The Triple Option - Michigan State's Tom Izzo Joins Ahead of Sweet 16 & Alabama Football's 2025 Expectations

Episode Date: March 26, 2025

What do you get when a football guy coaches basketball? Just 16 Sweet 16 appearances. Coach Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone are joined by one of the GOATS! Michigan State's Tom Izzo joins the show to talk about his latest visit to the Sweet 16, basketball practice in pads, how he has evolved as the game has changed, and how close Urban came to donning the green and white. The guys then looked into their Crystal Ball and laid out their expectations for the Alabama Crimson Tide in year two of the Kalen DeBoer era. Over or under 9.5 wins, shoot your shot! 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. Head to the Wendy’s App To Get a $1 JBC or $1 Double Stack with Offer and Additional Purchase. https://m-wendys.app.link/marchmadness25   A big thank you to the rest of our sponsors: BetMGM Enter the March Matchups $250,000 Pick ‘Em free-to-play game.      Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. This promotional offer is not available in Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. ZipRecruiter Try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE: ZipRecruiter.com/OPTION   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coach Izzo, man, I just got to tell you what an honor and a pleasure it is for your boy being a Sparty at heart. Go Green. My dad played at Michigan State. Mom went to Michigan State. Grandpa played at Michigan State. So I grew up Michigan State bedsheets. But you didn't go there. Barry in the lead. I know he let Nick take them. I know that. The Triple Option presented by Wendy's. Head to the Wendy's app to get a $1 JBC or a $1 double stack with offer and additional purchase. Hey everybody, thanks for joining us this week on The Triple Option presented by Wendy's.

Remember, rate, subscribe over at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, find us on social media at 3X option show. So this past year, college football expanded the playoff system to 12 teams. We spent a lot of weeks talking about it. You know why they did it? Because they want to be more like college basketball, the success that they've had with March Madness

in the tournament. So with that in mind, let's bring in the winningest men's basketball coach in Big 10 history, your 2000 national champion, the unquestioned Dean of college basketball coaching, Michigan State head coach Tom is, oh, as he gets ready for his 16th sweet 16, that is amazing. Congrats on that coach. And thanks for joining us this week. The legend man. Yeah, you guys are just making me sound older than I am.

That's tough. No, sorry about that. Compliments. I don't take those as compliments. Great. All the favor. That's a compliment national coach. We're full of compliments.

Coach, you're a great friend and one of my favorite people. Uh, you are so good to me during my career. I'd get some of the greatest fricking text messages from you, uh, after a great win and sometime when we had that loss, you'd hit me up afterwards and then we'd run into each other. So you are, and Mark, I'm sure you know this, you know he's not a basketball coach.

Deep down you ripped that heart open. That's a football dude right there, man. Yes, sir. I agree. He loves him and Mark D'Antonio are great friends, probably still great friends. I know he supports, you love your school, you love supporting a football team.

I always idolize that because I've always had that relationship with my bad, I've had, how about this? I had Rick Majeris, I had Dan Dacic. I had a Thad Mata and then obviously Billy Donovan was my neighbor. And we were best friends. I mean, we support, I was at all the games. They were at our games. So great to have you here and tell us about your team and what.

Makes this team potentially you've had it once before. It's been a while. What makes this team? Is there a shot with this team? You know, it's the strangest team I've had in this respect. It's, it's not the most talented team. I'm not sure it's in the top five or six that I've had or top 10 or 15 that I've had but it's maybe the most connected and as you know especially this day and age having connections

with each other and kind of a real care for one another we all talk about family atmosphere and all that stuff it's getting harder to deal with now than it ever was. I mean, we become like society, so self-centered, so about ourselves that it's hard to do that for some reason. I don't know if it was the trip to Spain. I took my team back where Mary and I are from Northern Michigan. I've taken them to Lions games, Tiger games. I'm trying to do more and more with them to develop that. And it's worked so far. games, I'm trying to do more and more with them to develop that.

And it's worked so far, we kind of had role definition, we're playing 10 players, I guess that would be equivalent of, of playing like eight receivers or, you know, even two quarterbacks, you know, it's not the norm. But it's worked because I think they've all come together so far. Yeah. Now, coach, you were saying like how you've been able to adapt. You said how this might be the most connected team you've ever had. Um, with today's day and age, you haven't missed the NCAA tournament, um, since 1996.

