The Triple Option - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Texas on Top, Panic in Florida, Conference Rankings, and Week 4 Picks

Starting point is 00:00:00 This was my audition for my Hollywood role. Next. Shout out to Wendy's because I'm going Hollywood. I actually see that happening someday. I really do. I see that happening someday. AKA Hollywood, coach. Hollywood.

Starting point is 00:00:11 But I'm Hollywood, though, where it's all good. Light it. We got Deuce Deuce going a little bit. I love that music, man. That music gets me going every single Wednesday. We welcome you to the Triple Option presented by Wendy's. Try Wendy's new saucy nugs today. Huge guest, guys, on this week's show.

Starting point is 00:00:37 The commissioner, the commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, will join us. And before we get underway, I always want to remind you, as always, to subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, as well as across social media at 3XOptionsShow. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Are we ready to go here? Ready to go, coach? Ready to go, Mark? Ready to roll. Let's go. Let's go. All right. This week, we're going to talk about the right and wrong kind of uncles in college football. I know Mark's got a good unk. We see your unk every week on the road with us.

Starting point is 00:01:13 Is there a quarterback controversy brewing in Austin at the University of Texas? And as Mark's dog of the week, is it a whimpering pup in the cage like last week? Or is it a purebred physical specimen? Hey, the whimper got me to cash out on a dog of the week. So the whimper might be this recipe. You never know. All right, so we'll keep him in the cage, pet that little, little puppy here.

Starting point is 00:01:36 But we're going to begin not with a whimpering dog in a cage, but Coach tracking a tiger this week. What was going on with you, Coach, in the New York City area? Yeah, I was a Liberty National at the Veterans Golf Association. I'm on their board. And the Fireman family, the family that started Reebok, Paul Fireman and his son, Dan, they're big sponsors of our group. And Tiger Woods was there.

Starting point is 00:02:01 And I've known Tiger for a long time. And, you know, I just every time I don't get in awe of many people, Mark, I'm in awe of Tiger Woods, man. Yeah. There was nothing better when that red shirt went on on a Sunday and I got locked in. I mean, my son watched it. He was up there with Tiger.

Starting point is 00:02:20 Did you tell him I said, what's up? I said, come on and be our guest. You Tiger Woods, but I know a young man named Tiger Hoods. You Tiger Woods, but I'm Tiger Hoods. You can tell he's hurting a little bit, and he had surgery a couple days after. I hope, I don't know, man. Just as a fan, I hope he gets to swing that club

Starting point is 00:02:41 and somehow raise a trophy one more time. But I'm just a fan. He's a, I love competitors. Mark, I'd have to say Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods. I don't know. They're the most elite competitors in our lifetime. Kobe goes up there too. Oh, absolutely.

Starting point is 00:02:58 Absolutely. Yeah. How fun would it be though to see Tiger kind of pull off one of these Jack Nicholas type runs late in his career, and the whole place is just behind him and going, and just to see that smile, that celebration from one of the game's greats. Well, golf is at its best when Tiger is in the running for a tournament. Everyone's tuned in. You talk about move the needle?

Starting point is 00:03:20 Come on. Sponsorship is, I mean, I lived at Mirafield for 10 years and we used to talk about that all the time. When he played in the Memorial, boom, the needle moved. You know, the crowds are gigantic. The TV ratings were off the chart. So I hope, I hope. All right, let's pivot to our last couple of days

Starting point is 00:03:39 with Big Noon Kickoff in Madison, Wisconsin. Our great sponsor, Wendy's. Notice the cup and the plastic footballs over there. They coughed up some coin to put us in one of their ads, guys. This is Mark leaping into the crowd. Dude, you were like a stuntman. You actually really did it. Cardboard boxes and like those gymnastic tumble mats. It was an awesome experience, and we so appreciate Wendy's leaning into us and giving us time to have fun and make a little commercial.

Starting point is 00:04:14 That was a cool little spot we did for Saucy Nugs. Yeah, Wendy's, they just need to cut the budget for the stunt doubles because I am my own stunt double. You are your own stunt double. I don't need no stunt double. You are our fall guy. Yeah, as long as you got some safety for me to land into, I got the stunt under control, man.

Starting point is 00:04:28 This was my audition for my Hollywood role. Next. Shout out to Wendy's because I'm going Hollywood. I actually see that happening someday. I really do. I see that happening someday. AKA Hollywood, Coach. Hollywood.

Starting point is 00:04:39 But I'm Hollywood, though, where it's all good. One of the great things about doing these commercials is watching coach through the course of these hours upon hours where he gets to say like maybe three words so coach take us through your line oh my gosh what was it uh must be good for the lumbar must be good for the lumbar hey uh where's the napkins i think i said that's him don't forget the napkins yeah me and brady were uh me and brady were stand-ins i think that's good you guys were the background very important the background work there was all about mark and a little maddie uh it is about mark there you're right it's always

Starting point is 00:05:18 about mark or i'm getting kind of tired of it always being about what are you talking about podcast big noon kickoff you're not a nice person mark you know what is up with you lately bro you've been like hey what animosity towards me lately everything no it's because you it's gonna settle something i know you box you want to put up you want to put up the dukes man you put me through that nfl running workout on the treadmill in madison that was you weren't even breathing hard i know because i'm a soccer guy hey how did we celebrate that run, Mark Ingram? By jumping in the water. The lake.

Starting point is 00:05:48 Lake. I don't know what lake that was. What lake was that? There's a couple lakes around there. It was the lake right outside our hotel. Mark, in front of Coach and his wife, dropped to his drawers to go dive in. And the water was cold. That was a Seinfeld moment.

Starting point is 00:06:06 The water was cold. The water was a little chilly and we didn't have no way out we had to get on the dock and tricep extensions to get out of the water i'll tell you madison wisconsin was beautiful people treated us great how about the naples restaurant naples 15 come on man if anybody's ever in the madison area that is where you have to go look Look for Sal at Naples 15. I had the lobster with the scallops with the linguine, and it was just smacking. It was smackable. They so take care of us there, don't they?

Starting point is 00:06:35 Hey, Coach, real quick, while we're talking about Madison, we barely got into it on Big Noon Kickoff, but what did Madison represent to you when you were an opposing football coach? That was my favorite place in a big tent, other than Columbus, obviously the students, the people, the, you know, I've just always admire, you know, the, the, their, their friend, you know, normally when I was a coach at Ohio state, I'd, I'd hide, you know, I don't want to disrupt the team because there's some places, man, it's rugged. And so I'd come out right for a kickoff and right at the end of warm-ups. But in Madison, I'd come out early.

Starting point is 00:07:10 I'd come out early and go over the student section. You saw them there. It was great. It's a very unique place that's got an incredible history. Number two winning program in the Big Ten since 2000. They're struggling a bit now. I think Coach Fickick will get it going. But, I mean, elite, elite place.

Starting point is 00:07:29 Outstanding. And we love the jump. The jump around in between the third and the fourth quarter. That fan base. Because it wasn't a great day for the Badgers against your Alabama Crimson tie, but they stuck around to jump and then they kind of headed back

Starting point is 00:07:44 to their tailgates. They left immediately. What happened to that whole end zone? I don't know. They said they were going to KK Club. Oh, they were going to the college club spelled with a K. We were there on Thursday night, Mark, you, me, and

Starting point is 00:08:01 Matt. Yeah, we went through the little... And my buddy, Steve Weiss, the crazy professor. We went through the secret entrance. Coach, all right, I got to tell this story. Matt had the phone number for the manager of the college club or whatever it was. So Matt knows the owners only. That's a Matt kind of move, right?

Starting point is 00:08:23 So Matt, Mark, and I, and my buddy from Colgate, Steve Weick, the crazy professor, his hair was all over the place by Buddy Weicker. Oh, he's the best. So we get to this. I mean, Coach, I'm saying it's a college bar. It's a college bar. You're looking, and you're like, oh, man, we're going to be the oldest people in this place by far.

Starting point is 00:08:40 And there's a line outside the door. And Mark and Matt are like like we ain't standing in no line to get into this place so matt calls calls the manager guy comes on out and matt's like hey man is there like another entrance is there like just happen out the number is there like a vip heisman winner type entrance he's like hey man just, just go down the side of the building. First right, it's kind of an alley. Take a right, and in there, there'll be like a small door, and I'll open it up for you. So, Mark, what do we do? We walk down. We turn down the alley, the shysty alley. Shysty alley.

Starting point is 00:09:18 No, we see a small door. I'm like, there's no way that's the door. I keep walking trying to find a small door. Operative words, small door. And lo and behold, a small door operative word small door and lo and behold small door opens coach coach even i had to like shrink to half my height you have a picture of the door inside this door uh i do have a picture of the door because mark and i went by and hit that dude that door was like one of those like three-inch metal thick doors.

