Jim Harbaugh did not hold back when Urban Meyer's name came up during a podcast appearance back in 2019. Speaking on The Athletic's The TK Show, the then-Michigan head coach admitted Meyer's success before adding a taunt that quickly grabbed attention.

"Urban Meyer's had a winning record. Really phenomenal record everywhere he's been," Harbaugh said. "But also, controversy follows everywhere he's been."

The timing here matters. This was not some random dig years later. According to ESPN, Harbaugh said this just months after Meyer had walked away from Ohio State following the 2018 season.

According to the ESPN report from 2019, there was history behind that exit, too. Meyer served a three-game suspension after the university looked into allegations involving former assistant coach Zach Smith and off-field stuff. He coached out the year and retired right after the Rose Bowl.

Harbaugh's criticism carried extra weight because of their rivalry. Even with competitive Michigan teams, he went 0-4 against Meyer during their time on opposite sidelines.

That made his comments one of the more talked-about moments involving the longtime Big Ten rivals after Meyer's departure.

Why Jim Harbaugh also turned the spotlight on himself

Harbaugh didn't spend the conversation taking shots at Meyer. He also admitted that criticism of his own record against Ohio State was justified.

"All you can be judged on is your record. What your record is overall. What your record is within your conference. What your record is with head-to-head matchups," Harbaugh said, in the same TK Show, as per ESPN.

He also added that Ohio State was the only program with a better overall record, conference mark, and head-to-head result than Michigan during his tenure.

He emphasized that Michigan's goals remained unchanged, that is, winning multiple championships while running what he described as a first-class program.

Harbaugh said the Wolverines had to stay accountable, learn from their shortcomings, and keep pushing forward.

This all came at a big turning point for Ohio State. Ryan Day had just stepped in after Meyer's retirement, and Harbaugh was still chasing his first win over the Buckeyes.

But Harbaugh flipped the script of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry in 2021, winning 42-27, and continued the winning streak in 2022 and 2023. Though he wasn't able to do so with Meyer there.

Meyer's resume was never really in question. As the New York Post and CBS Sports both pointed out at the time, the championships were real, and the results spoke for themselves.

But so did the off-field baggage. Florida had its own share of controversy. So did Ohio State. That pattern followed him around.

Looking back, Harbaugh's comments remain one of the more memorable exchanges tied to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry.

While he acknowledged Meyer's accomplishments, he also made clear that he believed the controversies surrounding Meyer's coaching stops were part of that legacy as well.

What are your thoughts on the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Rudra Dubey

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote