The Triple Option - Bartsool's Dave Portnoy joins, Lane to LSU, Disband the CFP Committee, and Championship Picks

Episode Date: December 3, 2025

What if we told you the College Football Playoff Committee should be disbanded? Well that's just what three-time national champion head coach Urban Meyer is suggesting as we arrive less than a week until the final playoff bracket being set. He, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone discuss and get into the drama between Oxford, MS and Baton Rouge, LA. Barstool founder and Michigan super fan Dave Portnoy joins to pay off his bet to Coach, discuss the future of Bryce Underwood and Michigan, as well as take a swing at fixing College Football. We go three and out ranking the top Conference Championship games and for Coach, it's all about keeping an eye on the family. The they preview and pick Texas Tech-BYU, Alabama-Georgia, and Ohio State-Indiana. New episodes of The Triple Option drop every Wednesday. Make sure you’re subscribed on YouTube and following on all podcast platforms. Also make sure you’re locked in on social @3XOptionShow on all platforms for highlight moments, bonus content, and to engage with the guys and the TO community. (⁠⁠⁠https://tripleoptionshow.com⁠⁠⁠) The Triple Option is presented by Wendy’s. Join Team Tendy’s and enjoy a line-up like never before. Crispy. Juicy. Tendy’s Now at Wendy’s. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tendys.com⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to our additional sponsors Google – No matter what question comes next, you can just ask Google. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.google.com/gasearch?udm=50&aep=46&source=25q4-US-JAG-YouTube-NCAAPo⁠⁠⁠ FanDuel – Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://Fanduel.com/TripleOption⁠⁠⁠ to download the app and take advantage of a 50% Profit Boost today! USAA – Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.USAA.com⁠⁠⁠ #CollegeFootball #LaneKiffin #CollegeFootballPlayoff #OleMiss #Michigan #OhioState #TheGame #DavePortnoy #Barstool #Georgia#NotreDame #Alabama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With three Big Ten teams looking like they're headed to the college football playoffs, are you going to cheer for Oregon, Indiana, and Ohio State in the postseason? Of course. That's it. I don't buy that. The Triple Option is presented by Wendy's. Join Team Tendies and enjoy a lineup like never before. Crispy, juicy, Tendies, now at Wendy's.

Hey, welcome to another live edition of the Triple Option presented by Wendy's Deuce Deuce in the House. Coach Meyer, Rob Stone, here with you. We are going to react to the fifth playoff rankings that just came out and what the bracket looks like. A lot to get towards, a lot to talk about, including Lane Kiffin's exit from Oldness as well. Please rate us. Subscribe over at Apple Podcast, Spotify. Wherever you get your podcast, you can find us on 3X option show over there on social media. coming away every Wednesday on YouTube, wherever it is, you find your podcast. So a new full edition coming your way on Wednesday.

Dave Portnoy joins the conversation as well. Pretty interesting talk with him. All right. Let's get right to the rankings here with any given Saturday. And so much took place last week, of course, the Buckeyes, getting that Wolverine off their back. The Longhorns and Arch Manning getting an upset win over Texas A&M. Lane Kiffin gets the win in the Egg Bowl. and then Bolts Oxford for LSU.

How did that impact Ole Miss? Time to look at the top 25 rankings right now, guys. And we're going to go down low there. James Madison at number 25 from the Sunbelt, first time they had been ranked. If you look at 20 and 24, Tulane, North Texas, both of those programs obviously ranked. They meet each other on the weekend for the American Conference Championship game.

Right now, the winner of that game is absolutely. going to the playoffs. Virginia at number 17. They are up one spot. They are in the ACC championship game against Duke, who is nowhere to be found in this top 25. We'll talk why that matters. Vanderbilt, fourth straight week at 14. Texas, up three off the win over A&M. They are at 13. Miami, second straight week at number 12, BYU sitting there at number 11. And then that essentially is your cut line. We'll show you the bracket in the second. Notre Dame at 10. Bama up one at nine. Texas A&M plunges four. They are down to seven. Old Miss raises themselves up one spot to number six. Texas Tech and Oregon both move up one as does Georgia

and as it's been all season long, Ohio State 1, Indiana number two. So before we throw the bracket out, Mark, I'll start with you. And let's talk about Alabama. Sitting there at Number nine, up one off that win over Auburn. Does that feel right for you? And do you feel secure that they're going to be in the final bracket come next Sunday? I think it just depends on how they perform. But I think you have a hard time knocking out the SEC runner up. So I think that they're kind of situated right there at number nine.

But what stands out to me is BYU up here to 11. They win. And I think the Big 12 gets two in. So that really stand it out to me because I think they were they were a little back last week. I don't know what their previous week ranking was, but right now, BYU, they played Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship. First straight week at number 11 for BYU, so they stayed pat. So they win, they get in, and who would that push out? Notre Dame.

Yeah. So that's something to keep eye on. But I think Alabama at 9, I think that's right. I think you'll have a hard time having the SEC runner up out, but I think they have a good shot to, you know, compete in this joint, in the SEC championship and win. If they win, they probably go up to a top four in a first round by. So a lot riding on the SEC championship,

a lot riding on the Big 12 championship. Texas at 13, three losses. They'll need some chaos. Miami needs something to happen for them to get in. They beat Notre Dame with the head-to-head. So they're sitting outside of writing 12. I know there's a lot of noise about Miami should be. inside that cut line.

Yeah, there's not that much chaos to be had just because not that many teams are playing this week. Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia, Bamma, Texas Tech, BYU. But regardless of those results,

of those programs, you said they're all going to fall inside the group that's going to go to the playoffs, right? If Bamma, if Bamma gets... If Bamma gets... But you can't drop them out,

you can't do that. If they get... If they get beat on by Georgia, which I don't see happening, but if they did, then you would have to have the discussion. But to me, the precedent that was set last year in the ACC, when Clemson beat SMU and they still put SMU in, there's no way you could do that to Alabama or any of the teams that are playing in the conference championship. Good point. Coach, what jumps out to you?

I just, I mean, I just wrote this down, I'm Mark Engram, Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn, Matt Leiner, obviously Rob, and then Bear, who studies this stuff, like, I'm not sure what else he does, be honest with you. The committee's got to go away. It's got to go away. And I said that earlier today. And I'm not saying the committee, I mean, if there's 40, 50, 60 years of experience between us, and we can't agree on everything.

I mean, I just can't understand how you can penalize Texas for losing at Ohio State. If Bama loses in that game, you cannot penalize that. them that's that's a reward what they it's season's over unless you win you cannot you cannot do that you know i i don't understand like if b yu beats texas tech of course texas tech is in they're going to be too so you know a lot a lot of things come across my mind i'm just worried about the future of our game and i know we're talking about this what needs to happen coach is in the n-fell do you have a division you win the division that gets you automatically bid. The next three best

records get in. There's no bias. It's straight you know what it is. And college football needs to come to some type of structure where it mirrors that. But Mark, the NFL is all, you know, equal. You can't have

Old Dominion, Ken and Austin. Right now Indiana is the smart, Indiana's playing chess. Everyone else is playing checkers. Yeah. Because they're scheduling. Old Dominion, if Texas played this, Texas would be in the playoffs for college football. Indiana State, Kennesaw State, and Old Dominion. You're going to see the worst non-conference schedules in the history of our game.

As it should. And you saw Alabama just dropped USF, which, you know, it's not like that. It's not as it should. It's not as it should. And I understand your point, right? If the ultimate goal, which it is, is to get the playoffs and play for national championship, you're doing what's best for your program, but you're not doing what's best for college football. That's what hurts me.

and they can't play in the SEC championship. They're in the playoff. Yeah. I understand both sides. Start coughing a lot. Start coughing a lot. I don't want to see meaningful out-of-conference games go away. But that goes to your point about the potential of the expansion and making this weekend essentially play-in games via the conference model.

Yeah, here is what Jerry DeNardo, my great friend from Big Ten Network, former coach, head coach at LSU, Vanderbilt in Indiana. and he made this, I hope this runs as a headline that is the only multi-billion dollar industry in the history of the United States of America that is run by volunteers. Think about that for a second. Just digest that one for a minute. So get rid of the volunteers,

make this a play in, and, you know, you went on the field, and if I'd actually, I'm looking at James Madison, I looked at their schedule, the only team that, you know, was, I shouldn't say that because I coached a bowling, and green all that. There's good players everywhere, but James Madison lost to Louisville by 14 points. Louisville's not ranked. Put them in the SEC for, what, five, six games, Mark, and oh my God.

I don't know if they need to be in there for that many games. Maybe one, maybe two. Understand your point. The committee did say that teams do have a chance to move up or down if they don't play this week. It's something to keep in mind. None of Miami's opponents have a game this weekend. Miami's sitting there at number 12 and kind of trapped, handcuffed. if you will. Notre Dame, though, remember, Boise State is in the Mountain West Championship game against UNLV coach. So a Boise State win, and they're the Mountain West champs, that makes the victory by the Irish over them, makes their resume look a little bit better as they sit there at number 10 right on the cusp of things. Again, Notre Dame is off this week. They do play in a conference.

That's a whole other conversation, by the way. I see Xavier over there saying roll tight. We're all damn tired. We don't give a piss about nothing but the tires. Say what they want. We don't give a piss about nothing but they're tired. I got too much bad man in me. Texas, there's a question about Texas.

Do they have a chance to get? No. They're not getting in. They're not getting in. Unfortunately, they scheduled Ohio State. So next time schedule somebody else. Ohio University. Go Ohio University rather than Ohio State.

Or grambling. That's what Ohio State played, too. They play gravel. Yeah, so Texas did get the bump of three spots, courtesy of the win over Texas A.N. But they're sitting there with three losses. Yeah. And nine wins.

Of course, one of those three losses, week one at number one Ohio State. By a touchdown. Yeah, Texas, it's not going to happen. They're done. I think Miami's done. Well, explain to me the next, the group of the next two that are getting in.

So there's an ACC champ that might not get in? It's the highest ranked conference champion. And if Duke beats Virginia, Duke is nowhere to be found in the rankings right now. That's why James Madison being ranked at the Sunbelt as a Sunbelt conference champion and being ranked would trump Duke winning the ACC. This is wild, man. Crazy. So here's a look at the bracket right now, guys. And you're looking as one of the potential conference champions, Sunbelt or American, can be taking on Oregon.

We got Bama at Oklahoma, so an all-SEC showdown, another conference champion taking on six-seat Ole Miss. And then how about a rematch, Notre Dame and Texas A&M? And then you move on to the next stage and Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana, and Texas Tech right now. So every Notre Dame fan should be rooting for Texas Tech this weekend. Yes. Yes, yes. If you're the Irish, you are not provoked. Dave, right? Provo Dave. You are all about Joey McGuire, who, by the way, got a seven-year contract extension

today. Congratulations to Coach McGuire and Texas Tech again. Having them move up one spot to number four gives them just, I think, a greater buffer zone. And if the Big 12, I don't like to pat myself on the back often, but once in a while, I should do it. Big 12, I've been saying it for months now. Like, they're on the cusp of getting two in.

They're on the cusp of getting two in. that's going to show how strong this program, this conference is, and its growth. BYU wins. It's two in. Two in. 100%. Fight me. Fight me on it.

There's no way. There's no fight. There's no fight. There's no fight. There's no fight. There's no fight. There's no fight. Yeah.

Debate your granny. If BYU wins, they're in and Notre Dame is out. Yeah. Yeah. So, and again, there is still one more playoff ranking coming your way on Sunday. And there's still a lot to talk about. But first, that was your fresh take of the week, presented by Wendy's, join Team Tendies and enjoy a lineup like never before,

crispy, juicy tendies now at Wendy's. There's one day we've got to talk about. Lane Kiffin. All right. So, Lane Kiffin leaves Ole Miss, and again, Ole Miss up one spot to six. So they did not ding Old Miss for their head coach leaving, which there was, frankly, a potential for that.

He goes to LSU. He will not coach the Rebels. in the playoff. Pete Golding, the defensive coordinator, given the head coaching job on a full-time basis. Right. That's a lot going on in Oxford in just a couple hours. Do you think it was the right decision coached by Ole Miss to not let Lane Kiffin coach his former team, essentially, in the playoffs? You know, you're seeing Tulane right now in North Texas, they're allowing their coaches to come back and coach in the conference championships. I had that experience when I was at Utah. We were the first non-BCS to go to the BCS Bowl. They allowed me come back and I actually

spoke with Coach Kiffin or we texted back and forth about this that he really wanted to coach that team. That's admirable. Of course he did. You wanted to finish what he started. Here's what someone brought up to me that with the transition of players that there's at times 40 to 50 new players every year now. You know, my, Dan Mullen took over UNLV. He had seven, I think it's 70 new players, and they went 10 and 2. So do you allow the coach to finish because that's going to be a new team anyways next year with the transfer portal and all that?

So your question was, did they do the right day? And at first, I thought, man, let them go. I don't care about anything other than those damn players, the ones that throw their bodies around and, you know, the defense alignment, offense alignment, and guys running down kickoff. Football is a nasty, hard sport. And the players are the ones that do it. Then all of a sudden, the offense coordinators on Baton Rouge, Mark.

Yeah. The two play callers, by the way, they're very good. Charlie Weiss Jr. and Lane Kiffin, do you really think they have a chance to win? I mean, maybe they do. I don't know. Who's calling plays? Yeah. There's a reason why Charlie Weiss was, you know, so I just go back to the player.

So Weiss is going to call the plays. He is going to stay and call him. place for Ole Miss going forward, yeah. Oh, that's huge. They did come to a resolution with that. It's weird, though, because there's a lot to get to on this way. To me, though, Stone, they said the reason they didn't let him coaches because he's going to be recruiting their players, he already has a relationship with those players.

