The Triple Option - College Football Quarterfinals, Transfer Portal Opens, Coaching Carousel, & Semifinals Preview

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

Indiana is a football school. We repeat, Indiana is a football school and kickers are people too. Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone dive into the College Football Playoff quarterfinals that saw Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas Tech all go down at the hands of Miami, Ole Miss, Indiana, and Oregon. Mark named his Deuce Deuce Dawg of the Week and for the second time all year it was a KICKER #HottyToddy. The guys then look a step from the field and into the transfer portal as it opened with Coach and Mark taking you behind the scenes of a locker room and the agent side of this time of year. Coach then talked about his former assistant Kyle Whittingham taking the job at Michigan before the guys ranked their top three hires of this coaching carousel. They then make their picks for Miami vs Ole Miss and Oregon vs Indiana. Chapters 01:22 Miami Topples Ohio State 12:38 Ducks Dominate Red Raiders 15:52 Hoosiers Roll the Tide 23:17 Rebel Magic 27:27 Future of Bowl Games 34:35 Deuce Deuce Dawg of the Week 38:00 Enter the Transfer Portal 49:22 Kyle Whittingham to Michigan 53:00 Three and Out: Coach Hires 01:00:57 Miami vs Ole Miss Preview 01:04:04 Oregon vs Indiana Preview 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 #Alabama #TexasTech #RedRaiders #Miami #Hurricanes #OhioState #Indiana #RoseBowl #OleMiss #Georgia #LaneKiffin #SEC #BigTen #ACC #Big12 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kickers are people, too. Oh, no. Lucas Carnaro. Yes. Set the Sugar Bowl record, 55-yard field goal, then broke it. Minutes later with a 56-yard field goal. Oh, and don't be finished yet because 50 seconds left in the game from 47 yards right down the middle, like coach on 18 at Pebble Beach.

Nuked. Kickers are people, too, coach. No. Light it. The Triple Option is brought to you by Wendy's. Wake up with Wendy's 2 for $3 breakfast. Welcome to the first edition of the Triple Option here in 2026. We are presented by Wendy's.

We are the Hall of Famer, Urban Meyer. The soon-to-be Hall of Famer, Mark Ingram, Deuce, Deuce. I'm Rob Stone. Happy New Year, everybody. Hope you enjoyed the college football playoffs. We're going to dive into it in just a moment. As always, we encourage you to rate, subscribe, like, share, do whatever it is. We are begging out these podcasts throughout the year.

We're not just doing it right now during the college football season and during the playoffs. We are here with you throughout. And please leave those questions and those comments. We'd love to answer them and carry on the dialogue with you, our listeners and our viewers throughout the course of the season. Can we get right into it, guys? It is time for the playoff edition of any given Saturday. And let's start with the first quarterfinal game in Texas between the two-seed, Ohio State Buckeyes, and the University of Miami coach.

You said, what was it? If the Buckeye score 14 points, done deal, right? Yeah. A certain thing happened that kind of threw off that math, right? Yeah. Yeah, I saw some people are showing me on social media, some people getting after me a little bit, so I still feel that way.

You know, Miami, I'm a huge fan of Mario Cristobal. I love tough physical outfits. That defense is legit, legit. But I still know. I think if you, you know, take away the pick six, obviously, which we can talk about that. You know, the quarterback's going to take all the blame on that. That wasn't his fault. I'm talking about Julian Sains and the pick six.

The Miami player just made a great trigger on that, and no one blocked him. And he ran it back for a touchdown. So, you know, that. And then the final drive, which is one of the best drives I've seen all years, as far as being physical marked, that was old school. Miami, Miami controlled the line of scrimmings, the backstores. ran hard, took care of the ball. And then Ohio State strategically probably did the right thing. They let them score on the end of the game.

But again, that's, you know, if Ohio State done turn that ball over, scores two touchdowns and plays a little better defense. But to give credit, Miami, I mean, we all agree, Miami's a problem, as Mark says. Yeah, Miami is a problem. That defensive front, and then what you saw in the second half in certainly the fourth quarter, the Miami offensive line, You know, their coach, Crystal Ball is one of the most respected offensive line coaches.

We kind of grew up in the world together where, you know, we're about the same age, and he was one of the most respected offensive line coaches for years and years and years. He's a tough-ass guy, and, boy, they controlled the line of scrimmage, and that was a great win for him. But, again, when you can control the line of scrimmage and play great defense, I don't care who you play, you can win. Yeah. Man, what you're seeing right now in these last playoffs is, man, football is still football.

you got to be a tough physical unit on defense that gets after the quarterback that stops the run then on offense you have some tough linemen people who do their assignments with people who get a hat on a hat move people off the ball and block that is the recipe to win that's what miami did they play tough on defense they have a tough offensive line mark fletcher junior ran hard they even got deuce deuce he's running well then you get the ball

to malachi tony then carson beck what is he doing he is just making good decisions. He's just moving the chains. And taking care of the ball. Yes, he's not turning the football over. He's moving the chains on 30 medium. He's using his legs when he has to. He's not making, he's not doing anything extraordinary, but he's not messing it up either. He's taking

care of the football, making good decisions, letting his defense do what they do, and letting his playmakers do what they do. In Miami, Miami, I think they got a shot for how that defense plays, man. They've got that Miami swagger back, right? They feel like the old school. They pop and their stuff in the locker room right jimmy johnson was on the field post game as well right marian just trying to do an interview

i told you yeah belt to bell to a s s for for sure 12 sacks in their last two games right that miami front line looked like war like you know warren sap was running around yeah that's all NFL players man when you watch them play those are that's miami tag the ends yeah they they kept ohio state off schedule all game you know ohio state was constantly in second and third longs nothing was manageable for them. The pace of the game was, I found that interesting, coach. And again, the big news for Ohio State was Ryan Day called the plays, right? He used to be an offensive coordinator, used to call the plays.

Brian Hartline taking over at the University of South Florida. I think Coach Day felt there's a little too much on his plate leading into this game. So Day took over the play calling abilities. I wrote a little note to myself midway through the second quarter. I was like, can Hartline call the plays in the second half? And this is not a knock on day. I'm just saying maybe they would have been more comfortable with what had gotten them there

rather than whatever that change was or wasn't behind the doors. Were you all right with Day calling the plays in that game? I'm one of those guys that believe that the play caller is a little bit, I say this because it's a very serious position. But when I was a head coach who called the plays, you know, the head coach is going to be involved in every play. There's never a play that when you're an offensive coach, that does, the head coach will not say, for example,

Ryan Day's my coordinator, or Dan Mullen back in the day, whatever. I'd say, okay, Danny, take a shot here. Or I'd hear something come with that, say, no, no, no, no, run the ball. Run the ball. So, yeah, you know, who's calling plays at that point? I think it's important, but I think at times it's a little bit overrated as well. Here's the issue. You got your ass kicked at the line of scrimmage last two games.

