The Triple Option – Episode Summary

Podcast: The Triple Option
Episode: College Football Playoff is Set, Todd McShay Joins, Urban to the Hall of Fame, and Heisman Picks
Date: December 8, 2025
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Guest: Todd McShay

Main Theme

This episode dives deep into a historic moment for college football: the first 12-team College Football Playoff field, its ramifications, and the chaotic selection process after a dramatic conference championship weekend. The hosts debate the playoff selections, case studies such as Alabama, Notre Dame, and Miami, and the evolving landscape of college football (NIL, transfers, conference realignment). Todd McShay joins to discuss top NFL Draft prospects from the playoff teams, quarterback decisions, and emerging trends in player evaluations. The crew also celebrates Urban Meyer’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and closes with Army-Navy and Heisman Trophy picks.

Episode Breakdown

1. Kicking Off: Playoff Bracket Reaction

[00:25–05:15]

• The new 12-team playoff format is unveiled.
• Breakdown of auto-bids: Five highest-ranked conference champions + seven highest-ranked teams.
• Welcome to the ‘big show’ for programs like James Madison (JMU, Sun Belt) and Tulane (AAC).

Alabama’s Return & Mark Ingram’s Debate

• Mark Ingram acknowledges doubts about Alabama getting in:
  “Do I think they belong there after that performance? No, I did not…But I also understand the committee setting that precedent that the championship games do matter.” [03:11]
• Context: No 3-loss team (conference champ or not) has ever made the playoff before, raising fairness issues around Alabama’s inclusion after a blowout SEC title game loss.

Smaller Programs

• Excitement for JMU and Tulane making the playoff, but realism about rematch blowouts.
  • Ole Miss beat Tulane 45–10 earlier in the season [04:58]

2. Debating Playoff Selections & Scheduling

[05:15–16:21]

Notre Dame vs. Miami

• Urban Meyer: “No, they lost to [Miami] head to head... there’s a couple precedents I want to point out. My biggest fear: you’re going to see the worst non-conference games in our history.” [07:27]
• Scheduling Mandate: Urban argues for a rule requiring teams like JMU or Tulane to play at least three Top-30 teams in their non-conference schedules to be considered.

Head-to-Head and Committee Process

• Both Miami and Notre Dame did not play during Champ Week, but Miami jumped Notre Dame in the final ranking due to head-to-head result.
• “The committee made them go back and watch film from August 31st. But what are you watching, three months later?” —Urban [14:03]
• Mark and Rob both feel Notre Dame is currently the better team, but acknowledge head-to-head can't be ignored.

3. Big Ten Focus & Indiana’s Rise

[16:21–25:57]

Committee’s Seeding Decisions

• Hosts applaud the committee for not over-penalizing Ohio State after their loss, slotting them at #2.
• Indiana’s run: “They went to Oregon and beat Oregon… went to Penn State… then went to Ohio State, arguably the most talented team in the country, and beat them.” —Urban Meyer [17:33]
• Mark: “Indiana is one... now they always believed, but now they have confirmed validity that they can do it.” [18:22]

Ohio State’s Loss & Playoff Outlook

• Rob points to critical 4th-and-1 moments as the difference against Indiana.
• Urban on playoff readiness:
  “Coaching a grown ass man is much different than coaching a young player... I don’t know enough about that locker room yet... Talent is not the issue, it’s mindset.” [20:13]

Committee Critique

• Urban’s recurring point: “Committees don’t deserve to determine champions—play on the field does.” [22:21]

Keeping Teams Hungry after a Big Win

• “We’re gonna celebrate, give you maybe 12 hours. Tuesday practice is going to be the hardest shit you’ve ever gone through in your life.” —Urban, on Indiana’s mentality after their win [24:48]

4. Urban Meyer’s Hall of Fame Induction

[26:24–28:43]

• Urban reflects on revisiting each school he coached and connecting with former players and family.
• Mark: “A Hall of Fame ain’t a Hall of Fame unless Urban Meyer’s in it.” [26:41]
• Lighthearted banter about custom HOF chains for the show.

