The Triple Option - CFP Quarterfinals Preview, What it Means to be a Champion, plus Fiesta & Sugar Bowl Picks

Episode Date: December 27, 2024

Are Penn State and Notre Dame true title contenders? We are about to find out! Coach Urban Meyer and Mark Ingram II have four national championships between then and discuss, with Rob Stone, what it means to them personally and what it does for every players legacy who hoists that trophy. (2:29) The guys then dig into the rematch between Oregon and Ohio State, the loaded backfields in Penn State-Boise State, and Notre Dame facing their first "big boy" team since the first week of the season when they take on Georgia. (9:32) The guys then made their picks for the Fiesta Bowl between Penn State and Boise State and the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame. (34:50) New episodes of The Triple Option drop every Wednesday throughout the season. 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. Try Wendy's New Saucy Nuggs Today https://wendys.com/nuggs A big thank you to the rest of our sponsors: BetMGM Use bonus code OPTION or go to https://betmgm.com/OPTION and get up to a $1500 First Bet Offer on your first wager with BetMGM! First Bet Offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA),1-800-981-0023 (PR). NHTSA - Sober or Get Pulled Over. Paid for by NHTSA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Look at Mark. I love Mark. Look at him shaking his head. What are you shaking your head at? What do you want to shake your head at? Move on to the next topic, man. I don't want grumpy Mark Ingram. I don't want surly, fatigued by the holidays. I was grumpy watching the first round of the CFP. That's what I was grumpy. Like it. Post Christmas, pre New Year's edition of the Triple Option presented by our great partner all season long, Wendy's. Try Wendy's new saucy nugs today.

National champion winning head coach Urban Meyer Heisman and national champion winner Mark Ingram. Former 24 seven WWE champion Rob Stone back here with you. Thanks for joining us. Happy holidays to everybody out there. Please rate and subscribe over at Apple podcast, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast, as well as across social media where you can find us at three x option show. Next episode is coming out Friday, January 3. So right after the quarterfinals and coach, are you prepared for what that show is going to be?

Because we're missing something. Yeah, we're missing something. Oh, Deuce Deuce is going to be overseas somewhere and we might never, this might be our last time we see Mark. What? I can't see that. Long way from home, dude. Dang, that's how you feel about the boy. I got a whole family. I got a whole family. You're the first person I got a whole family. I got a whole family. You're the first person I've ever met that said I'm going to Tokyo. Well, hey, your boy gonna be out there.

You feed me in the flesh. Getting some of that, some of that top notch wagyu beef. Not the American wagyu like you and I had in Columbus a couple times. It ain't getting imported. It's getting right next door. You know what I mean, the American wagyu like you and I know, no, no, no, no. I love us a couple of times. It ain't getting imported. It's getting right next door. You know what I mean? That real wagyu, you know, how long you there? Nine days.

That's a long time. Tokyo going to Kyoto. It's it's like 14 hours from Atlanta, coach. Like it's a, it's like, I know. All right. All right. Well, we're going to miss you. Have fun.

Next year, to Tokyo, you know, I'm sitting here looking at I'm sitting here looking at the schedule. I'm like it's like 14 hours ahead of like I'm gonna have to wake up 1 a.m Like 5 a.m. To watch these, you know playoff games on the first I'm like I might be up all night I might not be but yeah Enjoy the time confusion. It should be fun. All right, let's talk college football playoff. All right. Defining moments brought to you by NHTSA drunk driving changes your world, drive sober or get pulled

over paid for by NHTSA. We're going to talk, of course, the quarterfinals that are upcoming during New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. But let's kind of look ahead to what's lurking. The Monday of MLK weekend, the national championship game, both of you guys won national titles. How did those titles, I'll start with you, Mark, define your career? I think it just, it's the ultimate,

it's the ultimate achievement to win a national championship and to be able to do that as a team, to be able to, you know, I had a bunch of individual success, but it's only because I had a great team through team success, but it defined my career because it's just the ultimate goal, man. It just kind of validates you, man. You go out there and you have a great career, you're on a great football team, and you're able to accomplish the ultimate goal

of winning the national championship, being the best team in the nation, being the number one team and holding up that crystal ball. It's just validation. It's just certification that you can't hate on me. You got to appreciate me and you got to elevate because, you know what I mean? We did this and we ain't new to this. We true to this. I did one of them, coach got three of them. So man, we just got the Natties on deck over here.

We certified, we official. And as much as you wanna hate, you can't, cause we done did that. You know what I'm talking about? I started every year, Bill Parcell has had a great video where he held his ring and he said, the moment you win a national champion or a championship It's like a blood transfer. You're officially brothers rest your life

And I would use that in my team meetings every at the start of every season that the one you know One of the great things, you know Mark Ingram goes back to Tuscaloosa with his family He gets treated like Mark Ingram like a Heisman Trophy, went to like a national. I love that about the players. I would actually have a locker for all the guys that played in the NFL, they, you know, you know, the Ryan Shazir's back in the day, the Zeke Elliott's, when they come work out and I want them back, they should not be worrying

about carrying their workout gear. They have their own lockers. I just think that's one of the great things about when you put your heart and soul into something to be able to come back. And here's the reality. When I was at Florida, the one team that was always back was the 1996 team. You know why?

