The Triple Option - Michigan Punished, Jeremiah Smith Joins, & Players to Watch This Season

Episode Date: August 20, 2025

College Football is back and who has it better than us?! Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone react to Michigan finally receiving punishment for their 2023 sign stealing scandal, but was it enough? The guys then debate what Jim Harbaugh's legacy is as well as what power the NCAA still has. (1:40) The focus of Sound Off this week is none other than friend of show, Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock after his passionate plea to remember the point of college athletics. (24:44) The guys then take the temperature of the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, and Notre Dame after an offseason of change off the field. Who really is the dominant conference? (31:09) Finally, we have games on the field to talk about! What better way to start the season with a conference rival in...Ireland? The guys talk about the pressure in week zero on both Kansas State and Iowa State as they square off across the Atlantic. (42:30) They then give their top three players they are each looking forward to seeing this season in Three and Out. (45:28) How does the best college football show in the country kick off the season? With the best PLAYER in all of college football. Ohio State sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Smith stops by to talk about his growth, expectations in Columbus, his feelings about TTUN, and their opener against Texas. (51:05) 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. Find your new favorite Frosty Fusions™ flavor today with choices like OREO®Brownie, Caramel Crunch, and Pop-Tarts® Strawberry. ⁠⁠⁠https://m-wendys.app.link/frostyfusion25⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to our additional sponsors NHTSA - Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-overutm_source=sinclair&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=labordayimpaired2025&utm_content=custom_alcohol Zip Recruiter - Try FOR FREE at https://Ziprecruiter.com/Option #CollegeFootball #OhioState #Michigan #JimHarbaugh #Alabama #MarkIngram #UrbanMeyer #JeremiahSmith #RobStone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The same is going to tank for the nuts? Tank for the nuts. We'll have to come up with a better line than tank for the nuts. All aboard the Nuss bus. Welcome to the triple option presented by Wendy's. Try Wendy's new frosty fusions with flavors like caramel crunch, Oreo brownie, and Pop-Tart strawberry. Oh, it's back, baby.

Love that music, man. I love watching Mark Ingram dance to the triple option music. Hey, welcome to episode one of year two, deuce, year deuce of the triple option. Rob Stone, Mark Ingram, the second, the coach Urban Meyer here with you. Boys, we're back, man. So good to see you guys. You know what else is back? College football is here, man.

We finally get to talk about games. Let's go. Kind of, kind of. We've got some other stuff to talk about that program in Ann Arbor has been. Not so fast, my friend. Yeah, they've been creating some news lately. As always, thanks for joining us. Remember, please 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. New episodes coming away every Wednesday on YouTube and wherever you find your podcast. So we're going to fire up season two with some week zero talk, the best college football player in the land. Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith. He joins us this week. We're going to talk the mood of the big four conferences and Notre Dame as we head into the season, but we begin with the long-awaited news arounding the suspensions and the fines and everything

that is the Michigan sign stealing scandal. And boy, there is a lot to digest, courtesy of Ann Arbor, and it finally came down. So, Coach, I know we've been talking about this for a while, and man, there is a lot. We're going to talk about legacies. we're going to talk about what actually went down and how it impacts college football and the NCAA as a whole. So we begin with any given Saturday. We're looking at the moments that make college football what it is. We're going to start off the field.

Finally, that investigation that started all the way back in 23 around the national championship season of Michigan. They finally received their sanctions in relation to that Conor Stallion sign stealing scandal during that national championship. run. Fine. That's, I guess, the big news, right? Could be up to $30 million. And if that's the big news, that tells you how little this punishment really is. Sharon Moore, the current head coach, given an additional one-game suspension next season and two-year show cause. We'll talk about the real bite that is show cause. You can snicker somewhere off camera. Michigan, remember, they self-suspended him, if you will, for two games this season. The big one, Jim Harbaugh, former head coach, now head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, a 10-year show cause.

That's on top of an additional show cause that he already had. Connor Stallion's eight-year show cause. Dynard Robinson, three-year show-cause program put on four-year probation. That's it. That's it. So if you kind of reflect back to the old days coach, if you will, you look at what they did and what came down. this probably would have been, by most accounts, a two-year postseason ban, a loss of a number of scholarships. But again, the NCAA has kind of moved away from punishing players that

weren't involved during those infractions, which I'm in favor of. But then the question is, how do you really, you know, how do you really dole out proper punishment? So let's get to the Harbaugh facts. Big hey wins. Yeah, yeah, wins and titles and Heismans. and I don't think that's fair, but what is fair? We'll get to that in a second. Let's start with this quote, and this will really trigger things.

And I know, Coach, it's triggered a lot of high-ranking people in the college football world, including yourself. This is from the infractions report, okay? Coach Jim Harbaugh ran a program that was largely dismissive of rules compliance. There was little, if any, emphasis on following the rules. To the contrary, his program saw compliance as the end. enemy made their own decisions regarding interpreting rules to their benefit or outright committed rules violations. Again, Coach, that was in the infractions report. That's not from an Ohio State or Michigan State fan. This is from the people that were working on this investigation.

What does this say about what Harbaugh's legacy will eventually be at Michigan? I have to sit up for this one now. So just in a little context, we were covering at Big Noon, we were covering the Wolverines, arguably one of the top football teams in recent history. We all witnessed the national championship. And I remember when this started hitting, if you remember, I was the one guy on the set that kept pushing back and saying, I don't believe this. I don't believe that, you know, I've seen the media report things that just aren't true. And so I was pushing back on it, you know, with a whole sign stealing and say, no, there's

no way that they sent people on the road to videotape them. No way that they dressed up. Some guy dressed up in a coach, the Connor Stein is dressed up in central Michigan coaching gear to steal, give signs to, on Michigan State. So I push back on this. And now that it's all in front of us, I'm going to tell you what the legacy is, because I forgot most of this. So I'm going to read this and Mark, take this in for a second. So on April 2024, this is the COVID cheating. okay during COVID you were not allowed to recruit and some people say it was a hamburger thing no no

they were they were recruiting when you're not supposed to recruit and April 2024 the schools put on three years probation so my question is if they're put on three years probation and there's second violation why just get rid of that my challenges then say get rid of that that means nothing three years probation um Jim harbock given a one-year NCAA ban and four-year show-cause. Okay, we're going to get to the show-cause here in a minute. Jim Harbaugh served three-game suspension to beginning the season for this. Jesse Minter, a coach on their staff, got a one-year show-cause.

