Alabama Storms Back, Kalen DeBoer Joins, Should G5 Make the Playoff, and CFP Picks

Summary

The Triple Option — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Alabama Storms Back, Kalen DeBoer Joins, Should G5 Make the Playoff, and CFP Picks
Date: December 23, 2025
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Special Guest: Alabama Head Coach Kalen DeBoer

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Episode Overview

This Christmas edition of The Triple Option dives deep into the aftermath of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff’s opening round, with a particular focus on Alabama’s remarkable comeback at Oklahoma. The hosts debate the inclusion of Group of Five (G5) schools in the playoffs, reflect on playoff rules and competitive balance, and break down playoff quarterfinal matchups—especially Alabama vs. Indiana. The crew is joined by Alabama’s head coach, Kalen DeBoer, who provides insight into the Tide’s resilience and looks ahead to the Rose Bowl clash. The episode balances inside access, candid debate, and big-game storytelling, offering both expert analysis and authentic locker room perspective.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football Playoff First Round Recap

• Alabama’s Road Win at Oklahoma (03:35):
  Urban Meyer credits Alabama’s “best version” as nearly unbeatable, echoing the sentiment for Oregon and Georgia as top-tier teams.
  • “Alabama’s best version, they’re going to be hard to beat.” — Urban Meyer [03:47]
• Miami’s Win at Texas A&M (03:50):
  Both teams’ defenses shined, but Miami’s offense “was not good.”
• Heavy Defeats for G5 Schools:
  Ole Miss routed Tulane 41-10; Oregon outscored James Madison 51-34. The panel’s consensus: the G5 teams did not belong, at least this year.

2. The Group of Five Playoff Debate (04:26–16:57)

• Fairness and Access (04:58):
  Rob Stone shares Tulane coach John Summerall’s call for at least one G5 rep in the future, yet admits their play did not help the case this year.
• Urban’s Position (06:01):
  Urban Meyer is unsparing: “It’s not the best 12 teams in America. Not even close.” Says inclusion of Tulane and JMU was “kind of embarrassing.”
  • “What did you expect was going to happen?” — Urban [07:41]
• Mark Ingram’s Take:
  Points to “our CFP forefathers” for rules that let this happen because the ACC failed to provide a stronger champion.
  • “ACC was booty cheek.” — Mark [08:53]
• No Group Hugs (10:30–12:52):
  Rob suggests college football should be for all; Urban replies: “Your job is to crown a national champion and get the best 12 teams in America. That’s it… It’s survival of the fittest.”
  • “You want to say, Everybody get a chance? … Let’s all do a group hug and we’ll sing afterwards.” — Urban [10:54]
• Scheduling Solutions:
  Urban argues G5 teams should be required to schedule three perennial top-50 opponents to be eligible.
• The Scheduling Problem (15:01):
  Rob points out football schedules are set too far in advance; Urban agrees but insists “If you want to play with the big cats, you schedule them.”
• Future Adjustments:
  The hosts expect further playoff format tweaks to ensure quality.

3. Alabama’s Resilience & Locker Room Culture

• Kalen DeBoer Interview (21:44–39:59):

  • On the Oklahoma Comeback:
    DeBoer highlights team belief, the defense’s ability to force turnovers, and the emotional shift after a key pick-six.
    • “We overcame a 17-point deficit as fast as we did. There was just an energy in there.” — Kalen DeBoer [28:20]
  • Sustaining Peak Performance:
    Urban asks how to “get that best version all the time.” DeBoer stresses team buy-in, health, and continual adjustments.
  • Preparation for Indiana:
    He praises Indiana’s discipline and low mistake rate: “They do all the things that championship-level teams do.”
  • Handling Adversity (33:18):
    DeBoer reflects, “You got punched right in the face as hard as they could. And they came back… You can’t put a price on what just happened to your team, man.” — Urban Meyer
  • Managing Momentum & Schedule:
    DeBoer shares how the team is staying sharp, healthy, and focused with the Rose Bowl ten days away.

• Fun & Candid Moments:

  • Kalen DeBoer and Mark Ingram share playful banter about Ingram’s supposed doubts:
    • “You go harder for Bama than anybody in the nation. … They crown me king gump.” — Mark Ingram [25:17]
  • DeBoer didn’t know about the sideline 50 Cent “impromptu concert” until later but liked the energy it gave the team [38:08].
  • Reflections on road atmospheres and staff camaraderie.

4. Quarterfinal Matchups & Predictions (41:31–56:00)

• Mark’s “Deuce Deuce Dog of the Week” (41:49):

  • Miami RB Mark Fletcher Jr. gets the award after a grown-man 172-yard performance.
    • “Boy toting that rock, I don’t know where that sound comes from.” — Mark barking [42:40]

• Ohio State vs Miami (44:10):

  • Urban expects Ohio State to cover against a Miami offense that “looked a mess.”
  • Miami’s only hope is stellar defense keeping it low-scoring.
  • Big spotlight on OSU QB Carson Beck’s NFL draft prospects; he must show the “A version” to raise his stock.
  • Discussion of star wideouts: Jeremiah Smith (OSU) and Malachi Toney (Miami) could be difference-makers.

• Alabama vs Indiana (49:54):

  • Mark touts Indiana’s complete team and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, but picks Alabama’s “best version” to prevail.
  • “If we can get consistent performance playing to our potential, I like our path. I like Alabama to win.” — Mark Ingram [53:20]
  • Urban: “That was one of the best wins I’ve seen this year.” [53:13]

• Atmosphere in Norman:
  Memorable scenes from the Oklahoma game, including the tense press box and live fan shows with plenty of “Roll Tide” pride.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Urban Meyer (on G5 Teams in Playoff):
  “It’s not fair to the players, not fair to the coach, not fair to the two teams that were left out. It was kind of embarrassing for college football to have that happen.” [06:17]
• Mark Ingram (on Playoff Rules):
  “They wrote this rule thinking that that scenario would never happen.” [08:28]
• Rob Stone (on Access and Tradition):
  “Isn’t it part of our responsibility to grow the sport… to give everyone opportunity to step on this sacred ground of the college football playoffs?” [11:23–11:48]
• Kalen DeBoer (on Team Resilience):
  “This one… just 17-0 and coming back, now that’s one we’ve done together and that’s one we have to remember how we did it. … We thrived, we excelled.” [35:11]
• Mark Ingram (on Alabama Variance):
  “When Alabama’s playing at their potential, they’re one of the best teams in the country… Our bottom is blown out. I have no idea—you get two different teams.” [53:13, 53:20]
• Lighthearted Banter:
  “You want a group hug? … We understand that you don’t have one player recruited on your team that can compete. But you know what? Let’s all do a group hug and we’ll sing afterwards.” — Urban Meyer [10:54]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• G5 Debate Beginnings: 04:26
• Urban’s Fix for G5 Access: 06:01
• “Group Hug” Banter: 10:54
• Scheduling Problem: 15:01
• Kalen DeBoer Interview Starts: 21:44
• DeBoer on Oklahoma Comeback: 22:45, 26:49
• DeBoer on Indiana Scouting: 29:24
• Adversity as Value — Urban & DeBoer: 33:18
• Mark’s Dog of the Week: 41:49
• CFP Picks—Ohio State/Miami: 44:10
• CFP Picks—Alabama/Indiana: 49:54
• Norman Road Trip Stories: 56:11

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Summary Flow

The episode walks listeners from post-playoff reaction and controversy (G5 in the CFP), into a high-energy and insightful chat with Kalen DeBoer about Alabama’s culture and readiness, and on to a high-level breakdown of looming quarterfinals. The hosts’ chemistry and credibility ensure lively, informed discussion with a mix of big laughs and coaching truths.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Show

The Triple Option’s December 23, 2025 episode is a must-listen for college football fans interested in the growing pains of an expanded playoff, the realities facing smaller programs, and the behind-the-scenes pulse of an Alabama team aiming for another title. Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram, and Rob Stone combine authoritative analysis, nostalgia, and candor—alongside Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer—to deliver both context and color ahead of the CFP quarterfinals.

Transcript

[A]

You're a group hug guy. You want a group hug?

[B]

A participation.

[A]

You want to say, hey, everybody get a chance?

[C]

No. I do like group hugs, though.

[A]

Let's all put our arms around each other. We understand that you don't have one player recruited on your team that can compete with the other one. But you know what? Let's all do a group hug and we'll. We'll sing afterwards.

[C]

Kumbaya. Light it. The Triple option is presented by Wendy's. Join team Tendies and enjoy a lineup like never before. Crispy, juicy Tendies now at Wendy's. Hey, welcome to the Christmas edition of the Triple option, presented by Wendy's. Rob Stone, Deuce Deuce, Mark Ingram ii, Coach Urban Meyer here with you. Thanks for joining us as always. Love it. If you can rate, love it even more. If you subscribe, you can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever it is that you find your podcast. We're on social media at 3x option. Show new episodes, drop it on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast. Typically on Wednesdays, things will be a little different next week with the holidays around us. Want to let you know Alabama head coach Kaylin DeBoer is going to join us ahead of their quarterfinal game in a little bit here on the triple option. But before we get to the games that took place in the games that are still ahead, Coach, you got some cashew? You got something in. Show me something, man. Show me something.