They're the national champion. They're everywhere. I'd see the former players come back. You know who's not around? The players were on bad teams. You never see them. But why would you come back? You know, your son's going to say, dad, did you play for Florida?

Where, you know, what'd you do? Why didn't doing it? So let's move on. But that's, that's a hard reality. The ones that come back all the time are the teams that win. And I used to wear the rings and bang them. You know, you walk around and you smack that ring on the table and everybody kind of looks around.

So it's reality that you get the name national title, the term national title after your name, that's a game. It's you talk about defining moments. Those are defining moments. When you win a championship, you walk together forever, but dang coach, they, they ain't win on that. They just can't come back. Oh, they come back.

They don't want to. What did you, did you play son? Did't want to. Did you play, son? What the son say, coach? I played in the Citrus Bowl, dad. Yeah, did you play at the banner? Yeah, we didn't do very well. Okay. How was your career, dad?

Coach, where's your trophy at? Dad, where's your trophy at? Yeah, right? Participation, AYSL. Dad, where's your pitcher at? Well, son, you should... Hey, wait, Mark, I see you. What you know what I'm talking about, Mark? What do you know exactly what you're talking about? What's up? Mark, I see you.

What you know what I'm talking about, Mark? I know exactly what you're talking about. Who's around? Oh my goodness. The championship teams. Yeah. The championship teams on the championship, the championship players on the championship teams. Because they're so proud of that.

And they see their brothers. And this is kind of cool too. Whenever you see a national championship team together, there's tears and there's hugs. Yes. And that's hugs. Yes. And that's sports. And smiles. And rightfully so. Just love that.

Yep, and smiles. Love that, love that. Mark, where's your ring? Where's your ring right now? I know Coach travels with his collection of rings all over the place. Where's yours? It's upstairs in my closet next to the Rolexes

and the jewelries and it's up there in the box. I'm making a word next year. I'll make it. Yeah, I should go get it real quick. You know what I mean? I should go get it real quick. the Rolexes and the jewelries and it's up there in the box. I should go get it real quick. You know what I mean? I should go get it real quick. Maybe we'll get it. I'm going to save us the time. Like it.

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Get groceries delivered across the GTA from real Canadian Superstore with PC Express. Shop online for super prices and super savings. Try it today and get up to $75 in PC Optimum Points. Visit superstore.ca to get started. So there are eight programs left fighting for one of these, fighting for one of those national championship rings that both of you guys own. The big one, of course, is going to be what goes down in Pasadena, the Rose Bowl, eight seed Ohio State, one seed Oregon, again, the early line favoring the Buckeyes by one and a half points.

One of the big talking points, of course, Coach, will be A, the rematch, right? But B, the long layoff for Oregon, almost a month long. How does one try to get their program back in gear after one of these extensive type layoffs away from real football. I think there's two points here. Number one, hit it quickly because I've been asked a lot, how do you beat? Is it hard to beat a team twice in a season? You don't really know. That's happened only a handful of times. I think get used to it though with this 12 team playoff. There's a chance you could play a team three times in the season. So we're about to find out how hard it is.

Cause really, I sure it's hard, but it does it change the way you game plan? No, you try to win the game. The only thing that does give you a little familiarity, for example, how to stay better, they'll have a better feel for the juice at the wide receiver for Oregon. So that's number one. Number two, Lou Holtz, and this is really cool. Lou Holtz gave me the greatest advice.

He was like a walk, he's like a walking encyclopedia. I would call him nonstop and he would spit out answers. Mark, he was phenomenal. My first time we, uh, we beat, uh, we beat, uh, Arkansas in the SEC championship game in 06. We have a month to get ready for the national title game, ironically against Ohio state, first guy I call Lou Holtz. championship game in 06. We have a month to get ready for the national title game, ironically against Ohio State, first guy called Lou Holtz.

Here's his advice. Number two, two things. He said, number one, remember that game's not played till January 8th at 7 PM. He reminded me for the next four weeks. He said, you don't want your players to Apex until January, whatever it is, January 8th at 8 PM. So I would put that in bold letters right in front of my office on a big whiteboard in Sharpie, January 8th, 8 PM. Cause you don't want to get them too high, too low.

The second thing is your team is in a routine, keep them in that routine. So that's exactly what I did for three to three weeks. We did a Tuesday hard practice, full pads, much less than what we did during season. Wednesday was the third down red zone. Thursday was the script down red zone. Thursday was the scripted series. Friday was a walkthrough and then Saturday I had to get up on the warning and we just quick, but we went through a game day routine.

