Urban Meyer discusses increased parity in college football

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has admitted he misjudged the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation and the transfer portal on college football. Meyer previously believed these changes would allow powerhouse programs to become even more dominant, stating, “I thought the rich would get richer.”

Instead, Meyer observed that these developments have fostered greater parity across the sport, narrowing the talent gap between traditional powerhouses and previously struggling programs. He cited the difficulty in distinguishing between teams like Alabama and UCLA as evidence of this shift, noting that the competitive landscape has changed significantly due to the ability of new coaches to use the transfer portal to make immediate impacts.