Indiana had five sacks on them, and I'm not sure how many said. Miami had five four. Yeah, so 10 sacks in the last two games. Coach, they had allowed six sacks the entire regular season leading into the Big Ten championship game. And then those last two games, that offensive line was exposed. Five sacks allowed versus Indiana, five sacks allowed versus Miami. And one of the concerns we all shared on Big Noon as well is Ohio State really, remember, Julian's saying at one point through 25 passes in the fourth quarter, they were playing teams. They were so much better than the game was over by the time you got to the first.

fourth quarter. The offense the line obviously was not challenged until they got to Indiana. And then obviously Miami's one of the best defensive fronts in college football. Yes. And can Miami win it all? So both those defensive fronts controlled the line. Hey, can Miami win it all. Of course. How they play defense. Of course they can. And how Carson Beck is playing right now. His stock just went up right. Coach, we were talking about how that game was going to be viewed through an NFL lens. Yeah, he did. But he's doing. But he's doing what he's coached to do, and that's where you've got to give the Miami staff credit. I think he threw for, what, 98 yards or 120?

It wasn't a lot. It wasn't a big popping number. No, no, no. But the bottom line is when Miami's offense jogged off the field, they still had the ball or else they punted. You know, it was not a turnover. It was a field position game. I thought Mario Crystal Ball managed that game perfectly.

And the last drive, if I'm the head coach at Miami, that's to me the signature. You took the number one ranked team in a country. and for at least five minutes, you know, I'd love to know the exact time of that drive. Five minutes and 10 seconds, I believe. I'll tell you right now. That was a 10 play. Score on plays.

It was 10 plays, 70 yards, five minutes off the clock. To me, that's if I'm the Miami, I'm sure he is, because that's who he is. And Coach, that's your sending a signature. Beck, 19 for 26 and 138 yards, one touchdown. Perfect. Perfect. And what I love about what Mario Cristoball did

and this coach and staff, one of your guys, one of your alpha dogs, Mark Fletcher Jr. Big fumble, Ohio State recovers it. What do they do? They go back to him immediately on the next drive. And your boy ended up having a huge game for you. 19 carries 90 yards, almost five yards to carry, another 25 yards receiving in a touchdown. So I love when a coach, you know, your player, obviously, that's one of your guys. He makes the mistakes.

He fumbles the ball. He did it early in the game. Next series, next position. Coach goes right back to him, gets him down the field, has a reception, a receiving, touchdown. Mark Fletcher Jr. Malachi, Tony, this offensive line, this defensive unit, how they're playing. Miami has a real shot to win a national championship. So let's, let me ask you this, Mark, or make this point, is here's Miami. You talk about game management. They won the first two playoff games against two really good teams, talented teams,

A&M, and Ohio State. The Miami offense scored three touchdowns and two field goals. And they're two and all. That tells me what. That tells you, they're taking care of the football, you're playing excellent special teams, but you're dominating. on defense, and I want to, again, talk about gain management. That would have been a terrible mistake by Mario Cristobal and the staff if they would have done something other than what they did. Yep. Hey, a really good job.

When you giving up three points versus A&M and 14 points against the Ohio State University, you play the field position game, you manage the game, you let your defense do what they do, you don't throw an interceptions, you do have the fumble, but you have faith in your guy, he comes back and has a receiving touchdown on the same drive. Miami's playing. They're picking when they need to peak, which is right now in the college football playoff. They're playing their best football right now.

The other feel-good conference story, not the other, but the Big 12 this year and what Texas Tech was able to do. And one loss heading into the postseason, and again, that long layoff, like it kind of showed rust with the offense for Ohio State. Definitely there was rust for the Texas Tech office. offense. Their defense was great, as it has been all season, but the offense could get nothing going against Oregon. I want to give the Big 12 in Texas Tech their flowers. A tremendous season, I think the conference and that program are absolutely headed in the right direction. The fact that

two Big 12 teams were in discussion deep into the regular season about getting into the postseason is a bonus. I think the Big 12 is going in the right direction. But in the end, the way it played out in Miami, Mark, I know you were there against a really good Oregon team that is getting it done, right? They're just kind of getting it done the last couple weeks. I hope this doesn't stain what Texas Tech was able to achieve this year. But I know some people are going to definitely throw some darts at the Red Raiders for getting shut out in Miami. Yeah, I mean, Oregon played a great game. We talk about, you know, being able to dominate at the line of scrimmage and being in a physical unit defensively.

that's what you saw on this matchup, this offensive line, that Oregon, they played well. Dante Moore, he played well. Then the defense, they gave a problem to this Texas Tech offense all day long. Barron Morton was under the rest. He had two interceptions. They also caused two fumbles, one to Barry Morton, one to Camer Dickie. You have four turnovers in a matchup against a team with the stars like Oregon has. They just played winning football.

They moved the change. They ran the football. Dante Moore, the way he played in that game, he might be the number one pick in the NFL draft next year. He keeps playing like this. He's going to leave, and he's going to be a top pick in the NFL draft. So shout out to Texas Tech and what they did all season long. I was high on Texas Tech, their ability, how they were built.

But when you have four turnovers against a team like Oregon, it is hard to overcome that. And zero points. I would say impossible to overcome that, not hard, impossible. Yeah, let's talk about one. Zero points, coach, the goose egg. That Oregon defense came to play.

I thought they were, I was concerned with Oregon defense. They gave up almost 400 yards of JMU, but no, they came. They showed up when it mattered the most. Goose egg, Texas Tech, four turnovers, and Oregon is a problem as well. So make a point, though, and make sure if I understand is that the transfer portal is open. And so you have Tosh Lupoi, the head coach of Cal, is still calling defenses for Oregon. The head coach at Kentucky, a guy named Will Stein, is still calling plays for Oregon on offense. So tell me about the ability to come focus. The offensive coordinator at Ole Miss is still

calling plays for Ole Miss while LSUs got their, yeah, we'll talk about that in our second segment. But Oregon, just give credit to that defense. And Tosh Lopoy's been a friend for many years, I think he's one of the best in the business. And those guys played their ass off. We have so much respect for Texas Tech. But that was, I watched that game very closely. That was ORE's defense just beat the mess out of them. So then we went to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. If Miami wasn't the most impressive team over the weekend, I think then it had to be Indiana.

Maybe Indiana was. They were just, I think we're running out of ways and words to describe what Indiana has done under Kurt Signetti. Right? At some point, it has to stop amazing us. At some point, we have to overlook the historical fact that it says Indiana or Hoosiers on their jersey and just say that is a goddamn good team. They are number one for a reason, and they are in line for a national title.

What impressed you, coach, most about Indiana against Bama? I've been saying it for two years as well, coach, so as if I've seen in my lifetime, and here's, again, I've said this several times, I think it's really important to re-emphasize. When you watch a team, and I would always come in on Sunday and I get ready to watch a team or get ready to play some things stand out. I don't watch necessarily the, hey, that's a great touchdown pass. When I watch her, I want to see how well coached they are, how tough they are.