They're already recruited. The ones who want to go to LSU are already going to be on the way to LSU whether he coaches them or not. Like, he already has a relationship with those players. So if that's the reasoning, that doesn't make sense to me. For me, again, I agree with you guys. it should be about the student athletes, first and foremost. The fact that the way the Lane situation went down and going to a rival school,

and let's be honest, it's a bit of a parallel move, right? Like, you can say LSU is this and Ole Miss, but it's going to be a parallel move when you hear my next point, right? So that would frustrate me. When you're talking about the head coaches at North Texas in Tulane leaving their programs that they built and they put blood and sweat and tears into, and they are clearly making an elevated move, right? I don't begrudge those guys.

I would let them stick around. If I was an AD, if I was a parent, I'd feel better with those coaches sticking around. Lane feels much more like a betrayal rather than moving up and doing what's best of the kids. So let me ask you a question because I did not know that. Are the assistant coaches allowed to coach in the game? Weiss Jr. is.

Yeah, yeah. So they're still there. I think that's a, I didn't know that. Because at first, Lane Kippen said, get on the plane or I'm leaving you. I think, correct. There was that, there was that report. And I saw, I saw Charlie Weiss Jr. get on a play. So, but that is public now that Charlie Weiss can coach is going to call play.

That is what I saw. Yeah, that is what I saw. That's a very, that's a big positive. Yeah. Because the head coach this time of year is a little overrated. head coaches are the ones that build it's the coordinator's game when that when the foot hits the ball the head coach is a manager game manager he's fourth down and all that stuff but the play caller and i know it's charlie weiss is the play caller now lane has some input coach kiffin has some

input in that so mark you saw the movie um major league right charlie sheen right and the indians and uh they're getting kind of pounded on and uh they set up that picture and in the dugout in the clubhouse, if they're an attractive owner and they started peeling clothes off her, how much you want to bet there's a, there's going to be a life-size Lane Kiffin in that locker room right now,

and they're going to reel off wins. Like, let me tell you, Ole Miss could be a team of destiny right now, right? Like, that's either going to divide them or that's going to bring those cats together. And I think there's a great opportunity that Old Miss comes together even stronger, better, nastier,

and with a whole lot of chips on their shoulder to prove their old coach wrong, if you will. I don't care what nobody say. LSU let their nuts hang and they pulled the power move. And they are going to be a damn problem. That's coming from an Alabama guy.

Lane to LSU is a problem for everyone, not just the SEC, but in the college football world. They're giving that man the resources to build a crazy roster. LSU has always been one of them elite programs. They're a sleeping giant. They went and got their guy who's going to awaken that program, and they are going to be a damn problem.

And I hate to say it. So what happens? You guys, everyone, I keep hearing that they give them all this money. You can only go $20.5 million, Mark. Apparently not, because Texas Tech went $28 million. We're back in the old days of... Apparently not because Texas Tech went 28Ms. Oh, my God.

Texas is over 30Ms. So I don't know what this NIL and what this cap means and all it is because Mugs is going over to $20 million. So the money matters. Money make it go, woo, whoa. All right, let me throw one last question at you guys. Here we go. Is Lane Kiffin college football's greatest ever villain? Might as well be from how he went from USC to Tennessee to Old Miss to now LSU.

The man going to do what's best for him. And a little Alabama in between? Oh, you know, but he wasn't the headman. Alabama. I know, but still. He got booted off the team before the national championship at Alabama. Right, right.

But yeah, Lane is Lane. Lane, going to Lane. I like Lane. I like Lane. I'm not knocking him. And I was actually kind of falling back in love with Lane. I don't like how this weekend played. I don't enjoy it.

I don't know what would have made it better. People want to say, oh, change the calendar. I don't care what calendar is out there. And I understand the NFL abides by a calendar, right? And dealing with head coaches and talking to them for vacancies and coordinators. But it's college football, man. It's still, as much as people want to kind of ring it in, it's still the Wild Wild West. And the first time, you're talking about. The first time, Coach Sabin said he was retiring, I immediately thought a Lane. I thought

of a Sabin tree. I thought Lane. I thought Sark. I thought Land. And I'm like, go try and get one of them dudes. But this is all about LSU. Everyone wants to say what Lane did. LSU went and they let their nuts hanging. They went and they got their guy. They sick and tired to be a sick and tired. This is after the governor. This is after the governor. Elected governor said we will not have those contracts again. Lane, I looked it up.

It's a guaranteed content. The same agent. I mean, my God, this is. But hey, the governor were all that money at in Louisiana. So he had him ponying up. He had them ponying up. Hey, did you hear Lane? No, he's talking about, I didn't even show me the numbers.

the contract. He said, I don't want to know the numbers. Like, you knew them damn numbers. Yeah, he's got somebody to worry about the numbers. He got the highlighted numbers, right? The numbers that matter. He said, give me the numbers of the team. That's what he said. Give me the numbers. I want to see what numbers of the team. And they're giving him the numbers. But, Coach, I'm like you, man. I thought it was a $20 million, but it ain't. It ain't. You got to have money to be able

to play in this day and age. Cap. What's a cap, man? What's a cap, right? And nobody got money. Everybody operating in a deficit. Mark, all we're doing is taking steps. Some are babies, some are big towards the NFL model. I mean, every day college football just gets closer and closer to it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I'm just saying that that is the next inevitability.

That's the solution. Right. That's the solution. Committee out, everybody out. This is a professional game. Let's start modeling after the best professional sports league in the world, the NFL. Next week we have not one, but two chances that you might be able to see us in Baltimore. We're going back, of course, guys, to the Army-Navy game.

You can join us live show of the TTO presented by USAA on December 12th. And this year, you can join us on site in Baltimore at the USAA rendezvous point located at 201 East Pratt Street at 2 Eastern. I think everybody knows where the USAA rendezvous point is. If you can't make that, you can follow us on YouTube. You can follow us at 3X option show for the live stream as well. And then later that night, head on over to the whole. Horseshoe Casino for the tailgate tour at 5.30. We've got live music, food, beverage,

live question, and answer with the three of us. So there it is. Five playoff rankings are in the books. One more, the final one to come out next Sunday. Onomaz. Coming up next on the triple option, the one, the only. Dave Portnoy joins the show. Light it Welcome back to the triple option presented by Wendy's Duce Duce Rob Urban back here with you and let's bring in our teammate

from Big Noon kickoff. Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports joins us right now and you knew he'd still be wearing the gear, right guys? We knew that we see it in Maze and Blue on you. I didn't know if we was going to get Michigan Dave or B-White or Provo Dave today. Provo Dave.

Yeah, listen. Provo Dave's a lot. and well phone the coaching search going on there or whatever's going on with kalani but good and bad ugly michigan men we answered the bell so i mean urban i saw i'm smirking there and and it is what it is so here i am we appreciate you so just get it quickly out of the way in uh the was it 10 grand or was it just one grand i like grew one grand you could i would have done anything but it's a thousand bucks you got tell me how to pay that i'm a cheap ass man yeah you can tell me how to pay that who's the check

going to, whatever it may be. All right, make it out to my daughter, Nick, no, I'm just kidding. I'll find out. We got plenty of time. Hey, real serious question, because I've been waiting to hear, ask you this. Because I don't think people out there actually know. Tell us about the whole NIL, because I know you, it's well documenting or involved with Bryce Underwood.