Cause players are routine. They, they love a routine coaches love routine. So every week we just, obviously it was much we didn't, we didn't beat them up at all. So our players told me to the day they, the reason they played so well in those Nash Championship games, we stayed on a routine for the next three weeks. Yeah. Got to stay on a routine coach, but the only thing about how hard it is to be the team twice it is, it's very difficult because of the familiarity that comes

with playing a team two times. Much like the NFL, you play three, your team's your division twice a year. And what do you do? You self scout. So now Oregon has had as much time to prepare their self scouting. What gave us issues with from Ohio State? What, what Ohio State issues gave us problems? What, what presented us problems that Ohio State was showing us?

And now we're working on them. The pressure packages. Oh, what have they got better And now we're working on them. The pressure packages. Oh, what have they got better at since we played them? Oh, the pressure packages. Oh, offensively, they're getting the ball to their playmakers now. How are they using Trevion Henderson, who had a big game? So you're self-scouting and you're doing the things that gave you problems and you're working on those.

So I think the extra time off, especially for a good coach and staff and a mature squad like Oregon has, I think it's going to benefit them tremendously as far as preparation goes. And when you have familiarity playing teams two times, what wins the game for you? When you're familiar with a team, with what they do, what wins the game for you?

Situational football, taking care of the football, not turning the football over, running the football. At the end of the day, the football over, running the football. At the end of the day, the small things will win this game. So that's what you focus on over the time period of having a month long break. And I remember, man, when we had that month long break, man, with Coach Saban, he had us doing good on good, man. I remember going back to some training camp practices, man, like one on one, like, I'm

like, we was getting after it, man. But when it was that a good thing for you as a player, Mark, like he, it was a great thing. I mean, I didn't know in the moment, in the moment, were you like, what are we doing? I hate this. We, we, I hated it because I had to block Rolando McClain and Dante Hightower and like Courtney Upshaw. I'm like, these dudes are huge. But at the end of the day, it was getting me ready for Brandon Spikes, who I was going against with Coach, with coach Meyer, Carlos Dunlop,

all these dudes major, right? Like you had dudes on the other side that if you weren't preparing, you weren't going to be ready for the game. So going against that good on good type of atmosphere, that competitive atmosphere it had us prepared and ready to play the game when we had to play coach Meyer and his Gators. competitive atmosphere, it had us prepared and ready to play the game when we had to play Kostmaier and his Gators. Here's the reality of Mark and Rob too, is skill sets deteriorate, especially with the

younger player. The veteran, the old dude that's played 2000, I used to have a, I called it the 2000 club. Your junior year, Mark, when you played 2000 competitive reps, now it's all about getting you to the dance. You know, your skill sets are pretty developed, but you take that young player. If you sit him down and not keep it, you know, he's going to regress. Yes. That's science.

That's that happens. Your skillset deteriorates unless you practice and get going. So I'd have my, you know, I'd have my, uh, you know, the Zeke Elliott or whoever had that competitive reps, he'd practice, but he'd get one of these early. Get out. Yep. Yeah. Where Curtis Salmi was a young buck at the time, he needed to keep going

because it's science and it's factual skillset that is not being utilized. Do what? They deteriorate. Wow. So you got to keep them going. You got to keep them going. On point coach. On point.

And again, this one, a rematch of the 2015 national, again this one a rematch of the 2015 national excuse me a rematch of the 2015 national Championship game won by Urban and the Buckeyes 42 to 20 over Oregon and a rematch Of course of that October 12th thriller in Eugene a one-point win for the Ducks over, Ohio This is turning into a little bit of a rivalry in it And and you know what the future is those are the top dollars. I know Wolverines will be back, but those are the top cats right now. It's a birth of an, it's a birth of an amazing rivalry. I mean, a one point loss by Ohio State on the road in Oregon.

Now you get your chance for redemption in a neutral site. This is what football is all about. And we like, so you're, if you guys are saying those are the big two in the big 10. Penn State would like to have a word with you. They absolutely dominated beat them. Exactly. So so they took care of SMU 3810. A convincing win a pair of picks sixes. James Franklin, he had been just five and 21 versus top 12 teams at Penn State entering this year's playoff. That is your saucy nugget of the week. Try some at your nearest Wendy's. So Franklin able to get that top 12

victory over SMU. People can say, hold on, was SMU really a top 12 team? That's neither here nor there. They had that number in front of them. So yes, they were Penn State getting the win. And Mark, I think this this fiesta Mark, I love Mark, we're gonna shake it. Well, what are you shaking your head at? What do you want to shake your head at James Franklin and what going for it and on fourth goal to zone 19 backfired? Is that what you want to talk about? I'm just move on to the next topic. Okay, all right. Well,

I'm gonna cheer you up. You I don't want grumpy. I don't want grumpy Mark Ingram. I was grumpy watching the first round of the CFP. That's what I was good. All right. Well, I want to cheer you up ahead of your big trip to Tokyo. Because the fiesta bowl is a game that Mark Ingram should like because it is it is it is there are some runners out there, man. And of course, Ashton Genti 2497 rushing yards this season number one in the nation that came in second place in the Heisman. He

only needs 132 yards to break Barry Sanders single season rush record course 132 only 132 and Ashton's had you know some more games but we saw what Penn State did on with their running game throughout the course of the season and clearly what they did against SMU. So it feels like this game is really going to kind of hinge on the running games of these two programs, Mark. Man, you have three NFL backs in this game and I love it. Talk about Ashton Jette, Heisman runner-up in the closest race since your boy. 132 yards away from breaking Barry Sanders record. But Barry did it in 11 games.

