The Triple Option - College Football Playoff Championship, Michigan's Kyle Whittingham Joins, and Top NIL Earners

Episode Date: January 12, 2026

Hoo, hoo, Hoosiers and Hurricanes meet in the College Football National Championship, just like we all predicted in August. Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone debate if Indiana should be in the conversation of the best college football team ever. Coach takes us on to the field and how Indiana is most maximized roster he has ever seen. The guys then give Carson Beck his flowers before discussing why the SEC is no longer the top conference. The new top man at Michigan, Kyle Whittingham joins for a one on one conversation with his old boss. He and Urban discuss why he decided to come out of retirement, how he built his staff, the future of Bryce Underwood, and what's bigger The Holy War or The Game. The guys go Three and Out by going down memory lane with who would have made the most in NIL that didn't get the chance. The guys made their final game predictions of the season between Miami and 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 FanDuel – Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Fanduel.com/TripleOption⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to download the app and take advantage of a 50% Profit Boost today! #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFP #Indiana #Hoosiers #Miami #Hurricanes #ACC #BigTen #SEC #Michigan #Wolverines #TimTebow #ReggieBush #BoJackson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As an SEC guy, you cannot defend the SEC right now. The truth is the truth. I'm a straight shooter. I call how I see it. And the SEC is not bawling. They are not bawling. They are not shot calling. The SEC, man, we got some work to do.

What work do they have to do besides just win? Light it. 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. Time for another edition of the triple option presented by our great partners at Wendy's. Let's go for sure. Let's go to the national championship game.

We are down to the final two teams in college football. He's the Hall of Fame head coach Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram the second, Deuce, due, soon to be a Hall of Fame. Rob Rob Stone, as always, thanks for joining us. Love it when you rate us, subscribe with us, share with us, give us the comments, give us the feedback, whatever it is. We are with you throughout the year. We're not just here during the college football playoffs.

We are here throughout the year discussing college football. But right now, the discussion is all about the final two teams, Indiana and Miami. So let's get it going with any given Saturday. And let's begin in Atlanta where once again, Indiana fans took over another city, right? They did it at the Rose Bowl. They took over L.A. Pasadena. It was that crimson and cream everywhere. Same scene in Atlanta.

I know you were there. And you were at the Peach Bowl, A to see the game, but B to be honored, having gone into the college football Hall of Fame. With that honor came a little perk. They let you on the field for about an hour, 45 minutes before kickoff. And you went full coach mode. I understand. Yeah, we got another honor for the Hall of Fame. And Shelley looked at me and says, we're done.

No more honors. It's over. So I said, how about one more? One more, man. Keep it running. So Mark, I was BTN. and I love those guys. We had a great show, and they did.

They gave us about an hour and a half, and I grabbed another Hall of Fame or Halloiet and Nagata. Do you know him at Allmart? Yeah, Hello, T. From the Ravens days. You know, he used to come in the building with the Ravens. And Ryan Yerobo, Yardboro from Wyoming, and we walked around, and I said, come with me.

And we had all access. So I walked out on the field, said, I had the coach landing. And I said, we have got, this is historic. it's almost doesn't make sense what's happening in Indiana. So I said, let's go. And I acted, you know, I went everywhere. I was like the head coach.

I walked right up to their linebackers, stood right there. I sized them up. I watched them move. I watched her acceleration. Then I went to the corners because they're right by me. They were corners, linebackers, safeties. Then I went down the D-line. Then I started wrapping around to the O line.

And then I stood right next to Mendoza as he was, warming up with the wide outs. I stood right in the huddle of the whiteouts. I listened to what the coach was saying, watching these guys play. And I walked away and I called Todd McShay, who was our dear friend and I still think the best draft analyst guy out there. I said, tell me again now who, which one of these guys are going to be the

first round or second round or third round? We kind of went through it. And the reason I bring that up, Mark and Rob is this, is that I think the job of a football coach is to maximize, and I'm not talking about the head coach, all coaches. Your trainer, and this is a lecture I would give my coaching staff and support staff. Our job is to maximize what's in that body and mind. So you have a player. I'm going to use Fernando Mendoza.

What's ever in there, you get everything out of them. And I'm telling you, Mark, I have never witnessed a team that is fully maximized. I like to think we did a good job coaching. I imagine Nick Saban did a good job bringing the best out of his teams and some of these great coaches. Day and Dan Lanny, et cetera. I'm telling you, what I saw, the Roger Seaver group, Charlie Becker, Cooper, Jr., and Surratt, they are maximized the way they practiced, the way they warmed up, and then the way

they played. And then I stood next to Mendoza. There's not a whole lot left in his tank either now. Ponds, the Pines. I watched him warm up. I stood right next to him. I mean, it's phenomenal. You said you stood next to Ponds, the DB, what, 5'9?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and he's guarding Jeremiah Smith during the playoffs. And he jumps outside right before the snap and stops him on a fade route. And I guess I love the game so much and I love coaching and I love players that much. This is absolutely amazing. They put it to Oregon. I went down on the field closely and I watched and Oregon was defeated. They were beat.

And that's twice in one year, Rob. they went to Oregon and they beat them on a neutral site. You're witnessing one of the greatest phenomena in college football history. Look at their last three victories, Coach. We talked about all season. We talked about all season like, oh, they haven't been tested or who they haven't been played.

Oh, they just beat Ohio State to Big Ten championship. They throttled Alabama. Then they throttled Oregon. So you talk about a team being maxed out, playing to the full center potential. That's exactly what Indiana is right. now, they are playing to the fullest of their potential. And usually you hear teams and say like, oh, and then you keep here, Fernando Mendoza.

He's like, oh, we got to get better. We got to go back to the drum board. He's excited about the opportunity to play Miami. But this Indiana team, man, is special, man. I don't think we've seen anything like it, man, in recent history. And, and look at this. And look at their, they're following. They took over the Rose Bowl.

