COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State said in a statement Friday evening that the university's investigation involving head football coach Urban Meyer will be completed on Sunday, sticking to the 14-day window announced on Aug. 5.
The independent investigators, lead by Mary Jo White and attorneys from the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, will then prepare a report to be shared next week with the working group appointed by the Ohio State Board of Trustees. That working group, led by former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, will share the report with the board during an executive session next week.
The university is required by state law to provide 24-hour public notice of any Ohio State Board of Trustees meeting.
Following that meeting, and after time for consideration, Ohio State President Michael Drake will announce his decision based on the findings of the investigation.
Meyer has been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 1, when Ohio State announced an investigation into what the head coach knew about allegations of domestic abuse against former assistant coach Zach Smith in 2015, and if that information was properly handled. Ryan Day, the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, has been serving as acting head coach in the interim.
During his paid administrative leave, Meyer is not permitted contact with players or staff, has been stripped of access to university-issued communication devices and is not permitted in the football building or any other campus building.
From the university's announcement on Friday, it seems an announcement on Meyer's status is unlikely to come until at least mid-week next week, possibly later than that. Ohio State opens the 2018 season on Sept. 1, two weeks from this Saturday, against Oregon State.
Drake, speaking during a radio interview on WOSU on Thursday, said the university did feel a bit of a time crunch, but wanted first and foremost to be sure it performed a thorough investigation before reaching a decision.
"There's a great deal of interest in this investigation, so we wanted to make sure we had really good information," Drake said. "And there's time pressure, we wanted to make sure we have that information as quickly as possible ... about two weeks. That's the projected goal. The investigation is underway as we speak. It will be finished when it's finished."
It turns out the projected schedule ended up being the right one.
Meyer said that he would fully comply with the university's investigation. It's unclear when, and how often, Meyer met with investigators during the process. The respective attorneys for Zach Smith and his ex-wife Courtney Smith said their clients met with investigators this week. Powell, Ohio police who investigated but never charged Zach Smith in 2015 said they had contact with OSU's investigators as well, but did not release the full report of the investigation since it did not result in a charge.
Athletic director Gene Smith, who was said to have knowledge of the allegations against Zach Smith in 2015, was not mentioned in the university's release on Friday. Drake was asked on Thursday why Smith was not placed on leave, and if the athletic director is also under investigation.
"I will say the team is investigating this particular set of circumstances," Drake said. "I don't know all the questions they're asking or what they're going about, so I'm waiting until they come forward with information and then we'll use that information to make the best decisions we can. I don't know where it's going, or what they're coming out with."