting, like anything else in college football, is an arm's race. There's a reason the Buckeyes have a waterfall and other toys in their locker room.
"I'll tell you this about our conference: They're recruiting their tails off. Big Ten is on fire right now," Meyer said. "And I can tell you on a national respect, I can feel it. I've heard about it. Guys are really working."
No. 1 on that list is Harbaugh, whether or not Meyer will admit it. The Michigan head coach is changing the game, regardless how you look at it. The SEC is doing its part to keep him out as much as it can because it doesn't want to lose a recruiting advantage.
Michigan State appears to have accepted it based on Dantonio's comments, and though Meyer said he won't ever sleep at a recruits house, Ohio State he is assuredly thinking about the out-of-state spring practices.
"We know everything that everybody's doing," Meyer said.
The Buckeyes could explore working out somewhere near Fort Lauderdale or Championsgate, Florida. St. Thomas Aquinas High School is in Fort Lauderdale, and Championsgate has a solid contingent of sporting complexes in a central location of the state.
IMG Academy is on the west side of the peninsula, one of the most prestigious prep institutions for college athletics. Ohio State signed two players from there for 2016, defensive tackle Malik Barrow and offensive lineman Tyler Gerald.
Harbaugh knows that too, and is fully aware where he must go to get top talent in his program in order to compete with the likes of Ohio State and Michigan State in the Big Ten East.
The division provided the last three conference champions and has the coaches to provide staying power. Harbaugh pushed the envelope and wants to hold spring practice in Florida. Dantonio is considering it. Will Meyer?
"We have to remain true to ourselves and who are we and who am I and who do I like to hire and how do we — our focus is on Real Life Wednesdays and graduation life after football, and if you're blessed enough go on to the NFL and win some championships along the way," Meyer said. "We're not going to stray from that.
"That's been Ohio State style for as long as I've been alive and it's not going to change."
We will see if that tune remains the same.