I'm saying 90 plus percent in that, I'm saying higher than 90 percent. in Atlanta. And back-to-back games now, in back-to-back playoff games against Belma and then against Oregon. They are just overtaking the whole stadium. They say Indiana now has the largest living alumni base in the United States. It says surpassing Penn State with over 805,000 alumni worldwide as of late 2025, making a massive network. So they are coming together in droves and they are taking over to see if college football playoff right now.

That home field advantage is going to be tested in Miami, right? Against Miami, but you're going to see a whole lot of crimson and cream there because this is a once-in-a-lifetime event if you're an Indiana fan. You may never see this again, but I would actually push back on that because what Signetti is building coach right now. It's got legs now, right? It really does. There's proof of concept here.

He is going out and he's done this from year one in Bloomington. He's gone out and he's gotten production, right? He wants productive players, guys who have done it, before and mature talent. What have we seen in the last two national champions? A, they were both in the Big Ten, but Michigan and Ohio State, what were they, coach? They were mature

experienced teams. There is a blueprint that has been written in the Big Ten, and Signetti is on that blueprint, and I think he's adding his own twist to it right now as well. Yeah, the numbers out there's 45 players mark on their team, and that's over half the guys playing are

four plus years of experience. I don't know if I've coached maybe 10 the guys No, because you guys were on that accelerated program guys were trying to

leave in three years. I want to go back. I hate to keep but I just, I want to hit this again, Mark, because I want to hear your, think about your teams.

Think about your players on those teams. If they were maximized, like I'm going back to when I coached against you, the Julio Jones and the linebackers, your backs you guys had.

And you could say they were really good. Were they really maximized? I mean, nothing left. Well, I don't know. I don't know because boys left to the NFL and got better. You know what I mean?

So I think you're saying these guys are maxed out to their fullest potential right now. And I take great pride in evaluating talent. I stood right. I mean, you would have laughed. I mean, they're right here. Yeah. I'm watching the Surratt. The person being a Hall of Fame coach, you know what I mean?

The person being a Hall of Fame ball coach. I'm going to talk about these White House from watching Surat, Pekker, and Omar Cooper, Jr. I had to hear it. I'm watching this coach. Coach the hell out of it. of them. And I'm watching their demeanor and how confident they were. But I'm not seeing Julio. Yeah. I'm not seeing Jeremiah Smith. I'm not seeing guys that are absolutely maximized, play the game the way they're supposed to play it. They play so damn hard. I get

fired up. So coach, break down how one maximizes a player. Percentage-wise, at a certain point coaching, the other point is just DNA of that human being. I think it's culture. I think that's where the head coach is not coaching that kid. Okay, I watch Signetti. Signetti's a CEO. You watch him during a game. But he is establishes the culture and it permeates down to the assistant coaches

and then that permeates into the room. But it's also as a strength coach, the training staff, alignment. So you're going to hear the word alignment. Because without alignment, you can't maximize these. This is an absolute case. study on how to maximize a player and maximize a team. I coach was a head coach for almost 20 years. How many teams were 100% maximized?

Not just a head coach either. A Hall of Fame head coach. But how many of them were maximized? I don't know. I'm embarrassed. Not like this team. This team is your witness saying that when I hear the greatest team in college football history potentially, there is a plus 473 differential.

this season. After that it says the highest ever, Mark. What the hell are we talking about? A team who... So cool. We said it. We said it. We've been saying it. They're a team full of...

Mendoza's in the best. They're a team full of misfits. They're a team full of misfits. Guys who come together from all over the country of people who didn't believe in them. And now you get this coach who believes in them, who coaches them hard, establishes this culture.

And now you're seeing the effects of that, man. people are trying to do it. I was one of them to say, when's this house of car it's going to fall? There's no house of college here, boy. This is the foundation. That's why I don't think India is going anywhere. There's no fluke.

There's no fluke. And you know why it's not going nowhere, Coach? Because now he's getting the resources to get the four-star to five-star players that do fit his culture. Which will be fun to watch. If they have the same mantra that a misfit, you know, that the misfit. So, coach, that's an awesome point. because I reflect back the Jay Wright-Villanova basketball days when Jay Wright was still in charge.

And Jay Wright did it kind of the Kurt Signetti way, right? It was a bunch of three-star, four-star guys. It was guys who stuck around and he would just kind of rotate these guys through. All right, now it's your turn. Now it's your turn. When he finally dipped his toes into that five-star world, it didn't work out. It didn't pan out. Those guys are, for whatever reason, they're different.

Sometimes they're great and they can work out culture-wise. but you're right, when you go to that next level of recruiting, and it's going to be hard. That temptation is going to be there, coach, right? Like, sure. Like, wait, we have five-star guys now answering our emails and phone calls. That never happened in Bloomington. You know, a guy on Mark Dantoneo's staff, the great coach, the Hall of Fame also,

that he kind of made a living with the misfits or the three stars and made them high draft picks. But then they started winning, went to the Rose Bowl. And this is a guy in the staff told me that. It became a whole different animal when you're, now you're, getting that four and five star kid that maybe won't grind like that other. So you're right. This is going to be a really, this story is ongoing.

Obviously, we got to talk about this other team that they're playing because they're damn good too, Miami. But this story is going to continue. We talk about Indiana sustaining this. Not only are they winning on the football field right now when it matters most in the college football playoffs. They're winning in the transfer portal at the same damn time. Yeah.

I mean, think about that. They pivoted from that quarterfinal game and jumped right into the portal hours later. What do they do? They secured their quarterback for next year. Josh Hoover from TCU, one of the best QBs. He's going to fit right in. He puts up huge numbers. He's a guy who was interested in Bloomington years back.

They got a stud wide receiver because they know they're going to be thin there. A stud running back from Boston College, B.C.'s leading Russia last year. They re-fortified the defensive line. They are doing all of this at the same. time. Yeah. And they kept their coordinators. You hear you hear.

They're not losing anybody, coach. They're not losing anybody. I was talking to Oregon. I was with Will Stein before the game and Parker Fleming and, you know, Tosh Lupoy, the defense coordinator. Those guys are gone. And then we were actually talking about managing their, you know, how they were here and how they're, but you can look on the other side, stability, foundation.

