The Triple Option - College Football Playoff Rankings, Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti, SEC Logjam, and a Big Ten Showdown

Episode Date: November 20, 2024

Indiana and Ohio State prepare for a historic showdown in Columbus. Google it, it's a big deal. Coach Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone break down the latest rankings and playoff bracket with... the Big Ten controlling the top and a plethora of 2-loss SEC teams jockeying to be invited to the College Football Playoff. Is it better to miss your conference championship game or make it and take an L? The guys debate. (1:31) Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti stops by after he signed an eight-year extension but before his 10-0 Hoosiers go to Columbus to take on the second-ranked Buckeyes. (19:32) Coach Meyer breaks down the keys to victory for the Hoosiers this weekend. The guys then made their Week 13 picks, including Indiana v Ohio State, Ole Miss v Florida, Penn State v Minnesota, BYU v Arizona State, Colorado v Kansas, Army v Notre Dame. (42:10)   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). ZipRecruiter 4 out of 5 employees who post in ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Try for FREE at https://ziprecruiter.com/OPTION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 You talked about the messaging that you created on Monday. What's that messaging going to be Saturday morning in Columbus? Oh, we don't do PG 13. We can bleep. We can bleep some things out right here if you want to give us a little taste. You go. Yeah. I love it. We are back. Welcome to another edition of the Triple Option
Starting point is 00:00:23 presented by Wendy. so glad you're back here with us. Rob Stone a couple college football legends with us Mark Ingram, Urban Meyer whether you're joining us right now for the live stream or watching a little bit later we urge you we encourage you to rate subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify wherever you get your podcast as well as across social media you can find us at 3x option show again, new episodes coming away every Wednesday. And now we react instantaneously to the third installment of this season's college football playoff rankings, which just
Starting point is 00:00:54 came out. Quick reminder, 12 teams make the playoff, the five highest conference champions get those automatic bids. The remaining seven spots go to the next seven highest ranked teams. Four highest ranked conference champions get a first round by and there's been a change in that. Five, six, seven, eight seeds host the first round games on campus. The big news last week of course guys was BYU at number six,
Starting point is 00:01:21 Tennessee at number seven losing this weekend. How did it impact things? Well, it did impact the top five guys. They remained the same, Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, Indiana. The Irish continue their ascent. Second straight week, they've risen two spots, guys, from 10 to eight to six, Alabama.
Starting point is 00:01:38 Welcome back, Mark Ingram. Yes, sir. You guys are back at number three, Tennessee, down four spots. They are the first team out. Boise State up one spot and Boise State now given a buy. They had been the 12 seed facing Ohio State for the last two weeks, but according to the bracket, they are now the four seed. So they get a buy as does Oregon, Miami and Texas. That's enough of me, Urban.
Starting point is 00:02:06 Start with you right now. What caught your eye? Yeah, it caught my eye. There's, uh, there's, there's four teams that you just so know stock up, stock down with Indiana, Miami, and Notre Dame. So let's do that again. So I have Indiana five, Notre Dame at six and Miami at eight. Mark, what would happen if those three teams eyed up against
Starting point is 00:02:30 Georgia and Ole' Men in Tennessee? That's the question they have. You played in the SEC, I've coached in the SEC. Indiana is a team that we have incredible respect for. We covered him quite a bit. We got him this weekend. Notre Dame. I have not seen in person in live, but they lost in oil and oil and their
Starting point is 00:02:48 beat teams are supposed to beat. They play army this week in the Miami. You know, I I'm just not sold, Mark. I'm not, I'm sold on the quarterback. Yes. Can't order the quarterback out of there and they're 500. Yes. This guy's a beast, but you know, I don't know.
Starting point is 00:03:03 But that's the, you asked me what caught my eye, Indiana, Miami, um, in Notre Dame, and I see some teams behind them that I think if they play, there would be a different, Hey man, it's life in the sec. We talked about it, man. How the conference was just going to cannibalize itself and it has, and, um, you know, but that's just the world that that conference lives in right now and everyone wants to hate on us. Oh, the SEC, they get this, they cry about this, they cry about that.
Starting point is 00:03:34 But it's the true story. I mean, you got what? Five, six, two lost teams in the SEC right now. And this is, it's ugly. Um, and by the way, Texas A&M lurching down there at number 15, right? DC right now. And this is ugly. And by the way, Texas A&M lurking down there at number 15. Right. And they control their own destiny. They close things out with Texas for sure. And that's gonna throw a wrinkle in there. We all know the Ohio State-Indiana result is gonna shake things up.
Starting point is 00:03:57 I can't... Ohio State beats Indiana. There's no way they're jumping Oregon, right? I mean, you just can't do that. No. No, head to head. Right? It's got to go. It's got to be head to head. And then that would put those those two programs on of course, that collision course in Indy for the Big Ten Championship game. Don't overlook their Cignati's. Don't overlook their Cignati's. No, no, no. And Indiana should they win? Hey, listen, I'm, we
Starting point is 00:04:19 got Coach Cignati joining us live on the triple option coming up in a little bit. I'm not here to offend. I'm here to defend. I'm a big fan of the Hoosiers and what they're doing right now. But curious, Mark, your Crimson Tide, they've been kind of bouncing around, right? And here they are up three spots this week from number 10. What do you make of your tide? I mean, they should have been bouncing around. After that loss to, you know, they had a couple up and down weeks, you know, they had the loss to Vanderbilt. It was a close call to South Carolina. They had the loss to Tennessee, had the bye week, came back with a dominant win over LSU,
Starting point is 00:04:56 kind of took their soul from them because we saw them go get smacked again by Florida. But they looking really good right now. And if this Alabama team that you see played against Georgia in the first half, if you see that Alabama team that played against LSU, that is one of the most dangerous teams in the nation. They have a shot against any team with Jalen Milrow at the quarterback position, because when he plays
Starting point is 00:05:19 with his electric playmaking ability with his legs, but also with the downfield explosive playmaking with his arm, this Alabama with the downfield explosive playmaking with his arm. This Alabama football team is a dangerous team. I love that they're sitting right there where they're at, because just keep sleeping on my squad, man. Just keep sleeping on them. Yep, Crimson Tide, the second highest ranked SEC team.
Starting point is 00:05:37 Ole Miss sitting there at nine, and then it's Georgia coach up two spots, and the Bulldogs have been doing some bouncing as well. Remember when the initial college football playoff rankings came out, they were all the way at number three, they had a buy and then they plummeted to 12 out of the bracket last week and now back in as a 10 seed and Alabama currently taking on the Irish in South Bend in the first.
Starting point is 00:06:02 I might have to buy a ticket to that one. Me too. I will tell you what I want to talk about. I want to hit one something first record. I might have to buy a ticket to that one. Me too. I will tell you what I want to talk. I want to hit one something right here. And I think this would be a case study for every collegiate administrator and support. SMU, I brought them up last year or last week. I don't know much about SMU. Never coached against them.
