Urban Meyer spent under a decade at Ohio State but his ability to beat Michigan consistently and win a national championship will always have him in good standing in Columbus. 

With that, what Meyer says usually catches plenty of attention. The former Ohio State head coach watched a good friend of his be hired by Michigan this offseason to lead the team after the firing of Sherrone Moore. Kyle Whittingham was a good hire for Michigan, but Meyer is feeling different about the Wolverines’ football program these days. 

Urban Meyer sounds off about the Michigan Wolverines for their recent past

“I’ve said this many times, and I know Cardale knows this because I’ve said it to our players. Name another person who respects that school more than I do,” Meyer said recently via Cardale Jones and Beanie Wells’ podcast. “I’m including some people that have gone there. That’s how much I respect that school. That’s why we work so hard to beat them. I know their history, I was friends with Bo Schembechler. I was friends with Lloyd Carr and Gary Moeller, I know those great players. When someone says they have great players, I snap all over people and say, what are you talking about?”

This is where Meyer admits how he feels about Michigan now. 

“And so the respect I have for that school academically, the school as a football program. I’ll tell you, it’s taken a little bit of a hit though. What’s gone on the last four or five years, I lost a little respect, Cardale. I know this is going to make some headlines, but the nonsense that has gone on up there, that’s not the Wolverine team or program that I know. When I started hearing about all the violations and then the most recent stuff … they hired the right guy to get them back.”

It’s pretty easy to see what Meyer is pointing to. Recently the firing of Moore with cause stands out. The former head football coach was allegedly having an affair with a football staffer. It ended with criminal charges being pressed against Moore with all of the fallout. 

The longest talking point with Michigan in recent years is the Connor Stallions sign-stealing scandal. That ended with show-cause orders, but Michigan was never forced to hand over any wins or its 2023 title. 

Meyer does feel good about where Michigan is going with Whittingham, but it’s hard to disagree with the image the Wolverines have put on themselves over the last few years. Ohio State is 1-4 against Michigan the last five times out, but the win last season may have turned the tide.