Ohio State, Clemson: More At Stake For Urban Meyer Or Dabo Swinney?
As Clemson and Ohio State lock horns in the College Football Playoff semifinal, there’s a lot at stake for Urban Meyer, but much more for the Tigers’ Dabo Swinney.
The College Football Playoff. It doesn’t get any bigger for the universities represented. The stage can’t get any larfger for the coaches, either.
Nick Saban is gunning for his seventh national title. Urban Meyer, his fourth. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney knocked on the door and almost won his first last season. Washington’s Chris Peterson star continues to rise.
To reach the Final Four of the college football world means one thing: every other team out there wants to be you, because you’re on top of the world.
Winning a national title means there’s no shortage of endorsements and exposure. Legacies are cemented. New coaching kings are born.
With that in mind, there’s a lot at stake for the coaches competing against each other in the semifinal between Ohio State and Clemson.
For legacy’s sake, Dabo Swinney is still trying to establish himself as one of the elite coaches in the game. After coming so close one season ago, winning a national title this season would elevate him to another class.
More is on the on the line for Swinney because Clemson entered the 2016 campaign ranked No. 2 in the AP poll. Swinney lost a program high nine players to the NFL draft, but the Tigers’ returned their best player, DeShaun Watson. With their star under center, Clemson was expected to be on the short list of national title contenders.
As for Meyer, you might think his career trajectory has plateaued at a very high level. He’s already one of the game’s great coaches. He has multiple national championships. He’s won at two different schools. He won the inaugural College Football Playoff. Every year he produces NFL-impact players. He makes million in endorsement from Nike and recruits nationally only second to Saban.
As crazy as it may sound, Meyer’s legacy can still jump by leaps and bounds. By beating Clemson, and then winning the title, he’ll probably have kept Saban from winning his seventh, assuming Alabama beats Washington, while positioning himself to in the conversation of the all-time greats.
I don’t think as much is on the line of Meyer because he lost 12 players via the 2016 NFL Draft. Five of those players were first-round picks. Despite starting the season fifth in the AP poll, it was thought the 2016 campaign would be a rebuilding year.
Even though Meyer can still a do a ton to pad his legacy, there’s no question more is on the line for Swinney. Saban, Meyer and Bob Stoops are already at the party. Swinney needs to get in the door, and a national championship accomplishes that.
Recruiting battles have also increased between the two schools since Clemson’s started to win on a national stage. Swinney has the pulse of South Carolina but Meyer is doing his darnedest to plant a Scarlet and Gray flag in areas Clemson usually performs well.
Meyer’s 2017 class is being regarded as the best in Ohio State history. As it’s done for Saban, the talent keeps flowing. Meyer may not win it this year, but he’ll be back.
Next: 6 Burning Questions: Ohio State vs Clemson
The time is now for Swinney. The Fiesta Bowl will mark Watson’s last game in an orange uniform. Clemson should still be a force next season, but there will certainly be some re-tooling.