But you also talk about Signetti and you listen to. what he says and people think it's cliche he talks about a process he's talking about having a plan he talks about having structure he talks about having discipline no mark he's just talking about cracking open a beer man that's all he's talking about after crack open a cold beer you have your structure after you have your process after you have your discipline and you whip ass in a college football by a semifinal you deserve whatever your vice is go ahead and get it done have yourself a cold one man whatever your vice is or yourself a cold one i felt it for him when he said that and he smiled. I was like, get that man.

And then I was, you're asking me all these questions. Where my, where my beer, where's my beer, man? Like, is he an icy light guy from, from the Pittsburgh days? What is it that he's cracking? I'm heavy beer, like, uh, the Irish beer. No, he's no I-QA. Jenny cream ale. Yeah, oh, Jenny cream ale coach.

Out of nowhere, a Jenny cream ale. And with that, we move on. Indiana. Congratulations. You are off to the college football at national championship game. Uh, one quick word, Dante Moore. Stick around for another year, right? Don't let this be your last college game. Don't let this be the last taste in your mouth. Another year, and I think Dante Moore could be a Heisman trophy winner.

What if they tell you? What if they tell you he's the number two quarterback in the draft? Yeah, I know. I know. I understand. What do you think he does, Mark? I mean, if you're a quarterback. He's going to be a top 10 pick.

Don't you think, Mark, it's hard not to think. You have to go. You have to go. I would just like to see him stick around. So many things can happen to you, manning. You know, saying. and others. We'll see, man.

That's why Ty says. I just hope if he goes somewhere, he can go sit and learn for a year. Yeah. I hate that when they throw the, I did it. You throw that rookie quarterback in there, and it's just, man,

you just wish you had some veteran guy in front of them. The Jordan Love learning from um, um, uh, shoe, Aaron Rogers. Yeah,

Aaron Rogers. Andrews. Yeah, Aaron Rogers, learning from Brett Farre. Number four, Brent Farre. So that was the perfect.

way for quarterbacks to have great success. Dante Moore learned from Dylan Gabriel sitting out last year after transferring from UCLA. So I think there is, you know, that is in the back of his head. I think he's got a lot of patience. I think Dante Moore, I don't feel, I don't feel a kid that's, but I agree with you. You're top five, top 10. He gets the bigger picture of things.

You know, we sat down and talked to him, very humble, very well-spoken, very thoughtful. So you know he's going to make the right decision, the best decision for herself. And Oregon's a young team. Oregon's a young team. I think they were maybe a year ahead of schedule. And to get to the semifinals. What happened all their damn running backs, bro? So thin.

They got a bunch of defensive guys running the ball. Who is running a ball? Yeah. Yeah. They're worried about that before the game. Watch out for Oregon next year. That's all I'm going to say. A young team, I think a year ahead of schedule,

they're going to be back, particularly if Dante Moore sticks around. How about the team that a lot of folks didn't think belonged in the college football playoffs? Miami. Your number 10 seed. Last team in, essentially. And here it is Miami going to the national championship game for the first time since 2002 for the ACC. First time one of their teams have been in the championship game since Clemson back in 2019. Carson Beck has been a conversation point mark all season long around Miami, right? Kind of sat and watched Georgia win national titles, get to championship games, had his crack, didn't quite live up to the expectations of what is

expected of you in Athens, goes to Miami, all the stuff off the field between girlfriends and Lamborghinis and whatnot. And there was always this, which Carson are we going to see? Good Carson, bad Carson. We have seen the best from Carson Beck through the course of these playoffs, Mark. Yeah, I was one of those guys who was kind of concerned with how Miami was going to be. I thought they would win like nine games, but the way this team has been playing football hours of late,

especially, is the reason, I believe you win games like that, tough offensive line, tough defense of line. But then you have a quarterback who you felt like they were protecting him, but last game, they,

he put the game on his back. He put the game on his shoulders. He made several third down completions. He used his legs when he had to. He had him in third and manageable. When momentum swung the other way, he had the fortitude, the mental fortitude,

Stay strong, to stay focused, to be a leader in the huddle, to be a leader on the sidelines. You see all these things that had Carson Beck as a highly-toated recruit, as a highly-toated person who won two SEC championships, who won two national championships at Georgia. You saw this guy, you're seeing this guy come to life right now. And he's a huge reason why they were able to defeat Ole Miss, but also why they'll have a huge, why they'll have a chance to win this game against Indiana here at home at the Hard Rock Stadium, about 35 minutes south of me here in about a week. And about, what, what, 11 days, eight days? Eight days? Yeah, so, man, Carson Beck, we didn't doubt him, but we had our reserves, our reservations.

We had our concerns. But he has answered the call. He has answered the bell. He's worth every penny that Miami has paid him in the portal. And all that Lamborghini, all the twin girlfriends, all that, whatever, it don't matter because right now he's ball and he has Miami National Championship. You know, the first two playoff wins, they did not lean on him. you know, the A&M in the Ohio State.

Yeah, they really protected them. This one, they let the dog eat, man, and he answered. That was the best drive I've seen him play. I think you said it was a 15 play. 15 plays? 11 runs and 6. No, 11 passes. Four runs.

And one of the runs was his touchdown. 11 past, yeah. The ball was in his hands making decisions, 13 of those plays. And they were really good throws. A couple of them. He reset his feet and found the second to third look in the progression, things he didn't show. He scrambled on the game winner.

So Carson Beck, if he has one more game like this, he's going to make some money. I was worried about him. There was a time where he had as many interceptions as game. I think it was like 14 games and 14 picks. And you can't play quarterback doing that. And they lost two games. They lost, I think, is SMU and then Louisville. And then when his guy's on fire with the run game and the dominant, you know, their old coach is a line coach.