Like over time, like how have you been able to adapt as a coach? What have you learned to help you kind of come to this method of being able to have a, be a great coach and have a team that's competing in the sweet 16? Yeah, you know, it's, I'm sure urban has had to deal with this too. And the hardest part for me is staying in the same place. That's good, but it's hard because your fans, your media, you know, they all get sick of it and you know, they get sick of the same press conferences. But I think what I've tried to learn to do, I watched Bobby Knight when I first came in, I watched

Gene Katie, you know, Bob struggled to adapt to the new times where Gene was still the gruff. They were both tough, gruff. Clem Haskins was in that. Those are the three I came in with. I was afraid to go to conference coaches meetings with those three guys, but I learned from all of them that you do gotta make adjustments, but don't change the principles.

I think after COVID, I think I failed a little bit in that. I think I adjusted so much that I forgot and I use the terms and they're the same for me. The end of the day, you know, you guys in football got the RPOs, you got this, you got that, you got changes, passing, running. Everybody wants to adapt different defenses. At the end of the day, you got to be able to block and tackle and not turn the ball over. The end of the day for us, we got to be able to block and tackle and not turn the ball over. The end of the day for us, we got to be able to defend and rebound and not turn the ball over.

And I use every super bowl. And this one was a classic. You turn the ball over, you're probably not winning. And I mean, at a high rate. And so that's why I love football. I, I, I just think it's easier to see those things in basketball. There's so many possessions. It doesn't carry the same weight.

But at the end of the day, I've adjusted without changing who I am and what I believe it takes not to win games. That's a lot of people can do different things, but to win championships or compete at that level as urban is done. There's still only one way, right? Coach. I mean, you gotta be tough. You gotta, you gotta be demanding.

You gotta be accountable. That doesn't change. Well, ironically, I had a player Ryan Winkrow from my first bowling green team. And I mean, those stories were legendary and they're all true. I mean, it was back in the day we had materials and combatives and all that. And he made a copy and says, do you realize if they had Transfer Portal when you were coaching that all 85 would have left? And I said, yeah, of course.

I mean, that's the way you tried. It was Navy SEAL training. I wanted you to ring the bell. And, but it's the same. And he teared up as he left. And he says, the greatest year I've ever had in my life, because we went from one and 10 to nine and three. And so my question to you that word transfer, the phrase transfer portal,

has that changed Tom is on the court, in the meeting rooms? Cause you're, you're a tough ass dude now. Are you still that? You know, it's funny cause you were at Ohio state and when I had my championship team in 2000, I had some tough kids. And I mean, Cleves and Andre Liston rugged list. But all those guys were tough and we got beat at Ohio State in a re in our rebounds. We were like one in the country. And I remember my kid, Andre Hudson, grabbed Zach Randolph, pinned him up against the wall and said, we don't do that here. We don't lose. We lost the game by one. We lost the rebound.

So Saban was here then. So I came back and I said, I called Nick. I said, I need 12 sets of football gear practicing tomorrow. Can I do that? Yeah. the It was so that it pissed me off to be honest with you. And yet to this day, when they come back to reunions, coach, you bring out the pads this week. I said, no, a little different than what you're saying. I ain't worried about them transferring. I'm worried about their lawyers suing me. Oh, I don't do that anymore. I changed. Oh, man, that's a great story there. Hey man, I love that. Hey coach, this time of year, you know, you've gone

through the gauntlet of Big Ten Conference play in the Big Ten tournament and now you're in this NCAA tournament where you have new opposition. You have little time and you have a team that's just played so many games. How do you manage your preparation? You know, is it more dealing with the opposition than dealing with yourself or vice versa as you head into the Sweet 16? Unfortunately, I'm one that deals with the opposition more, I guess. I'm a filmaholic. I've been brought up with all the football guys back in the day of Northern Michigan. And what

it's done for me is it's taught me how to prep quicker and more efficient. They always said John wouldn't worry more about his team, but his third string center was a draft pick, you know? So it's a little different talent level there. But you know, what we've done here is it's not bad this week, but now you play Friday, if you win you play Sunday afternoon. That quick turnaround, I kind of started it my first year, we went to these 20, 25 minute segments,

because the tension span of these guys isn't great. So we'll go to breakfast, before breakfast 20 minutes, eat breakfast 20 minutes, lunch 20 minutes, go to the shoot around 20 minutes before, 20 minutes after. And it's really served me well. You know, when you're in a hotel, sometimes we have walk-throughs right in the hotel. And that's the way I've done it, and it's been pretty successful on second day play. You know, it's helped us a lot.