Let's not. Right. Let's not. But the fact that he- It's temperate a bit, but still give him the accolades. Much props to Ashton Gentry on the season he's had. And then you have K-Tron Allen and Nick Singleton. This is going to be, if you want to watch football, if you want to watch NFL running backs,

you want to tune in for this game. And it's because we've got three legit ones who will all be Sunday football players. I'm just super excited for this one because it's Boise State the real deal. We have a chance to see. You go, you have Penn State, everyone wants to know, okay, the college football playoff,

everyone wants to know what will a team like Boise look like in the playoff? Well, hey, we get a chance to find out. And Penn State is on the roll. They, you know, Drew Aller didn't play his best game and they still won in a convincing fashion. So, you know, we know Boise plays tough on defense. We know they're gonna stop.

We know Penn State is gonna load the box up and try to stop Ashton Gentry. So can Madsen, the quarterback, do what he needs to do? Make some plays on the outside to back this defense up, to give Gentey some chance to be able to be successful. But if I'm a football fan, I wanna watch this game because there's three NFL Sunday running backs in this game and you get a chance to appreciate that,

the love for the RBs. You know what I found interesting? You were saying, you know, is Boise State for real? And this is an opportunity for them to prove that against, against a program of that degree. Every time we say that, though, and I jumped on that bandwagon too. And then I went back as we did the Boise State game,

the Mount West Conference Championship. And on the plane, I downloaded Boise against Oregon. Early in the season. You know, I downloaded Boise against Oregon early in the season. You know, I ran wild and there's a lot of people that say Oregon has a better defense in Penn State. So I'm all in, I think it's going to be really rugged for a jet seat. And I love that kid. I mean, just that whole environment that we experienced a Boise, that was one of

the greatest things I've experienced. The whole town's there. experienced a Boise. That was one of the greatest things I've experienced. The whole town's there. But the reality is that how many players in the trenches could actually, you know, I don't know this, could, can hold up and could actually play at Penn State. I'd watch, I'd started at center and I'd work my way out and say, okay, where's the matchups?

Obviously you're going to find outside a little easier to find. Cause you know, you got Jeremiah Smith, you got the freaks out there. You can see that usually. But you got to really study it inside and I haven't done that yet. But how many players Mark Boise State in the trenches could play at Penn State, right? If the answer is zero, one or two, this is not going to be a good coach. You said you talked about that first game real quick stoner Ashton Gentry 192 yards, almost eight yards per carry.

When you talk about that first game real quick, Stoner, Ashton Gentry, 192 yards, almost eight yards per carry. The difference, the quarterback play, Madison, 17 of 40, 17 of 40, that's not going to get it done versus Penn State. So you have to have better quarterback play in this game from Boise State. Because we know Gentry, we know the identity of this Boise team. But when you're in this playoff, at this stature of the season, your quarterback must get you to the next level. So that's going to be the key for all these teams in the playoff at this stature of the season, your quarterback must get you to the next level. So that's going to be the key for all these teams in the playoff moving forward.

And that's certainly has improved from that point. Only three interceptions thrown this season, 29 touchdown passes. Just I want to go back to one of your points, Mark. You say, hey, there's a chance for Boise State to prove themselves against a program that is nationally recognized, like a Penn State. Totally get it. What will be interesting about Penn State is should they get by Boise State, there's still going to be these questions about is Penn State really good enough, right? They're going to be like, Oh, well, you hosted SMU, right? Oh, you took on Boise State at a at a neutral site. You know, I think the questions for Penn State will still be there. No questioning. Oh, we still have questions for Penn State. We still have questions.

Understood. And we have questions for Drew Aller because he looks the part. You know, he's a leading man. He's a first round pick off the bus. Is he? But he's still not quite, just the looks. That's too early to ordain that one, Rob. That's too early to ordain a first round.