You can tell, Crystal Ball. their defense just kicks the ass out of the other opponent off its line. It's fun to watch me. This is going to be a great game. And then they got Malachi Tony. I mean, this dude is just a dog. The one-handed catchy, they, that they call back because his heel touchdown, I would just gave it to him, coach.

And then you see him blocking? Bro, yeah. He sticks his nose right in this. This kid is a football player. The two right teams are playing. He's supposed to be a senior in high school, coach. He's the two best teams in the country are playing. They are.

They are. They've earned it. Listen, Miami plays football how you're supposed to play football. They have a tough offensive line. They run the football with Mark Fletcher, Jr. And Charmara Brown. And then you have a defensive line

who gets after the quarterback. You have guys who play hard. They have dudes that have swagger. And they're straight dogs. The type of players you would have recruited, coach, the type of players I play with at Belmont. They have that swagger, that demeanor that the U has had that they have been known for in the early 2000s,

and they're playing like it right now. Dictating the game, dictating the tempo, dictating possession. They had it for 41 minutes and 22 seconds against Ole Miss. They were winning on first and second down. But there were some real issues with Miami in that game. Their penalties. Some mistakes, yeah. The penalties and the timing of those penalties.

You can't do that versus Indiana. The targeting, the personal foul for the late hit, they put themselves in a spot that I don't think they should have been in. Yeah. So they can't do that against a discipline team like Indiana. Correct. I want to go back to Malachi, Tony, real quick. Two freshmen only had eight touches.

One of them, a two-yard punt return, two rushes for 11 yards, five receptions for 81 yards and that touchdown. So eight total touches. Is that enough for Malachi Tony in the national championship game against Indiana coach? I mean, they just scored a bunch of points. against Ole Miss. So I think eight touches, you know, anytime you, because it's hard to, it's hard to force a ball anytime you start saying 10, 12, 14, other than handed it to him, because if you start

telling the quarterback or designing plays to force it to a player, that's not good either. So I love the 8 to 10, 12. I'd like to, I'd say 12 is a magic number. And you got to realize, yep, and you got to realize the impact that he's having. Keelan Marion, the other receiver, seven catches for 114 yards, 16.3 a pop, a 52-yard touchdown. So now you got extra attention, extra eyes on Malachi Tony. Your other receiver opposite to society, he gets opportunities to capitalize. Your running back, Mark Fletcher, has 22 carries for 133 yards.

So his presence on the field is more than just numbers and statistics. It's opening up the entire offense. And he should still be in high school. Yeah. Yeah, he's a scene. He reclassified up. All y'all are reclassify your son's back. They remind me of our-

If he a real dog reclass him up. In 2006, we had a team that had an elite defense, a bunch of NFL kids at Florida. Offense kind of figured our way. We had Tebow and Chris Leak rotating. We're very good, which is to average on offense, but we hit the stride by the end, obviously we won it all. So I see this team. You know, Indiana is the best team in the country, but I think Miami right now is hitting its stride, obviously. So I think this is.

You said Indiana is maxing themselves out, and Miami? is playing their best football when it matters most. So now you got this team that's kind of peeking at the right time. Because he could say Miami was maxed. You could not have said in the – because Carson wasn't. Carson Beck was not maxed. He maxed out the last week. One quick theme.

I'll be there, boys. One quick theme. You'll be there? Oh, you're going? B-TN. That's right. Another big – Hey, so we're going to hang?

We going to hang or what, coach? I'm going to be right here. You know what I mean? Great sense. way, coach, third straight year that a Big Ten team will be in the national championship game. Third straight year that an SEC team will not be in the national championship game. Remember, five SEC programs got the invite to the college football playoffs. So no SEC team in the national championship game.

If you go outside of the playoff picture, the record in bowl games less than adequate for the SEC. What is your takeaway? Mark, I'll start with you for the SEC. when you look back at what transpired this past season for the conference. Well, you really can't defend the SEC at this point. Like, I'm a guy who really doesn't think bowl games really matter with as much as transfer guys, much of guys opting out. But at the end of the day, it's hard to defend the SEC right now as an SEC guy.

You have three shots the past three years. The way you look in the playoff hasn't been great. Then your bowl game, like, we're getting dominated. So as an SEC guy, you cannot defend the SEC right now. The best conference in college football is the Big Ten. I said that on big new kickoff in front the whole country and people hated me for it. But the truth is the truth.

I'm a straight shooter. I call it how I see it. Right now, the Big Ten has the last two national champions. They have another one in the championship going for a third in a row. And the SEC is not, it's not bawling. They are not bawling. They are not shot calling. So right now, the SEC, man, we got some work to do.

What work do they have to do besides just when it matters? Besides that, I mean, that's the obvious. So why aren't they winning? What are they not doing when it matters the most right now? Well, the plan feels level now. The plan feels level now. You don't have those first rounders on third string anymore. You don't have those five-star All-Americans on third string no more

because they're leaving, they're going to other programs like India, they're going to other programs wherever. You know, the playing field is level these days. And if you have an alumni base, if you have the resources, you have the pride to put something towards an NIL program and build a roster, you can compete. You see it with Texas Tech. They're in the playoff.

You see it all around. So the playing field is level, and the SEC has to find a way to adjust. So let's do this. if you say, what's the variables that make one conference better than the other? Obviously, the one loss record. But a deeper dive into it, number one is players. So you're going to find out in spring on which rosters are the best because you're going to find out it's called the NFL draft. And it used to be so, the disparity, it was so different. You had the SEC, and I forget the numbers. We should have those. And then the big 10 was way down here. And then the last couple years it came, but still the

SEC's been number one. And the big, the ACC and Big 12 are way down below that. So I'm anxious to see if that's the case that you're still having these players drafted, then you have to go to the coaches. And right now, which roster of coaches are better? And that's where you're going to say is a Bilema who beat Tennessee and Iowa, Kirk Forens who beat Vanderbilt, Indiana with Sig, just beating a mess out of of Alabama.

Do you say Alabama's roster is better than Indiana's because probably an NFL draft mark, I think it will be. Then you have to say, okay, let's go to the roster of coaches. So I think there's got to be a, that's how you get evaluated, whether you like it or not. Listen, this culture stuff is different, man.