I got to hit you real quick about the football program. When I got into the Big Ten in 01, Michigan State was a top team in the, in the big 10, Mark D'Antonio and our doozy. I know you were real close to those guys. They were the best team in the big 10 and oh one. And, uh, I'm sorry, in 2012, 2012, and, uh, they fallen off the planet man. And, uh, they, they were known to take that three star athlete and grind them into a first rounder. How far are they off?

Well, I think Jonathan's going to do a good job here, but you hit on something that I got to deal with every day too, because I've had my one and dons, you know, I've had Randolph and Richardson's and, and Jaren Jackson's and miles bridges, but probably had more, more three or four and done guys. And where you develop them, they kind of know what it is like the player, the Michigan, Michigan state game means more, you know, if you've been here a while. And, uh, and football, you know, I think we had the change over in coaches and things didn't go well and when you mess up in football, it is a little longer

to get back in most cases because just the number of players. Now the transfer portal might eliminate some of that, or ease some of that, but I still think it's harder to turn a football program around quickly than it is a basketball program. When you get into an Escape Plug-in Hybrid, you get the perfect mix. You can chill in electric mode, You can chill in electric mode, turn it up in gas mode, or get the best of both in hybrid mode. Choose how you move in the all-in-one Escape. And right now, get a $3,000 rebate on the Escape Plug-in Hybrid and all 2025 Escape models. For details, visit your Toronto Area Ford store or ford.ca Coach is oh man. I just got to tell you what an honor and a pleasure it is for your boy being a

Sparty at heart go green my dad played at Michigan State mom went to Michigan State grandpa played in Michigan State So I grew up Michigan State bedsheets when I was getting recruited. You was one of the main reasons why I loved Michigan State I'll go to the basketball game student section will be talking about we want Ingram. We want Ingram. So I just want to tell you I love you and I appreciate you for all you doing what you want. But you didn't go there. I did not.

He let him take them. I know that. But I still love them. I still pulled for him when he was down there, to be honest with you. See, that's a real one right there. See, that's a real one. But hey, one of my things that I love the most is in 2000,

you have Flintstones, you have my boy Moe Pete, you have Matin Cleaves, you had Charlie Bell. When you get a Flintstone, when you get a brother for Flint, let these people know. Because I tell them I'm from Flint, but they don't really know what that means. What you getting when you get a player from Flint, Michigan? I'll tell you, back in those days especially,

and even before you were there, you got the toughest, baddest guys, Flint, Sag. I'll tell you back in those days especially and even before you were there, you got the toughest, baddest guys, Flint, Sag, and I mean, Dremont, I can tell you a story from King Yang about J Rich, J Rich and uh but you're right.

Cleves, you know, was the leader that Antonio Smith is two brothers played pro football. Um everybody then played both sports, right? Right. And so we had tougher guys. Now, we get this specialization and you guys are lucky in

football. We get the sissy guys. Sometimes you get the tougher guys, you know, but there was something about that, you know, Mark, I still have a key to that city up there because when we won the championship, they had a

parade here. A mayor of Flint had a parade up there. It was like, it was unbelievable and that, and that was a hell of a parade by the way up there. Yes, yes, yes. I love that, that's great. Key to the city, is over the key to Flint, Michigan baby. Let's go. Coach, we experienced the expansion of the college football playoffs this year

and it kind of keeps creeping closer and closer to what you deal with every year in the basketball format. Do you think college football should get bigger and better in the postseason tournament and get closer and closer to what basketball has right now? You know the one thing you don't have that basketball has that I you know I still I'm a small college guy but usually if it's four or 12 you you got the best 12 teams. You know, we still have this Cinderella stuff and Cinderella has landed on my shoe a couple of times too, you know? So, uh, I, when you go to 15, um,

it's hard because players don't respect the teams as much media doesn't respect them. But as coach knows, we respect everybody because those things happen. We were beaten by middle Tennessee. We had a really good team, I think 16. And everybody says, well, you overlooked them. We were the best defensive team in the country. Statistically, they shot 56% against us, 53 from the three. It% against us. 53 from the three. It was one of

those nights that the damn ball went in, you know, and uh and we got beat and I thought that was a final four team. So, I don't know if I, you know, I don't think that can happen in football. It's just the bigger, stronger teams. I don't think

you could let the smaller programs in even though there's some good ones when you were at Bowling Green, you're probably good. There's been some teams, Northern Illinois, there's been some good small college teams, but boy, I don't know if you could do that. And I don't know if you'd want to do that. First of all, you couldn't play as many games. It's taxing it up on these guys.