Starting point is 00:06:22 Never been there. And I kind of took, I don't want to say took shots at them, but I'm like, what, why would you, what are you talking about? SMU. Then I watched film. I know some people who have kids go there and I did some research, Mark. They have made an incredible investment in their athletic program in football. They're now in an excellent, they're in a big conference.
Starting point is 00:06:43 Uh, the supporters have ended up and said, let's go play ball. And as a result, the players and coaching staff have delivered. Is that one of the greatest store? I love that story, but it's not by accident. They committed incredible. The, what I heard and I, I, I heard it and I read it. So that's not documented. Millions of
Starting point is 00:07:05 dollars have been invested in that organization and said, let's go play ball. They've delivered. Oil and gas baby oil and gas neck of the woods. Colorado guys, they continue their slow and steady rise. Three weeks or two weeks ago, they were at 20, last week 17, up one spot to 16. And again, the Buffs control their destiny in the Big 12 and the college football playoff rankings.
Starting point is 00:07:34 BYU, remember, they were sitting there at number six last week. They plummeted eight spots to number 14 following that home loss to Kansas. And that really kind of sullies the reputation of the Big 12, at least in this week's eyes of the college football playoff committee because the Big 12 is no longer getting that by as one of the four highest ranked conference champions.
Starting point is 00:08:00 Right. And guess who Kansas sees this week? Correct. Colorado. So Colorado continues to win. They'll continue their steady rise. They control their own destiny to get to the big 12 championship. They get to the big 12 championship and win that game. They get an automatic berf into the CFP. So them buffs have a big one, a tricky one this week against Kansas. You see the rankings right there. Tennessee at number 11. That's down four spots, but they are the first team out when you take a look at the bracket. That's down four spots, but they are the first team out
Starting point is 00:08:26 when you take a look at the bracket. Our good friend Lane Kiffin had an interesting comment the other day talking about the value or the perceived value, maybe it's not so valuable, playing in a conference championship game. Here's Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss head coach. You know, it's changed. The conference championship, you know, it's, it's, it's changed the conference championship. Um, you know, could, could have a big impact both ways for people.
Starting point is 00:08:50 So I've talked to other coaches, so I'll just kind of give you the feeling from some other coaches that, you know, they don't want to be in it. And, you know, the, the risk to get a buy, um, sorry, the reward to get a buy versus the risk to get knocked out completely. I mean, that's a pretty big, that's a really big risk just to get a buy. So I think it's ended up being a very unique situation of all, you know, postseason sports, the way that that system system set up there and how you could go to that and get knocked out. And if you don't go, you're in.
Starting point is 00:09:34 I'm not a big gambler, but that's the kind of one of them Vegas, you know, like poker table thing like that's all in. And you're going all in and you're going all in in the best conference in football. So you got to play somebody great too. Very different than a lot of these other conferences. It's fascinating. And I understand it. I think our general perception is, particularly if you're in the SEC and the Big Ten, if you get to the championship game, you are not going to be punished rankings wise. And it's easy to say that now, we have to see what the results are. To me though, you guys know it better.
Starting point is 00:10:14 Having that buy to me seems just massive. Just having the guarantee. I'm going to throw something out at you. Yeah. This might stir a little internet conversation. Does Greg Senke and Badidi from the Big Ten get together and say, this ain't right? Right. I'm asking.
Starting point is 00:10:33 It's impossible. They already got together. I'm going to say, OK, we're playing at a conference. There's teams on this that have not played a ranked team. Yeah. Every SEC team I've always imagined played at least three. There's five two loss teams in that conference right now. There's five two loss teams in that conference.
Starting point is 00:10:51 I'm looking at South Carolina. Some of their wins. Yeah. And then I'm seeing some teams in front of them saying, OK, if they played, what would happen here? And then the fan, and I get it, and I was in Utah, and well, they don't. So don't give me these what ifs, but they don't.
Starting point is 00:11:07 But I can tell you about the SEC after living in there for six years, the SEC cares about the SEC. And the big 10 has grown that as well that they care about the big 10. Do they get together and say, wait a minute, do we go do our own thing? And I, once again, I don't have any salary. I know, but they, they don't have any salary. I just said, I know, but they, they, they met already this year. So something, you know, they met earlier this year, the commissioners met. I don't know what happened.
Starting point is 00:11:32 We don't know what came about from that meeting, but clearly there's something brewing, but just to say what Lane said, like, I would much rather just play in the first round, as opposed to going to the championship and have the pose the wrist or get knocked out all entirely. Like, but that is rolling the dice, right? That's his point, like, are we still going to get in if we're not in the in the conference? So there's some programs that have to get in to
Starting point is 00:12:02 have any consideration when I get get, you know what it is Mark? It's like, it's like March Madness, but the conference tournaments leading in. All right, so listen, I'm a big North Carolina basketball fan. And there are times where I'll look and I'll go, you know what, I would rather maybe just take that loss in the, you would rather lose in the semis or the quarterfinals than you would in the final, right? Like just get home, you know, stop pounding on the on the hardwood, but it's different because the tournament is so expansive and you kind of have a really good idea whether you're going to get in or not
Starting point is 00:12:32 for basketball purposes. But I think there's real value to it, particularly this time of the year coach when the wear and tear just continues to grow. Oh, there's players. I'm shutting you out because I can't even think like that. They're really what you hope you don't go to the championship game? Right. Go, go play to win.
Starting point is 00:12:50 And what do you like? You go and then eat dinner afterwards. You get up in the morning and say, I, as you're driving to work, say, boy, I hope you don't win the sec championship. I mean, I, I, that doesn't compute. It wasn't win the sec champ. It was like, just get to the game Yeah, right there. They're saying like let's avoid that championship game and give ourselves well even even worse
Starting point is 00:13:10 You're saying like you're saying like Ole Miss like so Alabama goes and plays whoever Texas or whatever this whatever the game is Alabama's playing Notre Dame right now And they I mean that's two sledgehammers now. Yes, and you're correct. Say you dropped that game. Now you're a three-loss team, and you take the risk of getting out, then Ole Miss, Georgia, who didn't even play in the SEC Championship, get in?
Starting point is 00:13:35 Like, that's devastating. I don't think they're going to get punished for losing in the championship game, particularly in the Big Ten or the SEC. Correct. There's no way, Rob, there's no way a three-loss team will go ahead of a two-loss team in the SEC. Correct. There's no way, Rob. There's no way a third three loss team will go ahead of a two loss team in the SEC. No way.