It's real. You know, you got to have players that want to play as a team who aren't so concerned about themselves. You know what I mean? Not saying that's the case because I'm not in locker rooms. I don't know. But I remember on the good teams I was on. on, I was on teams who put away their personal agenda aside for the betterment of the team.

Obviously, you had your goals, what made you want to drive, what made you give you passion, determination, commitment. You had things individually that you wanted to shoot for, but you didn't let it get in the way of the greater goal of the team. And essentially, the team is what matters. The team, the team, the team, Indiana has a football team. Miami has a football team. The team matters. The team is what's more important.

Let's talk about Iowa. We were at Iowa, big noon kickoff at Iowa State. I thought the team looked bad. I mean, they didn't look good. They didn't play good. I'm talking about Iowa when they beat up. Iowa State. They lost Iowa State.

Was that week two coach? And then you watch the coaching. Week two. Yeah. The coaching, the, you know, the improvement, the culture, Iowa football, you wake up and they're pushing around Vanderbilt. They almost beat Oregon. They almost beat Indiana.

That's how you evaluate in my mind. That's how you evaluate coaches. Culture. That's why Kirk Ferenz is who he is. and that's why Signetti is who he is. It's phenomenal watch. You're not going to play at Iowa of Kirk Ferns don't like what you bring to the culture.

You're not going to play at Indiana. If Kurt Signate, you don't like what you bring to the culture. So nothing's above the culture. Speaking of culture in the Big Ten coming up in a moment here on the Triple Option presented by Wendy's, the new head coach at Michigan. Kyle Whittingham will join us.

A fun little one-on-one conversation between the two coaches. A coach did some heavy lifting in that one, Mark. We're going to make our picks for the national championship game coming up in a bit. But it is now time for the deuce-toes. Dog in the week. Courtesy with house football playoffs semifinals. Mark, who's the dog?

Hey, coach, man, you know who that dog is. Man, we talked about him. It's your boy, Carson Beck. People said this, people said that. But your boy is bawling at the right time when it matters the most. 37 attempts, coach. You talk about they protected him. They didn't protect him this time.

They let him go. 37 attempts, 23 completions. 268 yards, two touchdowns, the game-winning touchdown run. So three total touchdowns. And this team, man, coach, I'm telling you, he had them in the right positions at the right times all game long, 11 and 19 on third downs, two for two on fourth downs. Carson Beck is commanding and leading his offense. He's commanding and leading his team like the player that we all know that he could have

been, and he's doing it when it matters the most for the hurricanes, has them going to the national championship game at home. And Carson Beck, you got one more. You keep playing like this. You're going to be the certified. The certified dog. One more deuce-duce dog of the week to come up. Who will it be?

Somebody from Miami. That was the fresh taking the week. The winning team. There you go. Presented by Wendy's, join Team Tendies and enjoy a lineup like never before. Crispy, juicy. Tendies now at Wendy's. When we come back, Urban goes one-on-one with the new man at the school up north.

Michigan head coach, Kyle Whittinghead. Light it. At MedCan, we know that life's greatest moments are built on a foundation of good health, from the big milestones to the quiet winds. That's why our annual health assessment offers a physician-led, full-body checkup that provides a clear picture of your health today

and may uncover early signs of conditions like heart disease and cancer. The healthier you means more moments to cherish. Take control of your well-being and book an assessment today. Medcan. Live well. For life. Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. All right, Kyle, the block. I'm on your shirt. Great to see you, my friend.

There you go. Real quick. A couple questions. I know you're busy. I know it's a portal season, whatever the hell that means. That's your business, not mine. So I'm going to go back to one month, coach, and that I see, which we talk quite often, and I see your name pop on my phone. And I say, hey, what's up? And you said, hey, God tell you something. Or I want to ask your opinion on something. I said, what's that? and he said, tell me about the Wolverines. And I was like, whoa, I had to sit down for a minute. And, but our conversation was really strong.

I told you what I thought. And the question I have for you is, why? Why did you do it? Still got a lot of juice in the tank, man. You know, I had stepped down at Utah. We had a great run there. I wanted to leave on a positive note. So we ended up 10 and 2, 11 and 2 with the bowl game this year.

And I thought, hey, this is a good time to exit. Don't want to overstay my welcome. But again, I felt like I had tons of energy. And, you know, there was a handful of schools in the country where if they would have called, I would have been receptive. Michigan was on that list. They called. Or somehow them and my agent got together. I'm not sure exactly how it went down.

But when I got the word that there was interest, you know, I jumped at that opportunity. That's pretty much the long and short of it. So you often hear the term right place at the right time. You know, here's the Wolverines, a place that I know very well. Growing up as a fan of Bo Schenbecker, actually became a friend of his. And I, you know this, I was a Woody Hayes guy, Earl Bruce guy. And here's a place that has, is incredible tradition and, you know, one of the most successful blue blood programs of all time. But the last few years, it's been, there's been a lot of chaos, a lot of stuff, I underlined stuff that's happened there.

the further you dig into it, how much effort on your part will take to erase the stuff, or is that just a non-factor? I think it's a non-factor. I mean, we've obviously got to get back on track and as far as getting rid of the drama. But as far as the players, I mean, they've handled it well. I mean, it wasn't their fault. They weren't the cause of anything. All they did is kept working through the whole thing, ended up, you know, 9 and 4 this year.

So I think that, you know, they're. They're eager, and we've got a big team meeting tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. to get this thing started, and they want to go back to work. I had a chance to interview every player down at the Bullseight. It took me 20-plus hours down at the Bullsite in Orlando, and what a great group of young men, high character, all tuned in their academics, knew when they were going to graduate, knew what they were going to do with their degree. Yeah, it's just a great group of guys, and I'm excited to get started with them. So I go back to 2003. I get hired at Utah, and without Kyle Winningham, there's no chance.