Once again, we'll get into what show-cause means, because I wasn't aware what it meant. Another defensive back-coach clink scale received a two-year show clause. So basically, members of the staff, and then the current head coach, Sharon Moore, was involved in that, and he was suspended for the first game of 2023. Now we go to the sign stealing. Stallion resigns.

He has an eight-year show cause. Jim Harbaugh suspended the final three games of the 2020, by the Big Ten. Of the regular season, right? But remember, he was able to return for the Big Ten title game and their run through the playoffs. Right. And then Chris Partridge, a linebacker coach, was fired in season for destroying evidence. Sharon Moore, self-suspended two games in 24. this is on top of the one suspension already had two games in 25 and now one in 2026 and the

Wolverines are fined. I've been around college football for, you know, and some people might say because I coached in that rivalry game, but I've said this many times. I've just, you know, from Bo Schembeckler to following the Wolverines to the respect I have. This is one that will go down in history books. This is something in my lifetime. I've not seen this. I released a statement, you know, people were asking me what to say and all that. And I referred back to a story when I coached a team that were not allowed to play for national championship. And they lost because they had nothing to do it.

So I agree with that they shouldn't punish the current players, but I don't know how else you do it. Monetary fine to a university with a very wealthy university. Mark means nada. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Zero. I took over a program, and I know I'm going to hit it real quick.

I was hired in 2011, and I hired, this is incredible story. So Gene Smith called me about coaching the Buckeyes. They just fired Jim Tressel, where you look back now, it was nonsense, why that happened. It was players exchanging, exchanging memorabilizing, memorabilia for tattoos. Think about that for a minute. They fired a coach. They fired a coach and there was a thought that they might lose a bowl game and lose scholarships. I hired someone from the NCAA to look into it. They came back to me and said, this looks like it's only going to be probation. And then I asked Dr. Guy, Gordon Gee and Gene Smith, any chance that we're going to

lose a bowl game or scholarships because I wasn't going to take the job. That's usually a death nail. and they assured me, no, I take the job, contract unsigned. Two weeks later, Gene Smith comes in my office and says, we've got a problem. I said, what's that? He said, the NCAA just took nine scholarships, nine, and that's a big hit. And then also your team cannot go playing a bowl game. They took a bowl game, and there's no championship game, et cetera. And the worst thing is, every senior could leave without punishment.

Wow. So I've lived it. The NCAA is no longer an enforcement entity. It doesn't exist, Mark. It does not exist, Mark. It does not. It doesn't exist, Coach. Like, you talk about gaining a competitive advantage to help you win a national title that you are guilty of doing something that gave you a competitive advantage.

And all they did was, you know, they just have a couple of, you know, They just have a couple fines. They have a couple show causes, and that's it. Like you said, for a wealthy university like Michigan, you'll write the check 10 times out of 10 to win a national title. You'll write to check 10 times out of 10 to win a national title. So NCAA, previously, we could go back to like USC. We can go back to USC when they had their Reggie Bush gate, whatever that was, right? 15 years ago, right?

15 years ago, it was a two-year postseason base. And 30 scholarships lost the Heism. Don't say that quickly. 30 scholarships. 30 scholarships. USC has not been right since. No. Lost the Natty, lost the Heisman, which has since been returned to Reggie's says.

That was 15 years ago. They disassociate with their best player, most prolific player in the history of their program. Yeah. They took down the banner, right? Was that a competitive advantage that Reggie Bush's family received some funds for housing and whatnot? That did not help them win? on the football field. Right.

So, well, maybe it kept Reggie happy and kept him around campus. I want to hit something. Mark, I want to hit something really hard here that Rob read a quote, and there are a couple pieces of that quote that I want to hit and I want to give you something else. There was little, if any, emphasis on following the rules. His programs saw compliance as the enemy and made their own decisions. The one, I had two other quotes in there that I saw. all, the compliance directives were rebuked, dismissed, and disregarded by the football program.

Wow. The compliance directives, that means it's a compliance office, and they meet frequently with the coaching staff. They were rebuked, which means they're turned away. They were dismissed, and they were disregarded by a football program. And then the second part, it's one of the most serious violations that the NCAA have ever witnessed. So, I don't know. I mean, there's two things that you look at. Number one, there's a lot of players that had nothing to do with this.

They will not be penalized. I witness it. Yeah. I just don't know what you do. Yeah. What the NCAA did is not the answer. What is a fair punishment? What would have been a fair punishment?

I've been thinking about this for a lot. And I think financially, the coaches have to, when they sign a contractor, they have to take the financial hit. not the university. Wow. So when you sign a contract, and I don't know, I mean, once again, I don't know. I'm coming out of your bank account. Yeah.

I want 100% agreement that the players that are currently there should not be punished for people priorly making mistakes. Like, that's what you had to experience, coach. That's what USC experienced. That's what SMU experienced having the death. Penn State. Penn State experienced it. Yeah, Penn State.

so I'm all for not having the players currently punished but there was losses I mean you have wins vacated you have titles vacated you have accolades vacated so for what you have done the the punishment for your actions was vacating the success of that time period well again we listen we know the NCAA is toothless at this point right this is not their game they're not here to dole out punishment. This was kind of like their last hurrah, right? And they could have come down hard on Michigan. And if you're a Michigan fan, Mark, give me that beautiful white smile of yours, huh? That's a Michigan fan right there. They're like, thank you. We just paid $20 million for a national title every damn day they would do that. Any school would. It doesn't sound like the Michigan way,

does it coach? Right. And I think there's a lot of people who are very proud of their university and they should be that should be bothered by this and upset. You know, it's an interesting situation too because there's a lot of institutions, guys, where if this took place under somebody's watch, the school president, there's firings. You're clearing things out. Michigan right now, they don't have a president. They have an interim president. So now you're going to be eventually bringing in a new boss and it'll be very curious to

see what that new boss thinks about what transpired in this program. And I guarantee you if Sharon Moore has a rough year, or rough two years, they're going to say, you know what, there's systematic issues with this program, and we need to clean things out. Okay, let's talk about show clause real quick. Yeah, no problem. So show cause, what does that mean? I looked it up.