Starting point is 00:13:49 Lost in the championship. But the third loss is in the championship game. You're gonna get punished for it. Against number three or whoever. And then that Tennessee who was that first team out? Do they get in? Yep. Well, they back in. They back in because somebody earned a right
Starting point is 00:14:04 to get to the championship game and loses nasty. It is nasty. It is now and look at the big 12 right now. Right? By you stock plummets, they lose a bid. Big 12. I think their hopes of having two teams in completely gone. Right now. There's four in the SEC fall from the big 10 ACC one independent one. Not 12111 that's it. the SEC for the big 10 ACC one independent one mountain 121112 one that's you know, the independent thing though is really curious. You know, Notre Dame, we're going to talk about it with our pick six, but to buy bed MGM coming
Starting point is 00:14:35 up Notre Dame and army this week neutral site game at Yankee Stadium and then Notre Dame comes to the west coast to take on USC and liner don Don't play Brady Quinn. We're already talking about that one last week. Hmm. There used to be a day where everybody said, Oh, Notre Dame is playing USC. There's other things to watch. I hate to say that too.
Starting point is 00:14:55 Yep. Well, you're only watching for Notre Dame either to love them or to hate them right now, because USC is just trying to figure themselves out right now. But they beat USC and they say, okay, they beat USC. USC is a 500 team right now. Yeah, that means nothing outside of the fact they didn't lose, right? That's all it is, is avoiding a loss. Right.
Starting point is 00:15:14 Because that loss could kick them out. And very well, that's the negatives. The positives are there's so much intrigue. There's so many teams with still hope and opportunity to go compete. So we gave you the negative, but there's a lot of fun. Yeah. Right. Here's, here's some bet MGM championship odds real quick. All right. Guess who's number one according to bet MGM. Oregon, Ohio state, the OH plus three 20 followed by Oregon plus four 50 Texas and Georgia, both at plus 500 Bamaama plus 750, Ole Miss plus 1100.
Starting point is 00:15:48 Penn State, Notre Dame plus 1800. Stop right there. I'm going to throw some bread on Bama real quick. Bet MGM is doing it by rosters. That's what they just did. You just gave us the best rosters in college football. You didn't look at records. You didn't, as you read them off Rob, that's the best rosters.
Starting point is 00:16:04 So Ohio State has the best roster followed by Oregon, Texas, Georgia, Bama, Ole Miss, Penn State, Notre Dame, and then Indiana. Almost verbatim. I might change one or two in there. Yeah. And we've seen most of them, but those are the best rosters in the game. That's interesting. That's really interesting.
Starting point is 00:16:22 Hey man, this thing about to get strange. This is just, we're a couple weeks out still. Two more regular seasons and then the championship weekend. We got three more weekends and this thing is going to go upside down. This thing going to be on a headstand in a few weeks, dog. Hey, and I'm here for it, man. We're all here for it. That's what we love doing here at the Triple Option. So there it is, the third ever installment of the college football playoff rankings and what the bracket looks like. And we know so much on the next bracket
Starting point is 00:16:53 is gonna hinge on what happens in Columbus this Saturday, live on Fox. Buckeyes hosting Unbeaten Indiana. Coming up next on the Triple Option, IU head coach, Kurt Signetti joins us. This episode is brought to you by Dyson On Track. Dyson On Track headphones offer best-in-class noise cancellation and an enhanced sound range, making them perfect for enjoying music and podcasts. Get up to 55 hours of listening with active noise canceling enabled,
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Starting point is 00:18:28 Welcome back to the Triple option presented by Wendy's, Rob Stone, Mark Ingram, Urban Meyer now joined by the head coach at Indiana University. First time the program has ever gone 10 and 0 and coach Cignetti. Welcome and I hope you're enjoying that eight year, 72 million dollar contract extension that you signed over the weekend. We got plenty of places we can parcel some of that money, but it usually starts with eight year, $72 million contract extension that you signed over the weekend. We got plenty of places we can parcel some of that money, but, uh, it usually starts money, money, money, money, right. And Mark, you know how important it is to recruit.
Starting point is 00:18:53 You know how coach significant recruit humans like you. Yeah. Yeah. Talent was find three stars like Mark that are really good players. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Speaking of that, no, no, no, no, that's true. Speaking of that before you was the head coach with a multiple conference titles
Starting point is 00:19:12 at IUP and James Madison and now leading Indiana into the top five into a huge showdown this weekend, you first had to convince a young three star running back out of Flint, Michigan, Alabama'd you only get three stars? To come to Alabama. How did you, what do you remember about that process, man? We haven't really talked about this, man. How did it start and why did they send you up to come seal the deal with your boy? Because they had to send the A-cell. Yes, sir. I remember a couple snowy days, a few different trips, a track meet, pizza in the living room,
Starting point is 00:19:50 ping pong in my basement. Right? Yeah. But, you know, there were long standing ties to Mark Ingram. So it was a natural fit. And that would have been Coach Saban and Bobby Williams. Coach, while we're talking about recruiting, I'm curious, what is your sales pitch right now to when kids come up to Bloomington and maybe how it's changed from when you first took over to where you are right now at this juncture in the season? What is Come Play Football at Indiana sales pitch like?
Starting point is 00:20:21 Yeah, well, you know, the sales pitch in December was sort of a vision, right? Things the staff had accomplished, how the programs run, championships in the past, quarterback success, receiver, defensive success, et cetera. You know, now, most of the high school class, really, right now is kind of verbally committed. There's not a ton going on.
Starting point is 00:20:42 This thing's getting really picked up big time here in a couple of weeks with the December portal. So winning opens a ton going on. This thing's getting ready to pick up big time here in a couple weeks with the December portal. So winning opens a lot of doors and kids see the results and they feel the momentum and the energy. And you know, we run a great program. We have good people here, players and coaches, high character people. And you know, they feel it when they come. What were some of the elements of that extension that were important to you? I know, you know they fill it when they come. What were some of the elements of that extension that were important to you? I know you know the sexiness is the years and the big number that just goes to you but I know there are so many other elements that went into that contract
Starting point is 00:21:15 discussion that you wanted for Indiana football to be better going forward. What were some of those? Yeah well we have great leadership here. President Pam Witton's athletic director Scott Dolson and they were very proactive and and really hit all the things on the checklist up front before I ever had to even bring them up talking about stadium expansion renovation and staff assistant coaches and support staff additional support and know, obviously there were some personal things there for me, but, you know, we played the what if game, my wife and I, about three or four weeks ago, and, and my agent and I, and everything always led back to Indiana. And, you know, so I'm appreciative that the administration was proactive, like they were, you know, we're still in season. And it was for me, it was a no brainer.