The perimeter blocking by Indiana is as good as I've ever seen. All those little mini screens that Mendoza flips out there, those are all plus yard. You're in, why is Indiana always in second and manageable and third in manageable? Why? Run the ball. They run the ball, but also the perimeter blocking out there, Mark. You never see, like, what happened, you know, where the pick six where a guy does, misses a block or something to happen.

So the perimeter blocking, how about when the running back steps up and hits the lineback, or the safety coming from a 10-yard running start and the Indiana running back hits him right in the jaw and Mendoza completes a pass. The route efficiency, there's no wasted movement when the receivers run their routes. Those aren't all five-star route receivers. Those aren't first rounders.

Those are guys that are really, really good players that play great. And then finally, the offense line, Coach Bostats, the offense line coach, I don't know who won the assistant coach of the ear award, but I can't imagine one better than him. I mean, that offensive line, they gave the, I don't know if you saw the end of the game was really cool.

To the offensive line? Yeah, they gave him the MVP. That's just trolling Alabama, actually. It's not trolling. And he was a Notre Dame transfer, if I remember right? It is well as deserved, but not ever in history. I don't think, you know, podium ceremony has the offensive line got an MVP award. It's just the biggest troll ever.

Kugin the center got it, but basically on behalf of the entire offensive line. I text the president of CEO, president of Fox, Eric Shanks, I.U. Guy. And I said, what planet are we living on right now when Indiana is taken what they want from Alabama? What did Shanks say? He says it's one of the things. He said, boo hoosiers. By the way, he's so proud of his school, man. In Indiana invasion here in Southern Cal, right?

Like I was walking in my town just south of L.A.X the day before. the game. And it was just Hoosier sweatshirts and t-shirts all over the place. And that was cool because, you know, the Rose Bowl still means something to the Big Ten, right? And clearly means something to the Indiana alumni and fan base. And the fact that they got to not only just be a number one seat and in the playoffs, it to play in the Rose Bowl, a sacred ground that they really haven't spent much time in. That wore me as like an old school guy who remembers what the Rose Bowl used to be on New Year's Day and the Pac-12 versus the Big Ten and how amazing that was. was on the flip side, Alabama.

So, Mark, how are we going to describe this Alabama team in the final chapter of what this season was for the tide? A team that wasn't a team that wasn't really. A team that wasn't. A team that wasn't. Like, Stone, when you just physically get dominated at the line of scrimmage, like they did in the SEC championship, game like you did early in the first quarter and a half at Oklahoma, like you did this entire

game versus Indiana. It's like letting somebody lie to you over and over again and you just forgive them because they have a script day on their helmet. Like no, like they've showed us who they have been over the course of the season. You know what I mean? And it was a good year. It was a good year for Coach DeBoore. It was a good year for these players. Unfortunately, some of the moments, the blowout losses, it kind of stains you and tarnishes it. You know what I mean? But in the second season, I think there's a lot to look up to. We made it to the SEC championship game. We won a playoff game. Last year, we didn't make it to the playoffs. Last year, we didn't make it to the SEC championship game. So this year, we make it to the SEC championship game

as the one seed. We win a playoff game. Coach DeBore is a good coach. We have a lot of talent. I think it's just time to go back to the drawing board and figure out how we take the next step because we physically got dominated at the line of scrimmage, offensively and defensively. I felt like the defense came out. They got two sacks on Mendoza. I'm like, okay, the defense is alive today. Then we come back on offense. We go for it on fourth and one. Out of the wildcat, we give a jet sweep to our receiver. I'm like, just punt the ball. You hated that one on the text chain. Bro, I hated it, bro. I hated it, bro. I hated it. I'm like, if I just would have been happier if they let Daniel Hill run downhill

and try to get a yard as opposed to doing his rinky dink jet sweep out of the Wildcat. So then now they get the ball. It's 10-0. Okay, now we're driving. And we get the first down and damn, Indiana lays the lumber on our quarterback and he coughs the ball up and also like hurts itself for the game. So now we're down 17-0. You know, so it's just like a momentum thing, man, and we just physically got dominated, man. And it's just not used to us seeing Alabama get dominated in this fashion where you can't do nothing about it. They better focus on that line of scrimmage.

You say Alabama, you better say line of scrimmage. You better say Ohio State. You don't have a chance, coach. You don't have a chance. If you cannot run the ball 1.4 yards per rush, you can't do anything. If you can't stop the run, you can't run the ball, you don't stand a chance. So that needs to be the first thing getting addressed is the mentality or the type of player that is playing those positions because it has to change, but we're going to see more of the same. Just think Indiana on the road beats Oregon, on the road, a two-minute drill beats Penn State.

They go beat Ohio State, the Big Ten championship, and then they go put it all over Alabama in the second round of playoff. Put it all over. Unbelievable. Oh, my God. The second losing his program in college football took it to the third. winning his team in the sport. Signetti, man. You got erase that losing his program stuff

because Signetty came, they are the winning his program. It's drilled in my brain seen in the Indian on the football field. Cignetti is 25 and two. And his team, they play hard, they play physical. They are a Simon sound. They don't mess up. And, dog, they are a problem too. Yeah. The final four is a problem. Let's go to the fourth of the four final four teams. Give it up for Pete Golding, who is now two and oh, unbeaten as head coach at Ole Miss. He's pulling like a little Steve Fisher act. Do you guys know who Steve Fisher is? Am I going too deep? It's my college basketball reference. If you go back to the old Michigan, I think it was 89. Bill Frieder was the head coach, and he announced during the season. After the season, I'm out. I'm going to go coach.

Arizona State. Who was the AD at Michigan then, coach? Bo Schembeckler said, I'm not putting up with that. You're out. Go find your real estate agent in Arizona right now, and they put in Steve Fisher. They go into the NCAA tournament with an interim head coach, number three seed, and they win it all. And Ole Miss is kind of doing the same thing right now. The win on campus against Tulane.

They go down to New Orleans, kind of a home field advantage for them in the Sugar Bowl, as Kirby Smart was saying after the game. And it was an amazing game. What a way to end this quarterfinal showdown and Ole Miss with an essential walk-off field goal to win it and move on. Again, we say how tough it is to beat somebody twice in a season, Mark. But this Ole Miss and Trinidad, Chambliss,

and whatever they got going on right now, this like disrespected program, our coach leaves us while we're trying to fight for this national title, man. they are a problem as well. Wait, the way they play offense, man, Trinidad Chambliss, you said about him already, Kewan Lacey, Harrison Wallace, I mean, I think their defense has to wake up because the other three teams in the playoff do play defense.

So I think their defense has to wake up, but offensively, this team is dangerous. We talked about who are the best offenses in college football, and I said, Ole Miss, like, was one of them, and they've shown it. 39 points, 362 yards. That's the little preview of, you know, the RRR. But, yeah, Kewan Lacey,

two touchdowns over 100 scrimmage yards, two receivers over 100 receiving yards. This team is playing with a chip on their shoulder. They feel disrespected, and it feels somewhat like maybe Ole Miss is destined. Yeah, yeah, I agree. There's a little of that vibe out there. Yeah, it feels like Ole Miss might be destined,

but that defense will have to wake. up because they're going against Miami. They're going against Miami. So really, their offense needs to stay doing what they're doing because they're going against a defense that... We thought Kirby Smart's defense was going to present that challenge for them. They didn't. I think Miami's and their past rushers.