And do you renegotiate? Do you negotiate or is it just set? Or do, do like, like obviously, you've done, contracts i've done contracts you have people sit back and go back and forth to me it seems like anything goes now i i i mean i think n i i think coaching i it seems like there's no rules there's no contrast not like professional sports the nfl or anything like that it really seems to me like if somebody came along and like hey bryce here's 20 mil i think you could bounce if he wanted to i don't i don't think there's any rules or anything going on with that as far as i can tell i wasn't i was involved

in the Bryce stuff but I wasn't involved in like pen to paper so I don't know what the actual contractor whatever they call it looks like now will you hear I mean will someone say hey Bryce wants to renegotiate or something like that are you are you out of it I'm out of it he'd have some big balls to say wants to renegotiate now I don't I I don't think that's coming down the pike that would be uh that would be surreal but I'm out of it so like my involvement in that was, I've told the story a little bit. I was on one of our podcasts, and after watching the Michigan quarterback play, I was like, we'll never not have a quarterback.

I will go get us a quarterback. I'll pledge like $3 million if I have to to go get me a quarterback. And I got reached out to like, hey, there's a woman who wants to talk to you. I'm like, I'm not interested. I don't want to go through the NIL. I want to do this through Barstool, my way. Like, we'll use them in our podcast. Again, ask, will you please talk to this woman?

it turns out the woman's name was jollin she was married to larry ellison i know larry ellison and i got put in contact with her and she was basically like it's about time somebody like came forward feeling how i am like we're going to do something here and the next day i was on a conference call larry ellison jolin two days later we're on a conference call larry ellison jolin and brys underwood and his family and after that i was pretty much out i wasn't like hey this much that much that was my involvement that was really good the end of it. I'm surprised we've not heard more stuff about, I'm sorry Mark, about the like legal action like, you know, Lane Kiffin, I'm sure they had a pretty, pretty expensive

roster. He leaves. Now do those contracts become null and void? I mean, I, I'm surprised we've not heard more dynamics about the whole legal piece because you're talking about some serious cash getting thrown around. Totally. Totally. I mean, I've heard people, people I obviously I don't think it's going to happen but like you know no it would be funny if underwood now went back to lSU with lane i don't think that's happening but i i think my impression of this world we're in is anybody can do anything that that really seems to be what is happening here you're dave michigan man i know we're not feeling great about the loss last week but uh what's next for michigan and bry well it's a great loss and you know it couldn't

go on forever. So you needed a game that you look in the mirror and you're like, hey, we got to get better. These guys, these guys from Ohio, they're playing real deal football. So I've now looked at it as it's the best thing that could have happened to us. Like, you know, you saw me all seasons.

Like, oh, we're going to roll through these guys. He's this game on the season. Easiest game on the schedule. Yeah, schedule. They're much better than us. It takes a Michigan man to admit that, obviously. And maybe, you know, the fact we beat them last year when we had no business beating them. It like

hid some things and then you get the quarterback but we're going to get much better. Everyone's asking what I think about Sharon. I think you give them one more year. Like Michigan, we don't play for nine and threes. That's not what we do in Ann Arbor. We play three teams that were underdogs to this year and we really got squashed

by all of them. Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State. Killed by all of them. Never in any of those games really. Beat all the teams we should. should be better than we were the year before i think you give them one more year and you're got to get better but uh it was eye opening now what would happen if they called that a fumble and that touchback on jeremiah smith and that was a fumble i thought it was a touchback me that was no doubt he july never regained but he fumbled never got possession till out would have that put the boo bugs into oh my god here we go again because i was thinking it in the first quarter

they have the false start at the inch goal line they don't score they have the interception right off the bat but if you guys remember in an early meeting i said i'm scared of julian saying i said it i'm like this guy is making me very nervous um i think he's the best quarterback they've had in a bit i want him to graduate and get out of there like he he i was more impressed with the way he bounced back after that interception so he's a problem but michigan's going to get much, much, much better. That was no fool loss. Let's dig into that game a little bit. So I think there are a couple of backbreakers. The one was that was a fourth and five, the one to Jeremiah Smith. If that's a touchback, it's going the other way, and the Buckeyes are down six nothing. So I agree.

When I first saw the ball moving, I said, that's a touchback because he didn't get this foot down. The second one is he throws a pick, and this tells you a little bit about the quarterback. He throws a pick, and he has three incredible third downs, and then he throws the fourth down touchdown pass. But the backbreaker, the score is 10 to 9, and they get the ball start the second half, and they threw that little slant, the pick route at the goal line with 20 seconds left. To me, I was on the field and just felt, and I made the comment in the big noon, you get three touchdowns. It's a wrap. I just don't think the Wolverines right now have the power

on offense to score more than three touchdowns against that defense. Those are the two moments of my game, the fourth down, and then the third down and three, 20 seconds left. The fourth down, was interesting because they looked like they're playing kind of like a bend don't break type situation which I was fine with because you don't want to get beat deep and then so they gave up a bunch of third downs like third and seven third and five and they were easy first downs they were like they're throwing the ball for seven yards saying was taking what we were giving them and I think they changed them fourth and five it's like get them off the field they bring pressure and they they kill us deep on that to me the game was over um

it was after half time we need to come out and get the ball back and we did and so you're down eight you get a stop and we just had a pathetic series we just absolutely pathetic our punt went two yards and we went from getting the ball hey we can go in and potentially tie the game to we're ball at the 40 I think we gave him at the 40 the bad punt killed it now they rammed it down our face the entire second half so I don't know that any of these things outside of maybe that juggle fumble and Ohio State just think oh my god here we go again like everything that can go wrong is going wrong it kind of like the year before but no they they kicked our ass they I have one more question before I turn it over so in Columbus you we've all witnessed it it's the the state dies when you lose that game you have security around the head coach's house you have it's the ugliest, nastiest I mean I've seen

I've witnessed it when we've all have when the fans are walking out that damn stadium. What's it like in Ann Arbor? Because we just GTFO we got out of there afterwards. Is it a wait till next year or is it just misery for Yeah, it varies year to year. I think

this year it's we're just going to get better. If when we're losing to you seven times in a row and you're getting your butt kicked it's really bad it's not as bad i mean you never want to lose but this was a thorough ass kicking and to me it's more all right we're going to get way better we were not even close to the level we have to be at and we saw it three times it wasn't just ohio state um so there wasn't like nerves there wasn't anything that went wrong it's just we're not on a level to compete

on the highest level right now and that really has to get better and it's got to get better fast so I'm not sitting here, being like, oh, my God, the world is ending because we lost Ohio State. I'm like, we just need to get a lot better right now. We have no business beating Ohio State right now or any of these good teams. I mean, we got whooped by everybody decent we played, and it was all similar. Like they rammed it down our throat. We couldn't stop them. So we're just going to get a lot better.