I've asked, I've done some research. So a show cause means that if a university and for the next 14 years, which Jim Harbaugh is a great coach, he's going to win the NFL and he's not coming back to college. If he wanted to, for some reason, the university would have to meet with the NCAA. and show cause why they want to hire the guy and also make a stand saying we realize if he does commit another violation we will be penalized which to me is bullshit it's nonsense just that's a you're wasting people's time talking about that you have a current head coach your own more that's operating on a two year show cause right now what does that mean mark that means he has to

go to a couple rules meetings he's still a head coach No, no. He's going to have to go to a couple rules meetings. I looked it up. And he's suspended two games this year and one next year. And that's after being suspended one a couple years ago. This is just crazy me because I was able to go to Michigan and meet with Blake Quorum. I met with a lot of those people. And I respected them. I do respect them and what they stand for and who they are. Hell yeah, you do. Yeah. And so I appreciated them welcoming me into their building.

and I never, you know, thought that the findings of this investigation, you know what I mean? I never felt that when I was there, you know what I mean? So I'm a big fan of Shromo. I'm a big fan of those players there and what they do. But like, when you hear what coach said that the investigators found, like, they were rebuking and rebellious against compliance, like. Deleting texts, you know. You completely just did not follow rules. You just did not follow the rules.

and you didn't get, you just got a slap on the wrist for it. They got the national championship. They got their chill. If I'm going to miss to get bad, hey, I'm walking. I'm proud. You know what I mean? That banner's going to look good in Ann Arbor. Let me put a final stamp, and I'm fairly uniquely qualified to do this because I coached against

him. I grew up in the 10-year war with Bo Schembeckler and Woody Hayes, and I've said this many times that across the country, if you can name someone that respects the Wolverines more than I do, I'd like to meet that person. I didn't say like and all that. And I'm not a fan, but respect because I knew I knew Bo Schembeckler. I read his books. I studied him.

When I was hired at Bowling Green, he called me up. I went and met with him. A lot of things that I did in my coaching style was the Woody Hayes, Earl Bruce, Bo Schembecker, Lou Holtz, that era of coaching. When I coached against the Wolverines, it was every ounce of everything because you knew that team was going to be a trained killers on the other side. When you face the Wolverines, you better buckle your chain strap a little. And this is the same pregame talk I'd give. You better buck. It wasn't making fun of them.

It wasn't because what are you talking about? Are there great players and great coaches there? Yes. Is that an incredible university? Yes. You checks all the boxes. The winning in this program and history of college football. So this has come from someone who knows.

I stood on the sideline and faced him. I know many of their alums, Charles Woodson and all those guys. But this is different. Yeah. This is different. Yeah. I want to wrap real quickly with our thoughts on Coach Harbaugh. Nine years in Ann Arbor, one national title, 89 wins, 25 losses, three Big Ten championships.

When people look back, Mark, at his legacy in charge of the Big Blue, what are they going to say about Coach Harbaugh? He was a winner. Bingo. He was a winner. Bingo. Like, 89 wins, a national title. He won. Now, say what you want, because the punishment wasn't as significant or severe as it probably could have been, but they got away with it.

They got away with it. They're paying money from a very wealthy university, and they got a show cause to a coach who's not coming back to college. Right. They're show cause with their head coach right now. He's already employed as a head coach. So pay a little bit of money, and Harbaugh's a winner. Hard ball's a winner. He won.

He was a winner at San Francisco. He was a winner at Michigan. He's going to be a winner at the Chargers. Or he's a winner. Coach? He's a winner. Now there'll be an asterisk there. I think this is going to be a couple weeks' story, and it disappears.

I really do. Yeah. There's an elephant in the room here, boys, though, that no one's talking about. When Jim Tressel was fired at Ohio State and he was given a suspension, Roger Goodell, Commissioner of National Football League, came out and said that we're going to honor that violation, they were going to honor that suspension. And you remember, he went to the Indianapolis Colts

to work in the replay room or something. The Colts, because the respect they had for the NCAA and the suspension, do you realize suspended Jim Tressel? So he was unable to perform his duties for the first six games of the year for the Indianapolis Colts. I think we all know the answer. Yeah. Any chance that Roger Goodell and the NFL, of course not. And I don't know why. That happened prior, right? So they came up with this ruling for trestle, right? And then he got hired, right?

Because Harbaugh went, he's been there, and the investigation was still open. So I'm like. Yeah. I don't know. Remember, they wanted Harbaugh to come back to Ann Arbor beginning of last season to celebrate the national title. and they kind of backed off on it with the optics, with the investigation going on. But I guarantee you, at that five-year anniversary, that national title, that 10-year anniversary, there's going to be a good-looking man and khaki strutting into Ann Arbor, and he is going to be embraced and loved because in the end, Jim Harbaugh got Michigan, a national title, and that's all that matters. Coming up, we're going to leave Ann Arbor and head to the rivals hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Heisman candidate Jeremiah Smith joins the triple option. next. We talk Farmageddon in Ireland, which highlights week zero. Lady. Welcome back to the triple option presented by Wendy's Rob Urban Mark back here with you, and each week we're going to

tap into the social stratosphere. We're going to find a clip from a coach, a player, a media member, a fan, whoever. And this year we're going to kick it off with a friend of the show. Thomas Hammock, head coach at Northern Illinois. Remember, had that big upset win last season at Notre Dame. Well, he made this passionate statement about the state of the transfer portal, Rev

Share, and the bigger picture of college football last week. Take a listen. Yeah, to me, I mean, to be honest with you, I love the challenge. You know, it don't bother me one bit because you know what? In life, you're going to make decisions, right? Sometimes it's going to work in your favor and sometimes it's not. I told our team the other day, you know, we lost all these guys. Let's see who plays. So it's all good when people put it on Twitter. or hey, all glory to God, I'm going on the transfer portal. Let's see if they play. How many of those guys going to play or travel or get snaps?

You know, I was going to tweet something the other day, a picture of me, and say, you know what? I enjoyed my college experience. I didn't get one dime, but the lessons I learned was more valuable than any money you can ever pay me. And I appreciate that because that is long term. people are losing the fact that this is short term I coached in the National Football League for five years five years right don't lose fact don't lose focus of work the long term

get your degree learn valuable lessons that's going to help you in a long term of your life that's the whole purpose this is a transition from being a kid to a grown up and I hope people don't lose focus of that everybody's talking about everything else besides what is the most important thing for going to college. Because if you going to college to go get a couple dollars, you might go go get a job. This is too hard

to go get a couple dollars. Learn the lesson that you need to learn to be successful in life for the next 40 to 50 years of your life. That's that I would do it again for free, for free, because of the things I learned. That's why I'm standing here today because of what I learned in college. Not because of how much somebody gave me. That's what I would tell people. And parents, they need to learn that lesson too. Stop trying to live through your kids. Go teach your kids what are the things they need to learn to be successful.