We talked about Ruben Bay. We talked about Kim Messador. We talk about this team, how they play. They got a big challenge coming up on them against the hurricanes. What did Chambliss and company prove to you, coach, in that Sugar Bowl win? Well, I think the locker room is, you know, when your head coach, first time in history, I know the playoff's only been around, you know, a few years, but I think more than just Chambliss and this team, first of all, that coach, the locker room must be a mature group.

Yes, yes. You talk about adversity, punches you right in a face, your coach leaves. And then your staff, there's a, you know, you need to leave now, and then all of a sudden they come back and coach the team and then the resilience, that head coach, I don't know, and Pete Golding, but I just like to when he talks. You can tell he's all in it for the players. And the resilience, can they, yeah, any one of these four teams can win this championship. That's the beautiful thing about this playoff.

There are four teams, you know, you mentioned Miami, can they win at your damn right? Can they win it? You play a defense like that. You take care of the ball. You can beat anybody you want on any given day. And these four teams right now, you probably would say, Indiana. Oh, man.

Oregon. I know, right? I mean, I don't know. That'd be hard to say. I'm curious to see what the Vegas. The numbers are when they come out. They have Indiana. They have Indiana as the favorite right now.

And that's fair. Yeah. How they just romped Alabama. Yeah. So I just want to get on one more topic before we end this A block here of the first edition of the triple option of the year presented by Wendy's. So this is the second year of the expanded playoffs. And we talk about the advantage of the buy week. And it's really becoming a disadvantage through the course of the two years.

The team off a buy week, that's the only one. That's the only exception mark through two years. One in seven. Teams off having the buy week in the playoffs are one in seven. Indiana, the only team to get that win. The Buckeyes had a 24-day layoff. So does that need to be fixed? Yes.

Number one. Yes. It feels a week too long. if not two weeks too long. Is that fair? I think after championship weekend, you give the one seeds the week, but every weekend after championship weekend,

it should be playoffs. Yes, it should be playoffs. So that weekend after championship weekend, that next weekend should be... Let's keep it going. Sorry, Army Navy, right? And again, Army Navy weekend is sitting there. Sorry, they can still have that game

that can be part of that first round. Coach, do you agree with Mark? I do as much as I hate to see you know, that's America's day for an Army Navy game. Should we move Army Navy game? You got to keep going. You got to keep going. You got to season's over.

Congratulations, go. The one seeds don't play. That way it's a two-week period instead of 25 days. Okay. Is there an issue? Yes, there is. Yeah, but we're solving problems here. We're solving problems.

All right, so we're going to speed up the schedule. Number two, and Dan Lannning brought this up. He said this game that they played against Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl should have been in Lubbock, right? Should have been in Lubbock. His point also would have been like their game last year. against Ohio State, should have been in Eugene, Oregon, a game that they lost. The point being the first round and the quarterfinals, I think there's some momentum that those games should be on campus. Look, this is asking a lot of teams, alumni, fans,

boosters, student body to pick up and keep bouncing places across the country week in and week out. And if you're a storied program, like a Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, right? I think if you're a veteran fan of those teams you're like all right let's save the cash on the trip to Dallas and let's put it towards a semi-final for sure it's real

coach there are real economic issues to this. You want me to go from Alabama to Pasadena you know what I mean? Now listen if you're Indiana you're in it you're in it to win where are we playing Guam you got it let's go

we've been saving for 40 years is there a direct Indianapolis to Guam no three stops on Southwest let's go We're figuring it out. But if you're some of these big boys, man, that is a challenge, and that's a challenge on the pocketbook. So I feel that the first two rounds, that includes the quarterfinals, should be played on campus.

Yes or no, guys? I agree. I agree, Stone. And I was at the Orange Bowl with my son. You think Oregon, Texas Tech, if that would have been in Lubbock, how electric that atmosphere would have been, would have been insane. And now we have upper bowl seats that aren't even occupied. you know, because it's in Miami, and, you know, like you said, this economic time that we're in,

people traveling, trying to maybe save for the next round, whatever it may be. Oregon did show up. Oregon had a little crowd noise going on, you know what I mean, when it was third down for Texas Tech. But it was just unfortunate. It was a good crowd. It was a good scene. It was a good atmosphere at the Orange Bowl. I was grateful to be able to go there and witness that with my son.

But I could only imagine what that would have, game would have been like for Texas Tech. if it had been in Lubbock. I can't help but to imagine that. I'm a little torn on it. Number one, I think you talk about blue blood programs. There's also blue blood bowl games that are very, very powerful. The granddaddy of malls are very powerful entity in college sports. You know, you're going to tell me that the next year, there are not, there's no Rose Bowl.

That's what we're saying. Or Fiesta, rose, orange, and sugar, cotton, peach. So it's the big six, right? So you're telling me three of those go away every year. Yeah. I don't see that happening. Well, the agreement is coming up, so their hand may be forced on that. I think by the time you get to December and January, I don't think weather should play.

So I'm pushing back on a little bit. You know, you got Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, the Wolverines, and, you know, Miami's going to get on a plane in the middle of December or early January and go up to play in Columbus, Ohio. They have to do it for round one. Yeah. What's another week, right? So, Coach, how about this? Would Ohio State have preferred to... Listen, let's put you back.

We're giving you the headset at Ohio State. And you're the coach of this team. Would you have preferred to have been playing Miami in Columbus on New Year's Eve? Or would you have preferred to be indoors in Texas against the Cains? Those are tough questions, man. The better players I have had, you know, when I was an underdog, I want that thing in a foot of snow. you know, I want to, when I started getting these, you know, Zeke Elliott's and Michael Thomas's and these great, great players,

I want it indoors, I want the best of the best. I don't want to be worried about is there going to, what's the weather going to be? I want to just go play this game. I do agree with that, though. When I have great players, I want to go play and let my players play and not be confined. I do retract my statement now. You can't. You are on your argument.

Because I didn't think about having to go to Michigan or Ohio State or, Oregon. I thought about going to Texas Tech or maybe like Miami. I thought about good weather places. I didn't think about having to go play in 17 degrees. I retract my statement. I'm going to quit retracting on me. I bring up good ideas and you're

there's a second show in a row that you've been on my side for like a little window and then coach says something. You go, hmm, I'm going with... That makes a lot of sense. That makes a lot of sense. Hey, Stone, when I play the great players be great players, that's my point. Yes, I agree. Let's go play in Jerry's world. Let's play

where we can climate control this thing. You see Buffalo right now, they're asking people to shovel the snow. Yeah, that's the beauty of it. That's the drama. That's the theater. That is not football weather. Football weather is climate controlled inside with natural grass. If there's precipitation in the

air and snow on the ground is not football weather. It is not. You have gotten soft in South Florida. I played, hey, listen, I played in the dome in New Orleans for 10 years. The first thing that I looked at when they released the schedule was where were we playing in November and December.

