In college football, true legends rarely disappear for good. Now, as several storied programs stumble through the 2025 season, the whispers are growing louder. And if the right opportunity arises, it may be enough to draw Urban Meyer back to the only stage that ever truly fit him: the sidelines of college football.

When it comes to GOAT college football coaches, Urban Meyer is right up there, second to none except Nick Saban. Some Ohio State and Florida fans would even put him above Saban or at least on the same tier. When you look at his career, Meyer might have the most loaded resume in the entire country. He has won everywhere he has set foot (except Jaguars). In 15 seasons as a college head coach at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and Ohio State, he stacked up a ridiculous 187-32 record, which amounts to somewhere around an .854 winning percentage.

Despite all that, Urban Meyer doesn’t always get the credit and flowers he deserves. People forget he’s got three national titles on his resume, two at Florida in 2006 and 2008, and another at Ohio State in 2014. And his post-season record is just as strong, maybe even stronger than his regular season, with a 12-3 mark in bowl games that ranks as the second-best win rate in FBS history at .785.

Since his retirement following a short and disastrous NFL Jaguar stint, he has spent most of his time on his triple option podcast. Even though he has said repeatedly that he is not interested in returning, the demand for a proven winner keeps his name alive. Here are five programs that may be ready to bring in Urban Meyer.

Florida Gators

No matter how you frame it, Billy Napier’s time at Florida looks to be nearing its end. The Florida Gators are literally in the swamp. Gator Nation would welcome Urban Meyer with open arms without a second thought. After all, he delivered 2 national titles with a squad filled with convicts and OGs during his first stint in Gainesville.

The Gators entered 2025 with the expectation of a breakout season behind Year 2 quarterback DJ Lagway and a stacked roster. They were ranked No. 15 in the preseason. On paper, Florida possesses one of the most talented rosters in the nation. Yet the results have failed to reflect that potential. The Gators have stumbled to a 1-3 start, and their performance against Miami highlighted every flaw in the team. The offense managed only 32 yards, and Gator Nation hasn’t seen a performance that bad since the 1980s.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Johnny Manziel recently remarked, “If I were Florida, [I’d try] to get Urban Meyer back. I’d do anything in the world to get that man back there and get something.” 

Billy Napier has a 20-22 record in his fourth season, with a poor 3-12 mark against major rivals. What makes this worse is their schedule. His path ahead is even more difficult, with matchups remaining against top-ranked programs like Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Florida State. Florida has the hardest schedule in the country this year (per ESPN).

Clemson Tigers

Clemson entered the season hyped as one of the best rosters in the nation; analysts like Joel Klatt said 2025 is the Clemson Tigers’ year. Swinney himself promised a 16-0 season. Now they both have to eat their own words. After the Tigers’ loss against Fran Brown’s Syracuse, it’s hard to turn our heads and pretend it’s okay. The pre-season ranked No.4 Tigers are sitting at 1-3. The Orange’s 34-21 victory over Death Valley was especially painful, as it marked Syracuse’s first win there in school history.

The Tigers’ offense is a mess; they are averaging just 19.8 points per game. They’re near the bottom nationally in yardage and can’t get it done in conference play. The media is finally turning on Dabo, but his $60 million buyout is the only thing that gives him protection. A coach of Urban Meyer’s caliber, with a proven ability to turn high-potential rosters into national contenders, could offer a rapid path back to contention without a full rebuild.

UCLA Bruins

DeShaun Foster was brought in to turn the program around, a hometown hero tasked with restoring UCLA’s competitiveness and identity. While expectations were high, the results this season fell short, leaving the Bruins at a crossroads as they search for proven leadership to guide them through the Big Ten transition, where UCLA is expected to generate $13.5 million annually.

UCLA opened its 2025 campaign with 0-3 losses to Utah, UNLV, and New Mexico by a combined margin of 108-43. Foster got fired earlier this month. Now, their interim coach, Tim Skipper, is serving as interim HC.

If Urban Meyer comes in, he is looking at least 2 years of rebuilding. UCLA is in dire need of a tactician who can rebuild both sides of the ball and actually out-scheme the heavy hitters in their new conference setup. Meyer has proven he can take underachieving rosters and make them national contenders in less than 2 years. The only question is: would he even say yes to the West Coast grind?

Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech is once again in search of stability after parting ways with Brent Pry. He finished his four-year tenure with a 16-24 record, and an 0-3 start this season sealed his fate. The breaking point came in a 45-26 home loss to Old Dominion, a game that fans described as unacceptable. University President Tim Sands confirmed the move earlier this month, and the search for a new head coach has already started. Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield is one of the names being floated. Ryan Silverfield is doing wonders with that Memphis squad, but given Urban Meyer’s potential availability, Virginia Tech would be remiss not to explore the opportunity.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Sam Pittman’s seat is on fire. The Razorbacks’ heartbreaking 32-31 loss to Memphis has people questioning whether his time is up. Pittman has been solid at times, leading Arkansas to winning records in three of the last five years, but he’s never been able to get the program over the hump. Now, at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in SEC play, his record at the school sits at 32-33.

This season has exposed Arkansas’ biggest kryptonite: losing close games. They’ve beaten up on smaller opponents like Alabama A&M and Arkansas State, but when it came to Memphis and Ole Miss, they crumbled late in the 4th quarter. Both losses were winnable, but poor execution in crunch time sealed their fate. That’s become a theme under Pittman: good enough to compete, not good enough to close. If Arkansas decides to kick Sam Pittman out of Fayetteville, Urban Meyer instantly makes the Razorbacks one of the most-watched teams in the country.

Urban Meyer’s college football coaching stint came full circle when he retired from OSU in 2018. Surprisingly, his career began as a grad assistant at Ohio State in 1986-87 and ended there as well. While the Buckeyes continue to thrive and need no course correction, Florida, Clemson, UCLA, Virginia Tech, and Arkansas all have reasons to make the call. And a Meyer hire could instantly turn struggling teams into contenders, only if our OSU legend is willing to take the reins.