90%
75%
USA
Canada
Australia
UK
85% Urban Meyer Says Pete Rose Contacted Him for Insider Information for Gambling Purposes
Key Takeaways
- Urban Meyer said Pete Rose texted him for Ohio State football updates during the 2012 season
- Meyer later realized Rose may have been seeking information tied to gambling
- The former Buckeyes coach said he stopped discussing team details after being warned
- Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader, was permanently banned from baseball over gambling
Former Ohio State football head coach Urban Meyer shared a story this week about late baseball legend Pete Rose allegedly attempting to gather inside information about the Buckeyes.
Meyer Recalls Uncomfortable Exchanges With Rose
Meyer discussed his interactions with Rose during an appearance on The Triple Option podcast alongside co-hosts Mark Ingram and Rob Stone.
According to Meyer, the two became friendly after meeting through the Cincinnati Reds organization shortly after he was hired by Ohio State in 2012. Meyer, an Ohio native and lifelong Reds fan, said he enjoyed talking baseball with Rose, but noted MLB’s all-time hits leader frequently shifted conversations toward college football.
Meyer said Rose would text him questions about Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller, including inquiries about the star player’s shoulder injury. At first, Meyer said he did not think much of the messages.
“During the season, my first year in 2012, every once in a while, I’d get a text … ‘Hey man, how’s the team look? How’s Illinois look? How’s Braxton Miller’s shoulder?’ or something like that. And I’d text him back, ‘Yeah, we’re doing fine,” Meyer recalled.
Gambling Concerns Changed Meyer’s Approach
The situation changed after someone warned Meyer that Rose may have been attempting to obtain information about Ohio State for betting on college football. Meyer said he was told he could potentially get himself into trouble by sharing insider details about player injuries or team conditions.
After that conversation, Meyer said he avoided giving Rose meaningful football information and redirected future discussions away from the Buckeyes. He added that Rose later openly discussed gambling habits during another meeting in Las Vegas.
Meyer brought up the story during a conversation about Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who is the subject of an Ohio Casino Control Commission investigation; Sorsby is alleged to have wagered on his own team while playing for Indiana in 2022.
Rose’s Gambling Legacy Remains Part of His Story
Rose remains one of baseball’s most polarizing figures. MLB banned him from the sport in 1989 after an investigation found he bet on baseball games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. He later admitted to betting on the sport in his 2004 autobiography.
Despite the controversy, Rose is still Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader with 4,256 career hits. He died in 2024, but discussions surrounding his gambling history and Hall of Fame eligibility continue to follow his legacy.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred removed Rose from MLB’s permanently ineligible list in May 2025, meaning he could eventually end up in Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