That's it. I wasn't looking at home games. What Sunday night? Monday night. I was looking at who are we playing in December and January and where? Oh, you've changed, brother. You've changed. I love it. Great conversation about the quarterfinals. Coming up next, we get the Deuce Deuce Dog of the week.

You got some good options. And we're going to talk. And it changed a little bit. Coach persuaded me again. I ain't going to a lot. He's three for three. And we're going to talk to transfer portal, which is open right. now only one session and we're going to open up the triple option transfer portal

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Always read and follow the label. Welcome back to the first edition of the Triple Option presented by Wendy's here in the new year. Rob Mark and Coach Urban Meyer back here with you. Time now for the deuce-duce. Dog of the week. It is the college football playoff quarterfinal edition. There were some epic performances. Who, though, was the biggest dog?

I can't wait to hear that. Usually, I just kind of am okay with it. I cannot wait to hear this one. Why is that, Coach? Because there is some serious performance. There is some incredible performance. You don't want to. I thought this was your favorite segment, Coach.

It's all good. This is epic. Coach, give me some dogs. Give me some dogs that Mark should be considering. Let's just make sure we're not missing. Big dog. Big dog is the Miami Front. Okay.

Done. Oh, that's it. That's the only dog. No, no. That's the one. And then I, you know, the Roger Seaver Corps at the Indiana. So I just can't wait to hear it. But, okay.

It's got to be Miami. Hey, hey, hey. It's got to be. Hey, when I go, hey, I went through it. I'm like, should it be the defense of Miami Front that had five sacks and, and led them to a dang semi-farm. and beat Theohar State. I'm like, should it be Indiana who just ragdawed my university?

I'm like, should it be Trinidad Chambliss who threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns? Right. But I'm like, should it be. But kickers are people, too. Oh, no. Kickers are people too, coach. Lucas Carnaro. Let's go.

The Sugar Bowl record, 55-yard field goal, then broke it. Minutes later with a 50s, 56-yard field goal. Oh, and don't be finished yet because 50 seconds left in the game from 47 yards, you can't simulate this kind of pressure. He'd freaking right down the center of the Fierre like coach on 18 at Pebble Beach, right down the middle. 47-yard field goal.

Nuked it. Lucas Carrnero for the hara-a-rah-a-ha-dog in a week, putting Ole Miss on his back. You just bypassed a bunch of big, big, veined-up cats on that. D-Line out Miami though, man. And they're pitched at me because I just blessed the kicker because I was impressed with his performance. Because he

ain't even sway. Coach, every time he lined up, it went straight down the middle of the post. Just like you on 18 at Pebble Beach. With room to spare. With room to spare. Yes. Yes. I feel sick for Canero right now that campus and school

is not in session. That that young man can't get back to Oxford. Don't worry. and receive his proper flowers. Listen, because when he does get to Oxford, oh, it's up. I hope so. He ain't paying for no drinks and no meals.

I hope so, man. People got short-term memories, man. If things go south in Arizona, I don't know. Not down there. Not down there. They ain't been there. They ain't done this. Hottie-Toddy, baby.

And Lucas Carrnero is the man on campus. I'm telling you that. That was your fresh take of the week presented by Wendy's joint team tendies and enjoy a lineup like never before. crispy, juicy tendies, now at Wendy's. You know what's open, right? We're recording this January 2nd, which is the first day of the only transfer portal window that is open this year.

It runs January 2nd through the 16th. The players who are still in action in the championship game, the players get an additional five-day period following the final postseason game. game, which certainly creates some wrinkles of its own. So, coach, right now, here we are. This is where we're recording this, this is the opening day of the transfer portal. What is going on at a, at a typical university in the football offices, like literally right now?

You know, I don't know. That's why I got up this morning, and I called, I called three people, three that two of them used to work for me, and I just wanted to know. I said, so tell me what happens, because in my life, my career, I never had. to transfer a portal. But it's like probably the most Googled word on the internet right now. And here's what happens. All three agreed. So today, a lot of players, there's certain schools that have rules that agents aren't to be walking around your facility. Agents are all over the place. And the thing that is amazing to me is all over the place is that a lot of them aren't really

agents, Mark. Yeah. You know, the NFL, you have to be certified. Yeah, you got to be, you know, They're real agents. A lot of these guys are uncles and peoples that shouldn't be making decisions. Who are certified agents. Right. So give you example that the head coach is going to start meeting probably now or has already started meeting. And he'll meet with someone compared it to what I used to do at the end of spring practice. I met with every player in the team.

And that took a whole week, Mark, because I wanted to sit and visit with every player. and he'll be there all day. And Coach, remember six teams played yesterday. And you imagine getting your face kicked in or losing a game and sitting there after meet with agents and players about, am I getting the ball enough? What are you paying me? I need more.

That'd be really hard for myself or many people to deal with it. You know, how you deal with that? So like anything, I guess there's some real positives, Mark. You get some really quality people with quality people and players that should be kind of. And then you got the other end of the spectrum, which is nonsense, absolute nonsense, where they're just throwing numbers at you that aren't true, and making demands that, you know, so, and there's a lot in between. So there's the great situations, really quality players, really quality people representing them, and you have your, I guess you have your negotiations. And then you got in the middle, a lot of stuff.

and then at the bottom you have just nonsense that you're dealing with a lot of non-truths and numbers being thrown and demands being made which is really hard especially can you imagine being one of those final teams dealing with us

and you are you are you know I saw right after Ohio State lost the game I think two or three players came out so I'm leaving you're like what what? Yeah but it's all but you have to adapt adapt and move on adapt you talk about the portal coast

I had one of my good friends friends who I play with his name is Chris Rogers, who is a certified NFL agent, and he's on the line doing NIL. I heard my first NIL deal get, not closed, but kind of agreed upon. We're sitting here watching the game. He has one of these GMs from, I'm not going to say any names, but GMs from a certain school call. He's like, yeah, I got my guy.

He was like, man, the low end I'm hearing 480, the high end I'm hearing like 750. He's like, man, I'm not a high-end guy. The GM said this. I'm not a high-end guy. Chris was like, man, let's agree on $500 and an incentive package and we can get this job. He said, yeah, yeah, let's agree on that. So he calls his people. He's like, yo, I got the 500 base, got an incentive package.

He's going to be a day two guy on a visit. Like, you know, because they got the first day visits, the day two visits, the day three visits. So I'm on the portal open. So some guys are on campus right now, day one. Other guys will be, it'll be a new batch of guys on campus tomorrow, day two. It'll be a new batch of guys are like day one guys. like on the top of the list. I think everyone goes.

Kind of like the NFL draft if you're a day one guy, a day two, day three guy. I don't know exactly. I don't know either. But I'm assuming if I'm a guy in the portal, I'm going to the person who's giving me the best deal on the first day.