And you start adding another game and another game and then injuries and all the things go. And I don't think he could do that. What do you two guys think? You guys are in it. I kind of agree with you said you start diluting the quality of teams. You keep going deeper and deeper and deeper and yet you do have a Cinderella. I guess that's one of the things that makes Marsh Bend is as a fan as a coach it drives you out of your damn mind because your players look at that middle Tennessee state and you're like, wait a minute now, watch the tape. Yeah.

They they're good enough to beat you. So, yeah, that is a problem. And I, I just think that, um, you know, when you, when you get the football too, you know, when it was four, there was always somebody left out and it's 12. There's always somebody left out. Ours was 64. Now it's 68. There's still somebody left out, you know, win more games and you won't be left right. Ours was 64. Now it's 68. There's still somebody left out. No, when more games and you won't be left out.

Well, coach, thanks for your time, man. Love you. Uh, we're, we're pulling for you as always. Is a one more time. Mark, we gotta, we gotta get a couple more Flintstones on my team. You gotta call your people up there. Tell them to produce some, some, I know man. City got to get back to city struggle right now. But we're going to make them.

Hey, coach, I got one more for you. One more. We've been preparing you. We do this on the show. We've been preparing you with questions. You can ask anyone on the show what question go. What is it like to win the Heisman? I mean, I see it in the back. I see it. I mean, you know, there are certain awards you get. And I know they're the back. I see it. I mean, you know, there are certain awards you get, and I know they're all team

awards and that, but boy, when you get that, you know, those Heisman commercials to me are the greatest man. I tell my wife, record all those. I love them all. You know, just watch those damn things. Yeah. Yeah. Coach.

It was a, it was a blessing, man. It was amazing. Um, you know, I never dreamed of that. I was just out there doing my job, playing to the best of my ability to help my team win games. And I just kept putting one good game together after another. I was on a good football team and we kept winning games and we were ranked high and I kept having good performances against, I had a great performance against your boy right

there, Coach Meyer, with about 200 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in the SEC Championship. And I went up there- And I can tell those guys from Clint are, they keep bringing up stuff like that. Oh, no. You see? They don't even let you enjoy your podcast, we got you. No, but Coach, it was an amazing blessing, man. I'm just so thankful.

And I can't believe that I still, it's still crazy to this day that I won it. But I'm just thankful that I had great teammates around me, that I had coaches who pushed me, I had so many people who poured into me and put me in a position where I had the right mental, physical, emotional, spiritual toughness to be able to go out there and perform the best of my ability over a long period of time and be able to win that trophy. So You know what else you had that I love? My guy cleaves at this.

He's tougher than nails. Unbelievable humility, you know, like no big ego, no big this and that. Wow. I appreciate that about you, Coach Meyer. I appreciate the championships you won at different places. I I studied a little bit when you were at Utah, Boeing Green. I remember when you went to Bowling Green, your name was mentioned here. How dumb were we? You know, we didn't, I mean,

I don't know if we could have got you, but I think at that time we maybe could have, but it's great. I always love being around people. I say it's like osmosis. You rub up against somebody who's been really, really good. Maybe some of it rubs off. So I'm gonna sit between you two and this, do a little rubbing and figure maybe it'll

take me to a final. Hey, hey, Tom, coach real quick. So you brought that up. I was at Bowling Green sitting at my desk where we were undefeated 16th in the country and a headhunter called me early on and said, I'm representing Michigan State. And then he called me back and he said, would you be interested? I've always loved Michigan state. And, uh, then he called me back and he said, you're out of the search.

We want a tier one coach. I remember hanging up the phone and you talk about fired my ass up. I said, so, oh, I got you. You know, I'm not a tear. I mean, it was great motivation. I don't know who the head Hunter was, but I should thank him. Uh, send him a thank you note for saying that. Cause that pissed me off.

I was like, wait a minute, pal. We needed to give you your chance. The one thing they did do is they gave me a chance. I wasn't a head coach, you know? And, but I kind of knew the president a little bit then, you know, the politics. So, well, anyway, you've had a lot of success. You've had a lot of success, Mark. And I'm, you're going to have a lot of success because you're with these two guys.