Starting point is 00:09:46 It has no reason to be that secure. Yeah, it felt like we were doing some kind of like weird late-night delivery. So Madison, props to Madison. All right, time now for Indie Givens Saturday. We're actually going to talk football. And I think the big question right now, congratulations to Texas. They are the number one ranked team jumping over Georgia this week. But the bigger question is, has the Arch Manning era started in Austin? Quinn Ewers was having a Heisman-type start to his campaign.

Starting point is 00:10:14 Left with that abdominal injury versus UTSA. Arch comes in, and Arch was everything that we thought he would be. 267 total yards, five touchdowns. Five! Five, including his first pass was a touchdown, and I believe it was the third read of the play. So he's already showing this maturity. He ran it for 53 yards,

Starting point is 00:10:36 including that touchdown run of 67 yards. So there's going to be this conversation of, has Arch supplanted Quinn Ewers? Quinn is probably out this Saturday, which would give Arch his first career collegiate start. Now, Coach, Sark's got a lot to deal with, right? They got that win at Michigan the same weekend that Notre Dame had that home loss to Northern Illinois. So immediately that Monday, which was last Monday, Sark is preaching, hey, we got to stay away from the Notre Dame effect that home loss to Northern Illinois. So immediately that Monday, which was last Monday, Sark is preaching, hey, we got to stay away from the Notre Dame effect.

Starting point is 00:11:08 Don't start reading your headlines. Don't be reading the clippings. You know, you're a good team, but things can happen. So he was preaching, beware of the Notre Dame effect. Now he's got this quarterback. I'm not saying, I think maybe it's a quarterback quandary right now, right? Because you've got two elite players. And if Arch continues to play at an elite level what do you do when Quinn comes back and he's ready to go so how would you be managing things right now before things get ahead of

Starting point is 00:11:39 themselves and get over their skis a little bit yeah I've had a couple well-known situations I had Tebow Chris Tim Tebow and Chris Leak. Chris Leak was the incumbent returning starter, and here comes the superstar that the fans love. I mean, every time Tim Tebow would walk on the field, the place went berserk, and they actually would boo when I put Chris Leak back in. I don't think Texas is there yet, but I understand Arch is the crowd favorite. Of course. And then I also had Cam Newton backing up Tebow. Think about that.

Starting point is 00:12:09 I had Joe Burrow backing up. Dwayne Haskins. So I've had a couple of them. I think it's all a credit to the Manning family. I would lean on that. Quinn Ewers is your starter, boys. Until he beats him out and doing well against Texas, what is it, Texas-San Antonio?

Starting point is 00:12:28 That's who they beat, right? Yeah, UTSA. That's a warm-up show. Can't lose a job to injury, coach. That's right. Oh, yes, you can. If you're that good, you can lose it to injury. Next up is UL Monroe on Saturday.

Starting point is 00:12:43 Another kind of scrimmage type team, right? Yeah. So Quinn Ewers has beat Alabama at Bama. Quinn Ewers beat the Wolverines badly at Ann Arbor. He's your starting quarterback. Way to not say the N-word, Coach. You got to play him. I'd play him. Arch is about to get much-needed reps. He's about to keep balling and shot-calling

Starting point is 00:13:00 because that's what he is. And he's not the son of Eli and Peyton, as you see on the long TD run. He's Cooper's son. The man he is. And he's not the son of Eli and Peyton, as you see on the long TD run. He's Cooper's son. The man can run. And he can pass. He's the real deal. I think it's going to be an interesting situation.

Starting point is 00:13:15 They're good enough, Rob. He'll play a lot. Because they're going to be beating the sauce out of teams this year. That's a great team. So he'll play a lot. That's a good problem to have for the Longhorns. I hope it's a good problem for them to have, but it could become a problem.

Starting point is 00:13:30 I don't think it will. It's always a good problem. Well, it's better than having no quarterbacks, i.e. the team in Ann Arbor right now with what they're going through right now. Shots fired. Bow! I'm sorry. It's facts. Even the Michigan people understand that. Let's go back

Starting point is 00:13:45 to this Texas situation. I find this fascinating. And I don't think it's going to become an issue. And it's only going to become an issue if Quinn Ewers lets it become an issue. I don't believe Arch is going to fall into that because as we talked in the pre-show, if you will, there's good uncles and there's bad uncles, right? And I've always loved this term, hanging out with the college football guys. We got an uncle. There's always, and I'll let you get into this, Coach, about kind of the odd uncles. But when you're talking good uncles, you're talking Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, good uncles. That's what Arch has right now. He has got an absolute solid head on his shoulders, and he's got DNA, he's got pedigree, and he's got generations of talent in that family who can properly guide him. Not every young student

Starting point is 00:14:32 athlete out there, coach, has that. Yeah, I call him the third uncle. And the third uncle would be that guy that comes in, Mark, and all of a sudden he's sitting in the meeting with the coach and you're like, who is this guy? Why is he here? You know, he has an interest and it's usually him. And I would, I mean, I was pretty, I was pretty crude about it too. Like, get the hell, what are you doing here? And the player would sometimes, you know, well, it's my, that's your who? Where's your father? Where's your, where's family? Because the way God created young people, they're usually a mess. They have to listen. Every young person, in my experience, Mark, and I can't wait to hear your response, listens to someone. Yes, sir. 18, 17, 18-year-olds are not equipped to make life-changing decisions.

Starting point is 00:15:15 So who are they listening to? I got a great story. Marvin Harrison Sr., he was the person that Marvin Harrison Jr. was listening to. There's no one better. It wasn't about NIL. It wasn't about money. It wasn't, you know what it was about? I remember hearing Heartline tell me a story.

Starting point is 00:15:32 It's about becoming the best possible version of yourself. And you work your ass off. Don't worry about that other stuff. It'll come. And I know Mark, your father, senior, and your uncle, Bob, you know, you surround yourself with great people. I've seen the opposite when you see people that have self-interest as opposed to the interest in the young person.

Starting point is 00:15:52 That would drive, I mean, of all the things in college sports that drove me insane, that might be one. Because I'm looking at this poor kid thinking, why in the hell are you listening to that person because that person is not in it for you? Right. Well, a lot of these young kids, they listen to someone who has not. So like you said, Marvin Harrison Sr., he played.

Starting point is 00:16:12 He has went through it. He understands the process, the grind. It's not just an over day. It's not an instant gratification. A lot of these parents or a lot of these guardians want instant gratification, like for money, for whatever it may be. But my father played 10 years, won a Super Bowl, was a first-round draft pick. So when I went to college, I was listening to him.

Starting point is 00:16:37 And maybe I wanted to leave. I wanted to transfer. He's like, no, you're going to stay your butt there. You're going to work your butt off, and you're going to get what you deserve. Every player at some point in their mind says, I got to go. Exactly. My freshman year, I said I had to go. My dad was like, no, you don't got to go. You got to sit there, weather the storm, work your butt off, overcome the adversity, compete, and you'll be better for it. And so when you have the pedigree and someone like Arch has, his uncles, his uncle,

Starting point is 00:17:11 his father, Marvin Harrison Jr. has, Marvin Harrison Sr., a Hall of Fame wide receiver, when you have that pedigree, they understand the process. It's not something that you can just get instant gratification. You can't take any shortcuts. There's no secret recipe. It's hard work, it's dedication, it's commitment, it's overcoming adversity. I will add this, Mark. When you see a player go through a struggle, I promise you it was some knucklehead making a decision for that player that had some self-interest. And that drives me like, and I've talked to other coaches, but it drives you absolutely insane when you see people leave a great situation. You're like, why the hell did you just do that?

Starting point is 00:17:42 And Cooper Manning was on our show a couple weeks ago, and I grabbed him. And I know you did too, Mark. And I imagine, Rob, you talked to him. And I just said, man, the decisions that you guys have made so far for this guy has been phenomenal. Yeah. I told him the same thing, Coach.

Starting point is 00:17:59 I was like, I admire what you have done with Arch, how you have handled that whole situation. Because, you know, he could have left, been left, and wouldn't have started anywhere in the country. But he stayed in Texas. He's staying true to who he is, to his morals, his values. And look, it's going to pay off tenfold because we already see the talent.

Starting point is 00:18:14 We already see the potential. And when it's Arch Manning time in Texas, it's going to be the real deal. It's already the real deal in Texas. They're number one in the country. But now they got a future. They got a future beyond Queen Ewers. And that's what you look for when you had a great program. If any college football player in the country could have left and you

Starting point is 00:18:32 wouldn't have given him much grief about it, it would have been Arch Manning. Facts. With everything that comes with the name and what his background was and just to be properly humbled by sitting behind another quarterback and learning. And we're seeing that in the NFL right now, right? We just saw that with Bryce Young in Carolina, that these young men, whether it's on the collegiate level or the NFL level, getting thrown to the proverbial college football NFL wolves early on before they're ready. Arch Manning is ready.

