Urban Meyer doesn't think that the NCAA should vacate Michigan football 2023 wins

USA Today

07-05-2025

Urban Meyer doesn't think that the NCAA should vacate Michigan football 2023 wins
Michigan football has found an unlikely ally -- in some ways -- in its fight against the NCAA due to 'signgate' in none other than the most prominent former Ohio State coach.
Appearing on The Triple Option Podcast, Meyer reacted to Rob Stone about the Wolverines potentially vacating wins in the aftermath of the Connor Stalions saga -- a popular solution from many in self-proclaimed 'Buckeye Nation.'
'Pump the brakes. Don't even go there,' Meyer said. 'When you start seeing about coaches that can't coach -- you went through this, and you see the word 'show-cause, show-cause,' in my understanding, means you can't coach.
'If someone wants to hire you, you're not allowed to coach. Obviously, there's some stuff there, but once again I defer until everything comes out, and I hope it does. I hope everything comes out. At some point you can move past this because this is like a black cloud that's been hanging for a while.'
As Meyer notes, it's somewhat meaningless to vacate wins and teams that often have, have done so in seasons where they didn't have a lot of wins to begin with.
'Everyone starts laughing. Vacate what wins? Seven years ago, six years ago, four years ago," Meyer said. "That has no impact on -- that's the risk-reward. You can vacate all the wins you want. Now, obviously this discussion will come up. You start vacating wins from a national championship season; that's a problem.
'But I think Tennessee had some wins vacated, if I remember, right, maybe Arizona State, the teams weren't very good. So who cares? The risk-reward is in full effect there. That means there's no risk and a great reward, I guess, if you do the things they're doing. So you hear the word vacated wins, everybody rolls their eyes in college sports.'
Meyer also offered a solution to the NCAA not being respected, saying that coaches who deceive the organization (caught lying or otherwise) should face a lifetime ban from college sports. It's unclear whether or not he includes Sherrone Moore's deletion of texts (which he later produced upon request) with Connor Stalions as a potential impetus for his proposed ban.
It makes sense that Meyer would feel that way given that his first year at Ohio State featured 12 vacated wins in a 12-1 season in the aftermath of Jim Tressel and 'tatgate.'