First of I learned about the culture of Utah, which is a very unique culture, but without you, you know, constantly in my office, I'm in your office. Have you leaned on a former, and Eric Jacobson's another one at Utah that really helped me. So have you leaned on a former player or former coach yet that has embraced the Kyle Winningham program? Yeah, we kept three coaches from the previous staff. I thought it was important to have a bridge between the last staff and our staff. And those three guys, Tony Alford, first of all, the running back coach, terrific coach, outstanding recruiter. He's put together maybe the best running back room in the country. I mean, he's a guy that is a proven commodity.

And then we had Lou Esposito, defensive tackle coach, who I really hit it off with. And then Kerry Combs, special teams coordinator. So those three guys, I've really really. leaned on them to, you know, to navigate things and, and, uh, figure things out along the way. But, and the same token, I've surrounded myself with with guys I know and trust, you know, that I've worked with for, you know, a lot of them 40 plus years. Yeah, that was our conversation is, is, uh, the first thing I remember saying is, you know, because I got stuck in a situation where you're, you're with a bunch of new coaches that

maybe don't exactly believe in the way you go about your business. You got Jay Hill, the defense coordinator. You got, uh, Beck, who came with you from Utah. And you got, you You got to, you know, I think Lewis came with you, Lewis Powell, I read. So just tell us about your staff. Tell us about, I know you've been with these guys a long time, but to pick up and move, Jay Hill, to pick up and move from BYU. That was a great get. Jason Beck, I know they wanted him to stay at Utah.

Tell us about your staff a little bit. Yeah, well, first of all, fired up about what they bring to the table. I mean, the offensive staff, we finished fourth in the nation last year in scoring in Utah and second rushing, fifth in total, O. And Jason Beck is the architect of that offense. It's a user-friendly offense. I mean, this day and age with the portal, and you're getting 40, 50 new guys in your team here, you better have an offense in a defensive scheme that these guys can adapt to really quickly

and plug-and-play type of a situation. And so Jason everywhere he's been, he's had great success. We brought Mike Simon, the receiver coach, Coy Detmer, the quarterback coach, Jim Harding, who's a real key piece to our staff, our offensive line coach. One of the best offensive line coaches in the country, developed Spencer Fano, who won the Outland Trophy this year. Both his tackles are going to be first rounders. So a lot of familiarity with the officer staff brought my strength staff,

Doug Elisaya and the strength staff from Utah, who been with me 21 years. And then, of course, as you mentioned, Jay Hill, who did such a great job for us at Utah before he went over to Weber and resurrected that program. Then he went down to BYU and did a great job, coordinated that defense. So guys, I trust and believe in,

all over the place here. So let's, the question that's going to get a lot of hits here. So I used to tell people, when you asked Kyle Woodenham, you played at BYU and then the rivalry game. I used to call them the team down south. Your eye, I would tell people, Woodyenham's eyes change color when you talk about the BYU game. How much have you, you probably haven't had time yet, but I'm sure you're making time.

I remember they gave me the book to Holy War when I went to Utah to learn about. about that robbery and McBride really cranked that thing up, Coach McBride. What have you done to dig deep into the game? Well, it's such a national game and such a, as such prominence. I feel like I know it, I've known it for years and years. I mean, it is the game in the country, the biggest rivalry in the country. And so it's not hard to be educated about that when it's, you know, it's been so front and center, really my whole college career.

So it doesn't take much, you know, studying up on that game to understand what it's all about. So Bryce Underwood's coming back. I remember watching him in live and in person last year early in the season. And once they started, they don't run them the first two or three games. The third game, I believe it was, they ran them. And I said, it's over now. Now it's over. Because you've got a freak athlete that can really throw it.

But you throw on the tape week 10 and 11, it's actually not as good as it was early. You know, his development was, went, in my opinion, and I watched him. I have a lot of respect for that player. What have you seen so far from him? And the skill sets there, but, you know, and I'm sure Jason's had spent some time with him back. What happened with his development? You know, first of all, from what I understand, there was no dedicated quarterback coach working with him on a daily basis, which has to happen.

Wow. He had a young man 17 years old. He didn't turn 18 until, like, midseason. And so he's a guy that really could have been in high school last year as far as his age. But, you know, there's some things in the throwing mechanics and just things to smooth out in his fundamentals and technique. And we're already got a good start on that. And Jason Beck and Coy Dettmer, outstanding quarterback developers and coaches. And so we're already going down that path.

But you talk about a ton of upside. I mean, Bryce Underwood's got it all. He's 6'4 and 225 plus. and has a cannon arm. And so he's, he's the whole package. We just got to get him refined. Was it,

was it, uh, struggle to keep him? Or was he pretty much, um, let's go, man. You know, it was pretty,

pretty much let's go. You know, there was, uh, you know, maybe a little hesitation until he got to know me and the rest of the staff. But once he,

once he got to know us, it was, uh, on a good trajectory from that point. And then he announced, of course, uh, several days ago and,

and really helped our recruiting, uh, when he announced and it was a stabilizing factor for us. One last one for I let you go. So this whole world about salary cap and you're seeing, you know, tell us a little bit about, I mean, I've talked to Coach Day. I've talked to other people, Coach Mullen, the guys I'm real close with, about the salary pool. And that's legit, I guess.

And I've heard a lot of comments about, you know, they're supposed to have this third party monitor every NIL. They're saying they just approve everything. So is the Wolverine, are the Wolverines committed to this? and can you go to war with anybody as far as your finances and going after players? Absolutely. We've had some of our boosters and supporters step up, and we have made a lot of progress in that regard. And, you know, you're right.

It is a different world. I don't think this model is sustainable. First of all, I think it's got to have a complete overhaul. I mean, it's got to be a – it's going to have to turn into a sort of NFL minor league with a salary cap, collective bargaining agreement. Players become an employee. I just don't see any other way around it because, the roster money, I mean, it goes up 15, 20 percent every year, and it's to the point now

where it just cannot be sustained. Last question. So the non-conference schedule, and you have a team playing for a national title that played arguably the worst non-conference in college football history. I think it was Kennedah State, Old Dominion, and Indiana State. You got the Buckeyes going to Texas week one. You sat, I remember I asked you, sit in the meetings with me and Chris Hill about scheduling, And ours is always big dog, medium dog, little dog.