Coaching, talent, or both? Definitely talent. you know it's hard it's hard to tell you look there's so many people complaining about the way you have this 12 million dollar quarterback you let him throw the ball four times like and you can you even attempt to win it almost looks like they're trying to hang around I would rather him throw eight interceptions and you're playing a win like you're trying to throw the ball downfield he had one nice throw and you see the flashes like he had that one completion which was beautiful like I think that was actually right before they did the pun and like okay here we go

and they don't let them. I mean, how many times do they throw a ball more than 10 yards down the field? Not a lot. So you can't keep them in bubble wrap. Now, the flip side of that, from the coach's perspective, they're like, well, we've seen what we've done in practice every day and you know we can't do it.

But then you see them make throws. So I'd rather go swinging than not swinging. So I'd say it's a combination of everything right now. You're a self-professed Big Ten man, right? We've seen that all season long. So with three Big Ten teams looking like they're headed to the college football playoffs, do you cheer for the Big Ten? Are you going to cheer for Oregon, Indiana, and Ohio State in the postseason?

Of course. That's it. Of course. Big Ten, I root for this conference of ours. So you'll be cheering for Ohio State against an SEC team in the national championship game. Should that happen? Of course. Of course.

He doesn't win the SEC team or nothing. You buy that, Mark. I do. I know he doesn't want the SEC team. I just want to see his back a country. BYU, BYU, Provo Dave.

Provo Dave. Now, I'm thinking they're in. I'm seeing a lot of people agree that they're in no matter what. No matter what. That's a tough one. That's a tough sell. SEC's going to be banging on that door hard.

All the way these things combo out, Alabama, BYU, there's too many conflicts of interest with all the other teams. Like, Notre Dame Miami has a conflict. You can't put in Notre Dame without Miami. You have, like, Vandy can't get in. BYU is the only one in Alabama where you can kind of have an answer for, well, what about that?

You all, like, one loss, one loss on the regular season. So they trump everybody else. You shouldn't be penalized for postseason games. Your season's over. An extra game shouldn't be able to drag you down. Are we headed to the worst non-conference schedules in the history of college football? Of course. You just heard what I said.

Yeah, I'm Ryan Day. I go in and I meet with the AD and I. is we're getting out of the tech where i'm not we're not taking this team to texas next year give us old dominion the old dominion is going to be like the most uh cherished spot right now scheduled team in america yeah as long as we have the subjectivity as long as we have the subjectivity for sure there is no subjectivity though because they're not really like Texas went to ohio state and like they're getting punished for possibly taking that game you know right well that's what i'm saying as long as you're as long as like human error yeah you don't people are

vote. I mean, that's the schedule. I mean, Notre Dame had the chance to beat two teams. They lost them both. They have no wins. Like, Notre Dame, they look great. Like, I actually think Notre Dame can win a national championship. Dave, Dave, let me throw something at you. I said this on Call and Coward the other day. I say the committee goes away. Next year, you go to the 4-4-2-2-1-1, and they're all playing games. The conferences decide who goes in. They play on the field plusers playing games. Three plays six, four, plays five, one, plays two, one and two are automatically in but it's first of all

it's a cash generator it keeps all the teams alive that may get hot at the end of the season and you do not get punished for now you'll see the Alabama against USC you'll start seeing because if I'm a coach and I know what I'm going to play those games because I want to know where we're at I want to toughen my guys up now

no no I've got Old Dominion I got Miami Ohio and Florida A&M that's who I'm going with yeah 100% 100% I that's what they a thousand percent should do the play is it and i mean i promise every year so different and like last year you had teams with more losses there were way more three more lost teams than two but the the like the five school and like do you want to see them in i don't

like no that has to that has to be done with right day yeah it's not college basketball it's it's college football so it college basketball yeah you can get that crazy upset the tournament but these teams are just going to get slaughtered And there might be two group of six teams this year, by the way. Two? Yeah. For sure. For sure.

American and Sunbelt might both send a team to the college football playoffs. Because the ACC is so down. If Duke wins the ACC championship game, there may be no ACC team heading to the playoffs. But if Duke went, yeah, once Duke didn't get, I was looking at that. I think then Duke would be ranked higher if they won that. If, that's a big if. And the ACC, you know, would be pushing behind the scenes. really, really hard for that to happen.

But man, right now, all those programs, North Texas and Tulane and James Madison, all above them, all above them, right, as of now, as of now. Duke or not ACC. ACC could be out. For sure, they could be out. And they don't really deserve to be in right now unless you're talking about Miami. All right, Dave, so we're talking about, not complaining, but just some things that we can do better in college football. So beyond just the college football playoffs, if you were a college football,

commissioner right now. Actually, let's make you the lord of college football. What is something that you're going to change, tweak, or alter in college football? The number one thing is what everybody's saying right now. You get the timing of when coaches bounce, players bounce, keep the portal lock, keep the coaches locked, like until the final whistle of a national championship or we got whatever. Put everybody at the same playing field so you don't have the Lane Kiffin situation that just happened. You don't have what's going on, BYU just happened. I also So, which I think they're going to do, turn this into a salary cap situation and treat this like major league sports. Like, all right, Bryce Underwood, you come out of college.

I don't care. Let's say 20 million. You got a three-year deal, four-year deal, 20 million. You're under contract. You're not, these players can't be bouncing around year to year. You're signing contracts like in major league sports. I can't, you can't go from the Yankees to the Red Sox to the Orioles every single year. Based on it, you sign your contract, and that's what you do.

Too much movement. and obviously this fiasco is in a weird way I think it's good for college football like a part of me loves sing lane at the airport getting booed and you feel like you're on Friday night lights and it's like for me which likes the theatrics of it all I'm glued to it people are saying juice kiff and his dog isn't even his real dog

like I love that stuff like I'm locked in on it but so college football right it is it is but it's bad for the kids going into a playoff not all of them is kind of crazy you want to see old miss at its best so i don't like i love it and i hate it all at once but as long as it's rules that's what i would do if i was a commissioner like get the circus part of it that out you can't move till thing everyone moves at once you know there's no advantage no no no early movement like what we saw i mean elaine kiffin's stuff i'm i'm sick about it because lSU is about to be a problem he's perfect there

yeah LSU is really about to be a problem I've been known they were sleeping a sleeping giant and they really just flex their muscle Did you see the story? Well, it's actually my buddy McShay who I grew up with went to high school He said the reason Lane was waiting so long Is because of Alabama lost the Iron Bowl

He was thinking that job may open And that's actually the job he wanted I think that's why he was waiting Assuming Alabama wanted him though That might be a big assumption mark Isn't him and Sabin like super close? Yeah, he's actually. He was waiting on that result.

I know because, yeah, he was waiting on that result. Yeah. Hey, no, you're a gambling, man, Dave. We saw Ohio State. I think they, they proved to be the most complete team in the country. You're a betting, man. Who are you putting your money on right now to win that? I mean, I would never put it on Ohio State.

I think they're, I think, I think, secretly you are. I'm going on record. You are. Money talks, man. The quarterback's so good. He reminds me like Brady drank May. He's just so quick and smart with his decisions. Not that we got pressure on them.