Starting point is 00:19:00 Using that time to sit has made him a better player to sit. Tom Brady was going off on that the other day as well. Yep. Yep. Sit and learn and be patient. But that is not the society we live in right now. But congratulations to Texas. Number one guys in the AP poll for the first time in 16 years.

Starting point is 00:19:18 You know who's not number one? Florida. Hey, 16 years? 16 years, man. So how long ago was that that's 2014 that's 2000

Starting point is 00:19:28 I was told there'd be no math involved 2008 middle of the 2008 season is when Texas was last number one

Starting point is 00:19:36 you've always wanted to be part of something bigger than yourself you live for experience and lead by example you want the most out of life and realize what you're looking for is already in you this is for you. The Canadian Armed Forces. A message from the Government of Canada. Mama, look at me.

Starting point is 00:20:12 Vroom, vroom. I'm going really fast. I just got my license. Can I borrow the car, please, Mom? Kids go from 0 to 18 in no time. You'll be relieved they have 24-7 roadside assistance with intact insurance. Mom, can we go to Nana's house tomorrow? I want to go to Jack's place today.

Starting point is 00:20:29 I'll just take the car. Don't wait up, okay? Kids go from zero to 18 in no time, don't they? At Intact Insurance, we insure your car so you can enjoy the ride. Visit intact.ca or talk to your broker. Conditions apply. This is an ad by BetterHelp. What comes to mind when you hear the word gratitude?

Starting point is 00:20:50 Maybe it's a daily practice, or maybe it feels hard to be grateful right now. Don't forget to give yourself some thanks by investing in your well-being. BetterHelp is the largest online therapy provider in the world, connecting you to qualified professionals via phone, video, or message chat. Let the gratitude flow. Visit BetterHelp.com to learn more and save 10% on your first month. That's betterhelp, H-E-L-P.com. Can anybody remember when Florida was last number one? Coach, you were probably there and involved. 2009. Your Gators, brother, your Gators are sinking, Coach. Billy Napier getting booed at halftime, getting booed coming off the field,

Starting point is 00:21:25 having to deal with questions about his tenure. Is he going to continue? And he basically kind of admitted he would have booed himself coming off the field with another home loss. And then there's the team up north, if you're a Florida Gator, if you will, Florida State, Tallahassee, they fall to Memphis, 20-12. They are 0-3. FSU, the first preseason top 10 team to start 0-3

Starting point is 00:21:50 with all three losses coming to unranked opponents. So as good as Miami is right now in the Sunshine State, and even maybe give UCF and USF a little love, it is a massive fall from grace for Florida State and for Florida. I'll start with you, Mark. Which coach, which program do you think is in more perilous state right now?

Starting point is 00:22:12 I think it would have to be the Gators. I think it's the Gators, although the Noles aren't far behind, but I love Mike Norvell as a coach. I love Napier as a coach, but when you have the results that you've had and you're getting pressure

Starting point is 00:22:26 from boosters, from fans, from students, possibly players too. I've seen a player post some stuff on social, like F this team. Like, you know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:22:36 When you have that type of division going on within a program, that is not what you want. So I don't know. They're both down bad right now. And I'm a fan of Mike Norvell because I spent some time with Mike Norvell. I don't know Napier personally, but I feel for both of these coaches, man. I seen a picture of him and his wife hugging on the field. You see stuff like that. These are human beings. You know what I mean? This is a coach who doesn't want this to happen for his program. Coach knows better than anyone.

Starting point is 00:23:05 The Swamp, they have championship standards. They don't have standards where they're one and two, losing to unranked teams at home in the Swamp. So I would say that the Florida Gators are probably in a worse state just because maybe they feel more stable with Mike Norvell in Florida State. Particularly after what they did last season. Right, right. Going undefeated, winning the ACC, but getting bounced from the playoff picture.

Starting point is 00:23:30 Coach, your take on what's going on with your former program in Gainesville? Yeah, I talked to Coach Steve Spurrier last night and it's him and Jerry celebrated their 58th anniversary. Nice. He's a great friend and a guy I admire so much. He's been so good to me over the years, and Shelly and Jerry. And so I talked to him, and he's there. And I said something.

Starting point is 00:23:51 I said, were you in the game? And he said he left to beat the traffic, but he said it was bad. And when that momentum is such a fragile thing, and you've got a really experienced team momentum, whether in-game decisions or program decisions, You know, and I, you got a really experienced team momentum, you know, you, you kind of, whether, you know, in-game decisions or program decisions, but momentum has never been more valuable because people want to win and won now and would do anything. You see these buyouts, you're going to talk about them here in a minute where they just

Starting point is 00:24:17 keep firing people because you start to lose momentum. You lose momentum, you lose recruiting, you lose, you know, and then fans and NIL. And I mean, I'm getting a little bit stressed out here even thinking about what's happening there because the momentum is gone. It's been gone for a while there. And that's hard to imagine. Mark, you never went to the Swamp, did you?

Starting point is 00:24:38 No. But you played the Gators. I played the Gators, though. When they were at the peak. There's no better place. There's no better stadium. Great setting. It's like a freaking jet engine right behind you when you're cooking.

Starting point is 00:24:45 Fantastic college town. And you got, you know, jobs are based on recruiting. And there's within a 300-mile radius, you don't have to go anywhere else. And, you know, I was offered the Notre Dame job and the Florida job. And I'm Irish Catholic, and I love Notre Dame. I would go there in a minute. But the reason I took Florida, not many people know this, is because I had young kids at the time. When you recruit for Notre Dame,

Starting point is 00:25:11 Mark, you recruit Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, New Jersey, New York, Memphis, and Florida. You know where you recruit? Florida? Florida. You got a King Aaron, you got a citation at your disposal. I was home almost every night because you recruit Tampa, you recruit Miami, you recruit Polk County, you go up in Georgia, but you're home. And so Florida's got it all right there. It's hard for me to see what's happening in Florida because when I was playing in college,

Starting point is 00:25:39 they were the best team in the country. They were the standard. They whooped us and caused and triggered our dynasty. That was what motivated us. In 08, we went there. We played Coach Meyer, his games in the SEC Championship. It was one versus two. We lost that game.

Starting point is 00:25:54 That motivated us and inspired us for the next year that we went undefeated and won the national championship. And that's essentially what triggered the dynasty that you see today at Alabama. So it's hard for me to see Florida in the position that they're in right now. It's funny the things that come back to your brain and just like your first memories

Starting point is 00:26:11 of somebody or something. And coach, one of my first memories of you was a classic video clip to Coldplay, I Will Fix You. And it was Urban coming to Gainesville to fix the Florida Gators. And I remember it vividly. It was so great.

Starting point is 00:26:26 And all the Gator Nation was behind you and feeling this change of pace. And I guarantee you there's some boosters, there's some alums out there saying, you know what? Let's find Urban Meyer's number and let's get his tail back down to Gainesville. Somebody called you and said, Coach, Coach, come fix us again. What would you tell them? That ship has sailed, Mark. I want that program to do well so bad.

Starting point is 00:26:49 I know so many people there and give a big part of our life to that program. But that ship has sailed, Mark. All right. We don't want you to go. People keep trying to take coach. I am not trying to take coach. I have fought for years to keep coach. I lost him once.

Starting point is 00:27:05 I'm not going to lose him again. Let's talk about these buyout numbers. Napier, this year, 26M. That's a big number, man. Buy me out, damn it. Yes. Buy me out, please. Dude, you can buy me out with a 26T.

Starting point is 00:27:23 I don't need a 26M. Next year, it goes down to 19 million. 2026 down to 13 million. If we're talking Tallahassee, Norvell this year, $68 million buyout. Please buy me out. Yeah. Next year, 59 million, 26, 51 million.

Starting point is 00:27:42 These are massive, staggering numbers. Stoner, put me out of my misery, please. Everybody, I'm done. I'm going to do you a favor. I'm going to cash that check, and I am gone. You will not see me on the triple option. You will not see me on big noon kickoff. You're going to see me on my own island.

Starting point is 00:28:00 That's the Matt Rule program. Oh, man. Get that money from Carolina. I think they still paying him six figures a month. And he over there undefeated with Nebraska. That's the Matt Rule program. Can we talk about Nebraska right now? Are they for real?