Starting point is 00:22:12 Take me through the what if game. What if this one opens, what if that one calls that one calls and, you know, the bottom line is this, you know, this is my thing here. I own this. And you know up to this point, we've had a great amount of success in a 12 month period 11 12 month period and my name's on it and so and I like it here and and I like people I like who I work for I love the president the athletic director the people in Bloomington. The fan support has been outstanding. I mean, it's hard to even put in words what's going on here. It's like a movement. And I mean, where the stadium is sold out, there's thousands
Starting point is 00:22:57 outside the stadium, like Alabama used to be, right, Martin? Yeah, yeah. The energy is lit up there. I go, I was happy when we went up to Bloomington. I was surprised, but the energy around the program is great. And, you know, obviously you've done a tremendous job in creating the atmosphere. No, I appreciate that. So, I mean, I think these people were starving for success and, and they're way over the top right now. And it's been great to see.
Starting point is 00:23:23 Coach, I'm a legacy. My father played and then I played. Your father was a Hall of Fame coach. Your brother's a coach. You're a tremendous coach on your way to being a Hall of Fame coach. How integral was growing up, learning from your father, learning from your brother?
Starting point is 00:23:42 Like, how was that like growing up and how did that kind of know, kind of get you to where you at now? No, no, my brother learned from me. I'm the oldest. Yeah. Well, my dad, my dad, my dad was a great role model, a great leader too.
Starting point is 00:24:00 You know, he led by example. He had tremendous work ethic. He had a real presence about him. His messages were really always on point, helped a lot of people in life, overcame cancer. My senior year of high school, young, the oldest of four, and was given his last rights twice,
Starting point is 00:24:17 his third year at West Virginia. Lived 43 more years. And, you know, I never coached for my dad and I really was on the team one year when my dad was a coach I was a redshirt freshman but you know there's no question the influence that he's had on me just high character guy and of course some of the comments I make publicly, people probably don't think that about me. But I mean, I can't imagine having a better dad in the whole world who have watched and grown up around. Coach, can I go back to some of those comments?
Starting point is 00:24:57 You know, obviously, there's the Google me comment at your opening press conference. And I like the most recent one we had on big noon last week. Yeah, I got right now. We're the emerging superpower in college football. Why would I leave? So you say some of the things and listen in the media, these are gold soundbites, right? Like I'm grinning ear to ear.
Starting point is 00:25:17 These are magical, but are they somewhat or softly planned or are they just kind of coming to you or maybe a mixed of all the above? Because I see the the rise smile that that's that kind of sneaks out sometimes too, when you're saying these things. Yeah, a little bit of both. Yeah, I mean, spontaneous and sometimes, you know, maybe I got a few talking points because I can anticipate what questions might be forthcoming and you know that's entertainment.
Starting point is 00:25:46 Do you have any plan for us? Do you got any stored away on your notebook that you want to try to zing here on the triple option? I don't have any. Okay all right well maybe I can maybe I can feed you a couple. Coach Sick thanks for joining us. Let's go back to 2023 where you led James Madison to a level in the record. You got as high as 18th in the AP rankings. And I can only imagine I got calls from head to hunters back in those days. And first of all, who was calling you and why was Indiana the choice? Yeah. Well, you know, I had a long term contract at JMU and I really liked it there a lot.
Starting point is 00:26:19 It was it was close to where I grew up. I like the people. I liked the place. There were people reaching out, obviously. But the Indiana thing, I'd been here a couple of times before, 87 when I was at Rice 2000 at NC State. Really liked the place, the campus, the field. The Big Ten TV contract a couple of years ago, really got my attention when that went down.
Starting point is 00:26:47 Like that really got my attention. And you know, my feeling, and I felt the commitment from the president and the AD, they made a change on a Sunday, I was on phone with them Sunday evening, was offered a job Wednesday night, it was a very quick process. But it resonated with me how strongly they felt about changing the brand of Indiana football,
Starting point is 00:27:15 making the commitment resource-wise that you have to make today to be successful. And my feeling was in this day and age, the way college football is, any people who are programming in the country with the right commitment can be successful. Because the things that determine success today are a lot different than they were 10 years ago. Why was that Big Ten TV contract such a big thing for you? Money, baby.
Starting point is 00:27:41 Money, money, money. Because that money goes in and it improves resources. It improves things for the players, for your staff. You know, it's got a little money now and then, right? Understood. Got to have that paper. Hey, Coach, you take over at Indiana and you bring in a quarterback from Ohio university and Curtis Rourke and all he has done is impressed. Throwing for 22, 2,410 yards, 21 touchdowns,
Starting point is 00:28:13 only four interceptions. What made him a perfect fit for the offense you're trying to run? Yeah. Um, well, you know, we've had really good quarterback success the last five years. Uh, our previous four guys were all player of the year in the league. Oh, one year guys. Uh, the last two were one year G5 transfers, just like Curtis and one, you know, one was a drop back, one was a dual and two were in between. So we got here, we had 10 offensive starters and transfer portal,
Starting point is 00:28:41 quarterback went in the portal. We needed a quarterback. So you're scouring the candidates. When I Googled him, right away, what jumps out at you player a year in a Mac and 22 really good numbers in terms of touchdown interception won a lot of games, won championships.
Starting point is 00:29:00 And then you put the tape on and like to me, like three to five plays in, you know, I could just tell this guy knows how to play quarterback. Yeah. It reminded me a little bit of Philip Rivers, who I was with at NC State. Wow. And, you know, he could make the throws and he ran well enough to third down, get out of pocket, run for first down.
Starting point is 00:29:19 And a real impressive level guy on the phone and liked him a lot. You know, Sinceri did a great job recruiting him. And, you know, he guy on the phone and liked him a lot. Tino Sincere did a great job recruiting him. And, uh, you know, he bit on the opportunity. He was looking to prove himself on a bigger stage and, uh, and, you know, he's had a sensational season. Sincere coach coach. Sincere is up there with you. Oh yeah.
Starting point is 00:29:40 Tino. Ooh. Okay. Keeping it in the family, but no, you played quarterback as well. So when you look for a quarterback, what type of attribution and attendables are you evaluating in a queue? Cause coming from a quarterback himself. Yeah, right.
Starting point is 00:29:55 I got you. I wasn't a very good one, but I can. They're all a little different, but you gotta be able to throw the ball from point A to point B like this. you gotta be able to throw the ball from point A to point B. You gotta be able to process information quickly, you know, because you gotta be proficient throwing the football. You know, so I mean, you can offset that a little bit with athletic ability with dual threat guys, but you know, the bottom line is you gotta be able to go from one to two to three and stay calm, calm, collected and be accurate. You have to be able to extend plays.
Starting point is 00:30:28 You know, nowadays, the better you can extend plays, the more successful you're going to be and your team is going to be. And you have to be a great team guy, you know, which like Curtis Rourke is. You know, he's kind of a steady Eddie, not affected by success or failure. If he makes a bad plays on the next plays, not phased at all. So, you know, they come in different shapes and sizes and some guys excel in one area versus another, but you gotta sort of have it.