That's what I'm telling my kids. I don't care about. No NIL, no revenue share, I can care less. You need to learn things in college to get you prepared for life, to be a father, a husband, to work, everything else. Those are the most important things. that's what people are missing in my opinion just my opinion i'll send i'll send my kid to northern illinois i'll let him play for coach hammock you know he was on our program last year and he's always

been one of my favorite guys and uh that's one that you know i've heard a lot in my career that's one of the greatest uh lectures i've ever heard yes it's with 100% sincerity it's 100% accurate And so over 3,000 people, Mark, I think it's over 3,000 players hit the transfer portal. Coach, third straight year, third straight year that over 3,300 players went into the portal. And so the residual damage, and I've talked to people, I don't want to sound like that old guy that, man, man, what about this? Because there's some great stories, you know, from Dylan Gabriel to Howard at the Ohio State, went into national title. So there's so many great stories, but what about the ones? And 40% of those 3,000 don't end up anywhere because they've received really bad advice.

You know, we witness a guy leaving Tennessee and going to UCLA for, you know, we're going to see how that story plays out. So I just, I grew up in that, I talked about it earlier when we talked about the Wolverines. I grew up in the Beauchampbeckler, Woody Hayes, and Earl Bruce, Lou Holtz era. And it was always about education. And I'm going to say this and hand it off the mark because I'm very, passionate about it. It's why we did those real life Wednesdays. A job in education can't solve all problems, but a job in education can solve all problems. That's what I tell

the players that move on and are misled and for some reason go astray without the ability to get hired become our problem down the road because we have to help. I mean, that's, I'm just, it is what it is. So a job in education, that's the ultimate responsibility of a university. I don't believe it is anymore. Yeah, coach. I disagree with Coach Hammock. I thought it was an amazing lecture. Like you said, I think people are losing the fact of why do we love sports? Why do we love college? It's because it teaches you life lessons. It teaches you values and principles that will help you be a better person, be a better husband, be a better father, be a better, you know, asset just to our community, right? And I think people get so, uh,

infatuated with the short term, like, how much money can I get right now? And yes, like, it is a good thing that players are getting paid. I do like that players can get paid and get for their likeness. But at the same time, it shouldn't be everything that you're focused on. You should be focused on where you could be to be the best version of yourself. People who are so infatuated with just getting instant gratification right now. Like, no, there's something that happens. There's something that happens to you as an individual.

You have to compete for a spot. And when you earn that spot because you competed for it, and you worked hard for it, and you earned it. Like, there's something about that. And it translates directly into life. Everyone that plays college, you're not going to the NFL. Like, I don't know what the percentage is. I think high school athletes are only about 7% make it to college sports.

And then from there, about 2% of those making pro. So we need to continue to worry about what's important here. It's developing these young men, these young women, to be great citizens in our world, you know, being assets to our community. And that's overcoming adversity that's learning how to work with people, that's learning how to communicate with people that don't look like you and knowing your role to being the best you could be to help whatever company or team that you're a part of.

So I love the speech from Coach Hammock, and I think it was, I think it directly resonates. I think a lot of people need to listen to it. Time now for Crossroads, presented by NHTSA, whether you get pulled over or get into a crash. Drinking and driving will change your whole world. drive sober or get pulled over paid for by NHTSA. NHTSA, their messaging is always on point.

Really appreciate it, especially with the big Labor Day weekend coming out. All right, so this off season, there have been a lot of developments off the field, all based kind of around a couple of things. You know, commissioners trying to position themselves in their conference in the best light, the future of the college football playoff format, TV deals, smaller conferences, fighting for their spot in the college football. basketball landscape, rev share, la la la la, la, right? There's a lot going on. But let's talk about where these current conferences are real quick as we head into the 2025 season. And we begin,

we're going to talk about the four big conferences and then Notre Dame. Let's begin at the home of the last two national champions, the big 10. They have three teams in the top 10, six in the top 25, back-to-back national titles from that conference coach for the first time since the 1940s. If you are the Big Ten, where are you big picture in college football right now? You're number one. And I never thought I would really say that again in my lifetime because I was in the SEC from 2005 and, what was it, 2005? And 06 is when the SEC started the run. We won the National Championship in 2006, won it again in 08, LSU won it. And then Mark Ingram went through it. And it was, to be honest with you, when I went in the Big Ten in

2012, it was not close. It was not close. The Big Ten, even at the top of the conference, was not as good, near as good. I believe, no, I don't believe, but it's amazing to say that the Big Ten has surpassed the SEC the last two years, certainly at the top of the conference, but also you look at Illinois's win. You look at, you know, I still think top to bottom, the SEC's bottom is stronger. But when you add Oregon, Washington, USC, and you UCLA. I know they added Oklahoma, Texas, but you see, and I've seen it in the Big Ten, the stadiums are different, Mark. The talent is certainly different. It used to be the SEC as so many players drafted, the Big Ten way down here. Now it's very close. So the recruiting is picked up,

the coaching is picked up, the stadium environment is picked up, but I'm going to say this about the SEC. They get pissed off real quick down there. They're going to want to get that title back. so I'm anxious to watch us here. Mark, what do you feel about the Big Ten right now? I think there's three national contenders sitting in that conference, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State. And I think the success in the last couple years, Mark, from that conference, has got the programs like Indiana and Illinois. Michigan, obviously, Nebraska. That chest is sticking out a little bit more.

I think they're walking a little stronger around campus these days. The Big Ten is back in a big way. Yeah, they're believing, and they have shown it. The success of the Big Ten teams had last year in the postseason, the success that the SEC kind of lack thereof last year in the postseason. The Big Ten is walking with their chest out. They have the last two national champions. You know, Penn State is kind of trying to follow that regime of what Ohio State, Michigan did.

So the Big Ten is in a good place. You add Oregon, you add Washington, you add UCLA, you add these teams to a conference, adds depth to the conference. The Big Ten is in a good spot, man, coming from an SEC boy. I know the Big Ten, all those guys are walking around in the Midwest with their chest out. They should be right now. With their overalls on. So prior to the Big Ten's two-year run, the SEC had won four straight Natty's and 13 of the previous 17.

They have four teams in the top 10 and mark 10 programs inside the top 25. The SEC's mindset right now is what? They're trying to prove that they're still the most dominant conference. And they feel that they are the most dominant conference. From top to bottom, they probably have the more depth than the Big Ten, in my personal opinion. And they're coming with it. You know, the South ain't happy. That's what they do in the South.