I know I want to be a day one guy because I want to be there before that money dries up. Right, right. Are they visiting, Mark? Yes, they're visiting. So you said you talk to their guys that are on campus. They're visiting the school and negotiate and do whatever. and it might get done today

and if it doesn't they're going to their day to visit tomorrow and then yeah so like I'm learning too but I had him here and I was kind of asking and this is the information that I got I'm like

this is kind of crazy there's a story out there this Oklahoma State offensive linemen he narrowed his list of schools that he's going to visit and one of them was Oklahoma State, right? And I'm reading that and I'm cracking up. And I'm like, wait, bro,

you're already there and you're scheduling a visit there. And then I'm like, you know what? I'm actually really good with it because that is guaranteeing him time. And again, it's a new coaching staff at Oklahoma State, right, to say, okay, tell me about this Oklahoma State program that I've been at for the last whatever days or years or months. But that's the brave new world we live in, right? That you have to schedule visits to the school you're already at. Yeah. Yeah. Hit pause and think about that for a second. Man,

hit pause all over the place, man. Just like you think of what that place. But you don't have time to hit pause because the portal's open and you got to fly. You got to know. Just like these guys announced and they're going back to the school they're already at. We were seeing that. I'm back to USC Trojans again. Yeah, USC had a couple of those, right?

Recommitted. I'm like, recommitted. Okay. So all four quarterbacks are transfer guys, right? Where? Where? Trinich Chamblis. Trinidad Chamis was D-2 last year.

And he may be somewhere else next season, too, by the way. He might be LSU, huh? He might be with the lane train. Yep. And Mendoza from Cal, Carson, back from Georgia. And Moore went from New CLA, if I remember, right, right? Yes, Dante. He sat last year at Oregon, though.

He sat behind doing Gabriel. Yeah, you're right, coach. And guess what? There's a lot of smart head coaches and GMs across the nation. Across the nation are saying, wait a second. That, that, that, and that. that's what we need to do, right? Rather than recruit your kid and have them sit for a couple of years and play,

it's we got to go in the portal and you're our new quarterback. No, you're our new quarterback. I'm off for the portal. I like that kids can make money off their likeness. But listen, one thing that people aren't talking about that it is hurting coach is the high school senior. Yes. Sure. You're not getting as many young freshmen on scholarship because they want to take a guy who

have played division one football at a different school. You want experience. Experience wins national titles. But for me, having a son who is a young athlete, I'm like, this is hurting, you know, probably, I wonder what that impact is. What the number of true freshmen coming in had been prior to the traffic portal and what the number of true freshmen is right now? I've asked that question.

No one's giving me that answer. I've asked that question. It's definitely less. Because I've talked to high school coaches and they say that traffic is minimal. And I've talked to a lot of coaches, whether it be Bowling Green, UNLV, and they save a bunch of scholarships that normally would go to that high school player and they're saving it purely for transfer portal. That's it.

And so that would, you know, just multiply by that, by however many schools. And that's how many fewer high school athletes are getting scholarships. So I agree with you, Mark. So what is happening to the high school athlete now? They're just going to a Juco, they're going to a D2, then they go into the portal after their freshman sophomore year? Or Mark, they know they're going to university for a year or maybe two, and then they're bouncing, right?

And then they're going to play the game of, hey, I'm now a junior or whatever. I've got experience. But I think Mark's question is this. So if it's, I'm going to throw a number out. There's 10,000 high school players assigned scholarships on signing date. I'm asking it, is it 7,000 now? Or less? And what happens to those 3,000 athletes that, because I know for a fact that a lot of these

schools are saving at least 10 to half of their roster or not signing spots available to transfer portal people. So we talked about that effect, but also the fact that coach always brings up, we hear about the good trust report of stories. There's almost 4,000 players in the portal. There is not a home for everybody. Right. Correct.

So there's going to be some people not playing football who are in the portal right now. Like some people have to stay where they're at. and work through whatever the issue is, right? Because, like, there's not a home for 4,000 people in college football, right? Coach, there's almost 4,000 people in the portal, huh, Stone? To me, that's an opportunity, right? That's an opportunity for certain programs

to lean in to the high school kid. Come to my campus, right? Stay with me, build with me for a while. But you have to have those right kids because too many of them are just enticed by the dollar bill, understandably so. enticed about other opportunities at bigger, sexier places. But there's opportunities out there for a couple programs to say, let's build.

Let's build from with, let's do it the old school way, because the old school way worked. And then just supplement, supplement. But also, look what's going on at Clemson, right? And dabble, not going into the portal. And where Clemson was and where Clemson is right now and where they've been trending. I think it's a nice little blend. But you're right. The high school kid is getting dinged.

It's just a deep dive. We could talk about this for an hour and a half. and still have questions, you know what I mean? Right, right. And I'm not sure how any more answers we'll have. But we do know what's coming up next on the Triple Option. We're talking Hoosiers, Ducks, Rebels, Canes, College Football, Playoff, semifinals. We make our picks.

Plus, we've been the best coaching hires in this off season. What a list will go through the best coaching hires coming up next on the Triple Option, presented by Wendy's. Light it. Welcome back to the Triple Option, presented by Wendy's, Rob Stone, Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram the second here with you. Time now for three and out. And the coaching carousel has come to a stop. We think.

I feel like we've said that a couple of weeks ago. But with Kyle Whittingham, now filling that void at Michigan, we're going to rank the best three head coaching hires during the cycle. But first, coach, I want to talk to you about your former assistant, Kyle Whittingham, leaving Utah and moving on to Michigan. I know you've had a lot of conversations with him prior and after. What was your big takeaway about Kyle joining the school that is your rival? Yeah, I made the comment that Kyle Winningham was the best coach in college football when they beat USC a couple years back. And I still think he certainly is, or one of them. I know him very well.

He coached for me for two years. We've stayed close. He's the great match or mix of tough, yet he's a player's coach. You know, he's excellent. His football acumen is as good as ever been around, and he believes in all the right things. And, you know, the Wolverines will be being back to a line of scrimmage team because that's everything he is.

So he gave me a call. I want to say a week before he took the job. job. And we talk once in a while. And he said, what do I think? And I have to take a breath for a second. I was like, you're talking about Ann Arbor, right? And he said, yeah. I said, Kyle, you just stepped down. But then I started putting two and two together and everyone knows the respect I have. I didn't say like, but respect I have for that school up north. And I said, Kyle, this is a no-brainer. If you know, he made a comment to me, he wants a chance to go lift that crystal ball. And they make a big push for them.

They're, you know, there's quality players up there. Obviously, he's got to keep some of them. But I just think it's a great match for what's going on right now up there. Right now, they need someone to steady that boat because that boat's, you know, there's at times that boat had holes in it, Mark. Yeah, and it's been that way for several years, you know, and I get really upset with the guys at Fox and sometimes when they say, well, everybody's doing it. No, everybody's not doing that stuff.