Starting point is 00:31:00 Yeah. When I put that tape on, I just sort of wanna see it. And it's different from one guy, the next. All right. Last one for me, one of the knocks against the Hoosiers right now is your strength of schedule. The old Indiana goal was to become bowl eligible and you would schedule as such. If you want to maintain a top 10 program, or you're going to have to do a top
Starting point is 00:31:20 10 schedule and change your non-conference schedule philosophy, moving forward. Well, you know, these schedules are set years in advance. And I mean, Alabama played Mercer, Georgia played Chattanooga, right? So I mean, Georgia State lost. I mean, you know, his schedule is what it is. And the fact of the matter is we've beaten seven P four teams, right? Every single one of those teams had a winning record when we played them, except two were at 500 and one was five and one, one was three in one.
Starting point is 00:31:54 And we also beat the defending national champ and runner up. So, and, and with, for the most part, except for the Michigan game, which we didn't play very well in the second half. I mean, every game has been a decisive victory. We didn't trail until two weeks ago. Right. No, we were behind at Michigan State, 10-0 in first quarter and rattled off 47 straight. You know, I mean, you know, tell them coach, tell them coach. Well, look, you know, everybody's got a little vested interest in this deal.
Starting point is 00:32:28 Right. Let's just call it what it is. You know, one network's going to favor this league and vice versa. OK, do your research. Yeah. Google us. Google. So, you know, something about us besides our name and what we've done in the past. Yes. And what somebody else says about our schedule. Do you watch the college football playoffs at all? The show, do you care where you fall
Starting point is 00:32:52 in the rankings? I don't watch it because I'm normally working still. But you know, I pay attention obviously to the rankings. Are they are they giving are they are they doing you guys right in your eyes? Well, you know, I'm not going to pass judgment on that. I think we're fifth. I'm not mistaken. And you know, it's all going to be played out on the field. Yeah, so obviously we have a game this week and another one
Starting point is 00:33:20 next week and most people have two or three games left in there's conference championship games and, uh, you know, um, it is what it is. You know, um, I ask our team not to, you know, to kind of eliminate the noise in the clutter, you know, control the controllables, focus on what's going to help them be the best thing, be on Saturday. So I gotta do the same thing. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:33:44 You said you guys are focusing on what needs, you said that it's's going to help them be the best they can be on Saturday. So I got to do the same thing. Yeah, you said you guys are focusing on what needs you said that it's all going to play itself out on the field and you have a huge game this weekend headed to Ohio State. What does the Hoosiers need to do to beat the Buckeyes and give yourself a direct path to the Big Ten Championship and ultimately the CFP? Got to score one more point than that. I know that's right.
Starting point is 00:34:04 But we just got to play our game and play it well. I mean we have a certain way we prepare throughout the week, you know, Monday through Friday, a certain style of play, you know, things we preach and we have to play our game and play it well. Have you changed anything of that preparation knowing kind of what's at stake this Saturday in Columbus? No. I mean, you know, we're process driven. Yep. And if there was a better way to do it for this game, we'd do it this way, that way every game. But we really haven't.
Starting point is 00:34:39 There's a lot of conversation out there. And I know we've said it as well and I'm curious what your action is. A lot of people are saying, hey, if Indiana only loses by X points to Ohio State, they're still going to be in the playoff rankings. When you hear those type of conversations, what kind of goes through you internally? Well, you know, I'm kind of an early morning guy, right? So if we start at seven, I'm normally in here at 4.30 or five to kind of organize the day. And one of the first things I do is I kind of create the message of the day, right? And because, you know, one of the keys to the drill is getting everybody to think alike, players into it. So I think it was Monday morning I came in and the first thing I wrote down was, you know, we don't prepare to play it close.
Starting point is 00:35:28 Right. Yeah. That's not what we do. That's right. And so we're excited about the opportunity and looking forward to it. Coach, I just want to take a second, man. You guys have two running backs, kind of like what we had at Bamel, man. They're two beasts and Justice Ellison and Tyson
Starting point is 00:35:45 Lawton. They basically, they run physical. They open up the offense for Curtis Rourke and this passing attack. Just what have you seen from those two guys? Yeah, there's actually three, K-Long Black, the third, played quite as much last couple games and they're all built about like you and they're all built the same. Yeah, that's right. Boat over. That's right. They're all built about like you and they're all built the same. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. Boat over. That's right.
Starting point is 00:36:08 They're all not, you know, 210, five, 10, you know, they can take it inside. They can take it outside. They can pass protect. They can catch a football. Love it. And they've been a really consistent guys or older guys. They've had a lot of career production. So they have a lot of confidence and they've been very steady and like, you know, it helps to have, you know, two, three backs you can roll.
Starting point is 00:36:32 Keeping healthy throughout the whole year. Coach, just take us to Saturday real quick. What are some things that fans of Indiana should be looking for to say, hey, this is going to be a successful Saturday because we're achieving A, B and C. Well, if we're scoring points and they're not, then it's gonna be a great day. I could figure that one out, Coach. We're balanced on offense, and we're making plays and we're converting third downs. We're scoring touchdowns on the red area, protecting the football. And defense, we're winning the line of scrimmage and we're stopping the run, swarming the ball, putting pressure on the quarterback, doing a good job of covering, creating turnovers. We're plus 10 in turnover ratio.
Starting point is 00:37:09 I think they're plus four. And our special team is the winning edge. It's going to be a great day. You talked about the messaging that you created on Monday. What's that messaging going to be Saturday morning in Columbus? Oh, we don't do PG 13. Yeah. It's real.
Starting point is 00:37:28 We can bleep some things out right here if you want to give us a little taste. It's real. Here you go. Yeah. I love it. I love it. Perfect.
Starting point is 00:37:40 Coach Signetti, man, thanks so much for joining us. It's been a treat to talk to you all season long. And here's to Indiana continuing to be Indiana football under your leadership and us having the opportunity to talk to you a lot, lot more, whether it's on the triple option or big noon kickoff or whatever. Congratulations, man. Great to see your success. Appreciate it, guys.
Starting point is 00:37:57 Have a good one. Appreciate you, Coach Cignati. Thanks, Coach. You the man, bro. Like it. Life and death were two very realistic coexisting possibilities in my life. I didn't even think I'd make it to like my 16th birthday,
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Starting point is 00:39:33 presented by our great friends at zip recruiter. Try zip recruiter for free. ziprecruiter.com slash option zip recruiter the smartest way to hire so a little tail the tape if you will, comparison between what the Buckeyes and the Hoosiers are this year, of course, Indiana unbeaten 10 and 0 Buckeyes at nine and one, their offenses are both spectacular. But coach, I think it's the thing that really jumps out
Starting point is 00:39:57 at us is the red zone battle, Indiana red zone offense. Number four, the nation, the Buckeyes red zone defense, one in the nation. Yeah, how about we're a big 10 network talking about Indiana, Ohio state, obviously, Big Noon will be there, game of the week, and one of the games of the year. And the word national championship in college football came out of our mouth in the same sentence
Starting point is 00:40:21 with Indiana Hoosiers. Not basketball, not men's soccer. Mark, the word national championship came out of the Jared Inardos, in the same sentence with Indiana Hoosiers. Not basketball, not men's soccer. The word national championship came out of Jared DiNardo's and I was like, my gosh, he's right. So let, let, we've hit them a bunch, but I want to hit them again. And I know coach Ignetti would join us, who joined us and they are as well coached team as I've watched this year.