They live for their football, man. They live to be on top. They feel like it's football country in the South. And it is. And, man, I just went to Alabama last week, man. I'm telling you, they are out there and they are competing at a high level in practice. So I know people want to talk this or talk that. I know Alabama got a chip on their shoulder right now.

Ain't nobody talking about them really. They got some respect in the rankings, I guess. But, yeah, I know Texas, they feel like they got what it takes. They were in the semifinal the last two seasons. So I feel they think they got what it takes to get over the hump. You know, Georgia, their pedigree of winning the last few years, Alabama, their pedigree, Then you've got South Carolina, you've got LSU, you got all these teams, man, that feel like they have a shot that they can get over the hump and get back to the playoffs and get back to the national title. So the SEC is still a extremely strong conference.

They should be respected as such. But they won't shed everybody up until they go and have that postseason success that they're accustomed to happen. I think those SEC meetings in Destin, Florida this year, coach, must have been interesting because they know that they've lost the last two Natty's. they've known, you know, what their dominance used to be in the Big Ten has taken it from them. I, for some reason, listen, I know the head coaches care about their program and to an extent they obviously care about the conference. But I think as a collective, you know, whether it's Sark or Coach Kelly, I think they're all kind of coming together like, hey, boys, let's get the band back together. Let's hit the road, right? Let's sell out big stadiums.

The guy, Sanky, Greg Sanky, who's a friend of mine, a terrific guy. We've had him on our show. He is as competitive SOB as there is, so I guarantee that meetings. I've sat in those meetings, and I'm sure it's a collective group, and you look who's in that room, the team's in that room, the fan base is in that room. I'd still say the SEC, top to bottom. When you start thinking of the eight, now Texas and Oklahoma, 10 schools that are expected to compete for a national championship,

the big 10 is still not that way. They don't have 8 to 10 teams that are expected to win. championships. But they certainly have done it the last couple of years. Texas, first time in their history ranked number one in the preseason. What? In history? First time they've ever been ranked number one. I'd be stunned if I think four from the SEC are guaranteed to go to the college football playoffs. Texas, LSU, Georgia, probably Bama,

wouldn't be surprised. Damn, you're already throwing picks out there, right? I know. I'm already thinking like a Florida, a South Carolina, We love what Lenora Sellers is. They might surprise some folks. So let's talk about the ACC real quick. Two teams inside the top 10, three in the top 25. Clemson and who else?

Well, that's kind of the conversation this season. Clemson and who else? Like, was SMU a flash in the pan? Can they sustain themselves? Can Florida State build themselves back up? Miami, what are they going to be without Cam Ward? Bill Belichick is in college football with Carolina. I think the ACC is fascinating, but they need, boy, they need Clemson week one to show out big time against LSU when they host.

By the way, next week, Clemson head coach Davosweeney joining us on the triple option. I think Clemson needs to kind of elevate that whole conference and remind the Miami's in Florida States. Hey, guys, you're supposed to be up here with me. Hey, Virginia Tech. Hey, NC State. Hey, Carolina, let's go. There's a lot that we're going to learn about the ACC. But the conference I'm really high on right now, and I had been for a while, the Big 12.

It is our, let me, I'm turning a page right now. Our great researcher at Fox, Adam Z, he gives us the Z man. We love the Z man. He gives us this massive college football manual, right? And he breaks down conferences. And I just wanted to read how he broke down the Big 12, right? Most talented roster slash legit playoff aspirations. This is from the Big 12, Arizona State, which won it last year.

Kansas State, Texas Tech, all right, just those three. Could absolutely win this crazy-ass conference. Iowa State, TCU, Utah, high-upside, low-floor teams, Baylor, Kansas, following back to Earth, BYU, Midtown. Finally, we mentioned Coach Prime in Colorado, Cincinnati, Arizona, Houston. Rich Rod, back at West Virginia, UCF hosting North Carolina in Week 4, than the issues that were Oklahoma State last year, are they able to turn things around? The Big 12 is wild.

Six to eight programs, I think, could win it all. They have four teams that enter the season in the top 25. They're trying to work themselves up that pecking order. I have so much respect for the Commissioner Brett Yormark, what he has done. They're kind of modernizing things. You know, they sign that conference deal with PayPal. They're going to release injury reports in an effort to, quote, unquote, modernize. I know where the Big 12 sits right now.

but they're fighting to be that number three conference, and there is a lot of money being invested in college football by their alums, watch out for the Big 12th. It's all I'm going to say. Texas Tech put that big money out there, didn't it? Big money, Mark Ingram, big money. I can buy a lot of tortillas down there in Lubbock. And then the last one to talk about, and Urban will hit it with you because you used to

coach there, Notre Dame, won a program record 14 games last year in route to that run to the national title game, ranked 6. in the country. And as long as they keep doing what Notre Dame typically does, they should be in the college football playoff just about every season. They have a slot built for them, Stone. Right? Isn't that insane? They have the conferences and they have their own slot built for Notre Dame. So as long as they play decent, they will be in that slot. Like, proven they don't have a, they have a hell of a coach in Freeman. They have a guy he's built for Notre Dame, Marcus Freeman.

Here's the thing as they open up at Miami and then home against Texas A&M. That's unusual for, that used to be the schedules,

but Notre Dame has in recent years not had those tough ones early on. They got to replace the quarterback. There's also a guy that left Al

Golden, a decorinator of Notre Dame who I've always had great respect for him. He did a hell of a job, man. Notre Dame's defense was legit, legit.

With players, obviously, but Al Golden did a great job. He's gone. They brought in my form. former assistant, Chris Ash, was the head coach at Rutgers, was our D coordinator to run the defense. I did a interview or a podcast or something like that, Blue and Gold Illustrated a couple

days ago and he was kind of filling me in. Expectations are extremely high. They do have a new quarterback. I don't believe they named them yet. But look for Notre Dame to be standing at the end. They'll be one of the top 12 teams in that fight in the playoff. They'll be in the playoff. are you guys are you guys ready for week zero by the way that's how beautiful college football is we now start at zero no who needs week one is so passe it's so far down the line we start at week zero and we have a ranked matchup in week zero Saturday it's coming away from ireland number 22 iowa state number 17 kansas state favored by about three and a half big 12 as we mentioned wide open and it has been wide open the last couple years they have had five different different conference champions in the last five years. The 1009th edition of Farmageddon in Ireland. Potatoes, beware. How do you think starting the season with a conference game impacts your program, Coach?

