Meyer claims no OSU deal in place

ESPN reports 'contact' about coaching

Former Bowling Green and Florida coach Urban Meyer has denied reports that he has been contacted by Ohio State.

COLUMBUS -- As its first season without former head coach Jim Tressel nears its end, Ohio State has been in communication with Urban Meyer, the hottest commodity on the college market this season, about possibly leading the Buckeyes.

In a story posted Saturday, ESPN said there had been "contact" between OSU and Meyer, but that no contract is in place between the two parties. That would mean a number of Internet reports this week that Meyer had already received a multi-year deal from Ohio State were inaccurate.

Meyer, a former Florida and Bowling Green coach who works for ESPN and was in Ann Arbor on Saturday to be part of the network's broadcast of the Michigan-Nebraska game, said the Internet reports were erroneous.

"There's no truth to that," Meyer said regarding the claims he had already accepted the job. "I know it's that time of year. I've not been offered any job, and I've certainly not accepted any job."

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said earlier this week when the Internet reports started claiming Meyer had committed to the Buckeyes that no deal was in place.

Meyer led Bowling Green to a 17-6 record in two seasons in his first job as a head coach. He then took over at Utah and went 22-2 in two seasons with the Utes, including a 12-0 mark in 2004.

Meyer, a native of Ashtabula, Ohio, who was on the Ohio State staff as an assistant in 1986 and 1987, spent 2005-10 at Florida, going 65-15 and winning two national championships before resigning following last season.