Starting point is 00:28:13 3-0, guys, for the first time since 2016. And this Matt Rule flipping of programs is crazy. I'm going to throw some numbers at you. This is on the collegiate level. Remember, he started at Temple. Temple's a tough place to win, coach. If Temple came to you like, hey, coach, coach, come fix us at Temple. Coach is going to be like, wrong number. Who's this? All right. So Temple, two and 10, right? Year one under rule. And then six and six, right? That's a six and six, 500 in Philly for Temple. That's a, they're building you statues.

Starting point is 00:28:47 Then it goes 10-4 and 10-3. Baylor comes calling. Remember when Baylor was just god-awful? 1-11. And then, bam, 7-6. Then 11-3. Goes to the NFL. Maybe it didn't work so great for him there.

Starting point is 00:29:03 Nebraska comes calling. Then AD Trev Alberts. What a great signing this was. Matt Rule. And you got to remember these guys, like just because they had one bad year, maybe in another league, doesn't mean they're bad coaches. And maybe they're just better fits on the collegiate level. But Matt Rule comes back to the college game. Five and seven at Nebraska, but you could see things improving dramatically. And here they are, 3-0. Friday night, prime time on Fox, a ranked matchup against Illinois. And, Coach, it will be the 400th consecutive sellout in Lincoln

Starting point is 00:29:38 dating back to early November 1962. That place loves that program and their football. A unique place. I think it's the envy of college sports, if you've really studied college sports. 400, 400 straight sellouts, Mark. The entire state migrates to Lincoln, Nebraska. I've been there. I've been a fan. I've been a fan since Tom Osborne changed the game in the 70s. Mark, you weren't around, Mark. Some of us were. You know, they were the first program to really invest in athletes the way that everyone does

Starting point is 00:30:13 now. Mark, I'm not sure you knew that. They called it Husker Power. That was back when strength training was really not a thing to do. I remember people telling us, don't do it because it's not good for you. And all of a sudden, I remember I started really started really lifting because of Nebraska and I would have their pictures all over my bedroom. And we had a little $20 weight room that I put together. Wait a second. It was because of Nebraska. You got pictures of Nebraska weightlifting

Starting point is 00:30:36 guys in your bedroom? Man, I had Cheryl Teagues. That sounds bad. I had Farrah Fawcett. You got some Nebraska weightlifters up on your wall. Coach, what is going on with you? The Husker power. I'll never forget it. And as a result, for Christmas, I got a $40 weight set, Mark. Remember those concrete and plastic weights that you put on? I got you.

Starting point is 00:30:59 I got that because of Husker power. But the point is this. They just built a brand new Tom Osborne facility. They are nonstop investing in their program and their athletes. You have to admire that. And that's why I'm a huge fan of Nebraska. I love football, and I love the history of football. So I've always, even though I wasn't around in the 70s,

Starting point is 00:31:17 I've always heard about Nebraska, the Cornhuskers. And my coach, Coach Byrne Burns, who was my running back coach, he played at Nebraska. So I always heard about the history and the rich culture of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. So I think it's better for college football when they're back. And they're 3-0. They in primetime Friday night. Matt Rule got the squad going.

Starting point is 00:31:37 Dylan Raiola. Patty Mahomes Jr. in the flesh doing the whole pregame get up and all. The haircut, the number, everything. You know, they got the guys flying around on defense, the Cornhuskers. We're going to see what they bat on Friday. Really, really well-coached team. Top 10, number eight in the country on defense, balanced offense. They got a young freshman quarterback.

Starting point is 00:31:58 If you really watch what he's doing, he's completing, I think, 80% of his balls. They're protecting him, Mark. I mean, it's one of the best jobs I've seen protecting a young quarterback. They're not putting him in harm's way. The ball's coming out. They're taking care of him, and they got a nice run game to go with it. And top eight in the country in defense.

Starting point is 00:32:14 So that's a real team. They're not ready to go. They might sneak into a playoff. I don't think they're ready this year, but the future's stronger. What I admire is what you said since 400 and something games. Even when they weren't good, they the future is stronger. What I admire is what you said since 400 and something games. So even when they weren't good, they were still selling out. That tells you everything you need to know about the culture of a program.

Starting point is 00:32:32 You know, one time real fast, Mark, before we move on, is they weren't very good, and we went out there to play. And I asked my guy, my operations guy, I said, let's go. I just want to go look around. And so I put my hat and sunglasses on. This is two hours before the game. And they kind of drove me around a golf cart. And it wasn't, you know, I just,

Starting point is 00:32:52 that's how much I admire Nebraska. Let me give you a couple little nuggets here about Nebraska as well. They should be, here's the big one. They should be 7-0. They could, should be 7-0 going into they should be seven and oh they could should be seven oh going into columbus ohio october 26th how about that one big noon is already eyeballing that one i'll give you one other number last time nebraska hosted a ranked matchup right this week number 22 nebraska

Starting point is 00:33:20 hosting number 24 illinois congrats coach b limama and the Illini. Last time Nebraska hosted a ranked matchup, the year was 2013, and that is your Saucy Nug of the Week try-some at your nearest Wendy's. I got the nugs. I got the saucy nugs. Coming up next, we're joined by the commissioner

Starting point is 00:33:41 of the National Football League, Roger Goodell. Lady. Next, we're joined by the commissioner of the National Football League, Roger Goodell. Light it. secure tomorrows. Their insurance solutions are designed to help protect you and your loved ones financially, giving you the peace of mind to focus on what truly matters. Find their products through banks, credit unions and associations, or visit SecurianCanada.ca Securian Canada. Insurance

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Starting point is 00:35:08 the commissioner of the National Football League. Roger Goodell joins us right now. Thank you, Commissioner, for joining us. My pleasure. Good to be with you guys. Thanks, Mark. Commissioner, good to be with you again. It's been a minute.

Starting point is 00:35:20 And by the way, my son, Nate, who you invited on the field after the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl, you were holding his hand, walking him on the field. He's now married and he had a child a week ago. How about that? Oh my goodness. Congratulations. They grow up so fast. Wow. That's amazing, isn't it? Well, something that connected us years ago, Roger, was our love for the game and then also for life after the game. I remember probably 15 years ago or 12 years ago, Roger, was our love for the game and then also for life after the game. I remember probably 15 years ago or 12 years ago, I came to see you and you were good enough to come speak to our team about, you know, fiscal responsibility, about leadership, about life after the game. And now NIL has popped up. it's a positive for preparing at least, you know, the sting of, you know, that first paycheck when they get in the kind of, you know, not understanding the value of money.

Starting point is 00:36:09 Do you think it's really helped or, or I guess it's to be determined if it will help players as they get to the NFL? You know, I listen, it brings on a lot of responsibility in earlier age. And I think it probably puts a lot of responsibility on colleges to make sure that kids understand that and they're prepared for that. So it changes the dynamic. Listen, it's deserved. So I understand that aspect of it. But, you know, the zeros get pretty big and the impact when you make bad decisions is it's pretty significant for a young man and their family. So they need to be prepared for that. And I think the more we can help and support colleges to make sure that our transition programs could be applied potentially to them would probably be a good thing.

Starting point is 00:37:07 Because it's a big jump to college football, from college football to the NFL. This probably does reduce that a little bit because it's one less adjustment. But it's still a big jump. Mark can tell you that. Yeah, for sure. You go from making zero dollars to making a lot of dollars you know the financial literacy is key so yes no i agree with that um mr commish you know uh player safety is always on the top of the list for you for everyone at the league it's something i

Starting point is 00:37:35 admire i appreciate you guys and the constant pursuit of taking care of the players and especially in the sport as physical as ours obviously tool with his concussion it's been, it's been a huge discussion this past week. But the most recent study by the National Federation of State High Schools has over a million students participate in high school football. That's the highest number since 2017, 2018. Players, we see them wearing Guardians in training camp, some even in the games now, we're seeing it. How do you feel the league has addressed the safety concerns for the sport as a whole? And what can you what can I do to further progress? You know, the positive look, you know, for parents and children, for the youth of our game? You know, Mark, I think we have to do our thing.

Starting point is 00:38:17 And the way we approach that is we look at the data. You know, people are talking about the hip drop, which is extended into college football and impacted college football a lot last year. When you see the kinds of injuries that occur there, they may not be a lot, but they're devastating. They are. You need to get them out of the game. Kickoffs is another one. We're modifying our kickoff. It'll be a transition. It'll be a period of time. We'll have to make changes to it, undoubtedly, as time goes on. But as we get data, so we're really focusing on data. Where are the injuries occurring? What are the techniques that cause those injuries? How do you study those? And then how do you use that in looking at our rules every year. I think we're over 60 rule changes in the last 15 years that have been designed specifically for safety and have made the game safer, taken those techniques out. So I believe our game is safer. We also look at it and how we're training our athletes.