I think Notre Dame is maybe the second best team. I don't think they're getting in. Georgia, I'm curious to see what they do. But I think Ohio State is head and shoulders above everybody else. Do you have a futures on it? You have any money on this thing coming up, man? I did an early, like, parlay, Notre Dame Patriots Super Bowl. But I don't think Notre Dame's getting in now.

Notre Dame, Patriots. And BYU, I'm going to root for BYU. I think BYU gets in. I think BYU. I like Provo Dave. I ain't going to lie. I like Provo Dave. I think they beat Texas Tech.

All right. I'm a novice with all this. I just love seeing you in Austin stare at your damn phones. And I ask you, I say, hey, man, are you bet? So like, you might not share this with us. On a good weekend, are you dropping 25, 50? I mean, what do you? I bet like 50 grand a game.

A game. A game. that boy he gets to that money so when you see me on my phone and I'm like sulking and be like what's going on here yeah 50 50 grand a game about I mean I obviously the more successful parcel has become my units go up so what's the best weekend you've had when you walked away in a pluff honestly the best I've ever done it was like a rose bowl which I said Mark and I had met we're in the same suite

I had a million bucks on Michigan in the Rose Bowl against Alabama. Oh, a mill. I went out and came back in. I just nod just hear you talking about Alabama and the Rose Bowl. Like, what? Yeah, yeah.

We were in the same suite for a minute. Yeah. We had a met yet. Yeah. There was a million Michigan people in there. I got to get out of here and go down to the sideline. That led to my best streak of gambling of all time because I won that bet and I'm like,

all right, I won it. And then I believe I took Washington against Texas. They won that. game for another million. Then I put like half a million on Scotty Sheffler to win the Masters at like four to one. He won that. And then I had Yukon to win the national championship in college hoops.

They won that. It was up eight million in like four, four, four, three or four months. That was my best of a bitch. I get all around. All right. Now, the opposite, Mark, all right, the worst day when you walk out to your car and your drive home, you're like, son of a bitch. So, I mean, I've lost.

I've lost. I'm lucky my big bets I've won I had the bills for a million to go to the Super Bowl so the Chiefs game last year when they couldn't get the QB sneak that was bad that was a really bad one but I only would bet that much if I'm like up or the Michigan Rose Bowl was a special game for me so I'm going there I was talking but I like I usually bet the same amount no matter what so you don't get to that seven figure stuff yeah provo Dave was one of the great revelations of your time this year year one They offered me to be like the Grand Marshal of upcoming parade. I would take it. I would take it. All the sugar you want. All the sugar you want. So, you know, I spent multiple weeks kind of sending it to you with your rant, right?

So our time is up here on Big Noon Kickoff and on I'm not, your time's not up on Big Noon Kickoff. I'm just saying your time is done this season on Big Noon Kickoff. Our time is up here on the Triple Option, but I want to send it to you, close us, take us home with one last. Dave rant for the season. Well, yeah, and off the cuff, I mean, I, listen, I'm a Big Ten guy, Michigan guy. The Big Ten's got to get tougher. Like, it's crazy that the Big 12 embraced us so much and the Big Ten seemingly did not in terms of like the media. But this is college football, like the Lane Kiffin stuff, the fan base, the trash talk.

It's what makes the sport so unique and so great. So that would be my last rant. And people are like, oh, I like trolling people, if you guys have. haven't noticed. So like when I said I'm not going, it's actually worked out twice this year. Michigan lost. I had pizza fest already scheduled. So I wasn't going to be on big noon kickoff. That was the only one when I missed. And big new kickoff is officially like over. The Big Ten championship is something else. So just the way the contract came out, it's like Dave's doing big new kickoff contract end. So I knew that the whole year happens to be Michigan loses. So I don't have to go face the

music on, which I'm fine with, but it just worked out. But I like just getting people going. The second after we lose, I just put out that tweet, I will not be appearing at the Big Ten championship in Ohio people. Oh, you're such a loser. But hey, contract is what the contract is. Dave, it's been awesome, man. It's been great, great to run with you for the last couple months.

We love to having you on Big Noon kickoff. Thank you for joining us on the triple option. Good luck to your Patriots. You can pivot. By the way, Michigan Hoops, man. Oh, my goodness, get on board. Hey, he's a smart man, though. I know he loses.

He pivist to Provo Dave. He pivist to Patriot, Dave. He can't lose. That's the question. Is this a, if the Patriots win the Super Bowl, is it a contiguous dynasty? Is it one huge dynasty? That's the question on my mind today.

I love it. There is only one, Dave Portnoy. Dave Portnoy, from Barstall Sports. From big new kickoff, from our family, man. Thanks so much for joining us. Have a great holiday season. Coming up next, we go three and out. We make our championship.

chip game picks. Light it. Welcome back to the triple option. Yeah, here we go. Let's go. Urban Meyer, Mark and Rob Stone. We're going to make t-shirts of that. Let's go.

Let's go. Let's go. All right, time now for three and out. Brought to you by Google. We take a look at what fans are searching for this week. Remember, no matter what question comes out, you can just ask Google. And we have seen a three. 350% increase in searches asking about conference championship games.

So we're going to rank this weekend's top three championship games that we're most excited to see for whatever reason it is. All right, Mark, I'm going to start with you. I'm going to assume the SEC and BAM are somewhere in this list. Okay, you know they're in the list, but... Of course. My number one, what I'm most excited for is the Big Ten championship. Why?

Because I feel like there's a lot riding on this. Obviously, they're both going to get in, but I feel. feel like the two Heisman favorites are both in this game. Fernando Mendoza, Julian Sane, and can Indiana get over the hump? We've seen them have a great two-year stretch, but they have not been able to beat teams who kind of are more talented them over the last two years. We saw how they lost to Notre Dame. We saw how they lost to Oregon last year.

I don't remember who, but whatever. Ohio State. Ohio State. Ohio State. Yeah, so I'm trying to see if they're going to get over the hump. I'm really interested to see the Big Ten championship. That's my number one most favorite. Hey, Mark, can I stop you there real quick?

I'm curious. Because you and I, the last couple years, have been on the same page about Penn State, right? Coming into the season, we're like, Penn State, we like you to this point. But when it's the Ohio States or, you know, whatever, the next level type competition, you and I definitely did not have that faith,

that trust in what Penn State was. Is Indiana kind of in that conversation right now, or do you think they've taken at least a step beyond that and now they are this much closer to the country? Well, Indiana went to Oregon and won. That changed things for me, too. Yeah, Penn State could never do that. That's why they're in a situation they're in.