I've done it a couple of times, and it's actually awful. I mean, it's like, you know, you just, the intensity level picks up. And whether you're opening it with a conference game or like Ohio State playing Texas, you have to stop pounding on them two weeks before that game. So you have to be, you have to jump in. But here's the thing that's different, Mark, than back when you played and I coached,

is they have OTAs all summer now. So you remember, used to show up in late July, early August, and you're just lifting weights. And the first time you were out there organized with the ball and all summer, So it's not quite as, it's much different than it was when we played. However, two weeks prior to that first game, the pads are either a coming off or it's pretty close to coming off because you can't be beating up those players. You know, if you're open up with a three-game easy slate, it's a much different attitude.

But as you get ready for a conference game, one that you, those two teams, that's must win already. Must win. Because, you know, those are two really good programs. Yep. But reality is for them to make the playoff, they got to win this game. And like we said, with this new college football playoff format, you win your conference, it's an automatic bid. So that puts a tremendous amount of significance on this opener because you lose this game. You go one back in their race to get the automatic bid.

So, you know, we talk about the importance of this game. You know, they start in Ireland against Kansas State, come back home, has South Dakota. And then they host Iowa. And Big Noon kickoff will be there at that game. That is a big start for a wide open conference in Iowa State. A ton of success last year will they be able to carry it over in the opening game of the year is your treat of the week presented by Wendy's. Try Wendy's new frosty fusions with flavors like caramel, crunch, Oreo, brownie, and pop tarts, strawberry.

All right, time now for three and out, top three players that we are most excited to see this upcoming season. Coach, we start with you. You're big three, and I got a funny feeling you're going to have a Buckeye on your list. Yeah, Julian Sane was just named starting quarterback. He's an Alabama transfer, and how the hell that happened, Mark, I don't know. But the minute he walked on campus, I started hearing about him. They talked about the ball jumps out of his hand. I stood next to him, watched him throw on one of the games that were there.

He's very slight. He's not real big. I'm anxious to see how the strength staffs developed him because he was not very big. but he's also throwing to the best player in the last decade in college football in Jeremiah but they also have Carnell Tate they also have some loaded

that's a loaded receiver room again the job that Brian Hartline's done new quarterback two new coordinators but the one guy I want to really see play and we're going to see it early and in person and that's quarterback Julian saying second guy is DJ Lagway I'll tell you what you know

need to watch that. Netflix. It talks about them. I've done some due diligence on him, asking some people up at Florida. He did all that as a freshman. And the jump you make between your first and second year is incredible. And he played great as freshman years. So I think this is a year the Gators are back, baby. You watch, Mark, the Florida Gators will be back. And then finally, Bryce Underwood, I think I read somewhere that he is not named the starter, which is shocking to me. If that's the numbers that I've seen that they paid that player, the quarterback, the quarterback for the Wolverines, and not be starting. But he's a guy that I watch high school film on, and he has it all. So I can't wait to watch him play. Mark, your big three. My big three.

You know, I got to start with the R.B. You know what I mean? I got to go with number one, Jeremiah Love, just a straight baller. A huge reason why Notre Dame made it to the college football. football championship game last year, man, he had over 1,100 yards. He had 17 touchdowns, also a threat out of the backfield. I'm extremely excited. He's the number one running back in the country on my list coming back in college football, and I'm eager to see how he balls out again and gets better from an amazing season he had last year.

Number two, got to go to Tuscaloosa to the road tied. I got to go with Ty Simpson. We talk about this new day and age NIL, and I respect Ty Simpson. He stayed. He's learned. He's waited. Now he has his opportunity to go out there and prove his worth and his value to this Alabama team. Because Alabama's trying to get back to prominence.

They're trying to get back to the top of college football. You can't do that without a great quarterback. And so Ty Simpson has his opportunity. He's been having a great offseason. He's been named the starter. And so I'm excited to see what he does this year. And then last but not at least, the man that we have it on the show here coming up very shortly. I'm going with Y-R-Receiver 1, Jeremiah Smith.

And he was a straight baller, a freshman phenom, just a straight dog out there, 15 touchdowns as a true freshman, over 1,000 yards receiving, just a mutant, a specimen, an alien out there at Y-Receiver 1. So, super excited. We get to see him week one going against Texas. and, yeah, and we get to have them on a triple option podcast here next segment. Let's go. He's coming up next, and he is a huge name in college football, but guys, the biggest name in college football this season. And he only needs one name, Arch.

It's all about Arch Manning, baby. Finally gets to take it over the number one spot at Texas after backing up Quinn Ewers for the last couple years. Last season through it for almost 1,000 yards, did have a couple starts. Nine touchdowns, two picks. Remember, he's got deceptive legs for rushing touchdowns as well. The last Texas player to win the Heisman trophy, Mark Ingram, was Ricky Williams. Ricky Williams.

Back in 1998, back in 1998, could Arch Manning bring the Heisman back to Austin? Clemson, they bring back 16 stars, including their quarterback, Kade Klubnick, over 3,600 yards, 36 touchdowns, nine picks also ran it for seven scores. He has what many consider to be a top three wide receiver room down there at Clemson. They've got a manageable schedule. Maybe, maybe, Kate Klubnick becomes Clemson's first Heisman Trophy winner. And all aboard, the Nussbus, baby. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU's quarterback, most passing yards, over 4,000 last season by any

returning quarterback in the country. 29 touchdowns. 12 interceptions. Got to cut that down. Ran it in for three more scores. He's a coach's kid. Like everybody loves a coach's kid. His dad, Doug, is the offensive coordinator at your former program, the New Orleans Saints, Mark

Ingram, and he is the projected number one quarterback in next year's NFL draft. So those are the three guys that we're really excited to see in week number one. The Saints go tank for the nurse. going to take for the nuts.

We'll have to come up with a better line than tank for the nuts. All aboard the Nuss bus. One of the players that Mark just hit and the whole country is excited to see again, Jeremiah Smith. He joins us next on the Triple Option, presented by Wednesday. Ladies. Welcome back to the Triple Option. We are now joined by the Big Ten receiver of the year last year, a freshman All-American last year, a national champion last year.

