Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer claims a key injury prevented his team from winning the 2018 national championship. Meyer stated that the absence of defensive lineman Nick Bosa, who was injured in game three and later opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft, was the decisive factor.
"If Nick Bosa is playing for Ohio State (in) 2018, I think Ohio State wins it all," Meyer said on "The Triple Option" podcast. He ranked Bosa second only to Percy Harvin among the best players he'd coached.
Despite the injury, Ohio State finished 13-1, its only loss to Purdue, and won the Rose Bowl. Nick Bosa was later selected second overall in the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Meyer also noted that Chase Young was sidelined for much of that season due to injury.
Meyer asserted that the 2018 Buckeyes possessed a championship-caliber team. He is a three-time national championship-winning coach, with titles at Florida and Ohio State.