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Urban Meyer’s admission on the three best teams in college football comes with some bad news for the Ohio State Buckeyes

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 3:29 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes suffered two losses last year, including a heartbreaker to Michigan—for the fourth straight time. Despite that setback, Ohio State went on to win a national championship, capping off one of the most remarkable postseason runs college football has ever seen.

As the 2025 season approaches, however, none of that matters. It’s a clean slate, and this current Ohio State team hasn’t earned anything yet.

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer believes the Buckeyes are among the top teams heading into the 2025 season. However, two other programs he’s high on are also on Ohio State’s schedule.

Urban Meyer reveals his top three teams for the 2025 season

Penn State returns a wealth of talent from last season, even with the departure of star pass rusher Abdul Carter. Meyer sees the Nittany Lions as one of the top contenders, alongside the Texas Longhorns and Buckeyes.

“Watch out for Penn State, man. If Drew Allar can really improve as a quarterback, I agree with you—I think they have the best backfield, I don’t think it’s close, in the country,” Meyer said recently. “They’ve got an offensive line that they cannot wait to get on the field. So yeah, I think Penn State, Texas, and Ohio State are the three most talented [teams].”

Having a returning quarterback with multiple years in the system is a huge advantage for Penn State. Ohio State will host the Nittany Lions on November 1—a key matchup likely to help determine the Big Ten title game. It will also mark a return to Columbus for Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who previously served in the same role for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State opens the season against Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns in a high-stakes rematch of last season’s Cotton Bowl. It’s shaping up to be one of the biggest season openers in recent memory, possibly featuring the top two teams in the country. With both programs boasting stacked rosters, there’s a chance this won’t be the only time they meet in 2025.

Meyer’s top three—Ohio State, Texas, and Penn State—are all likely to be in the playoff conversation by season’s end. In what order? That remains to be seen.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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