This year, he is a preseason All-American and the teenager. That's right. He's still a teenager that Mosei is the best player in college football. Ohio State Wide Out. Jeremiah Smith joins us right now. Jeremiah, man, so good to see you. Thanks for joins, but real quick,

I want to go back just a couple days ago, right? This was like a Goldberg type entrance for you walking into this mall with security guards all over you, going in for the signing in the picture. Take me through this scene that is your new world order. This is your reality in Columbus these days. Yeah, that was pretty crazy.

That's probably the most people I've seen that one time. No, just going into the dicks, walking in. And I see a whole store surrounded by me and everything. It was just a surreal moment for me. Yeah, man. So you got thousands. You got a whole stool section, half the horseshoe in the store for your autograph signing. Yeah.

You made the NCAA cover. You're the best player in college football. You're up for the Heisman. You're up for the Belenikoff. You defend the national champion. That's what? Tell me, man, what has it been like all this attention and outside noise, man? How you been handling it?

I've been handling it very well. I'll come from home beginnings. I don't let all that stuff get to my head. I just focus on the main thing. That's no football in the team. So I don't let all that, you know, all the wars I'm up for and know all the hype around my name. I just want to focus on the team and focus on ball. hey jeremiah thanks for joining us you know when i grew up as a buck guy and when i got hired there i

put i don't know if they still have it in the meeting rooms out of the fat heads of all the great players uh your position group do they still have that in your receiving room yes sir yeah so so when i say the names like chris carter david boston joey galloway michael thomas terran alave wilson marvin harrison junior uh arguably the greatest uh program as far as they wide receiver, you. What kind of, is that pressure or is it, or do they support you? Do it, is it like a brotherhood? Or tell me what it's like to be part of that group? It's very special to be part of that room. Like you said, all the guys that came before us. So I feel like each, each day, each every week that we play a game. I feel like we obligated

to go out there and perform at a high level because them guys, they did it each week. They was here. So I feel like I'm obligated to go out each and every day and perform at a very hot level. What did you work on this off season? What were some of your priorities? I know diet was a big part of it. Yeah, diet. But really, you know, just become a student of the game, get a better, a student of the game. Last year, being a freshman, a lot of things starting that me real fast. You really think you know ball, but you really don't. So I'm just out there not even playing as fast as I need. So I'm just out there yet and not really playing fast. But this shot, I got a better understanding of what's really going on.

Give me an example of something you picked up in the offseason that's going to make you better. This off season. No, just understanding coverages. That's the main thing, really. I play receivers. I understand what they're trying to do. So that's really the biggest thing for me. You know, Jeremiah, it's not that difficult takeaway, a great player. You know, just put two guys on them. And you have Carnell Tate, you have Brandon Innes. You know, you lost two good running backs last year.

So I think when I had Mike Thomas, I thought Jalen Marshall was as important as Mike Thomas because you can tilt the cover the field one way. Tell us about Carnell Tate and Ennis in the receiver room. Because other than you, these guys are not household names yet. Oh, man, them guys, I feel like this year, they go shock a lot of people, especially Cardinal. I mean, that guy there, he could do any and everything that you asked him to do, a very smooth rock runner, could block, could do it all.

Brendan, the same way. He got that dog in them. So I feel like this year, I mean, our room is very special. I feel like it's better than last year because we, you know, all could do different things. I feel like that's what I think. Did you tell a mech of that yet? Is he aware of that?

I just, I just texted it to him, so I told him. Jeremiah, man, you're from South Florida, man. You went to school at Shamanad. How did they get you out to South, man? You up there in Ohio State? It's cold up there, man. How did it get you a South Florida boy to come all the way up to Columbus and deal with that cold weather, man?

I don't know. When I first came up here for a visit, I feel like this was home for me. I found love with the program, you know, day one, Like Coach Heartline, Coach Daylight, they always, you know, supported me and always call and check on me. My dad loved it up here. My whole family loved it. My uncle, everybody.

So I just, you know, just the right place with me. And I wanted to get out of the state of Florida as well because it's too many distractions down there. So I just want to go somewhere. I just focus on ball and school. We won a couple championships, three of them. And then it always felt like the year after, especially in 14 and 08, we had so many returning players of pressure not only on the staff, but I felt it with the players. Do you feel that in the locker room?

Do you feel like anything other, you know, because you kind of get that mindset that we've got to win it again, and damn, it's hard to win it. Do you feel that pressure yet? I think a little bit. I feel a little bit. I feel like everybody think we need to go back to back.

But that's something that's, you know, on our mind as well. I think we want to be the first team to ever, you know, do that in, you know, the Big Ten. I haven't been done since, I think, the 1960s. I think the last thing I did was Michigan State. So I feel like we, I think it's very, you know, pressure. We're trying to go back to back. Is that national title shown all around the offices right now?

Or we've already moved on, have we? Yeah, yeah, we moved on. I mean, it's a new team, new year. So we just got to make a name for ourselves this shit. That was last year. We got to make a name for ourselves for, you know, this your team. Coach Day finally named quarterback number one, Julian, saying, getting the nod. and break down Julian's game

and what you're expecting from him this season. I'm going to spend the Julian, though, just go out there each and every ring and pull in the show. I mean, Julie's a smart player, smart quarterback can make in every throat. Let's do in the game. I just care what the things he did this year. Favorite restaurant in Columbus?

Favorite restaurant in Columbus. Come on, man. It's a pint house. It's a hint. Favorite restaurant. Have you been to the Urban Meyer Pinethouse yet? I haven't know. I haven't.

Okay. I'm not going to talk to. any more than Jeremiah. No, where is that? That's spot with the fried lobster tail. The hide part? Hide part. No, I don't really like high part.

I like, uh, no, you say high part. I just go hard part. Yeah, high part. What about Jeff Rubies? I'm not Jeff Rubies too. I like both of them. I like both. Can't go around here.

And you had the fried lobster there, though, is the question. Uh, uh. At high part? No, I haven't. No. Yeah, you like lobster? I love, yeah, I love lost. Then you need to go there and get the fried lobster.

Okay. All right. I'll put you on. One thing, man, I saw something that you doing an interview, man, and you were explaining, so I coached you football. My son's seven years old, just started to tackle football. And you told the story about when you were six years old and your coach came and told you told you you got cut.

Yeah. So can you share that story with us? And also what you would tell a youth athlete who was being overlooked at this point in time at their six, seven, eight years old. Yeah. So it was just typical day. I was going to practice, scratching and everything. Coach pulled me to the side.

