Take Two: Is Bob Stoops a viable option if Ohio State job opens?

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

MORE: Hard Knocks stars as recruits | Top fall camp QB battles

As the Urban Meyer saga at Ohio State plays itself out and the independent board investigates what the Buckeyes’ coach knew and the timetable surrounding Zach Smith’s alleged abuse over the span of years, a fair question to ask is who would be viable candidates to replace Meyer if he’s not retained in Columbus.

According to Dan Wolken of USA Today Sports, one name that has been posited by several “college football insiders” who spoke on the condition of anonymity is former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

Wolken wrote that Stoops, who has significant ties to the state of Ohio, would be in a “class by himself” for the Ohio State job if Meyer leaves and that there would be a “fairly clear drop-off to the next tier of options.”

Stoops, 57, surprisingly retired from the Sooners last summer. If Meyer does not come back, would Stoops even be interested in coaching again - and at a place that is now dealing with a second coach leaving under a cloud?

“I've learned over the years to never speak for Bob Stoops. But here's the biggest Bob Stoops update I can give you. As Oklahoma opened the 2018 fall camp, with both of Bob's sons (walk-ons Drake and Isaac) getting ready to undergo their first college practices, Bob Stoops was on the golf course. I believe he had a 9:20 tee-time. Just about the same time OU was hitting the practice field.

"Stoops has been at some OU practices. And the nervousness he seemed to show in the months after his retirement have turned to ease. He bought a fishing boat, he's putting more time in at the gym. He's just learning how to live life away from football.

"Bob seems to be coming to grips with retirement. I think the media is Bob's next destination over football. But as Bob said throughout his career, ‘You never say never.’ I just don't think taking over a mess, even at Ohio State, fits his current situation.”

“I do not think he would take the Ohio State job. He stepped down for his family. If he comes back and takes the Ohio State job, then what does that say especially taking such a short time off? It would be tempting but I don’t think he’d take the Ohio State job.

“He could come back in to coaching. He’ll get that itch a few years from now - right job, right situation. Maybe this is the right job, right situation. It would be pretty quick. I think he’ll coach again.”