Starting point is 00:40:40 I picked them up early. I've told you guys about them. You guys agree with me. We saw firsthand just beat the mess out of Nebraska, a decent Nebraska team at the time. And I'm going to point out a couple of things they do well. Perimeter blocking is something I mentioned before. It's very hard to coach.
Starting point is 00:40:56 People don't take it real serious yet. That's a difference maker. It could be a difference maker in this game. And then he flipped the other side. The one thing that's really well coached about this defense is the run fits. You don't see big hits against that defense. You see guys in the proper gaps. You see exactly where they're supposed to be.
Starting point is 00:41:13 And as a result, Indiana coaches are making good players play great, which is a common theme we've used all year. However, Mark, Ohio state would not be in this conversation as a top seed, a potential rematch with Oregon in the big 10, if it wasn't for a part of their defense has been phenomenal. They're number one in the country of red zone and goal line defense. We witnessed it firsthand. Um, Nebraska, we were there.
Starting point is 00:41:42 You made a comment, you were pissed off if you were to beat Nebraska's. They had a chance to win it. They did, but they didn't score from the three yard line. And then one of the best performances we've seen in a long time, uh, Penn state had four shots from inside the three yard line and they failed to score. So the good thing is Mark Indiana spreads them out down there. If they said, I'm going to line up in two tights, you know, 22 personnel, I'm going to go after the Buckeyes.
Starting point is 00:42:08 I would pay, say there's 0% chance they score. However, they don't do that. Mark, they spread you out. Yeah. Indiana is extremely well coached and Cignetti is not going to go and do what has been unsuccessful, which is just line up 22 players a yard from each other and try to muscle the ball in. No, and Ohio State commend their defense, man, at the biggest moments of their season, they have stood the test and they
Starting point is 00:42:32 have stood up to the test in the red zone. You talk about that win versus Nebraska. They only give up one touchdown, but at the end of the game, fourth quarter, big red zone stops. If they don't do that, we're having a different discussion right now, coach. Then you talk about when they went on the road to Penn State. Four times Penn State got in the red zone. Not one time did they allow a touchdown. Actually, they got one interception, a turnover
Starting point is 00:42:55 on downs, and two field goals. So this red zone defense for Ohio State has been the difference for them. And when it comes down to winning games at its magnitude, can you score touchdowns in the red zone? That's right. Can you make a team kick field goals in the red zone? Whoever does whoever wins this red zone battle will win this game. Saturday, Indiana Hoosiers versus the Buckeyes. So coach, I'm looking forward to it'll be a special one. Coach, do you practice red zone offense more than you would practice red zone defense?
Starting point is 00:43:24 No equal. Yeah, it's equal. It's an equal and a lot of times you go against each other. You know, that was, uh, and we, I learned that I can't remember. I learned, Oh, Brian Billock, the great coach of the Ravens that won a Superbowl. He had this book out and I'll never forget this when I was in the nineties, a very young coach and the art of a game plan, I think it was called. And the whole idea was being, you spend time where the money downs are.
Starting point is 00:43:47 So it's not just how many reps it happens during a game, because the red zone doesn't happen that much relative to other parts of the field. However, that's money. And I used to call it. That's our money. Money down is a third down. And then also the money down, like Mark said,
Starting point is 00:44:02 we would look at offensively if you reach the red zone and you kick the field goal F. Yes. It's a win for the defense. Yeah. Same thing on the defense. Once you hit the red zone, there's no C. It's A or F. F you fail. If you're on defense red zone, they allow them a touchdown, you lose. You fight your tail off to keep them to a field goal. Offensively, how much more challenging, Mark, than coach is it to be in that red zone with that shorter field to work with? Well, everything shrinks. So your field, the amount of space you have,
Starting point is 00:44:32 the amount of space you have to operate shrinks. So it's much more difficult to create those big plays. So you have to be on point. You have to be in rhythm. You have to have a good game plan, know what they do against the trips, what they do against doubles, what they do against the trips, what they do against doubles, what they do against 12 personnel, what they do against 22 personnel.
Starting point is 00:44:48 You have to have a good kind of indicator on how they are going to prepare you, how they're going to match up against you. And that way you can attack the defense, that way you can attack and know what plays to call. And we used to have play specific plays for a red zone like, oh, we know they're going to be a man. Guess what? We're going to put the trips out to this side we're going to drag them across the field back come straight out to the flat linebacker who has the back has to go over the top quick shot
Starting point is 00:45:13 to the back get in the end zone so just play specifics like that game plan design plays that will be able to attack the defense both for Indiana offense and Ohio State offense will be crucial in this game. Alright, so that's your big game resume brought to you by zip recruiter. We're going to transition now to maybe six of the biggest games this week. And it is pick six brought to you by bet MGM, place your money line prop parlay and same game parlay bets at bet MGM download the app today. As always, please gamble responsibly. So six games against the spread. Mark's got his deuce deuce dog of the week. We're gonna start though with coach Ole Miss at Florida. Gators slapped LSU around at the swamp last weekend. All of a sudden, the future forecast for Florida at least is looking brighter, is looking stronger.
Starting point is 00:46:02 They're on the cusp of bowl eligibility. Now they have a chance to ruin Ole Miss's playoff dreams. Ole Miss favored by 10 in Gainesville. Yeah, I don't call them the Gators anymore. They're rejuvenated Gators, Mark. They're not necessarily back, but I'm gonna tell you something. I'm a fan of Coach Napier, and here's why.
Starting point is 00:46:22 I don't know them. I met them once or twice. They've been obviously really, really struggling, but the one thing they have not done like the team in Tallahassee is quit. They've continued to fight. I hear comments made by their excellent quarterback DJ Legway. I see things. I hear things. Obviously I still know a lot of people down there. The swamp was electric. I think Ole Miss is walking into a harness nest here. I think a team that when you break the rock like that,
Starting point is 00:46:49 you win a big game like everybody's been waiting for them to do. The one thing about Gainesville, Florida now, you find a way to start winning, that place is a monster. And it's, I think, the best home field, when they're hot. When they're not, it's average, like a lot of places. But when that place is cooking, and they'll be cooking for Elaine Kiffin and them, I don't know if they're good enough to beat Ole Miss, but I'm gonna take Florida.