Starting point is 00:39:19 It's not the same training camp that you were played in. The off-seasons are different. I think we have 11 practices that you're allowed to have with pads during the season. I would say most teams don't even get to that anymore. We're learning to train our players differently. Coaches are adjusting. I think the real trick for us is to share that with every level of football and, frankly, every level of sports. You know, when we develop new helmets, it ought to be available to every level of sports. When we develop new rules, we want to share that. When we look at data that shows how we can address new rules, we share that with every level. And, you know, NCAA reps come to our competition committees every year.

Starting point is 00:40:06 And we share that data. We give them every bit of information we have. It's up to them to make those rule changes if they feel it's appropriate. So to me, it's a shared responsibility for the good of the game. You talk about the helmets. Do you forecast a day where those Guardian caps are basically mandatory in the NFL? You know, there's a lot of data that shows that the Guardian cap with what we would call a lower quality helmet is still about as good as wearing the best helmet. So a lot of our players, I think we have 360 players

Starting point is 00:40:45 wearing the newer helmets this year. And what we're trying to do is invest in the quality of those helmets. We actually invest in some that are now some of the best helmets. And when I say invest, not that we're holding any equity in it, but that we put seed money

Starting point is 00:41:01 towards investing in better helmets. And I think that's showing a lot of promise. So I think the best helmets can be as good as helmets that they might be more comfortable in that they've worn for many years. But you know, if they're going to wear the guardian, that's okay with us. If they feel better about it. I don't know if that'll end up being the helmet of choice, if you want to put it that way. That thing is ugly. That thing's ugly, Commish. I'm not going to lie.

Starting point is 00:41:30 Well, you know, Mark, that was the first reaction from a lot of guys. And, you know, our point to them was, this is safer for you based on the quality helmets we had then. And it's been about a 20% reduction in concussions. And that's a positive change for us. And that's just concussions. The micro hits, the micro concussions, those are the things that we want to take out of the game. And so all of that, I think, has been a contributing factor. But I believe we're going to have helmets for each position. We already have it for quarterbacks and linemen. And, you know, there are different types of hits that every position takes. And you want to have helmets that are built to be able to handle those types of impacts.

Starting point is 00:42:16 And so that's where I see the change. You know, I was with you a couple of times at NFL Draft, and it's amazing. A couple of fan bases boo you. I felt like you in Ann Arbor last week when the fans are getting me pretty good. He couldn't even work last week, Commish. He's trying to get some words out there booing him. I know. I felt for you, Coach. Well, as they say, if your rivals are cheering for you,

Starting point is 00:42:40 you must not have a very good record against your rivals. That's what Steve Spurrier would say. If they welcomed you in, you'd be in trouble. So the NBA, the hockey, Gene Smith and I, the former AD at Ohio State, at one point we had a little conversation. Do you see – I mean, if someone says we know what the college football landscape will look like in five, six, ten years, they probably don't. There's even conversation about breaking away

Starting point is 00:43:05 and maybe having a minor league where they don't have to go to class. I can't. It's hard for me to fathom that. Do you have a forecast of the way the relationship between the NFL and college football will continue to grow? I certainly don't have a forecast on what the landscape is going to be, Coach. But I will tell you this. We're going to be supportive of every level of football um we believe that's one of our roles

Starting point is 00:43:29 uh as the nfl uh we've had an unbelievable relationship with college football as you know our primary relations really with the conferences uh in football that may not be the case in basketball where it's probably more directly, I think the NCAA controls the Final Four tournament. But from our standpoint, we believe we should be there to support college football as best we can. We work hard in our scheduling to avoid conflicts. That's a little bit of an issue now with the expanded playoffs. We have one day when we're going to be playing against each other. That's not something we look for. We look to try to find ways to avoid that. It won't be easy to always do that, but our view of strong college football is good for the overall game of football. And so we'll be supportive of that and try to do everything we can to be consistent with that. Commissioner,

Starting point is 00:44:23 you mentioned that overlap. That's the second day of the first round of the college football playoffs, December 21st. Three college football playoff games on a Saturday that is, quote unquote, traditionally a college football day, right? But I know you guys- No, that's traditionally, I take that on. It's traditionally an NFL day. College football is usually done by the second week. Correct.

Starting point is 00:44:44 And you guys have an NFL doubleheader essentially going up against those three college football games. So you mentioned that's in your site. How did you and college football try to work around or try to navigate so it's the best for football as a whole on that day? Well, it came because they expanded the college football playoffs, which is certainly they're right. And, and, you know, we've been scheduled the last several years I'm playing on that date.

Starting point is 00:45:10 You know, we looked at, you know, can we modify the times? Could they modify the time? Can they play on Friday night? They play on Thursday night. Those are all things that,

Starting point is 00:45:19 you know, we explored. We just couldn't get around the entire conflict. So, but I think at some point when we all have a little more time to plan, you know, we explored, we just couldn't get around the entire conflict. So, but I think at some point when we all have a little more time to plan, maybe there'll be ways we can do that. Roger. Now this is a lighter question, you know, don't take any, you know, this is just a lighter, harder question. Okay. You want to see what I got for you? Okay.

Starting point is 00:45:41 My hood ads are balling this year. You know, they off to a hot start. Spanked up on the Cowboys last weekend. Now, the narrative around who that nation is, that the NFL does not like the Saints, that Roger hates the Saints. So I'm giving you a chance to clear the air. I know that's not the case with you, Roger. You're a good man, you know, a stand-up man. Hey, I'm giving you a chance to clear the air.

Starting point is 00:46:04 Do you hate the Saints? Absolutely not. You know what? Everyone always asks me my favorite team, and I said any one of them. I love them all. And so we want them all. And so I'm always rooting for the team behind. But I think it's great to see the Saints come out of the box the way they're playing.

Starting point is 00:46:20 I know nobody ever expected it. And they've had, the first two wins have been dominant. And so I can't wait to be down there for a game this season. It'll be fun. There you go. Who that nation? You heard it from the man himself, man.

Starting point is 00:46:34 He supports us. He loves the saints. He loves the who that nation. So welcome him and Nola. Give him the Nola love when he comes down, please. I'm going to take you with me, Mark.

Starting point is 00:46:43 I got you. They might boo you a little bit. One of the things we also talked about over the years was it drove me nuts when a player went that was not ready for the NFL. And agents or the third uncle that we talked about earlier in the show would get a hold of this kid, and he'd leave, and he would survive a year or two and then have to go back and get his degree. The NIL has changed that, I think know a lot of kids are staying now and have you obviously it's still fairly early

Starting point is 00:47:09 have you felt that a little bit in the NFL where not as many are leaving early yeah I mean we were getting to the point where you know our our eligibility rules I think are really important uh we've defended them court we believe in it uh And it goes to the point, we believe in a strong college football system. And we also believe that players are better prepared for the NFL when they do have not just the additional experience in college football, but really exposure to the educational system, which is even more important to get that degree. Or even if you don't get the degree, hopefully to get close enough where you can go back and get it. And a lot of our players do do that. I think what the numbers showed, Coach, when you got at the end of your junior year

Starting point is 00:47:57 and an option of whether you wanted to apply to the NFL draft, we were getting up about 110 just, that would choose to do that. Since NIL, it's dropped back down into the high 70s. And I think that's a good thing for us because that's indicating kids are staying. They're not making that choice. They're going to say, I'm going to go back and play college football another year. We think that's always great. We'll support that every day.

Starting point is 00:48:25 So I'm really proud of our eligibility rules and proud of the fact that we want our kids to stay in college football as long as they can and frankly, in the college system. Commissioner, you mentioned you mainly talk with the conferences on the college football level. Where are some places that you would like to see that bond strengthened, whether it's through communication or scheduling or whatever it is, where the two gigantic sporting forces in this nation can come together to make the sport even stronger? You know, I think, again, I think our job is to try to make sure every level of sport is healthy.

Starting point is 00:49:07 And so sharing of information, sharing of data on injury, sharing information of how we can grow our sport and let more kids participate in it is always a good thing. You know, we're spending an awful lot of time on development of flag football. And I don't think that takes kids away from tackle. You know, we're spending an awful lot of time on development of flag football. And I don't think that takes kids away from tackle. In fact, the numbers are showing, as Mark mentioned before, the number of kids playing high school football is at an all-time high. We want kids playing at any level. We want them having different entry points if they want to start with flag football. We have a lot of NFL players started playing like football.

