At one point in the beginning of the fourth quarter it seemed like an Oregon victory was possible. It seemed like the first ever College Football Playoff championship could be Oregon’s first ever championship. Maybe- just maybe- a couple of opportune throws from Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariotta could put his team back in position to rekindle the season. Ball in hand, down by eight, the Ducks are in control of their own destiny, but then reality sets in.

An Urban Meyer-led team does not blow leads. If anything Meyer’s Buckeyes squander their opponent’s lead. Look at Ohio State’s semi-final victory at the Sugar Bowl. Meyer and his crew turned an early 21-6 deficit into a 42-35 win against the prominent number 1 seeded Alabama. Oregon may have had a chance according to the scoreboard, but soon enough the tables would turn and the inevitable would occur.

A few misleading passes later, Ohio State had the ball back and their lead would only continue to grow. Urban Meyer wasn’t going to lose his lead in a game of this magnitude.

What made Ohio State’s eventual 42-20 win over Oregon so incredible was the destructive fashion in which the buckeyes won. It may have been a 22-point contest, but by the end of the game it felt like much more.

It could have been sophomore running back Ezekial Elliot’s national championship game record 246 rushing yards. It could have been sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones, who was only starting his third game, but looked like it was his 30^th start. What about the Buckeye’s menacing defense, which held a top offense in Oregon to a measly 20 points? All huge factors in the ensuing Ohio State victory, but one component reigned supreme in the first College Football Playoff: coaching.

All of the great coaches in the history of football- and for that matter every sport ever- preach preparation over everything. Meyer is no exception to this rule.

“I have yet to be in a game where luck was involved. Well-prepared players make plays. I have yet to be in a game where the most prepared team didn’t win,” said Meyer to a swarm of media following the game.

For this Ohio State team, though, preparation had a different meaning. Before the season even started the Buckeyes learned that they would be without their best player and Starting quarterback Braxton Miller. The replacement was J.T. Barrett who, after a rough start, hit his stride and led Ohio State to a College Football Playoff berth.

In their final regular season game against Michigan Barrett sprained his ankle and learned he was going to be out for the season. The position was on to the third stringer: Cardale Jones. The rest is history. Jones, the most improbable of starters, led his team to the Big Ten, Sugar Bowl and National Championships, winning all. The Ohio State Buckeyes are truly the Undisputed Champions.

Sure, the championship can be credited to the Buckeyes immense talent at almost every position, but Coach Urban Meyer deserves the credit. Preparing his young team through three quarterback changes is impressive, but to go almost unblemished through those changes is unheard of. This season just proved that preparation has made Urban Meyer one of the best coaches in the game.