Urban Meyer omits Alabama from his Top 5 jobs in college football, which is downright silly

Urban Meyer believes Georgia is the best job in college football. 

So does Nick Saban, although with Kirby Smart winning back-to-back national titles he probably is reticent to admit as much these day. 

Still, there’s a consensus among most that Georgia is currently the top-job in the sport. 

So Alabama has to be second then, right? At least in the Top 5?

Not according to Urban Meyer. 

In an appearance on the All Things Covered podcast with Bryant McFadden and Patrick Peterson, the former Florida and Ohio State head coach covered just about all things. 

He told a story about nearly stealing Peterson away from LSU. He rehashed some UF and OSU memories. He told a fun Percy Harsin anecdote, actually admitted some regrets about his disastrous tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars and picked the USC Trojans to win the 2023 national title. 

But when Meyer was asked to name his Top 5 jobs in college football, he gave a classic Urban Meyer answer: Some interesting soundbites without ever making a definitive statement. 

Meyer actually named eight schools!!! in his Top 5, rattling off Georgia, Ohio State, Florida and Florida State, LSU, USC and Texas. 

Alabama — a program that has won six national titles since 2009 and just signed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class that includes 15 Top 100 prospects — wasn’t mentioned until McFadden noted the Crimson Tide’s absence from the list.  

“You know, I put something in front of prestige and tradition, and that’s talent,” Meyer said just before revealing his “Top 5.”

“I think Alabama is a great job tradition-wise, history-wise,” Meyer said. “I think a lot of that, because I was there early on when Alabama didn’t have Nick Saban. They did beat us one year pretty badly. I think Alabama high school football is fantastic, but I don’t know if you have the same numbers that you have as a Georgia or an LSU. I certainly would see Alabama as a Top 5 (job), though.”

So Alabama is a Top 5 job to Meyer? Sort of? 

Well, definitively, it is — and should be. 

Meyer is correct in his summation that Georgia and LSU have greater access to in-state talent than Alabama, which also has to share the state with Auburn. 

The ability to get players is the No. 1 factor to rank these jobs. 

And outside of Georgia, no school in America has a greater commitment to winning than the Crimson Tide. 

Their resources, especially when it comes to recruiting budgets and staffing, is unmatched at any program not in Athens.

That’s how Alabama can sign 5-star prospects in the 2023 class from the Yellowhammer State, plus Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Kansas and Virginia.

Nick Saban — the highest-paid state employee — is arguably more powerful than the governor. Alabama’s administrative alignment — something Saban put in motion when he took the job 16 years ago — is top-notch. The fan support is unrivaled. 

Alabama’s passion and desire to win titles — plural — is simply not the same compared to that at Florida or Florida State — two schools Meyer mentioned among his Top 5.

Meyer may have been reluctant to acknowledge Alabama’s spot in college football’s job hierarchy, but the Crimson Tide are unequivocally at Top 5 gig in the sport. 

Urban Meyer breaks down his Top 5 jobs

Meyer said he’s always believed Georgia is the No. 1 job in America because “within three or four hours of that campus, you stumble over players. Here’s the interesting thing about Georgia: I think it has as good of high school coaching as there is in the country.”

Meyer didn’t offer any additional reasons behind his ranking of Ohio State at No. 2, skipping ahead to “Florida Gators/Florida State, because I think they are really similar jobs because of the talent level.”

Meyer rounded out his eight Top 5 with LSU, USC and Texas.

“I would say my man Patrick’s job (LSU). We didn’t recruit out in Louisiana. You know why? Because all of the good players are going to LSU. I would get really upset with my recruiting guy when he said he was maybe flying to Louisiana. I said, ‘We’re not getting that kid.’ 

“I’d put USC there because of their talent. I know I’m giving you more than five, but if you draw a circle within 300 miles around that campus, then go check the NFL Draft. I would rank the programs according to that. Texas, too.”