Play a good one, play an average one, and play a team that you should beat up pretty good. What's your thoughts on that now that it seemed like the committee, it doesn't matter? The scheduling doesn't matter at all. Yeah, it seems to mean less and less your non-conference. And I think when you talk about the overhaul that I mentioned, I think you're going to see a super conference develop where they probably just play each other. They don't play anybody but the people at that level and they'll break away from the NC2A, and they'll have their own commissioner.

And so I think that's going to be a thing of the past. But still hang on to, as you mentioned, a game that is a very competitive game and then a game that you definitely should win and then a middle-of-the-road game. And so I think that is still probably the best approach right now. But again, I see that changing in the very near future. So I beat you in a run. You beat me in tennis. We tied in golf.

So I'm not going to play again. I'm not going to run with you again because that's not. won't happen. Tennis, you're just... So the only chance we have is golf one more time. Oh, we can go up skiing. I can show you around the ski. Yeah, it's not good. Okay. Hey, wish your best, brother, and love you, man.

I love you and your family and go get them. Appreciate your, Irman. Thank you very much. Appreciate you guys having me on. Welcome back to the Triple Option presented by Wendy's, Rob Mark Urban, back here with you. Time now for three and out. Let's talk to the Transfer Portal, guys. Closes on January 16th,

except for the players playing in the national championship game. It'll reopen for five days after that game. At the time of this recording, there have been over 4,500 FBS players in the portal. That's over 30% of all the players. And one of the most interesting players that has come up in this discussion of the transfer portal is at the University of Washington.

Their quarterback to Mon Williams, signed that deal with Washington to stay, and then went and had a meeting with Lane Kiffin an LSU and then a whole bunch of lawyers started talking and agents left. It was, Mark, it was one of the messiest situations in a brief little window that we've seen in this NIL world. Committed contract with Washington, but end up talking about your going to LSU, but then ultimately going back to Washington with a whole bunch of mess in the middle.

This is wild. This is wild, man. Agent Sever's ties with you. you? Yeah, man, what are we doing? Coach, what's going on, man? What do you think? I read it, and I know the AD very well at Washington, and it's one of the worst things I've ever heard, and I don't want to overreact. I know people say, come on, Coach, what do you know?

It's one of the worst thing. You're not overreacting. Because I love the locker room. I love culture. I love being part of a team, and I know he's invited back, or he's going to go back, but, and I saw the statements by Coach Fish and by the athletic director where he can earn his way back. And I just don't know how it got to that. You know, you'd love to somehow find out, say, where his parents involved?

Who did that? You know, who you signed a contract and who even started that? How's that start? And what's it like when you go back in that locker room? But I think, Mark, I hate to, you know, I'm so old-schooled about that, you know, the loyalty to your team. teammates and all that. I don't know how you come back, but I think it's a much different era. I think they'd love to have them back and they're willing to move on quickly. I don't know. It's one of the worst things I read.

And we know people move on in this day and age quickly, right? There'll be a time. There'll be an ugly little stretch, but he needs to go to that locker room. What do you say? I mean, right? Inform me, though. My bad. Inform me, though. My bad. So they said that he has to earn his way back or like they welcomed him back. Like, inform me exactly what happened with that? No, they did say the word earn. Well, again, again, words matter, right?

So earning your way back, I think that's coach talk of saying, hey, you need to get in there and dress your teammates and start to win them back. It was pretty tough. Yeah, which he does. That's fair. But I think in this state and age, it repairs quickly. There is a time where there is a time where I don't think it could be repaired. They'll be fine by February, is my guess. Might be fine by next week.

Yo, man, this is crazy, dog. Right? If it takes that long, you're right, coach. I'm saying to deal with you, Coach. Then I'm like, wait, no, I'm cold feet. I'm going to go to LSU, but wait, no, y'all ain't going to let me because I got the deal. Oh, can I come back? You're going to take me back?

We're a team, man. The three of us, we're a team. We're a team. We're going nowhere. Going nowhere fast. To the end. Going nowhere fast. All right.

So all this NIL talk got us chatting with our three and out this week. What three former players would have absolutely crushed it in this NILA. era. Mark your big three. Excluding your boy, the first highest tributtal winner Alabama? No, I don't think. Hell yeah. Go with it. Can't vote for yourself. Excluding myself, the first Heismet

trophy winner at the University of Alabama, excluding myself. I got to go with Reggie Bush would have just been... He would have killed it. You're talking about one of the best college football players ever in the history of the game

in L.A. The man already had it. So if he could have been had the money, he would have triple, quadruple five times had it. So I got to go Reggie Bush. And then I got to go take it to my boy Scam Newton. You think that dude, he played for coach down there in Florida. What he did at Auburn, taking them undefeated,

the personality that he had, the player he was, if he would have went to the portal, he would have commanded $10 million. I mean. So N. I'm going to go Reggie Bush. I'm going to go Scam Newton. And then I'm going to go Johnny Football. I'm going to go Johnny Mansell at A&M.

That year he had, and he won the Heism. He had to come back another year. His NIL funds would have been off the charts. And I wouldn't dive into coaches list, but I know he got one that would have made that heavy pay. But that's my three. All right. Coach, your big three former players that were cashed in in this NIL era.

And I bet you're going to start. focus on former players, like you said. Number one is Tim would have set the record for 100% the amount of money that he earned. You know, Tim is such a, probably gave it most away to charity and his foundation. But Tim would have been by far number one. I'm going to throw a name at you number two because I witnessed it and Columbus, Ohio was so nuts about their players. I'm going to throw Carr Dale Jones out there. He would have broke the bank big time. Yeah, my third one, I was going to be between Braxton Miller and Zeke. I will say Zeke Elliott, just again because he won a national title.