Starting point is 00:47:13 And the points, it started at nine and a half, I believe it's at 10. I'm not sure Vegas might know something, but I've called for this to be a one score game. All right, Penn State favored by 11 and a half at Minnesota. You know what that is guys? That is a sizable spread alert. I'm very leery about that big spread right now. Here's why. All right, if I'm Penn State, I'm nervous about this one, the Gophers, they had one four straight, they fell
Starting point is 00:47:38 though to Rutgers two weeks ago, they're sitting there at six and four, they had that late buy to get themselves healthy, to get themselves ready for a home game with big bad Penn State coming in. The Gophers D, let's be honest, it doesn't get enough praise. 12th in the nation in scoring. The quarterback, Max Brosmer, doesn't get enough credit also. Over 2,200 passing yards, 14 touchdowns.
Starting point is 00:48:00 This cat has not thrown an interception since September. And the national vibe and Mark, you know, I we've talked about this for a while that the vibe around Penn State, if you're talking to people who aren't in blue and white is you're ranked how high? Like, right? Who've you beaten? What are you doing up there inside the top five? And I think that's it's a brand, it's a Big Ten brand, and it's a Penn State brand that has them up there. So there's still some questions. You know, since that home loss to Ohio State, though, they have posted convincing wins over Washington and Purdue last week. Drew Aller, the quarterback, he grows, he improves. Our guy Tyler Warren continues to ball out. How fun is he to watch?
Starting point is 00:48:41 Last week, 11 total touches, 190 total yards, two scores. Um, he needs to start getting some conversation, man, for the Heisman. For something. Give him the Mackey, right? At least give him the pen. You're the, you're the guy that can, Mark. Yeah, that's right. We, we love Tyler Warren.
Starting point is 00:48:57 He a baller, man. Here's one stat I want to end on. Minnesota, two and one when facing a top five Penn State team. Wow. It's not I got other I got other saucy stuff around there. Paul Bunyan's axe it goes to Minneapolis and stays there for the year. Gophers. What? Win. What?
Starting point is 00:49:20 Called it. You called the win. Whoa. The win for Minneapolis. Yes. Sorry. Sorry about that, Penn State. It's going to be a tough road trip to Minneapolis.
Starting point is 00:49:30 Let's go to the Big 12. Colorado favored by three at Kansas. Jayhawks. They've been kind of like they've been carrying that sickle. They're like the grim reaper of the Big 12 lately, right? Savage wins over Iowa State. And of course, what they did in Provo against BYU last week. Now, Colorado comes to Arrowhead Stadium, knowing that the Buffs
Starting point is 00:49:51 control their own destiny in the Big 12 and perhaps a chance mark to get to the college football playoffs. You said it, they control their own destiny. They control their own destiny. But they're going on the Kansas Jayhawk spoiler tour right now. Let's see, two weeks ago they beat Kansas beat Iowa State to knock the Cyclones out of the Big 12 playoff conversation. Then last week, Kansas State beats BYU, stops their undefeated season.
Starting point is 00:50:16 But Colorado, they're coming in red hot. But for Kansas, it's been the combination of Jalen Daniels and RB Devin Neal. They've been balling and they've been killing it. But listen, not a bus. We talk about the bus defense who have been playing strong. They look, if the bus continue to play like this, they ain't a problem.
Starting point is 00:50:33 Their defense has seven takeaways and 11 sacks in the last two games. And if they keep those two players in check, I think they'll be okay. But I'm gonna give you a matchup to watch, Stoner. I'm gonna give you a matchup. We know about- I'm ready, give it to me.
Starting point is 00:50:44 Coach Myer had said it about them wild receivers they got, Okay, but I'm gonna give you a match up to watch stoner. I'm gonna give you a match up. We know about- I'm ready, give it to me. Coach Myer had said it about them, the wild receivers they got, right? Colorado, Travis Hunter, LeJonte, Wester, Jimmy Zoran- LeJonte! LeJonte! They got a bunch of receivers that, you know,
Starting point is 00:50:59 hey, they electric. But listen, Kansas actually has one of the best cornerback duos in all of college football, and Kobe Bryant and Melello Dotson. Those two have combined for nine interceptions this year and 17 interceptions in the last two years. There's two NFL guys right there. So that's a matchup to watch those two DBs against those receivers.
Starting point is 00:51:19 I got the buffs. I got the scope buffs. All right. Going to keep it going. They ain't going to let it go down like that, man. Okay. The Jayhawk spoiler tour is stopping right now, man. It's over in Arrowhead.
Starting point is 00:51:31 It's over. So one thing about Colorado, we're there and what in the atmosphere, Travis Hunter intercepts the ball. He does a Heisman pose on the field. Deon Sanders-Sunds brings his camera out on the field. This is during a game. Takes a video of them.
Starting point is 00:51:47 And then Travis throws a ball in the end in the faint, in the stand. I love it. And then they had a rap concert in the locker room after the game. I went back, I had, I went back real fast and just checked my notes and I never saw a rap concert in our locker room after the game. So, I'm not sure. Saban did that, right? Yeah, never, never.
Starting point is 00:52:12 The sideline was booming. We went down there on the sideline. It was who's who out there. It looked like the BET Awards, the SBs and the VMA Awards. It was booming out there. I'm like, who is who out here? It was lit. Oh my goodness. They had the concert going out there in the stadium, out there. I'm like, who is who out here? It was lit. Oh my goodness.
Starting point is 00:52:25 They had the Gonsa going out there in the stadium out there in Colorado. They was smoking it up and the buffs are booming, man. Shoot, I love the energy out there in Boulder. So they were smoking it up, huh? There was a lot of contact. There was. We was out there doing the playbook. We was out there doing the playbook. I caught on with that too. Oh my goodness. Somebody got that gas all lean on. You know what, everybody, I started getting hungry.
Starting point is 00:52:46 I said, I need to find me a bag of Wendy's. To catch a contact. Sure. I was happy they brought out their food. Coach has got the munchies. Coach has got the munchies. I'm out of town. I made a little pit stop.
Starting point is 00:52:57 Hey, let's go. Man, they said that you would, they said that this was the background from last week, but I'm gonna have to go do some research because this looks like a whole new background in me coach It's where is coach at this week He's in Florida, let's get to your bed MGM pick six army and Notre Dame the Irish favor by 14 first time guys that this has been a that this will be a ranked matchup since 1958 The Irish have won each of the last 15 encounters. A Notre Dame loss would,
Starting point is 00:53:28 I don't know if it would kill, but it would really hurt. Maybe Borderline maimed their playoff hopes. An Army win could show that they belong coach in the playoff picture. Yeah, Jeff Bunkins, a friend of mine for many, many years. I think he's one of the great coaches in America. I always say playing a service academies, a nightmare playing a 10 and 0 or nine and 0 service kind of double nightmare. This is a problem. So I'm gonna say this Mark,
Starting point is 00:53:54 that it's either gonna be a beating, they put a beating on Navy, Notre Dame did. Just personnel wise, it's a beating. However, schematically, Army's built to their number one Russia offense in America. How about the street 335 yards per game and, um, and they're plus 11 and turnover ratio.