He's just like, you off the team. And I was like, okay, and I just know, walked the way, you know, with him my dad and told my dad. And my dad didn't get mad. He didn't get mad about nothing. You know, just that day after, I just, you know, was working out each and every day till next year and I made the team. And what I tell the kid that's getting overlooked,

I mean, no, don't take it too personal. No, just keep your head down. Just keep working because it's better days ahead. Hey, Jeremiah, when I say the team up north, what hits your heart? Hate, you know, with everything in me, I hate them. Yeah. How did you learn that? How did you learn that?

Were you not there at the last game? Yeah, I hate them. You said when I learned that high school recruiting, First came in, I think I made a mistake, and I was wearing, like, dark blue. Oh, oh, yeah, I was wearing dark. And it was Coach Hartline and Coach Keenan Bailey. And it was like, you can't wear them colors here. And then from the day four, I was like, okay, yeah, it's real.

Do you guys ever hear the stories when the Colts or the bills would show up to watch practice? They weren't allowed to wear their, I made them wear like scarlet jackets at practice. No, I know. All day. You mentioned Coach Hartline. I know he had a big part in your recruitment. Now he's the offensive coordinator. What looks different?

What feels different about the offense this year in Columbus? We got a lot of energy. I mean, that's one thing I realize. Offense bringing a lot of energy. Everybody just flying around, just want to make plays. Not to really change, scheme-wise. But, I mean, we just have a lot of energy. Third and long, got to have it.

What's your go-to-route? What's your go-to play? What you going with? go too route. I got to go go ball from the field. Up top. They still call them inside nines? Inside nine? Yes, sir. Yep. On flooding levels? Flooding levels, yes, sir.

I got to know, man. I won't give any more on that one. I got to know, man, obviously, you the top of the food chain, wide receivers, y'all doing one-on-ones. What DB comes over there and gives you the toughest reps in training camp in one-on-one? To be honest with you, I haven't, I don't think I even did one-on-ones this whole clunk. You know, their rep count. I'm telling you, Col. I can't say, well, I can't say it was simple one. I'll say all them boys give me, you know, give me good word. That's all right, man.

They sit you out. We're trying to build confidence. We don't need you. We don't need you messing their confidence up for the season. We talked about the pedigree and the history of that wide receiver room at Ohio State. What have you done that, now that you've matured? You're a sophomore right now. What are your responsibilities for taking care of that whole room?

Oh, you know, just being a leader, going. out each and every week and, you know, just putting on the show because the guys before me did it, so I feel like I have to do the same thing. And yeah, that's all. When did you guys start preparing for Texas? How far back? I say probably last week. Last week, yeah. So last week, this week, we've been on them. So, yeah, we've been on them for sure. What do you think about starting your season in one of these epic matchups of Blue Bloods, Texas and Ohio State? Yeah, I feel like it's, you know, it'll get us ready, you know, throughout the whole season, though, we just need our first game, first big game.

I feel like that will help us, you know, later in the season and the playoffs and everything like that. So I feel like it's very good for us. We need that. All right. All right, man. You've had a lot of big plays, man. He went for over 1,300 yards, 15 touchdowns.

What's the loudest stadium moment you felt so far? Tell me to play. Paint the scene for us, dog. You said stadium? Like the loudest moment that you've heard of state. your favorite play, you know, paint the scene. Like the player was, the lot as you heard the stadium after you made the play, what was it? The actual champ game.

Got to be, yeah, national championship game, third and 11. Yeah, got to be that one. Third and 11. What was the round? Go ball. Go ball. Go ball. Turn alone, got to have you.

How often are you pushing for the go ball? Oh, I'm pushing for it. No, probably no, two, three times. I think no game, but, you know, you know, got to know take our time, especially in this game coming up. They don't really like everything get behind them. They keep everything in front of them. So, you know, we got to just be patient.

And then when it's trying to take our shots, we got to hit them, like Coach Day says. So that'd be. You know, Mike Thomas, Mike Thomas would call for the go ball two or three times a series. Really? Okay. I say Mike wanted that ball, man, for show.

Mike wanted that ball. What's up? No, but, man, we appreciate your time. We know you're busy. And one of the things we do on the show. show, man, is we've been firing questions at you for the last 10 minutes. If you have a question for any one of us, man, go ahead and shoot it to us, man. And we like to give our guests that opportunity to fire a question back. I got one for you, Mark. All right. You, one of Housman

and everything like that. Pat Hipe around you at Alabama and everything successful. Like, how did you like block out all the notes? I think I do a pretty good job better, but how does you handle all of it? Then the same thing you said, man, I felt like we were relatable with what you said, just coming from humble beginnings, you know, the way my parents brought me up, I always kept what was important to me, you know, the main thing. And that was my family, that was God, that was making sure I was doing the best that I could do to help my team win championships and win games. And all the outside noise, it was just conditional because when you did good, they praised

you. When you did bad, they tried to tell you down. And so I didn't want to be involved with nothing conditional. I stayed focused on what mattered to me the most. I wanted to be the best football player that I could be. I wanted to be the best person to ever carry the football. As high as those expectations were, that's what I strive for.

That's what I push for every single day. So as long as I did that, I kept my focus on my family, guy, football, and being the best person that I could possibly be, all the outside distraction didn't matter because it was all conditional to me anyway. So appreciate it.

There's no problem. Anytime. Thanks, Jeremiah. Thank you. Appreciate you. Yeah. I have a great season. Can't wait to see you.

Week 1, Ohio State and Texas live on Foxman. Have a great season, Jeremiah. Thanks for the time. Sir, thank you. Sure. Before we head out, Buckeye fans and those Longhorn fans traveling into Columbus next week, want to let you know that on Friday the 29th, we encourage you to swing on by the tailgate tour at the River Watch Tower near the Ozone on Lane Avenue. It is free for all guests.

There will be music. There will be top-tier tailgate food and a live episode of The Script with Ohio State Legends, Cardell Jones, and Beanie Well. They will be joined by Texas Legends, Mack Brown and Vince Young, R-SvP for more info on the event, and you can find it at Tailgate Tour, Ohio State. Dot R-SvP-I-F-Y dot com. And next week, Clemson Head Coach, Dabo Sweeney joins us ahead of that massive game with LSU. Make sure to follow, subscribe, and rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast,

as well as across social media. We can be found at 3X option show, as always, thanks to our wonderful sponsors. Wendy's ZipRecruiter, Fandul, NHTSA. Enjoy the football here on Week Zero, and we will talk to you next week ahead of week one.