So Indiana is not on anywhere near the same conversation level that I had Penn State at. I truly do. Right? Yeah, I believe in Pygneity. I believe in the Hoosiers. But now they're going against the best, most complete team in the country. That's why I'm interested to see how they're going to respond. Is it going to be like, oh,

this is Indiana again like last year? Or it's going to be like, oh, this team has a for a chance to win a national championship. So that's why I'm interested to see that. Again, year two under Coach SIG. This is remarkable we're having this conversation. So we're all looking forward to the Big Ten. And Hizman. Number two. And a Heisman race. And a Heisman, for sure. And a Heismor race. I think the winner of that game wins the Heisman Trophy. Then number two, I'm going to go BYUu, Texas Tech. Out to Big 12. I think BYU, they lost one game. They're 11 and one. The one game they lost was the Texas Tech,

at Texas Tech. Now you get him neutral. Kalides Sataki. He has this Penn State stuff going on. Let's see what's going on with BYU. If BYU wins, they get in. BYU loses. Does that open the door for someone like Notre Dame to get in or Miami to get in? We'll see. So a lot rides in the playoff picture with this game. And then number three, SEC championship, I got to go Georgia, Alabama.

They're our little brother, 10 to 1 versus them the last 11 times we play. You just call Georgia your little brother? They are our little brother. They are. Whoa. 10 and 1, the last 11 games? Okay. Want to know this season. Yeah. So.

Yep. All right. Little brother. Little cousin? I don't know. Is that better for you? Is that better for you? Is that better for you? It's just the truth. They lose their games to who? Alabama. So, you know, we're the underdog, which I love.

Nobody expects us to win, which I love. Have we been playing great? No, but we drink Michael George's secret stuff when we're about to play them. Right, man. It's something about the team this season. Like you don't believe in them. but, like, well, look, they're getting it done, man. All right, all right.

So, so, so, so, so, so, so big 10, big 12, SEC. Yeah, man, they're our little brother, man. The big three, the big three. All right, coach, three you're looking forward to this weekend. Number one by far is the Mountain West Conference Championship, UNLV, in a rematch at Boise even lost earlier. But the UNLV defense is playing much better. Coach Dan Mullins got his hands on a little bit,

and Gunther, the de-coordinator, They're doing a really good job. But the storyline at UNLV is their offense, the number 12 offense in America, led by Corey Dennis. Yes. They're fun to watch. They got Calendry. Who that is, coach? Who that guy is, coach?

I don't know. He's a smart guy, man. He's got an eye for talent. I'll tell you that. He's a ball coach. He got a Calandry, I believe his name is the quarterback. He runs about 22 miles an hour on the field, little shit, but he's tough as name. 22 miles an hour?

Yeah, he's fast. He's fast, fast. Wow. So that's a big one. By far, the only one I really care about. The number two, Ohio State, Indiana, I just, it's down to four and a half. I just think they're, I stood next to both teams.

I think the Buckeyes, they're going to look like race horses after playing in that cold snow. Now it's a controlled environment. The two best, those two receivers, they're better each week. I mean, those guys might be the top. I mean, Jeremiah's got another year, Cardinal tape, my gosh, he's

first rounder. And then it's either Georgia, Bama, but I'm going to go, I'm going to go with the BYU, Texas Tech. I just think Texas Tech has a chance to be the national champion in college. They do. That's how much respect I have for that coach, and more importantly, those

players, Mark, you and I stood on the field and Rob, and I looked at I walked through their bench, I wanted to, and that is an SEC looking football team in the Big 12 with a really good coaching staff. So that would be my third one. They got everything you want, Coach.

They're tough. They can, how do you say it? They can give it to any way you want it? They can give it to you how you want, Coach. Yeah, because they can't. They can throw the ball. They can run the ball. They can play defense.

They can rush the passenger. They can turn the football over. When you beat Utah at Utah like they did, they physically, I don't know, on my hand, I can count the last 15 years that's happened. And Texas Tech at home in Salt Lake City, I mean, they gave the mud hole in them. Yeah. Yeah, thorough win. They're an oppressive team. Go ahead. Take your UNLV shot here, Rob. Go ahead. I'll tell you what.

You are out of my friendship circle if they're not in your top three. So go ahead. They are not in my top three because you know what I like, coach? I like chaos. I like chaos. It's one of my favorite words in college football. And there's been no conference that's been more chaotic this year than the Atlantic Coast Conference, the ACC. So will Duke win the conference championship and bring the whole group of of six automatic bid and the rules of conference championships in the playoffs to a head. I think that's going to be a fascinating game. If Virginia wins, ACC can sit quiet and they're going to get one team into the playoffs. But if Duke wins, ACC might get shut out.

That is fascinating to me. Number two, give it up for the American this season. By the way, we've got a ranked matchup in the American Conference championship game. Number 20, North Texas, one loss at number 21, Tulane, two loss. Wild note about this one. Both head coaches have signed on to new programs but are going to coach this game. So Eric Morris joining Oklahoma State. Of course, John Somerall taking the Florida job coach. You were down there a couple days ago to welcome him to Gainesville. And both programs could find themselves with a win in the playoffs.

Number one, though, it's the Big Ten. One versus two. Second conference championship game in The FBS history to feature two undefeated teams. It's the first one versus two Big Ten matchup since 2006 when the Buckeyes took care of Michigan. The third all-time one versus two matchup between Big Ten opponents, which is crazy. It's only happened three times in the conference. The number one seed in the college football playoffs. The number one individual honor in college football up for grabs, the Heisman. If you're not watching the Big Ten championship game, live on Fox.

Saturday night, something's wrong with you, man. Something's wrong with you. All right, time now for two-minute drill. It is brought to you by Fandul. Visit Fandul.com slash triple option to download the app and take advantage of a 50% profit boost today. I will start with the Big 12 championship game. First time that both BYU and Texas Tech have been involved.

Red Raiders favored by 13 and a half, over under 50 and a half. There's been, and you touched on it, that heavy chatter about Penn State, state in conversations with Kalani Sataki, the founder of Crumble Cookie, a big donor for BYU, took the social media trying to rally BYU nation to show their love and support for Kalani. So there is a real distraction in Provo, a real distraction in that locker room. I think Sataki is handling it as well as he could, but it's out there. What's one of the toughest things to do in any sport, guys?

To me, it's beating a team twice in a season, right? So you mentioned back on November 11th, Tech at home, 29-7 win. The big turnover stat in that game was 3-0, right? BYU coughed it up three times Texas Tech, zero. If BYU wins, the Big 12 wins, because they would most likely get two programs into the college football playoffs. I can't see Texas Tech falling out. BYU may stay in it even with the loss, but that's a tough one.

For the Red Raiders, Baron Morton, Cameron Dickey, I know we've been talking about them all season. What a great one-two punch offensively. And we expect offense from Texas Tech. But what's been doing it for them? The heavy lifting is done by their defense. Downright Zach Thomas-like levels of defense down there. You like the Zach Thomas poll? I was hoping for a reaction from you.

I knew I would get that. They lead the Big 12 in scoring defense, total defense, rush defense, sacks. On pace with the fewest points per game allowed by Texas Tech in a season. since 1964. They've got the number one rush defense in FBS. They're allowing under 70 a game. Tech is playing in their home state. You know Cowboys Stadium, 18T, whatever you want to call it,

is going to feel like Lubbock, especially if they start throwing those tortillas. What do you think Jerry's going to think if those tortillas are getting thrown in his stadium? I like the Red Raiders, but I don't see them covering a 13 and a half point spread. All right, round two. Georgia, Bama, in Atlanta for the SEC title, Mark. Man, here we go again. I'm just so sick of Georgia, and they're sick of us, too. Like, we always play in each other, but the last 11 games, you know what it is.