That's why he's coming back for another year, right? Oh, he has to. He's not a first rounder right now. In these type of situations. Look at Mark's face. I know, you've mentioned in the past that they don't have that speed out wide. Penn state, you know, that is, that is a concern for them, but their defense top 10 rushing defense in the nation, allowing just a hair

over a hundred yards a game. They've only allowed seven opponent rush touchdowns all season. Again, top 10 in the nation. So that's kind of strength on strength as well, right? Like again, Boise State's gonna go as far as Ashton Gentry can run them, right? And one other interesting note about it, the Fiesta Bowl and Boise State. Yeah, those two have a history, right? 18 years ago, that classic win in the Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma. Coach Peterson, our good friend, all those took place. So the Boise State Faith Bowl are going to be happy to be in Arizona back at the Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma. Coach Peterson, our good friend, all those trick plays to the Boise State faithful are going to be happy to be in Arizona back at the Fiesta Bowl that that place is gonna gonna put a smile on their faces. Excited for them either.

So I'll show you for them. That's that's a natural they would go anywhere. They go anywhere. And for sure. So a proving ground. Definitely for Boise State. If Penn State gets by, there'll still be some more question marks. The winner of that game will take on the winner, the survivor of kind of a blue blood showdown, Notre Dame and Georgia. That one, New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

The big talking point of this one, of course, Mark is the quarterback situation for the Bulldogs. Carson Beck came into the season, Heisman favorite, first round grade. He was going to be all everything. And instead he's, he's a he's found the other team a lot more than most would expect and certainly more than Georgia fans wanted. But also, it clearly sounds like he will not be available for this game talking about surgery options for the elbow on his throwing arm. So what you're going to bring in right now, again, as expected is Gunnar Stockton will get his first ever start

for Georgia. And it comes in a quarterfinal showdown against seven seed Notre Dame. I just had this belief in Kirby, man. Like I've said it before. I was at Alabama when he was a defensive coordinator. I know how this guy thinks. I think he's just going to have this team prepared.

Then you've got a stock in two weeks to prepare as the starter. Get the starting reps, get the number one reps. He came in the game in the SEC championship and was efficient. He only had three incompletions, had a turnover. So look, you clean up the decision making, take away the turnovers and let your team do what they do. The defense, we know how physical they are. You know, they've been up and down.

We always say team A or team B. Georgia comes with team A. I like them to win this game versus Notre Dame. But Notre Dame is as advertised defensively. Their defense flies around. They cause havoc. They get tackles for loss. They're great in the secondary. Jeremiah Love, 98 yard touchdown run, flu-like symptoms. The question is, the question is, well, Riley Leonard, can he do it? I keep saying can Riley Leonard bring the Irish to the victory? And that's what's gonna have to happen for Notre Dame. Raleigh

Leonard is gonna have to have a huge game. But at the end of the day, I think Kirby smart, I just had this belief in Kirby, I think he's gonna have his team prepared. I think Gunnar Stockton with a week, two weeks to prepare as it's actually kind of like three weeks when you think about it, right weeks, three weeks to prepare as a starter. And remember, he came in the SEC Championship game at halftime when Georgia was trailing six to three. You're right, he came in the SEC championship game at halftime when Georgia was trailing six to three.

You're right. He his efficiency was good. Not a whole lot of yards, only 71 yards passing on those 16 pass attempts did have that interception. But I think sometimes in those situations, the guys around you step up, right? Like, Oh, Beck has gone number two is in I need to I need to move I need to elevate my game. I need to bump my game up and coach and the receivers need to do it because they've been dropping pads all year long. And listen, coach coached out with us. He understands what it is you go back to that 2014 run coach you did it with your third string quarterback in a stressful

situation like how do you manage that college football playoffs? How do you manage that coach? Like not with the third string, but the third string, third string, third string quarterback. First of all, you did immaculate job recruiting. First of all. Well, and he did back then you couldn't leave. So you had, most people don't have third string quarterbacks now because they all leave their walk. The second one, uh, first of all, card, I was so talented, but everyone, it was one of those next man up mentalities.

A lot of people say it, we lived it and it was really cool. I want to hit something with Notre Dame. This is the second talent equated game that they played. This is shocking because I coached at Notre Dame for I think six years. And I remember I used to ask, tell me your scheduling philosophy when I got there. And because of all the subway alums around the country, they go to the east and they play the top teams in the east. Back in the day, they would play Miami. Oh, that's the south.

At the east, they play Penn State. Obviously, every year they play Boston College, but the best teams in the east. And they go to the south. They play Miami. They play Florida State. They play Texas. They, you know, the best teams. Then you go out west, you play the best teams.

And that was the scheduling philosophy. Here's their schedule in 20. This is how it's changed a lot. Obviously they opened up with A&M, Northern Illinois, Purdue, Miami, Ohio, Louisville, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Navy and Florida, Florida States are down, Florida State, Virginia Army and SC is down. So this will be their only second talent equated game. That means now the difference in the game is going to be coaching.

