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College football notes: Urban Meyer’s fate to be decided in meeting

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Ohio State trustees set a private meeting for Wednesday to talk about the future of coach Urban Meyer as the university seeks to quickly move past a scandal that has consumed the football program for nearly a month.

Meyer has been on leave during an investigation into his handling of domestic-abuse allegations against former assistant coach Zach Smith. The university said fact-finders briefed the board Monday. President Michael V. Drake will have the final say on Meyer.

The Columbus Post Dispatch, citing two anonymous sources, reports that the likely outcome will be a suspension for Meyer, possibly with his two weeks on leave counting as time served.

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The investigation centers on what Meyer knew and did about allegations of abuse against Smith, who was fired July 23 after his wife sought a protective order. Smith hasn’t been charged or convicted of abuse, but his ex-wife Courtney Smith alleged her husband shoved her against a wall and put his hands around her neck in 2015.

Meyer has said he handled the accusations properly when he found out about them, but acknowledged he lied to reporters at first when he said he hadn’t heard of the incident. Ohio State put Meyer under investigation after Courtney Smith went public, giving a reporter text messages and pictures she traded with Meyer’s wife, Shelley Meyer, in 2015.

Drake surprised Ohio State fans in 2014 when he fired the school’s marching band director after an investigation uncovered band traditions and rituals that were racy, raunchy or suggestive.

The band director, Jonathan Waters, said he had been trying to change many of the activities before he was fired, but Drake stood his ground.

Etc.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh says junior Shea Patterson will start at quarterback in the Sept. 1 opener at Notre Dame. ...

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Minnesota tabbed true freshman walk-on Zack Annexstad the starting quarterback. ...

Wisconsin suspended wide receiver Quintez Cephus after he was charged with felony sexual assault. ...

Louisville placed tight ends coach Chris Klenakis on administrative leave following his arrest on DUI charges. ...

Former Oklahoma and NFL star DeMarco Murray is joining Fox Sports’ college football coverage.

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