Starting point is 00:49:52 They also the opportunity for I have three that play NFL flag, by the way, commission. So there you go. I'm glad you're putting the numbers up, Big Mark. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I'm helping. I'm trying to help promote the game, too. But, you know, I think the ability for young women to play our game is unbelievable. The impact it has on them. The same thing that we would all say about playing the game of football. Now young women are getting the opportunity to say that. And it's the confidence. It's the ability to play a team sport and understand the values of that.

Starting point is 00:50:26 I just think if we can do that, that's good for kids. And so to go back to your question really on that one, Rob, I would say anything we can do to help grow the game, and that's making it safer, getting more kids interested in it, and being able to play the game that we all love and learn the values of it. Commissioner, we talked about the safety and I know we implemented the new kickoff rule. If I'm in kindergarten, can you explain to the people out there like they're in kindergarten? Here we go.

Starting point is 00:51:00 The new kickoff rule and how that will in turn result in more returns, but also in safety for the players. So it already has led to more returns. The, it probably not as many as we expected, but there are, we always thought we were going to have to toggle with things like, are the,

Starting point is 00:51:22 are the kicking team and the receiving team five yards apart or 10 yards apart does the ball if it's if it's down in the end zone or out of the end zone should it come out to the 30 or the 35 right now it's the 30 i think if you moved that the 35 you'd get a tremendous uh increase in the number of returns because teams kicking off would say, I think I can stop them from getting to the 35. Right. So I think that's a big change that will probably be considered at some point in the future.

Starting point is 00:51:53 But the big thing was to sort of see we've now, we've gone from 22% of our kickoffs returned last weekend. It was about 34. The reality is that towards the end of the season, that'll be hundreds of additional returns. Good for the game, good for the fans. Our start drive is going from about the 24 to the 29. So it's about a five yard difference. So that's great for offense and scoring. So it's had the impact we thought it would have. What we want to do is make sure the injury data. So we're trying what we've done, Mark, and I'm probably way over the

Starting point is 00:52:31 kindergartner head now, so I apologize. But what we look at is the injury rate from a line of scrimmage play. And the kickoff was multiples over that. Wow. Because of the speed and the impact. Yeah. That's really what it was. This new kickoff has taken that speed and impact out because you're 10 yards apart from each other to start. Okay. So that's a big change. You know, Roger, the last few years, we used to put those chips on their jerseys, how fast they run. And i did not put two and two together until a lot of data started coming out because we would always try to kick that thing on the one yard line and you know just try to smother the guy after i saw people running 22 miles an hour hitting things coming at him another 20 that's when i said enough we start kicking the ball out of the end zone and i'm glad

Starting point is 00:53:21 i admire that you guys took the you know like, like you said, you'll probably adapt it, change it, but there's no other play in any sport like that where someone's running 22, think about that, Mark, 22 miles an hour. Some kids run 21 miles an hour and then they hit something coming at them. You know, when it's opened up. I was back there blocking for the returner, so I know. I had to kick out the number two guy. He's flying.

Starting point is 00:53:45 And it was violent, man. Yes, it is. Mark hit me at 5,000 hours. I think we've seen that reduction of impact and the impact it's had on all injuries, not just concussions. And so I think we're on to something here. I do, too. Again, it'll be adapted. And I do too. You get that crease and you're gone. Right. And so I think teams are learning how to play with this.

Starting point is 00:54:26 It'll be adjustment from a coaching and a playing level as well as officiating. But I just think it's all in a good way. Just a quick follow-up on that. Now, I'm watching a football game with my wife last night. She's asking me, what is the green box? I don't know how to explain it to her because I'm not even in the league no more. I usually would get that information you know, that information. What is that green box?

Starting point is 00:54:48 So I could explain to my wife. Please help me. I'm laughing because people think the yellow line for the first down is actually on the field. Right. That's all digitally inserted. How does it keep moving? Exactly. The networks have done that just to show that's the kickoff.

Starting point is 00:55:03 That's the zone. So the kickers have to kick it between the goal line and the 20-yard line. And if you don't get it in that zone and it goes out of the end zone, it's going to 30. And it goes to 30. If you get in that zone, it's to 20. Commissioner, just to pivot back to college football real quick, is there a rivalry game?

Starting point is 00:55:23 Is there a stadium out there that you haven't hit that you'd like to take part in? Yeah, well, um, coach is good enough to have me out at Ohio state. So I, I,

Starting point is 00:55:34 I checked that one off. Unfortunately, it went, uh, one time to the, to the team, to the North and Michigan. So,

Starting point is 00:55:40 and that was fun. Uh, I've been to an LSU game, which was a lot of fun. I have not been to Bama yet, and I'd like to do that. We got to get you down there. Hey, hit me up, Commish. You need to go to Bama.

Starting point is 00:55:50 I got you taken care of. You'll take me. Hey, I'm going to roll out the red carpet for you. I'd like to do that. And I've been to USC out at the Coliseum several times when they were playing there. So there's still a lot of schools I'd like to go to besides Bama. I haven't been to a Florida game. So Coach didn't invite me when he was down there. So there's still a lot of schools I'd like to go to besides Bama. I haven't been to a Florida game. So coach didn't invite me when he was down there. Of course I did. Now's the time to go. It's not the time to go now. Yeah. Welcome to join us any week on Big

Starting point is 00:56:15 Noon Kickoff. We'd love to have you on a Saturday. I know your weekends are busy and we know your weeks are extremely packed as well. It'd be fun. Love to have you, Commissioner. I enjoy college football. I'm watching all day long. I promise you, whether I'm there or not, I'm watching. We assumed you would. It's a beautiful sport. We appreciate it. So good to see you, Roger.

Starting point is 00:56:32 Thanks, Coach. Commissioner, thanks for joining us. We really appreciate your time. Thank you, Rob. Mark, thank you, buddy. Thank you, Roger. Appreciate you. All right, let's take a look at conferences

Starting point is 00:56:40 and how they kind of stack up early on in the season. Last week, we mentioned it on the triple option. It was the first time in the 88-year history of rankings that the SEC had six of the seven top teams in the nation. It continues this week. So top 25 by conference. Just going to spit out some numbers right now. The SEC, shocker, sits alone up top.

Starting point is 00:57:03 They have nine programs in the top 25, as mentioned, six of the top seven. After that, Big Ten, four inside the top 11, and they've been buoyed by the two Pac-12 schools coming in, USC and Oregon. In third place, the Big 12 with four. The ACC has one top 10 team and three in the rankings. The Mac has one, and there's one independent being Notre Dame. So, Coach, those are the numbers. When you eyeball the conference kind of food chain right now, is it the SEC and everybody else? Yeah, I think last year was the Pac-12.

Starting point is 00:57:39 I think the Big Ten, obviously, when the Wolverines won it in Ohio State, the upper half of the Big Ten is as good as anywhere. It's the rest of the league that's just okay at times. I worry about the Big Ten when you see Wisconsin, who's historically a top 10, top 15. They got a lot of work to do. You got the Wolverines right now. They're a shell of what they were a year ago.

Starting point is 00:58:01 You see Michigan State. When I first went to the Big Ten, Michigan State was a top 10 program, when I first went to the Big Ten, Michigan State was a top 10 program. And I think they have an excellent coach. They'll get there eventually, but they should be, and they're not. So right now, I think it's not even close at this point in the season that the SEC is number one. You know, I want to pop back, Mark, if it's okay. And in 2012, I was hired at Ohio State. And now that you look back and I did notice, the Big Ten was not very good.

Starting point is 00:58:28 The Big Ten, you might even say, was bad. You look at the NFL draft back then compared to the SEC, it wasn't closed. One of the Big Ten teams to go play teams in the SEC, they normally lost in the bowl games. And I remember we went 12-0. I took over a team that we took over a team of 6-7, went 12-0. And we weren't allowed to go bowl game because we were on probation

Starting point is 00:58:51 for the previous stuff. And I remember everybody feeling great and saying we should be playing for a national title. You know where I went, Mark? I was invited to broadcast the Notre Dame versus Alabama national championship game. I walk in that stadium stadium and I see Alabama. I watch Notre Dame warm up and then I see the tide roll out.

Starting point is 00:59:10 I'm watching their coaching. I'm watching the technique of the hands, the way they warm. Everybody does it on the team. And I'm sitting there and I'm getting so pissed off as I'm watching Alabama. And I'm thinking, we're not even close to that. Our coaching's not close to that.. Our coaching's not close to that. Our talent level's not close to that. And I texted every player and every coach for the next two and a half hours during the

Starting point is 00:59:32 game, and I called it the chase. We are now, that season's over. We just went 12-0 in a very average conference. This is not our goal. Our goal is to chase that team right there. And it was the chase. And we put a big sign up in the facility. No one knew what it meant. The media didn't know what it meant. Our players did. And certainly our coaches staff did. When we recruited a player, I would ask,

Starting point is 00:59:56 I say, would that player be recruited by the best team in the FCC? If not, we're not going to recruit him. We're going to go get the very best players in the country, not in the Big Ten, not in our footprint. If he's the best player in America, I want to go get the very best players in the country, not in the Big Ten, not in our footprint. If he's the best player in America, I want to go get that player. Coach. That's when we did it. That's crazy because that's essentially what happened to us when y'all whooped us in Florida. Look at how the tables turned.