When you don't play talent equated games, it's, you know, you just don't turn the ball over and usually win that game and they lost one of those. So I'm just staring at this thing and is, is Notre Dame ready for what's going to line up across from the other side? Cause they have not seen it all year since game one. And I would say even game one, A&M

didn't have what Georgia has. How would that team react to looking across the line of scrimmage and seeing a big veined up cat that they haven't seen all year? I don't know. That's why I'm so because I think Marcus Freeman has done a hell of a job. I mean, it's, it's fun to watch him. He's a great dude and all that, but reality is about to set in. And I'm not saying I don't, I don't know enough about him. I'm going to watch more. It's only this, how many teams can say that Mark all year, you've only played one other team that had similar type players that you have only one. Yeah.

And they won though. They won. Well, they won it when they played it. They won it. And except one. And yep, they didn though. They want, well, they want it when they played it. They want it in except one and yep. They didn't be in Illinois and that wasn't talented. But they will be up for this game and A&M has a great defensive line, man. We talk about those guys that they have on the D line and they were able to win that game.

So can they draw from that and build on that? Can they do it? We will see. We shall see. We should have Notre Dame. That Notre Dame defense showed up big time against a very good Indiana offense. And guess what?

The Indiana offense didn't get on the bus to South Bend because they were absolutely marginalized and nullified. The defense is as advertised. 10 tackles for loss, three sacks. Uh, Indiana offense could never get anything going. Georgia has never lost to Notre Dame. Three and O all time versus Notre Dame. Two of those ones have come with Kirby Smart in charge.

Notre Dame seeking their first ever 13 win season. The Fighting Irish. History. How about that? Trying to get the 15. The Fighting Irish got a chance, man. Hey, I'm getting excited again. As you should be.

Notre Dame, they got a shot against the Bulldogs, man. Let's go. Coach, real quick, I'm curious your take on game planning with the quarterback change. And I want you from the Notre Dame side real fast. So Gunnar Stockton comes in again, again, limited numbers this season. But if you goton comes in again, again, limited numbers this season. But if you go back to his high school numbers, and

again, I know we're talking high school numbers here, but this cat can run he's got legs 4377 yards rushing, he rushed for 77 touchdowns. So he is a yeah, that is a bonus Wendy saucy nug. So he is much more of a, of a nimble running type quarterback compared to a Carson bet. Okay. A couple of thoughts. Uh, this is really cool stuff, Mark.

All right. First thought about him being a runner. I don't know who's behind them. When Cardell Jones took over, we were done. I had a Jalen Marshall was my H back who was a Wishbone quarterback. Every sick snap in practice, I'd stick Jalen Marshall and, you know, in case Cardell got hurt, he can't just stop the game. You got to keep playing.

So I don't know, I'm not aware. I'm going to look that up. What's, what's behind him. If you don't have a guy behind him, you can take those rushing stats and cut him in half, they're not going to run him very much and you can't because that's not fair to the team, but you got to win that game.. I used to yell at Cardell when he would scramble. I'd be screaming from the sideline, get down, get down, get down. A little bit like when a player gets his first start in basketball, the first, you know,

the adrenaline's pumping. The first shot would always happens. It goes long. It hits the back of the rim or the, and it bounces off hard because everything you're, so we're getting ready. what always happens. It goes long, it hits the back of the rim or the, and it bounces off hard because everything you're, so we're getting ready. Cardell Jones is going to make his first start against Wisconsin in the big 10 championship game. And we're thinking it through our game plan was we did not have one pass in the offense between the hash marks. Everything was on the outside

because what's a quarterback doing? I mean, this kid's going to be out of his fricking mind. First of all, he's going to be nervous. The adrenaline's pumping. He's going to overstride. He's going to sail some balls. When you sail a ball on an outcut or a corner route or a inside fade, you know where the ball goes, right? Hi.

Out of bounds. Ooh. What happens when you let one sail on a square end or a crossing route? It's called interception. So if you go back and watch that, I, you know, I'm, I'm obviously, I'm not in the game plan meetings for Georgia. I would not play that game at all between the hash marks. I'd keep that sucker on the outside.

It's certainly in the first half. Let him calm down because that you don't lose the ball. You don't lose games because they make complete passes. You're going to lose that game. If he throws a pick, you think it takes a ball. You don't lose games because they make him play passes. You're going to lose that game if he throws a pick. You think it takes a whole half to calm. You think it takes a whole half to calm down.

I don't know the player, but for Cardell, it was a whole game. And you know what else helps calm him down? A run game, a run game. So Trevor Etienne will have to have his best game of the season, not only to control the line scrimmage, but to help out his quarterback was in his first start in the biggest moment.

ETN member missed a couple games because of that rib injury return for the SEC Championship game 87 yards, three touchdowns three touchdowns. Speaking of running, to wrap up this Notre Dame Georgia talk, 1981 Sugar Bowl coach, a young freshman by the name of Herschel Walker led the dogs to a 17 to 10 win in New Orleans that won Georgia the national title back on Bourbon Street and Georgia coming up next our calls on the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls courtesy of

that MGM's pick six. As a Fizz member, you can look forward to free data, big savings on plans, and having your unused data roll over to the following month, every month. At Fizz, you always get more for your money. Terms and conditions for our different programs and policies apply. Details at Fizz.ca. Welcome back to the last edition of the Triple Option presented by Wendy's for the year 2024. Great run for us. Thank you again to all of our sponsors.