Starting point is 00:54:14 That's a sign of a really well coached team. Notre Dame's better. Uh, Notre Dame's, you know, uh, if the real Notre Dame team turns on, I think this is a blowout. So there's no medium here is what I'm saying. This is not going to be a 15, 16, 18, 21 point game. It's either going to be a 40 point game or it's going to be a three point game. And I'm sitting and still fighting myself on this.
Starting point is 00:54:36 The point spread went from 16.5 down to 14. May someone know something? Uh, I'm going to say army keeps this thing close. I'm not saying they win, but I'm saying they're gonna shorten the game. I really love Army. I love the fact that the triple option will be headed to Army-Navy in a few weeks.
Starting point is 00:54:56 And there's a little bit of sentimental value because my father was Army. I like to see a nice close game. All right, call it a close game. To the Big 12. BYU at Arizona State. Okay. BYU favored by three and a half.
Starting point is 00:55:10 There are four contenders left to win the Big 12 and two of them meeting there in Tempe. Both control their destiny. Stoner, guess who we gonna see in that game? Scataboo. See, I had it in my rundown a little bit later. I know. All right. So let's pretend you didn't bring that up. No late drama for BYU. I had it in my rundown a little bit later. I know. All right.
Starting point is 00:55:26 So let's pretend you didn't bring that up. No late drama for BYU last week. Kansas shocked them in Provo. All those close calls, all those survival moments finally, I think kind of caught up to them. I'm really curious what the psyche of the Cougars is going to be this week. You know, with that unbeaten season is gone. Big 12 title hopes now get really, really challenged. If you're Kalani Satake, you got to make sure that one loss doesn't turn into
Starting point is 00:55:50 two losses. Sun Devils got an upset win at Kansas State. Here they are guys at eight and two, five and two in conference play. Our favorite Sun Devil is who, Mark? Cam! Whoa, Cam! Scataboo! Guess who? There we go. Cam Scataboo. Guess who? Scataboo. All right. So we've been given Cam Scataboo love, rightfully so. But how about the play of their whiteout Jordan Tyson, the former Buffalo transferred over there. He was Big 12 offensive
Starting point is 00:56:17 player of the week this week 176 yards against Kansas State. Sun Devils at home. I know Arizona State is well versed in tailgating and partying and having fun. That is going to be a big time scene in Tempe. Yes. And that scene, that crowd is going to make a difference. They're going to win. They are going to win. I'm all about the upsets this week. Apparently Arizona State is going to win. How about that one? All right, let's get to the big one. The game that everybody really, really cares about
Starting point is 00:56:49 right now in college football. You can only see it on Fox, big noon kickoff leading into the noon kickoff for Indiana at Ohio State. Buckeyes favored by 12 and a half. They own a 29 game winning streak over IU. The last time Indiana, Mark, beat the Buckeyes. This guy right here was dancing shirtless at Colgate University to Sweet Child of Mine
Starting point is 00:57:14 back in 1988, baby. I love that song. And that is your saucy nut. Sure, why not? Give him a Wendy's saucy nut for that. We got plenty. Man, let's just go into this game, man. We gonna be there, the big new will be, man. You know, we gonna be there. The big new one gonna be there.
Starting point is 00:57:26 Coach Irv, the old age gonna be there. You know, Irv, Irv, Irv, Irv. No, but listen, let's just lay it out on the ground law right now. If Indiana wins, the Hoosiers will clinch a Big Ten championship and validate themselves as a college football playoff. It would basically seal it. It would seal the deal.
Starting point is 00:57:46 And Ohio State and Ryan Day's big game struggles would continue and the sky would be falling in Columbus. But if Ohio State wins. Are you calling it? I'm not. He's teasing us right now. Just let me. I'm just going, hey, I'm just setting up the ground law. You know what I mean? And if Ohio State wins, Ohio State would be in the driver's seat to get back to the Big Ten Championship with a showdown rematch with Oregon. And they would be considered a national championship front runner. And Indiana would have zero good wins. Would that kick them out of the playoff picture? Huh, we don't know, we don't know.
Starting point is 00:58:17 But the big thing is, will Ohio State's offensive line hold up? They're going against Indiana team that leads the Big Ten with 31 sacks and 73 tackles for loss this season. And Ohio State, they're still finding their way with their old line. So can Ohio State's line- You're not believing their own line because they look pretty good against Penn State. They did, they did. But it's still, they still, they did look good versus Penn State. But this is a different beast. You're going against a real deal. Holy field. Kurt Signetti. You know what I mean? But no, um, I think. How fun was it to talk to Coach Signetti this week too, man? He's awesome. Coach Signetti's the best, man. You talk about how they looked against Penn State, but look,
Starting point is 00:58:56 this, this Indiana offense, I feel is going to be more, much more effective than Penn State offense was. They have the number one offense in the Big Ten, Curtis Rourke, 23 total touchdowns, four interceptions. They have a pair of running backs that we talked about with Coach Cincinnati, Justice Ellison, and Tyson Lawton, who have combined for 18 touchdowns this year. They have a defense that has lined up the second few as ours would play, but they've done it all against a weak schedule.
Starting point is 00:59:21 So what is the, what is the line stone? Or 13 and a half? 12 and a half. 12 and a half. 12 and a half is too much. Too much. 12 and a half is too much. And that means I'm gonna go with the Buckeyes to win just because I think playmakers make the plays in the big games and I think Ohio State has the superior playmakers. But the fighting signetis will come in there ready to play offensively, defensively, special teams. They're gonna have the edge of bottom,
Starting point is 00:59:45 they're gonna play with physicality, they're gonna play with toughness and execution, and this is gonna be a, a, a, a dog of the week. A, a, a, a dog of the week. I don't got them winning, but I do have them covering that 12 and a half points spread. Matter of fact, Bet MGM, I'ma log in and plug that in as my play of the week.
Starting point is 01:00:02 I'ma put that as my play of the week, Ben MGM. I'm taking their points. I'm taking, I'm laying the points with the Hoosiers. Laying the points. What a scene it should be. So happy that Indiana is relevant in football in Ohio State with a big test as they try to lock up a Big Ten Championship game berth against Oregon. Yeah, the Ducks have already locked up the Big Ten Championship Game appearance. We remind you, follow, subscribe, rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, as well as across social media.
Starting point is 01:00:33 You can find us at 3XOptionShow. Don't forget to submit questions. We will have them answered during the show. Typically, new episodes coming away every Wednesday. As always, thanks to our sponsors, Wendy's, BetMGM, and ZipRecruruiter and we will see you next week.

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