So everybody should feel good. Now I got to go back to work. You're all going golf and I'm pissed off about it. So we appreciate you coach. Go green, safe travels to Atlanta. Coach. We'll see in the fall when big noon kickoff comes, comes to town post game pizza party down in your basement, right? Maybe some adult beverages. We'll, we'll invite Rafton for the game coaches.

Oh, congratulations. Thanks for joining us this week on the triple option. The legend Tom is how good is he? How good is he? Thank you again, Michigan State moving on to their 16th Sweet 16 under head coach Tom Izzo is the fresh move of the week brought to you by Wendy's. Head to the Wendy's app to get a $1 JBC or a $1 double stack with offer and additional purchase coming up next on the triple option. We talk about Alabama football's expectations for 2025. Will they hit double digit wins in the regular season? Welcome back to the Triple Option presented by the Wendy's Urban Meyer Mark Ingram Rob Stone back here with you.

The Triple Option crystal ball is back boys. The largest crystal ball known to man is back and is brought to you by bet MGM pick. We did not upgrade the crystal ball. We got a bunch of issues on that crystal ball. To turn to glory in our free to play game for each round of March matchups. You have the opportunity to make predictions about what will happen, including outcomes like game winners and over under you'll earn points based on a scoring system. And you could win a share of $250,000. Holy cow. Quarter of a million in bonus bets. Quarter million points earned. All right. We're going to continue talking a little, little spring ball here, if you will, and

we're taking out the crystal ball. We're gonna talk about your program, Mark Ingram, Alabama. BetMGM has set the over at nine and a half regular season wins at plus 105. Okay, this is regular season wins. So nine and a half plus 105 under nine and a half minus 135. All right. Quick recap on Alabama last season cause it impacts this season.

Nine and four missed the college football playoffs. Lost at Vanderbilt. Lord. Lord. Lord. Everyone loves to say that. Lost at Oklahoma. Let's let it go man.

Finished with a loss of Michigan in the bowl game, but that doesn't matter. Right. We're just talking regular season here. Jalen Milro gone. Ryan Williams is back. Who's going to be your quarterback? Is it Ty Simpson? We're going to look at the schedule. And again, kind of the magic number is is it nine or is it 10? Or are we even at that number for Alabama when you look at it? And an interesting test

Alabama starting with Florida State where in years past you would say oh, that's a great test if you reflect on last year What happened in Tallahassee you're saying that's a that's an easy w Florida States gonna be back to what level I don't know But what do you see Alabama schedule wise? I mean you talk about that at Florida State to pop off week one, we talked about Yeah, we talked about scheduling the you know, we talked about the potential of scheduling these type of games to start the year how it could really affect you you lose that game you're behind the eight ball. Are you going to get punished for it? Yes, you will. We saw that strength of schedule kind of didn't get taken into place last year. So that start off the season is a beat going to be a big test at Florida State.

We know the season they had that they're going to want to bounce back. And then you got ULM. You got UL Monroe. Then you got Wisconsin, Georgia. Give me three wins right there. Mike, are you going three and out of three and oh, I'm going three and oh. And then you got at Georgia. That's obviously going to be a dog fight.

Then you go, Vandy, you're not on that. I'm going to three then I'm going to hold's obviously going to be a dog fight. Then you go Vandy. You're not coming on that. I'm going to three then I'm going to hold it just to be safe. Andy dub. Yeah. Missouri dub Tennessee revenge game dub South Carolina at South Carolina dub LSU dub Oklahoma revenge game again. That, Oklahoma. Revenge game again. Doug. That's nine. Eastern Illinois. Doug. Ten. There's your ten and a

half there. The Auburn and the Iron Bowl. Doug. Eleven. That's eleven piece. Eleven. And then twelve of you guys. Twelve of you guys take care of Georgia. So, maybe Mark's not the best. That's an eleven piece family meal for you, Stone. Maybe Mark's not the most level-headed person to talk about the Alabama schedule. All right. So we go, hey, listen, it's it's it's do or die for us right now.