Man, how good has Wendy's been to us? Not only just on the takeoff, but here with the Triple Option, Mark Ingram, Urban Meyer, Rob Stone back here with you. Time now for pick six brought to you by BetMGM. Place your money line, prop parlay and same game parlay bets at bet MGM. Download the app today. As always, please gamble responsibly. Again, these lines are going to fluctuate, but the early numbers are in. We're going to pick two quarterfinal games right now. We're going to start with the fiestable, Penn State Boise State, the Nittany Lions sitting there as the number six seed, a favorite mark by 10 points over the Boise State Broncos.

10 points spread in favor of the Nittany Lions. That feel right? Too big, too small? I think it's the right number. I think it's the right number. And I think they're gonna cover Penn State. Listen, man, I still got questions about Penn State, right? But at the end of the day, I think the difference will be the quarterback play.

When you get to these moments, I keep saying this, Don, your quarterback, you have to have a guy at the quarterback position. And I just will lean Penn State in this game. Obviously, Boise State with Ashton Gentry, they had their hands full. He went for 197 yards on Oregon earlier this year, so they are very much capable. But at the end of the day, the quarterback battle, I think that's the difference. And I'm not saying I believe all the way in Drew Aller, but

I believe in him more than I do Mastin for Boise State. So I think I got Penn State covering this one because of their defense I think they're gonna swarm. I think they're gonna try to load up the box stop edge and Gentile I think they're gonna put pressure on Mastin make him You know make a lot of decisions put him in tough predicaments So I think they're gonna be ready to roll and I think I got Penn State covering in this one Yeah, common sense tells you Penn State will cover the problem is I just Well, you just how many players at Boise State were recruited by Penn State? I always go

back to, you know, mano a mano, especially up front. And the reality is that I've watched Boise State. You take Gentie out. I'm not sure how good they are. And Gentie is a freaking manster. You know, he had one opportunity against a big dog and that was Oregon, they did it. However, I just think this game will be extremely close at halftime, like really close. And I think the wear and tear on the big dogs up front by Penn State on offensive and defense line will wear them out.

And by the time the fourth quarter games, I think they'll cover, but it won't be until the fourth quarter because I think they'll just wear them out a little bit. Coach. Big bodies leaning on big bodies eventually give in. In your days when you had to neutralize a running back, right? And we know Boise State is built on the run game of Ash Jentey. What are some of the just the quick little things that you would do defensively

that you're going to say to yourself, guys, this guy, number whoever, is not going to beat us? Yeah, there's two things., number whoever, is not going to beat us. Yeah, there's two things. There's one, you can stop the run game. And now unless the guy, BYOB can just break tackles, which Gentie can. Which he does, yeah. He will have extra people. There will be one extra person and they'll play one high the entire game. Penn State will. They're going to stop. They're going to force Boise to throw the football. However, everybody's done that. And this kid's that good that he, you see him, his post contact yard, Mark, you gave us 1800 yards.

It's ridiculous. More than any other runner in the country. However, Penn State on paper has a much better player tackling them than other than Oregon on paper. So the number one thing is you, uh, you put an extra hat in a box. The number two thing is line movement. And that's you know, you try to discombobulate the offensive line of Boise State. How do you do that? You do movement. And they've had some time to prepare for this one. They've been I I tell you what Penn State's been working on gente for a month now. They had someone else in the back room as they're getting ready for SMU.

They've been working on this one. So they're, they're going to have a pretty good scheme. Well, Penn State does really well. They run 11 players to the ball. We have a runner who breaks tackles. You swarm the football. You run 11 people in the ball, get them down because he is going to break tackles. But when he does break the tackle, you have to have another

person hitting them right away. So, um, swarming the football football 11 people running to the football will be paramount for this pitch they defense but that's what they're built on. They run high energy, they run to the football 11 people to the ball play with their hair on fire. So they'll be prepared for this game. They'll be prepared for this opportunity. But I do want to see gente ball. I do want to see gente ball. I want to see gente go crazy. I think the neutral fan is thinkingie ball though. I do too. I do want to see Gentie ball. I do want to see Gentie go crazy.

