Ohio State Football: 3 biggest impacts of Urban Meyer’s Retirement

1. All eyes turn toward Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

With a coaching turnover in Columbus, the onus is on Jim Harbaugh and Michigan to take full advantage and wrestle the Big Ten away from Ohio State. Harbaugh has to be delighted to see Meyer walking away, while simultaneously disappointed that he won’t get the opportunity to best him, either.

Harbaugh will forever be 0-4 against Meyer, regardless of where this rivalry turns now with Day in the driver’s seat, a fact that the Buckeye faithful won’t be shy about sharing with the eccentric Wolverines coach.

The latest beating by Meyer’s Buckeyes was another humbling reminder of how far the Wolverines still have to climb to summit the college football mountain. Harbaugh was brought to Ann Arbor to beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten, and deliver a national championship.

So far, Harbaugh has accomplished none of those things. Fans are becoming restless, and while he isn’t on the hot-seat or even remotely close to it, the heat will begin rising if Harbaugh still can’t clear the Ohio State hurdle now that the king is gone.

Harbaugh is thought to be one of the best coaches in the country, and he is certainly paid like it. If that’s the case, then this is his opportunity to assert control over the conference, and finally get the Ohio State monkey off of his back.

Fast forward to a year from now, and Ryan Day leads Ohio State to a win in the Big House to run Harbaugh’s record to 0-5 against the Buckeyes, what will the reaction be from the fans and administration of Michigan?

The momentary relief of Meyer’s retirement has already been replaced by increased pressure for Harbaugh to finally overtake Ohio State in 2019.