I already told you, 10 and 1, they're our little brother. Whenever we play Georgia, just like Space Jam. If you're too young to know Space Jam, Michael Jordan has some secret stuff, and he gave it to the rest of the Tune Squad, and they just booed up and they go crazy. and that's what we do when we play Georgia. But listen here, I am a little concerned, all right? Okay. I am a little concerned.

Why we haven't been playing well. Ty Simpson, our passing game, hasn't looked like it did early in the season. He's not as electric as he once was. Is that what you're saying? He does have some electricity. Have you not seen some of his runs in the last game? You just always made me spot because one week you're like the electric. Electric, man.

Hey, go watch a little sweep off the left side. Okay. No, but listen, Kirby Smart. I think he's the best coach in college football. He was a defensive coordinator when I played Alabama. We're built for the sandcloth. The way he builds this team of Georgia, they run the football well with Nate Frazier. They have an electric-wire receiver, Zach Ryan Branch.

Gunner Stockton, he makes good decision. He gets the ball to the right place. He doesn't turn the football over. They play tough defense. Their linebacker, C.J. Allen, he's the leader of that defense. 80 tackles, leads the team, eight tackles for loss. But one thing that they do have problem with is they only have 70. 16 sacks this year. That's the least in the SEC. So, how do you affect Ty Simpson?

It's by getting pressure. Oklahoma, they have pressure on them. That's the way you get to this offense. That's the way you disrupt the rhythm of the offense. So I do think Ty Simpson, I do think our passing attack, I think we're going to get back on track. I think we're going to the college football playoff. I think both these teams, the champion and the runner-up, both go to the college football playoff. So I think both these teams end up in the college football playoff. But it's just going to be a dog fight, man. It always is. It always is. And like you said, Stoner, it is hard to beat a team twice in one season. It's hard to beat the team twice in one season. So we do have our work cut out for us, but mine is two and a half. I'm going to take the points.

You know, I'm going to roll tied. I'm a road tie for life. And I'm going to think that we're going to go to Atlanta. Atlanta's like a home game for us. Whenever we play in the SC championship, it's like a home game for us. You think Alabama is more at home than Georgia in Atlanta? Do you think that's the way it's going to be or kind of 50-50? No, how many Do you not, do you not know how many I know, but I know how many Georgia people live in Georgia, too. Yeah, but it doesn't matter because we're living in their head rent-free. Right.

No, take that little brother. You know how many SEC titles we have more than anybody else? So it is our home. It is our home. So I'm going minus two and a half. I'm taking the points. Alabama, we're going to roll tide. We're going to start a run in the CFP to the nanny.

I don't care. There we go. Okay. All right. All right. Go tide. All right. Coach, Big Ten Champions game, Ohio State.

Bias, perhaps. Say that again? Bias, perhaps. Bias, maybe. Little, it sounded very dayport. I got too much Belma in me, coach. I know. I got too much Belma in me, Coach. Never lose that Bama, Mark.

Never lose that Bama in you. Big Ten championship game, one versus two in India, Ohio State versus Indiana. The Buckeyes favored right now by four and a half over under 48.5. Ooh, that seems a little low for two really good offenses. Coach, before we get to that one, what do you think Ryan Day is feeling like right now, getting that Wolverine off his back and ending that four-year losing skid to the Wolverines?

Yeah, I know exactly what he's feeling. And I actually went up, there was about two minutes left in the game, and we came back to do post game. I actually walked right up to the sideline and gave a big hug and shook his hand. And I could see in his eyes. I mean, last year you could see the back of his head, know, because it was just, he was in a coma. And so, you know, I love the Buckeyes, but, you know, I care about people more.

And for him and his family, now they can go enjoy a dinner in Columbus, Ohio. And, I mean, I joke around sometimes, but that's how serious it is. So, very happy for him. The game, though, I, you know, I know these teams really well. I've been watching on BTN. We covered them both. There's only one, you always look at matchups, and you put a plus or a minus, or a dash by it.

Dash means it's even. A minus, obviously, is a minus, and then plus means you have a positive. There's only one dash. Everything else is a minus matchups, and that's Indiana's defense-aligned against Ohio State's offensive line, and I don't think that's advantage.

I think Indiana's got a really good D-line. But are they better than Ohio State offense line? The right side of the lines get a little bit better. The left side, no, they're not better. Left side of the car. They played terrific last week, coach. So, I mean, it's just minuses right across the board as far as matchups. And I'm a little worried.

You know how I feel about Fernando Mendoza. You know, he's had some really, I hate to say, he had some bad games and some bad plays. The numbers weren't great last week. Was 11 and 27 or something? But it was so cold. The coldest game ever at Rossade Stadium, and they leaned on the running game. But you're right, the numbers, when he was this close to locking up Heisman, those numbers did not translate, did not compute the Sanchez numbers jumping. You know, I keep saying it because I believe it was, the greatest drive.

I believe in Big Ten history when they took him down the field in the two-minute drill. At Penn State, you know, but he didn't play good in that game. You know, Penn State, but had a decent defense. So it opened at five and a half now. It's at four and a half. Ohio State will cover that one. They're going to win the Big Ten championship in cover. Real quick, any threat of a letdown, you know, so much has been put into that Michigan game.

There's a threat of everything. You know, there's a threat of everything. But the one thing about the Big Ten championship game, and I used to tell people, the national championship to me was actually a little bit of a letdown from the SEC championship. When I coached in those SEC games, Mark, you can attest me.

I mean, I've never seen anything like it. The buildup, the intensity, those bus rides coming into that stadium, and then obviously we played Bama twice in Arkansas. Indiana, the Indianapolis, and I'd love that stadium. Some people criticize. I love that stadium.

I love the environment. Is it as big as the SEC? It's close, but they answer your question, no chance of a letdown. Okay. Yeah, I think that's something Coach Day has managed really well this season. He probably doesn't get enough credit for it. He has kept that team balanced. And if anything, Coach, it feels like they are raising their game right now when it matters most.

I don't think we've second coach real quick. We haven't seen the best of Ohio State. No, no, they're the most complete team in football, and they showed it last week. But I do have to second coach, man. That SEC title game was a, once you play the national title, it's hard to say the national title is a letdown from a conference championship. But in 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, that SEC championship was the national championship. So I don't want people thinking that coach is crazy because he ain't.

He ain't, he know what he's talking about. That's why he's going to the college football Hall of Fame in a couple days. Ready for that biggest party, coach. So, hey, debate your granny. Debate your granny. You see that coach right there? One of the greatest ever to do it. He ain't knew until he's true to it.

And he's been doing it. And that's how we do it. So don't talk about my coach. Because if you got a problem with that, come see me. I'm about that right down here in Delray, Florida. If you got a problem with Coach Meyer, come see me. I'm about that. All right.

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