Urban Meyer watches CFP decision from maternity ward

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer was a little late to the office, but at least there was a television in the maternity ward at Riverside Hospital.

After struggling to get to sleep with Ohio State's playoff hopes hanging in the balance and his oldest daughter, Nicki, in the hospital about to make him a grandfather for the first time, Meyer had an early start Sunday, but he didn't make his way to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center until after learning where the No. 3 Buckeyes were heading.

"I watched the selection show from the maternity ward at Riverside Hospital," Meyer said. "That's a first. And we kind of knew it was coming. It was about two weeks early, but we kind of knew things were moving quickly. Sure enough, we got the phone call yesterday.

"All of a sudden, you go to sleep and she's in the hospital because things started moving, and then [wife] Shelley, I was out and she left a note for me. I popped up at 5:30, got the text message that the baby was born, grabbed my son Nate to go down there. Got there at 6:30, and we hung out with them."

Shortly after noon, Meyer found a television to watch the announcement of the College Football Playoff bracket, which included the Buckeyes' becoming the first team not to win a conference championship to make the four-team field.

Ohio State will face Clemson in thePlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31 in Glendale, Arizona.

With that information in tow along with his new role as a grandfather to Troy -- 7 pounds, 1 ounce -- Meyer strolled into the facility just before 1 p.m. with a wide smile on his face.

"Very emotional," Meyer said. "It's my little girl, and I'm so proud of her, so proud of the dad. They're going to be [great]. God's blessed them, and now it's an incredible responsibility."

Meyer also dealt with an illness of his own last week during a busy stretch of recruiting, but he is healthy now and all clear to jump back into his professional responsibilities.

A matchup with the Tigers looms, but Meyer is riding high after one of the most interesting, satisfying days of his career.

"It's been incredible," Meyer said. "And everybody is good."