Starting point is 01:00:17 Isn't that wild? Look how we inspire and motivate each other. We've always been intertwined, Coach. And now it's only right that we're on the same team. But the Big Ten changed, you know, and I think Ohio State had a lot to do with that, but then, you know, Penn State really elevated their game recruiting.

Starting point is 01:00:34 Obviously, the Wolverines big time did, and you saw the results last year. So it's changed a lot. And when did you win the national title over there with Ohio State? Was that 24? Three years after we said the chase to start it, three years later? And ironically, you know who he played in the playoffs. Relax, man. We don't got to say all that. Who'd you play in the

Starting point is 01:00:49 national championship to win? We don't need to know who you played in the semis. You know what I mean? We got Bama and then we got Oregon. We don't need to know who you played in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl. But I think it's important that the target is not dependent upon your conference. Like right now is the Big 12 as you

Starting point is 01:01:05 know acc you know florida state's down and you know i think clemson's good but it's not the clemson it was a few years ago right now the sec is the you know who's not down yeah you're right you're right you're right both I love the story, and I'd love for you to share it, that you weren't the only one with the last name Meyer who knew that the Big Ten wasn't quite up to speed at that moment. Oh, yeah. Yeah, the wife of 35 years looked at me after one of our games. Our first game, we played Miami, Ohio.

Starting point is 01:01:44 The MVP Meyer. And it was, we beat them bad in the second half, but it was awful. And I remember going home and she said, that's the slowest football game I've watched in years. And I looked at her, I said, no, give us time. Give us time here. We're going to get this thing going. But, you know.

Starting point is 01:02:01 That's funny that she said that. SEC can run. And, you know, eventually to go look at that, we're going to see a team SEC can run. And, you know, eventually, to go look at that, we're going to see a team that can run now. And the Buckeyes would be right on top of the SEC, too. The Buckeyes are one of the best teams in the country, regardless of conference. Like, they could go play any conference.

Starting point is 01:02:17 But it's funny that Miss Shelly said that. And Miss Shelly said that because me and my father, we used to watch. You know, I'm from Big Ten country. I grew up in Michigan. So Big Ten is always on the TV. And we'd flip back to CBS, and you could see the difference in the speed. You could see the difference in the physicality. My dad would be like, you want to play here or you want to play there?

Starting point is 01:02:36 I'd be like. It was two different games, Mark. Yes. I want to play there. Right. And so I was never getting recruited there. I had a big senior year. Fortunately, I transferred, had a big senior year.

Starting point is 01:02:44 I find that's what essentially helped me get my Alabama offer. And I had to go to the SEC, dog. I had to go to the SEC. Different world. Different world. Well, I mean, you got to give Big Ten credit now. I mean, they just won last year. They caught up.

Starting point is 01:02:58 The Wolverines did. They did catch up, but the whole conference has got to continue to elevate. That was back then. We're talking 10, 14, 15 years ago. We're not saying nothing about the Big Ten now because obviously you've got elite athletes all over the country. Big 12, Big Ten, SEC, but I'm just talking back then, Coach. To the Big Ten's credit, though,

Starting point is 01:03:18 the additions of USC and Oregon paying early dividends, at least if you look at the AP rankings, and the SEC schedule is about to pick up. So there's going to be some self-sabotage going on in the SEC. They're going to ruin each other. What did you say the good news is, Coach? Good news is you're the deepest, most talented league in the nation. Bad news is you're the deepest, most talented league in the nation.

Starting point is 01:03:40 You're going to kick each other's ass in. Self-sabotage, and it starts this week. That's right. Let the cannibalism begin. Tennessee, Oklahoma is about to start. Oh, man. This week is about to start this week. We're going to talk about that one in just a second.

Starting point is 01:03:51 Pick Six is brought to you by BetMGM. Place your money line, prop, parlay, and same game parlay bets at BetMGM. Just download the app today. As always, please gamble responsibly. Each week, we're going to pick six games against the spread. Mark will pick his deuce-deuce dog of the week. So, another whimpering pup this week. One of his underdogs will cover.

Starting point is 01:04:15 All right. Reminder to everyone listening. We hit last week, Stoner. Yeah, I know you did. I know you did. They almost won outright. But tell me you don't want to win without telling me you want to win. You were a reluctant deuce-deuce dog of the week. These lines are current as of Tuesday and, as always, can change.

Starting point is 01:04:30 We kind of hinted about this first game. Friday night, 8 Eastern, live on Fox. Love this. One of four ranked matchups in the week. Illinois at Nebraska. Cornhuskers now favored by nine at home. And we mentioned this is the first ranked matchup in Lincoln, Coach, in 11 years. How do you see it going?

Starting point is 01:04:50 I wish we were there, Mark. This is going to be electric. It's great for the state of Nebraska, but it's also great for the state of Illinois. Coach Bielema, that's a tough-ass coach, man. I've coached against him, got a lot of respect for him. He's at the right place, too. He's going to get an identity there. He already has.

Starting point is 01:05:06 Because Illinois at one point was horrible. And now look what he's done to that. So they've got good players, good balanced team. However, I'm Nebraska. Dylan Raiola, that's the story right now. It really isn't. The story is that top 10 number of rank-ranked defense, a balanced offense, and they're protecting them.

Starting point is 01:05:23 A well-coached team. I have Nebraska covering. Think about what they did to Colorado, Mark. They took Shador and they took Travis Hunter. You know they didn't score a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Yeah. So that defense, I know the story's offense, and I know Dylan Riella.

Starting point is 01:05:40 I'd like to play quarterback Nebraska with a defense like that. Tell us why, coach. Because they held Colorado to three points. And you don't have to be panicky on offense, especially with a young quarterback. So I'm all over Nebraska. By the way, if Illinois pulls this one off, let's start eyeballing road trips to Champaign

Starting point is 01:05:58 because Brett Bielema and that program would deserve it. And it's a really good team. I watched them today. That's not because they played bad teams. That's a good team. Yeah, happy for him. He's a good dude. All right, let's talk about ACC right now.

Starting point is 01:06:10 NC State on the road at number 21, Clemson. This line has changed, and it's grown. Clemson favored by 20 and a half. Why? Here's why. Wolfpack veteran transfer QB Grayson McCall knocked out of last week's game. Head coach Dave Doran said he

Starting point is 01:06:25 was quote day-to-day. Certainly looks like the true freshman. Six foot six true freshman QB C.J. Bailey from the Miami area will get the start. He came in last week in relief of McCall 13 to 20, 156 yards, a rushing touchdown and an interception, but he did lead a comeback victory. They ended up winning by 10. This is crazy. It's been over two decades since NC State last won in Death Valley. That streak, it's not going to end Saturday. Tigers are going to win, but I don't see them covering the spread. All right, it is welcome to the Big Ten Saturday for number 11 USC fight on who are favored by six at the defending national champs, Michigan, the Wolverines now at number 18 and coach Michigan. They made a quarterback change up there in Ann Arbor. They did. We, we kind of thought that might come Alex Orgy. I think it's

Starting point is 01:07:20 one of the best athletes on the team. He, you know, there's a couple of balls he threw already this year that really questioned if he can throw. I heard Jerome Morris say he can't throw. He has to be able to throw. But he is a very- He's a quarterback. Excellent athlete. However, the coaching hire of the year early in the season

Starting point is 01:07:36 is Danton Lynn at USC. I mean, for two years, that defense at USC, they couldn't tackle. I mean, I hate to say it like that. They could not tackle. We witnessed it at the Pac-12 championship game. They're alive. And then also last year, we just seen them on videotape.