5. NFL Draft Talk with Todd McShay

[34:03–55:15]

Draft Timeline & Quarterback Decisions

[34:03–39:05]

• Underclassmen draft declarations, how NIL has kept more players in school.
• QB Debate:
  McShay and Urban would like major QBs (Mendoza, Dante Moore, Ty Simpson) to stay in school for development, but market pressure and draft circumstances matter.
• Next year’s possible loaded QB class (Arch Manning, Julian Sayin, Lenoris Sellers) is a factor.

Shaduer Sanders’ NFL Outlook

• “I think he has a lot of maturing to do... He has the bad tendencies Caleb Williams had, but without the arm or mobility.” —Todd [40:23]

Ohio State Prospects

• Eight defensive players drafted last year—this year’s group possibly better.
• Top prospects: Arvell Reese (off-ball LB/edge), Caleb Downs (DB), Sonny Styles, Kaden McDonald (DT), Carnell Tate (WR). [42:00–45:01]

Hidden Gems & Trends

• Makai Lemon (USC WR) and Akeem Mesidor (Miami Edge) are rising fast for McShay [45:13]
• Importance of GMs and off-field staff in college football: “You have to have a GM now—the recruiting never stops.” [49:00]

Memorable “Old School” Football Moments

• Urban and Mark reminisce (with some PTSD) about “mat drills”/ fourth quarter offseason conditioning. [50:49]

6. Heisman Trophy & Playoff Picks

[57:31–68:20]

CFP Favorites

• Rob’s picks: Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon
• Mark’s picks: Ohio State, Georgia (trusts Kirby Smart), Texas Tech (explosive and well-coached)
• Both highlight high ceilings for Alabama, potentially undervalued after their wild season. [59:25–61:53]

Heisman Balloting

• Fernando Mendoza (Indiana QB) is the runaway favorite—minus 3000 odds.
• Mark lauds Jeremiah Love (top RB) as the “best player in college football,” but notes the lack of a conference championship game hurt his candidacy. Diego Pavia and Julian Sayin get honorable mentions.
• Mendoza’s big-game heroics and postgame interview praised:
  “He talked about faith, his teammates, his support system—everything that matters… I felt like he won a lot of voters with that interview.” —Mark Ingram [66:48]
• “First play of the game, Big Ten championship, [Mendoza] goes down hard… sat out one play, popped back in.” —Rob [67:44]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Urban Meyer:
  “Committees don’t deserve to determine champions—play on the field does.” [22:21] “Coaching a grown ass man is much different than coaching a young player.” [20:13]

• Mark Ingram: “Kirby Smart is him… I think he’s the best coach.” [59:32] “Fernando Mendoza won the trophy last night.” [64:41]

• Rob Stone:
  “If Notre Dame had scheduled Miami of Ohio instead of Miami… they’re in the playoffs.” [10:12]

• Todd McShay:
  “Shaduer [Sanders] would have to make those same strides and doesn’t have the athleticism or arm strength [of Caleb Williams].” [41:23]
  “I think three, four years down the road, like we’ve seen with Baker, Sam Darnold... there’s a chance. I don’t see it in the near future, though.” [41:40]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Playoff Bracket Reaction: [00:25–05:15]
• Notre Dame/Miami Debate: [05:15–16:21]
• Indiana/Ohio State Analysis: [16:21–25:57]
• Urban HOF Segment: [26:24–28:43]
• Todd McShay Draft Breakdown: [34:03–55:15]
• Playoff Picks & Heisman Talk: [57:31–68:20]

Tone & Style

The show balances expert analysis with candid, locker-room-style banter. Urban is no-nonsense and direct, Mark brings passionate player insights, while Rob keeps things brisk, occasionally poking fun at both. Todd McShay’s segments are dense with draft knowledge but laid-back and engaging.

Summary for the Uninitiated

This episode is your go-to for understanding how the new 12-team playoff came to be, why its selection process was hotly contested, and how teams like Alabama, Notre Dame, and Indiana found themselves as storylines. The crew debates the merits of “little guys” like JMU and Tulane, pinpoints flaws in current scheduling incentives, and offers rare behind-the-scenes perspectives on team preparation. The NFL draft chat is a goldmine for fans of the next generation, especially with so many top playoff players projected as high picks. The episode is rounded off with a celebration of tradition (Army-Navy, Heisman) and the personal milestones of the show’s own Hall of Famer.

If you want a sense of college football’s present and future (on and off the field), this episode is essential listening.