I think the neutral fan is thinking the same thing. I want to see this kid at a quote unquote underprivileged university compared to the Penn States of the world and the Georges and the Notre Dame's a little small, tiny upstart program like the Wizzy State produces this guy. Listen, I'm not a whole believer in Penn State though. I know and nobody is and they're not going to be

a big believer in Penn State and James Franklin until they get, until they get until they get to Notre Dame or Georgia in the semi finals that that's that's the only way they can calm calm that narrative down and again, Boise State going back to the Fiesta Bowl 18 years after that, that historic game against Oklahoma. Again, the one theme of the four first round playoff games. The four winners all won the line of scrimmage and it wasn't even close and all the

coaches said that's where we won the game. So you got to see who is that line of scrimmage. Penn State clearly seems to have the advantage in that one. Let's pivot now to the Sugar Bowl, Notre Dame and Georgia of of the teams that had buys. Okay. Only Georgia is a favorite right now. Of the four teams that got buys, only Georgia's favorite and their barely favorite coach, the Bulldogs favored right now in the Sugar Bowl by one and a half points over Notre Dame. I'll tell you, Vegas is amazing. I stare at these points, Brett, and I think they're right

on. I mean, they're right on. My question is, and it will be until they play talent equating. I use that term because I would use it with our players. This is a talent equated game. Notre Dame should have the same players because they recruit against each other. Georgia probably has a little bit better roster for the NFL draft because they normally do. However, Notre Dame, I just how is the players going to respond when they see a high draft

pick across from them? Because they've not seen that problem. They've not. One time, and that was three months ago, and they won the game at Texas A&M, but the rest of the season, imagine that, Mark. Imagine you playing 12 or 13 games where you know that that guy trying to attack you is not as good as you.

And that's the reality of the, you know, the, you know, the hierarchy of college football. So I think the point spreads, right? I you're asking me to pick. I don't know. I, I, I don't know enough about Notre Dame. Yeah, they're great. The coaches, I love the dude. Everything's great.

What they've done so far. But the guys they are blocking, they've been better than other than one time. And that was three months ago. So I'm anxious to see where Georgia on their hand. They played. They played probably four teams that have the same type of dudes that they have. Maybe five teams.

They play the A&M team and they have some good defense alignment. And then we know Nick's Gordon Gordon We know about their pass rusher So and they were able to kind of neutralize that and get that win time to go along the very long time ago very long time ago, but the key for Georgia would be Gunn or Stockton coach you You said you you had to deal with a third string quarterback You had to deal with third string quarterback coach. What? what's the difference between a quarterback having to get thrown in the game at halftime as opposed to preparing as a starter for two or three weeks?

It's a night and day. Yes. Night and day. He's getting all the reps of practice. Exactly. So I think Gunner Stockton will be prepared. I think he was efficient in his first matchup coming in and relief duty for Carson Beck. Trevor Etienne will be a key and the physicality of that defense. I think all of those things is going to be a problem for Notre Dame. But the main thing is keys receivers who have some of the most drops in the country.

Can they make plays to help out their backup quarterback? Because they will have to. They will have to. But Notre Dame, man, they're as advertised on defense. They run around physical. They get tackles for loss. They're great on the back end. They run the football with Jeremiah Love, Riley Leonard, Riley Leonard, Gunnar Stockton, Riley Leonard, Gunnar Stockton.

At this point of the season, Stoner, your quarterback must make place to win you the game. Do not turn the football over and you will have to convert on third downs. What's quarterback will show up which quarterback will have the game of their life. That's who's going to win this game. I got to be in Georgia. Riley Leonard. He's been he's been very efficient and hot as of late connecting on almost 75% of his passes over the course

of the last three games. So Leonard is coming in with some confidence clearly. Not one team that they've been throwing against had the same players they've had. This one they will. Georgia, they have won seven straight postseason games. Their last loss where they're about to play the Sugar Bowl 2019, their last postseason loss and it came to Texas. And again, right now, Georgia, a slim favorite over Notre Dame in that quarterfinals. What's that line, Stoner? One and a half. One and a half? Wow.

One and a half. You guys both like Georgia to cover? One and a half? Wow. I'm gonna go Georgia cover. Yep. Georgia is going to cover. Close though, man. Don't let Brady Quinn here. Don't let Brady Quinn here.

Yeah, Brady's not going to be happy about it. No, he's not. I'll tell you, man, Stone, I just got this belief in Kirby, man. I just believe Kirby is going to have his team ready to play. This moment is not too big for him. Yeah. Yeah.

For good reason, he's proven it. He's proven it over and over again. And again, Georgia has never lost to Notre Dame 3-0 all time, including 2-0 under Kirby Smart. Make sure to follow, subscribe, rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, as well as across social media, we can be found at 3X Option Show. Submit those questions. Again, we've got all kinds of fun coming your way in the new year.

This is the last episode of The Triple Option here in 2024. We'll see you in 2025. Mark's going to be out in the Far East sending us videos of him eating sushi. Meanwhile, Coach and I are going to be grinding, talking about the college football playoffs when The Triple Option returns. Thank you again to our wonderful sponsors

here in our first year in the podcast industry at The Triple Option, Wendy's, BedMGM, USAA, NHTSA. Man, it has been so great to work with you guys. We appreciate the confidence and the belief you had in us. Everybody have a great, great new year and enjoy. We wish you a Merry Christmas. Safe travels, Mark. Thank you.

Appreciate you. Love you. And you. Appreciate you. Love you. And a happy new year. Happy new year.