Starting point is 01:07:56 They are excellent tackling. It's still early, but that's the higher of the year. So I have USC covering. I have USC going in there to win, not because of Lincoln Raleigh's offense. How about this? But because of their defense. Matt Leinart, our buddy,

Starting point is 01:08:13 has been talking about the defense for the last couple of years. And boy, he's strutting around. It's a coaching higher of the year, Rob. As of where we're at. Because they can play defense right now. It's what an adjustment. And to get away, by the way, this is, you know,

Starting point is 01:08:27 like a lot of people are upset that the conferences are changing and I understand it. I'm not trying to be the old guy mowing my lawn and my socks and my sandals again. But the fact that the conference is changing offer up these opportunities like USC at Michigan. If I'm a USC fan and I've been stuck for decades traveling up to Corvallis and

Starting point is 01:08:46 Washington and all these other places, and now I'm like, wow, I get to go to Ann Arbor. I get to go to the big house to see my team take on a storied blue blood like Michigan. I'm excited. And that makes me excited about the changes in these conference alignments. All right. After our big noon kickoff show, we're going to be in Columbus this week as the Buckeyes, number three in the nation, take on Marshall. After that game on Fox, this is a great one, guys. Big 12, maybe early season kind of tail of the tape of where the real leader is in this conference. Number 12, Utah at number 13, Oklahoma State. The Cowboys favored by two and a half. As we mentioned, these are two of the favorites to win the conference title. Both teams, this is trippy, start seventh year quarterbacks.

Starting point is 01:09:32 Seventh year? Seventh year quarterbacks. Not four, five, six, seventh year quarterbacks. For Utah, the story has been Cam Rising did not play again Saturday. They won 38-21 over Utah State. Remember, he injured his finger or his hand crashing into a water cooler against Baylor a couple weeks ago. Rising and the staff and the players talking like he's ready to go, but they haven't committed yet. I understand it. Like, don't play your hand too much. For the Cowboys, Mike Gundy.

Starting point is 01:10:03 We love Mike Gundy, right? He's one of the funniest coaches to listen to right now. He's so chill, so calm. This week, guys, I got a clip for you. In a press conference, he was interrupted by a soda machine that was just kind of off camera that was making some noise. So this is what coach did. You go back and...

Starting point is 01:10:28 I mean, y'all can't, there's no way y'all can hear very good. It's not easy. You hear it humming back there. There's gotta be a coach gets out his tool belt. He's going off camera. We've got to sort this out, man. Larry, get in there, coach. Did you get your players on an NIL deal for Pepsi to come up here and move it? They make way too much money. Look at coach. He's sorting out the problem. Did you throw an F-bomb?

Starting point is 01:11:04 No, no, no, no. He's sorting out the problem. Look, throw an F-bomb? No, no, no, no. He's sorting out the problem. Look, he's going to use his legs, not his back, Mark. And they're going to move the whole machine so they can unplug it. That's okay. That's okay. How does he not have gray hair? That's good.

Starting point is 01:11:30 Okay. So you were talking about their offense with him? So great. I love that guy. He's like, you know what? It must be the condenser. We're going to go over there. We're going to unplug it so we can carry on with this press conference.

Starting point is 01:11:43 So he's in a good place, right his team i'm curious where they are though um you know they unplug the soda machine but can they plug in doke walker winner ollie gordon the second deuce three games for ollie 216 yards four scores last week though 17 carries just 41 yards teams are saying we're not going to lose to gordon running the ball so we're going to have Last week, though, 17 carries, just 41 yards. Teams are saying we're not going to lose to Gordon running the ball, so we're going to have your quarterback, Alan Bowman, beat us. And Bowman's putting up numbers, but if you're going head-to-head quarterbacks, if Cam Rising is healthy, I like him, and I think that's why Utah will cover on the road.

Starting point is 01:12:24 First SEC game for the Sooners, Mark. Oklahoma at number 15. They welcome sixth-ranked Tennessee, and the Vols favored by seven and a half. On the road. First SEC conference game. Going to Norman, our friend Coach Stoops will be there. Coach, and the sabotage begins. Yes.

Starting point is 01:12:42 A top-15 matchup, and the sabotage begins. But, hey, the Vols are balling. begins. Yes. A top 15 matchup and the sabotage begins. But A, the Vols are balling. They've outscored opponents 191 to 13 in the first three weeks. It's because of their quarterback. I'm going to try it, coach.

Starting point is 01:12:53 I'm going to try it. Here we go. Just say Nico. Just say Nico. Nico Iamaleava. That's good. I think the boy got it. They're balling.

Starting point is 01:13:04 He's balling. He hasn't even played in the second half yet. One balling. He's balling. He hasn't even played in the second half yet. One more time for good measure, Mark. One more time for good measure. Nico Iamaleava. Wow. That boy knows his pronunciations. And it's because the boy's a straight baller.

Starting point is 01:13:18 And they're outgaining their opponents by 478 yards per game. Now, they've only been Chattanooga, NC State, and Kent State. But now they go to Oklahoma, they go to the Sooners, and the Sooners are still searching for an identity offensively. Their quarterback has been sacked nine times in three games, but their defense is swarming. They forced 10 turnovers

Starting point is 01:13:36 in three games, coach, led by their linebacker Danny Stutzman. Danny Stutzman. You struggled with Stutzman? Hey, Danny Stutzman. You struggled with Stutzman? Hey, Danny Stutzman. No, but he's the man. But listen, with this Tennessee offense, the offense of Oklahoma is still struggling a little bit,

Starting point is 01:13:54 still trying to find their identity. Their defense is going to keep them in the game, especially at home. But I like Tennessee. I like Tennessee to win this game. Yeah, I think that's a pretty good call. It's going to be a wide out in Provo, Utah, as number 13, Kansas State. We're talking about these road teams favored.

Starting point is 01:14:11 Favored by seven, Mark, at BYU. And I've noticed I haven't heard a lot of barking yet. What's the lie here? That's a really good one. Seven. Seven. Seven points. You got seven points? That came from the abdomen.

Starting point is 01:14:30 That was like growling. I couldn't tell if you were belching or growling at one point. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, but it's the conference opener for both teams. They're both 3-0. Kansas State has really talented offenses. One of the exciting players I like to watch in their quarterback, Avery Johnson.

Starting point is 01:14:43 Last week he had 17 carries for 110 yards versus Arizona. But they have a trio of runners who are elite. Johnson, you add both the running backs, DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards, who was at Colorado last year. We know he's a game breaker. But they're going on the road to a tough place to play at BYU. Then you add the element of the elevation playing in the mountains. You know what I mean? BYU QB Jake Retzlaff averaging 280 yards per game.

Starting point is 01:15:10 He would have to use his legs. He would have to use his legs against his defense. Their top running backs are out. They were out last week, so we'll see if they're out this week, you know. But they've been struggling with the run game. They got a great wide receiver in Chase Roberts. But this game will come down to quarterback play. And I'm kind of leaning towards Avery Johnson.

Starting point is 01:15:29 But I'm kind of leaning towards BYU covering the seven points. So that is your Deuce Deuce Dog. Your Deuce Deuce Dog of the Week, Coach. You don't like that? You don't like that, Coach? I love it. I'm all right with it. The Deuce Deuce Dog of the Week. I you don't like that? You don't like that coach? I love it. I'm all right with it. The dude's doing Dog of the Week.

Starting point is 01:15:45 I just like the dog bark, and it sounds like it's got, like, a fragment of a milk bone and some peanut butter stuck in its throat, and it's trying to get it out. Can't stay at BYU. That's my Dog of the Week. BYU covering the seven points at home. They might be an outright runner. I hope we someday make a trip to BYU.

Starting point is 01:16:04 That's what I want to hit on. What is that environment like? I know you've been there when you coached for Utah. Yeah, I mean, it's – I embrace the LDS religion, the Mormon religion when I was at Utah. Well, I'll tell you what, in those two games, when those two teams used to play, I'd hear stuff that I'd be like, wait a minute now.

Starting point is 01:16:24 That's a beautiful place. What do be like, wait a minute now. That's a beautiful place. What do you mean, wait a minute now? What do you mean, wait a minute now? Oh, I mean, you'd walk in and, you know, it's a very clean environment. Except for at that game. And we had some battles. And those are grown men going at it as well. And those big Polynesians,

Starting point is 01:16:46 veined up cats that I had at Utah. They have them at Provo, man. That's a great place. They have them in spades. That would be a wonderful place for big noon kickoff. Again, this week, we're going to be in Columbus, Ohio. Buckeyes taking on Marshall. If you're in the Columbus area,

Starting point is 01:17:01 come on out to the set Friday or Saturday. Flash us the triple option sign. We'll take care of you. We'll take care of you. You guys good? We ready for another week of college football? Mark, coach? Yeah.

Starting point is 01:17:11 Let's roll. We're going to Columbus. What'd you say, coach? Let's roll. What? O-H. All tied. R-T-R.

Starting point is 01:17:18 Give us an O-H, coach. O-H. I-O. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, as well as across social media at 3XOptionShow. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

Starting point is 01:17:33 As always, we want to give huge props, huge love to you for listening and watching, and to our sponsors, Wendy's, BetMGM, and ZipRecruiter. We will talk to you on Saturday on Big Noon Kickoff and see you and talk to you again next week on The Triple Option. Bark us out, Mark.

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