No, that's not happening. And so there needs to be a cleansing. There needs to be, and this is the guy that. to do it. I know who he's hiring. He's already told me he's going to hire a hell of a staff and he's going to give everything he can for five years and try to get that program right and go lift the ultimate prize. So I think it's a great hire. It's a Kyle wouldn't even have 66 years old, but he looks like he's 50 and acts like he's 50. So he's all good. We talk about fit all the time, coach, and sometimes like, ah, that doesn't seem like a good

fit or that makes a lot of sense that's a good fit what are the the characteristics of of kyle and michigan that make you feel this is a good fit yeah it's all blue collar you know when you look at the history from both schembeckler lloyd car and then uh some of the great teams they've had that's what they are that they're not they're not a you know a lot like ohio state in my opinion and the northern schools it's all about toughness blue collar it's a fit here's where i'm my only concern is kyle has been at one spot for 30 years. You know, he played at BYU. He coached it.

The only time he was out of the state of Utah was a couple of years at Idaho State. And he coached for his, coach for McBride, coach for me, and then he became a head coach for a long time. The media scrutiny is nothing compared to what he's getting ready to get hit in the face with now. And especially, you know, back in the day, you know, Kyle brought Utah from, you know, from the mountain west to the power. Act 12 to the Big 12.

So it became a little bit more pressing. But this one, you know, this is one of the top five jobs out there. And the scrutiny, you know, no one really, I can't remember where the media just jumps all over recruiting and all that. In Ann Arbor now, it's every day. So everything is going to be evaluated. Everything's going to be scrutinized. And I think that's going to be a little different for Kyle.

So many coaching moves this offseason. so many big programs, some unexpected openings. Mark, let's rate right now the top three head coaching hires during this offseason. Where do you begin? The first one that comes in mind is obviously to meet LSU, that program of what they stand for, of the success that they've had. And obviously, you know, firing Brian Kelly and then, you know, with the Lane saga, being able to pull him away and get him down there,

and the resources they're giving him to already, you know, kind of bolster that roster who is just a hotbed of town in Louisiana. I think Lane Kiff in the LSU, I think that stands out to me. Then another one that stands out to me is we all have a lot of ton of respect for James Franklin and how that ended at Penn State for Virginia Tech to be able to capitalize and get him. I think that was a huge hire for them. They've been looking for a coach since Frank Beamer. You know, in an ACC conference that is kind of open.

You see Miami what they've done the past few years. I think James Franklin is a guy who can elevate Virginia Tech to what they have been, you know, in the past. So I think those two guys. And then, oh, man, lastly, I have to agree with Coach, man, Michigan. and what the position they were in after all these coaches had been hired, we were all saying, who do you hire at this point? You know, obviously Utah, you know, Kyle Winningham stepping down and then being able to get him to come to Michigan,

I think that's just a huge opportunity for them. And what Kyle Winningham has been able to do at Utah, how they've been a winning program at Utah, now you give him the resources and that come with the Go Blue and being a Michigan alumni and being able to head that spearhead that attack, I think Kyle Winningham at Michigan, I think that was huge. You know, Honorable Mention, you could, you know, Pete Golden, he's still in the playoff. You know, he's 2 and O as a head coach, like, you know what I mean?

So honorable mention, you can go Brian Hartline. You know, they lose Gulles to Auburn, and then, you know, now you get a huge recruiter and a great up-and-coming coach, you know, going to USF. So those are my top three, and there's a few honorable mentions down there. I mean, even like coach said, Luke boy over there going to Cal, he's a saving disciple. There's four saving disciples in the college football playoff. So anytime you go to the saving tree is good. Coach, your top three moves in the coaching portal.

Yeah, there's so many, but I'm going to put who's going to make the most impact, not just quality coach. Like, for example, I have Campbell, I think's a terrific coach. Is he going to be much better than Jane Franklin? I don't know that. James Franklin did a pretty damn good job. at Penn State. So I don't count that as an impactful. I think it's a great hire. But the impactful ones in this order are number one is Kyle Winningham and not just W's, but just the way they're going to go about their business now. Number two, John Sumroll, the Gator Coach.

I think he's going to make an immediate impact on that. You're going to see a drastic change in the way the Florida plays, the way they look and they play. And then number three, you mentioned to Mark Tosh Lupoi. I think a Cal, you watch Cal has become a player, a national player. You know, they've been okay, but you watch this guy. I've known this guy for a long time. He's a maniac nut job. All he does is recruit, recruit. His talent acquisition is going to be incredible. He's a tough guy. You can see the way Oregon defense plays. So in order would be Cowningham, John Summerall at Florida, and Tosh LaPoy. You're the second person that told me that in the last 12 hours coached that Cal is going to be, yeah, that cow is going to be. They're going to be a

player. Yeah. You're the second person that told me that since last night. It's funny, you know, we look at the list of jobs that have been filled, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa State, Cal, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan State, UCLA, LSU, Old Miss, Florida, Arkansas, Auburn, U.S.F, Stanford, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech. That's crazy. That is a real list. That's crazy. That's not a bunch of dudes that are getting an opportunity in the Mac, right, to prove themselves. Those are big dog schools. These are big dog jobs, man.

And Coach, I like your point about, you know, how much better is a Penn State going to be with a Matt Campbell, marginably, probably, right? Ideally, and enough to get them back into the national title hunt. But there are some hires out there, to your point, coach, that I think are going to be borderline seismic for those universities, things that can really move the needle and elevate them and bring them back to national relevance or into national relevance really for the first time. So I think that's why I'm going to hit that John Summer. Everybody's kind of, do you remember Florida Gators? That's a top five job. Yes. Every, that no one's talking about that anymore, which blows my mind.

When you were coaching it, it was a top five job. I got it. They have it all. And now, you know, this coach has got, I really admire this coach. I got to know him a little bit. And I just listened to him. And Mark, you would love the guy. And I hope you get to spend some time with.

Let's get him on the show, coach. Let's get them on the show in the off season. We will. We will. Right away, right away. So to your point. And Mark, I know you were banging out honorable mentions. Like, that list of openings and the people who were hired, like, they all seem kind of like bangers to me, like really good hire.

So it's hard to just narrow it down to three. But what Pete Golding has done in Oxford, the mess that he's handled and how he's gotten his team two consecutive wins in the college football playoffs, making his head coaching debut remarkable. You know, now can he maintain that? Can he keep the kids? How is he going to do in the portal? we'll find out, but so far, like, A plus higher. And that's one that's been proven already, right? Like, he's proven that on the field.

Number two, not getting a lot of hype. Colin Klein going back to his school, Kansas State. Kansas State was a team to be dealt with when Bill Snyder and company were going, and Colin Klein was there as a quarterback, had great success at Texas A&M. I love it when good guys go back to their place. And they want to do well for their pro. Not that you wouldn't want to do well for any program that you're a head coach at, but you know there's something different when it's your school, when it's your blood, when it's

your DNA. I think Colin Klein going back to Kansas State is a huge get for the Wildcats. And Brian Hartline, leaving Ohio State as the offensive coordinator and going the University South Florida. You know, Mark, you mentioned what that LSU job is for Lane Kiffin, talent-rich environment. You both know how good that Tampa St. Pete, Bradenton, Orlando area is with talent and then you can go into South Florida.

