Meyer denies report linking him to Ohio State

Nov 23, 2011 - 5:16 PM Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Urban Meyer has denied a report that says he will become the next head coach at Ohio State.

According to WKMG-TV in Orlando, Meyer has agreed to a seven-year deal worth $40 million and will be introduced at Ohio State in the coming days.

Meyer, who works as a college football analyst for ESPN, contradicted the report in a statement through the network.

"I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place," Meyer said in a statement. "I plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family and will not comment on this any further."

Meyer stepped down at Florida last December, citing health concerns. He spent six seasons in Gainesville and led the Gators to a record of 64-15 with a pair of national championships.

Rumors linking Meyer to Ohio State became rampant last weekend, but he said while broadcasting the Michigan/Nebraska game that the speculation was untrue.

Luke Fickell has been in charge of the Buckeyes program on an interim basis since June after Jim Tressel resigned in the wake of a scandal involving his supposed knowledge of players selling items and memorabilia.

Fickell has guided the Buckeyes to a record of 6-5 heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against arch-rival Michigan.

According to the report, Fickell will remain as an assistant under Meyer.

Meyer, who led Florida to national championships in 2006 and 2008, started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State in 1986.

The 47-year-old Ohio native is a three-time national coach of the year with an overall record of 104-23. He took his first head coaching job at Bowling Green in 2001 and posted a record of 17-6 in two seasons with the Falcons before moving on to Utah, where he guided the Utes to a mark of 22-2 in two seasons. Meyer closed out his stint in Salt Lake City with 16 consecutive wins.

In addition to his start at Ohio State, Meyer was also an assistant at Illinois State, Colorado State and Notre Dame.