I agree. We got to come back and hit the playoffs and flex our muscle or it's going to get spicy down there to us. Calusa. Yeah. All right. So coach, the crystal ball coach, crystal ball, Alabama coach. So so the rule is you never take a job following someone like Saban, very rarely does it work out. Somebody gotta take a job. Because what happens is you're gonna hear,

well this is what he used to do, what he used to do, what he used to do. And then it becomes, if you struggle, then it becomes overwhelmingly loud. And I imagine, Hale and DeBoer, I really, I've talked to him a few times He's shown his career records phenomenal. He's a hell of a coach I mean period but you're in big shoes there the question I have for you mark

I think they'll win over nine and a half or I think they'll win double-digit games the question I have for you What happens if they don't I told you coach they pulled a plug. Is that the kind of school? You know how state and Florida, you know, Florida is in a different place now, but there was a time where if you didn't, you know, if you weren't in that double digit, you know, it was, it was out at Ohio state. I would imagine that, you know, he coach days by a little time, you know, he's, he's obviously my God, what are you talking about?

But you start himself as much time as he needs right now. It's so that Michigan game. Right. But as much as, as much as I think it's neat to talk about, it will be nine and a half. I don't care what, what does Alabama do if they don't hit it? Coach, it's going to be spicy out there. Like I believe in change. I believe in coach DeBoer.

I think his philosophy, I think it is really good for this new age of college football But at the end of the day how we finished season last year With our own controlling our own destiny and then land agress, Oklahoma And then not getting the playoff and then land egg in the ballgame You come out and you don't have a chance to go to the college football playoff and you don't win double-digit games I don't know if they move. I don't know if they pull the plug, but I know it's going to turn up. I know that seat is going to be extremely warm going towards hot. You know what I mean? So I think he has three years, you know what I mean, to be able to turn this thing around and get it back going where, you know, everyone is happy.

But it's tough, man. Yeah, I don't know if three years exists in Tuscaloosa. It depends on what the second year looks like, right? happy, but it's tough, man. Yeah, I don't know if three years exists in Tuscaloosa. It depends on what the second year looks like, right? Correct. Correct. And it's a big season. It's a huge season. And it's always a big season for Alabama. Right. Like we understand it, but particularly what they're coming off of. I imagine right now that locker room, that weight room is loud and full and open 24-7.

Kailin DeBoer, we know how frustrated he is. This is not the season that he expected. It's not what the fan base expected. It's clearly not what the players expected, but I think there is a big bounce back ability for Alabama. And I coach, we talk about big dog, medium dog, little dog, right? For the out of conference. And I'm not saying Wisconsin's a medium dog,

but they kind of follow that. But Florida State or Wisconsin are medium slash big dogs. Oh, yeah. If you ask me for sure, those are big dogs. It's dang sure not. Who's pissed they playing? It's not who's on their Nice Conference schedule. We got an ACC team and a Big Ten team.

Yes, that is aggressive scheduling. And I think- One's at home, one's away. Well done by the, now if I'm an Alabama fan paying that money, I'm going to go to that. You're watching Wisconsin. You're damn right. Now Wisconsin, you know, I saw someone picked, I was on a call the other day, and they got them picked near the bottom of the Big Ten.

I can't imagine Wisconsin like that. But I think that's a great schedule Wisconsin's a brand you got the white helmets rolling in there the red I mean that the fans will love that game and Florida State my god two years ago They're undefeated so yeah well done scheduling and good luck of the draw because right now they got two of those big dogs that are Down as live your first three of your first four games Florida State Wisconsin, Georgia And then you go to the conference schedule, Vanity, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina LSU, Oklahoma. That's the first ten weeks So what you're saying mark you go you still don't say 11. I'm saying we going I said 11, you know

I mean 12, you know, I mean, okay I don't see no guaranteed L's on the schedule No, but the main thing about it is we gotta find out who's gonna be our quarterback. Who's gonna take us to that next level? We have Jen Miller coming back. We have Ryan Williams coming back. We have an elite roster. We have Coach DeBoer who's just in the national championship.

Two seasons removed. So time is now. Roll damn tight. We're gonna be in the playoff this year. Agreed. Bama's gonna be back and they going to get double digit regular season wins. I got your back, Mark Ingram. Follow, subscribe, rate us over on YouTube, Apple Podcasts,

Spotify, wherever it is you'd elect to find your podcast. Again, we're on social media, 3X Option Show. Thanks, as always. How about the legendary Tom Izzo joining us? And thank you to our sponsors, Wendy's, Bet MGM, and Zip Recruiter. We'll see you next week on The Triple Option.