Like there are players to be had and Brian Hartline has proven through the years at Ohio State that he is an elite elite wide receiver coach and an offensive coordinator. Watch out for USF. Tell me that right now. Watch out for USF.

And there's guys that we didn't hit that deserve Fitsy at Michigan State. I think Patrick Sherald's going to be great in East Lansing. I'm cheering like hell for Fitson. Cheering like hell for him and his family. I think Golish is going to be pretty darn good for your barters, Mark. Yeah. Yeah, I like Gullish a lot, man. I just hate where he's at. I understand. I understand. It's time now for two-minute drill. Brought to you by our great partner at Fandul. Visit fandul.com slash triple option to download

the app and take advantage of a 50% profit boost today. All right, so the college football playoff semi-finals are upon us. Mark, we begin with you. Number 10 Miami, yes, 10-Ced Miami, a little Cinderella run, taking on number six Ole Miss in Arizona at the Fiesta Bowl. The Canes favored by two and a half, heavy over under 51 and a half. How do you see it? Listen, Stone, this is the old school battle you talk about.

A powerhouse offense versus up. powerhouse defense. Ruben Bang, Jr., a king messador, leading that defensive line. They're going to be coming after Trinidad Chamblis, Kewan Lacey, and the gang. And listen here, man, I just have this feeling about Miami, man. I just have this feeling about Miami because they are built how I respect football to be played. They are built with a tough defense that plays hard, that plays physical, that goes and gets to tout, that goes and gets the quarterback. They, not only do they rush the passer, they're stout and run, too.

So they, and then offensively, the offensive line, they're big, they're tough, they run block, they pass protect, Mark Fletcher Jr., Malachi Tony, Carson Beck has been playing manageable football, not making mistakes, putting the ball where it needs to go, converting on third downs. You add his big game experience with that defense. defense. Now, Ole Miss, we know what they are. They just threw for 362 yards. Kauwan Lacey, one of the

best running backs in the country. But this defense, they've been giving up a lot of points all year long. So I think that is the difference in this game. Yes, Ole Miss, they can play great on offense. But defensively, I feel

like that's their Achilles Hill. And that's where Carson Beck and this offense will be able to capitalize and take advantage. And I think that'll essentially be the difference in this game is that Miami has a championship color defense. Ole Miss does not have a championship color defense, but they do have a championship color of offense. But defense wins championships. I'm going on Miami in this one. I'm going with the hurricanes.

By the way, Miami gets a win. They're playing for the national title on their home field. I got to go with them, bro. The way they play football, man, the way they're playing right now. I didn't believe in Miami at all throughout the year. I didn't believe in Miami at all throughout the year. But how they are playing right now is how I like the game of football to be played. But how about your dog of the week, man?

You're a kicker. If you cross the 50-R line, you get three points. Hey, coach, what do you feel about the dog in the week, though? Do you think it was justified or you feel like I should have had them vained up Caz Rubin-Bang Jr. and the King Messador. Come on, man. The kicker nutted it down the middle of the freaking fairway like Coach Meyer on 18 at Pabble. All right, so Mark likes Miami.

Coach, we go to you for the peach court. So you just don't like my kicker. You just don't like my dog of the week this week. All right, here we go. Oregon. Here we go, Coach. Number five, Oregon, number one, Indiana. You don't like my dog in a week, though, coach?

Hoosier's favored by three and a half over under 46 and a half. In Atlanta, climate-controlled game for you, Mark Ingram. Who do you like, coach? The name is Bob Bostet, and he's the offensive line coach. at Indiana. He was the offense line coach of Wisconsin back when we coached against him. I don't know him personally. I think I met him a few times. I just have always admired his, his reputation around the Big Ten is phenomenal. When you watch that team last night, you know, the guy won the player of the week, the offense alignment. And so I'm going to say,

man, this is tough. It's three and a half. I'm saying a walkoff. I think this will be one of the great games of the year. Two extremely well-coached teams. Damn, Mark. Second meeting, right? Indiana took it to Oregon in Eugene earlier this season. So tough to beat a team twice in the season. It is. We've seen that. We saw that in the quarterfinals.

And both these teams are playing their best football right now. So this would be a hell of a game. I'm going to say walk off Indiana. It's going to be a great ball game. And I hate to say this because I just, I've been saying this for two years about Indiana and that staff. They don't have a Canero coach. I think the dog of Louieke will be an offense limer from Indiana again. Oh, my gosh.

That's the biggest troll ever. So I'm going to pick Indiana's walkoff. No disrespect to work because I love Oregon right now. Regardless. It's going to be a great ball game. This final four is going to be electric, man. I can't wait to watch it. Like, even Miami Old Miss, like, I'm thinking that's going to be a walkoff.

You're your boy, you know, Canero, Advantage Canero for the walkoff. And all four programs have kind of an interesting current running through them right now, right? Miami kind of going back to the old school hurricane days, right? They definitely have that swagger, the chance to play the national title at home. Ole Miss, everything they've been through on the coaching front, right? And this team of destiny out there, Indiana has become the college football story for the second straight year. You know, can they literally go from one of the worst college football programs?

programs in history to the best. And then Oregon. And coach, you know, you know what? One thing they're not talking about enough about Oregon, and I understand why they're not, there is one individual whose name is Oregon. Bill Knight. Bro.

You just said something that messed me up. Miami get to play a home game for the Natty? Yep. You know, I'm down here in South Florida. These hurricanes are out wearing their names. colors. I've never seen before. They are outside and they are ready.

Well, they're doing it in Indiana as well, no matter what the temperature is in Indiana right now. They're wearing We like climate control. You play defense like that like they did? Yes, agreed. Just take care of the ball in offense, man. I agree. Because they scored three touchdowns again in the last two

games, Miami. That's it. They've given up. The beauty is 17 points. The beauty is We can just pop up our feet on Thursday and Friday in Washington. Listen, man. At this point, don't listen to me in any of my picks because I'm getting my stuff just punished. I was getting hit in my mouth. We're giving it to you any way we want right now, Mark.

Don't listen. Hey, don't listen to me and none of my picks. I like Texas Tech. They didn't even score a point. I love Alabama. They scored three points. Enjoy the national semi-fifference. finals, the triple option will be back after the games to break it all down and get you ready for

the national title game. As always, please, follow, subscribe, rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast as well as across social media. We are at 3X option show again. Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, Wendy's and Fandul. Enjoy the semifinals. We'll see you again next week. Hey, coach, I like that beard on you.

I ain't going to lie. That thing looking good. We waited until the end of the show to talk about the beard. Keep that for another week. Hey, Coach, what's the next T-time? Tomorrow. Yes, sir, down the middle. Can narrow down the middle, like urban on H-G-H-G-H-Belbeach.

Light it.