And I saw what happened when he did. So those are my three, Tebow, Cardell Jones, and Zeke. All great ones. I am committed to naming somebody you guys have not named already. Of course. You wait. Of course, that's how I do it, right? Do what you do. Here we go.

So number one, I'm going back with my first couple picks. Bo Jackson. Bercia Walker. The type of money back then that they do that. Well, he would have had NIL money for baseball and football, right? They said Dion. Too-in. Incredible numbers.

Just bring me the check. Dion Sanders. In there as well. You're playing my game, Mark. This is perfect. Brian Bosworth. Now you got to say Charlie Ward. Charlie Ward.

How about Kishon Johnson? Kishon Johnson. in Southern Cow would have cleaned up. Randy Moss, even though he was playing at Marshall, Randy Moss was a national figure. Randy Moss would have been in the portal. Because someone of the other teams would have gained 17 million. He would have been in the portal like every other week.

Every other week somebody would be knocking on his door. Let's keep playing this. Warren Sapp would have cleaned up. Trevor Lawrence, Michael Vic, V.Y. Oh, Vince Young. Oh, my goodness. Ricky Williams? Right?

Ricky. I mean, we could go on and on. This is crazy. But I think, I agree with you. I think Reggie Bush would have been number one on an elite list. You know what I mean? What you was watching. You know what I mean?

For sure. Yeah, I think that's, that's fair to say. So regardless, and we didn't even give Matt Lider. Mattie would have cleaned up. Maddie ice would have done just fine. Matt, listen, Matt, Matt, Matt did all right in hot tub. Brady would have done all right in IL world. Brady would have killed it.

A nice little hot tub deal. Hey, Grady. Oh, God. We can do this all day. We could do this all day. Time now for two-minute drill. Brought to you by Fandul. Visit Fandul.com slash triple option to download the app and take advantage of a 50% profit boost today. All right, college football playoff championship game in Miami on Monday, number one, Indiana, number 10, Miami.

Hoosiers. Who, who, Hoosiers, favored by seven and a half. By the way, I love what Coach Signetti does it. Every time he's given a live microphone in the stadium, he barks out the Hoosier chant to his man. Hoosiers? And then he walks away. Then he walks away. That's like his good night, everybody.

Tip of the cap. Hoosiers favored by seven and a half. Over under, Mark, which I know intrigues you 48 and a half. How do you see it, Mark? Listen, man, I'm excited to watch this game, dog, because we already talked about it. You got Indiana who has maxed out there post. potential. They are playing lights out offensively. Fernando Mendoza, the way he commands the offense, he had more touchdowns than incompletions. We already said that he, the way he is processing the

game, the way he is putting his team in position to wins, the way he's using his legs when he needs to. This team is going to be tough to beat. Defensively, they play extremely disciplined. They stop the run. They get after the passer. Their secondary can go. You talk about a secondary who can play ball, who's on the same page, they can go. I think this Indiana team, I think, is, they're the best team in college right now. They're the best team in college right now. But Miami, how they play the game, they run the football, they have a tough offensive line, they protect the quarterback, they have a defensive line who can get after the quarterback.

So Fernando Mendoza is Akeem Messador going to be healthy. Ruben Bain Jr., we know how he gets after the quarterback. Got two interior de-limin. This team right here, they had little nickups in the secondary. But right now, I think I'm going to take the points. I'm going to take the seven and a half points. Indiana has been stomping the dog. Pissed out of everybody they played in the playoff.

But I'm going to take the seven and a half points. I think there's going to be a closer game than we think. I do think Indiana wins the game, but I am going to take those seven and a half points that they're giving me. And I'm going to bet with Miami Hurricanes to take the points. So I'm going to take the points. I think Indiana is going to win all right, but I do think Miami is going to play this game tough and closer than everybody thinks. And that's why I'm taking the points. Coach, what's it like managing a team that week leading into a national championship game?

Yeah, we did it three times, and it's an out-of-body experience because you think of all the, you try to, you try to focus on, I remember staring at my game plan sheet and staring at practice schedules because everything else is overwhelming. And as a coach, that's all you wanted to. and I would try to protect my players from all the media and all the, you know, I've never obviously been to Super Bowl, and I don't think Marky one either because they say it's just insanity. But those are grown-ass men. I was always worried about the young kids, the young guys that were in because it is. It's college football Super Bowl.

I'm going to go, I go back and forth on this, but I witness what I witnessed. I'm going to say Indiana will cover at the end. I think Miami is going to play their ass off. This is, I'd go under two. they're not going to see it's going to be a low scoring game yeah and unless Miami makes some mistakes like they made last week this they're going to be right there at the end of the game but I think i think indiana wins by nine eight nine I think Vegas is right on the point spread but I think Miami plays our ass off at home what you got owner walk off field goal walk off taking the points

24 21 Indiana that's what I got the under that's not got the under and I'm taking the points We've seen some amazing field goal kicking and players handling. Carson Beck, take care of that ball, man. It depends on what games you've been watching. Carson back, take care of that ball, man. Well. Because if you watch the Packers, you're... Yeah.

Yeah, I did not. I did not watch the Packers. It depends on what games you've been watching. Extra point in field goals, yes. I know. I've been watching college football. That's my focus, man. We love college football, but guess what we really love.

We love football. So we do... I watch the flag football Friday night. You know what I mean? All right, so all three of us have Indiana winning their first national title. Oh, man, you took the points. Yeah. And coach is laying the points.

That always scares me when so many people are pushing in that direction. Because what Miami's been able to do is a Tennessee. They've surprised a lot of people already. But guess what, don't they're at home, but they're in the Oway locker room. How that's going to? How you like those apples? We'll see how much of a road team they really are. We'll see.

There's going to be a whole lot of crimson and cream in South Florida. Make sure to follow, subscribe, rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast. We are on social media. You can find us at 3X Options Show. We love our sponsors. Fandual, Wendy's. Thank you and enjoy the national championship game. And we will see you right after we crown our next college football national champion.