[B]

But you got this.

[C]

Is it legit? Is it signed?

[A]

It's signed. And, you know, Dave sent me a text.

[C]

Dave Portnoy has paid up. Is that what you're telling me?

[A]

Yeah, it's debt paid. And he sent me a text and he said, what's your address, man? People think I'm not paying my. You know, I can tell he was kind of pissed. And so I said they were just joking around. So it's. It's. It's signed, it's. It's done. It's sitting right here. But I haven't written a check or cashed a check, so this is my. No idea.

[B]

You know, you just give it to miss.

[A]

I might just frame this bad boy and put it down here in my man cave. So, yeah, Dave debt paid.

[C]

Any notes? Any notes on the check or, like, what does it say on. On, like the memo?

[A]

He didn't write this damn thing. I'm looking. It's Kevin. I just see in the corner, it says Dave Portnoy. So, no, he. The old boy didn't write that. He. His peoples. His Peoples wrote it, so. But, Dave, well done. Debt paid.

[C]

All right. All right. Good job, Dave Portnoy. Happy holidays to Dave Portnoy as well. Are we ready now for any given.

[B]

Saturday, we always ready.

[C]

For any given Saturday, we were always ready. We were always ready for the first round of the college football playoffs. They are in the books. Mark's got that special smile because Alabama won at Oklahoma, Miami won at Texas A and M. Ole Miss and Oregon also advancing. So remember last year, all four home teams in the first round won two and two. This year, including the first two games of the first round of the playoffs went to the road team. What transpired over the weekend kind of leads us into crossroads. Presented by nhtsa. Whether you get pulled over or in a crash, drinking and driving will change your whole world. Drive sober or get pulled over. Paid for by nhtsa. Coach, you, me, Mark, we were in Norman. Oklahoma saw a great game between Alabama and the Sooners that it started going downhill a little bit. At least the quality of football over the course of those two days.

[A]

Yeah, Alabama, Mark, you know, and I always try to say, okay, the best version of the teams out there. You have Georgia's best version right now, that's going to be hard to beat. Ohio State's best version is going to be hard to beat. I'm telling you, Alabama's best for now, we got to get the best version. They're going to be hard to be. I put Oregon in that same category. And then I know we feel the same about Texas Tech, but to go back to your question, it was awful. I thought the three games, you know, Miami, the two great defenses. But, you know, I'm not sure, though, you know, Miami can. That offense performance was not good. And then I even saw them that near the end of the first half, they weren't even trying. They're kind of just trying to run out that first half when it was, I want to say three. Zero. So. And then. And then I want to hit that. You know, it's. It's really not fair to have those two teams, James Madison and Tulane.

[C]

All right, Coach, before you jump, not just. Yeah, before you jump into that, I want to play this sound bite real quick, which. Which is going to segue perfectly into what you want to say. And it's. It's coming from a guy who's going to be bleeding. Gators, right. John Summerall, the head coach at Tulane. This is after Tulane lost their first round game. And he was basically asked after the defeat to Ole Miss, you know, was it fair Was it the right thing for the James Madison's, you know, for the two lanes to be in this edition of the college football playoffs? Here's what he said.

[D]

I mean look, I'm, I think we were our conference champion and the rules are what they were. I think they should be access for at least one G5 team moving forward. I do, you know, I think you should have given the American champion an opportunity before the ACC champion this year because we beat the ACC champion. So like Duke won the ACC championship, we beat him. So I do understand the gripe by how he played tonight. We didn't help maybe the, the critics of that. But I do think there should at least be one G5 representative. But you know, I'm not in charge of the playoff. I'm just, I need to coach whatever team I'm coaching better than I did tonight. So I got to worry about.

[C]

So Tulane fell at Ole Miss 41 to 10. Oregon put a 50 burger on James Madison. Although JMU did put up 34 points. But in the end it was a 17 point loss for, for James Madison. So it's the inclusion of those two teams and what you saw from them on the field coach, which gives you a little bit of angst.

[A]

Yeah, Coach Sumrall is a great hire at the University of Florida and he said the right things that he'd say, but it's not the best 12 teams in America. It's, it's really not even close to be honest with you. If, and from what I saw, I guess what's amazing to me is what did you expect, you know, and, and maybe there'd be a gigantic upset or something like that, but to throw those guys out there and say, okay, we're gonna, you guys are gonna go fly across and play at Oregon and you know, I, I, I, I'm just not a fan of that. When I saw it hit, you know, I thought that's not, it's really not fair the players involved, it's not fair to the coach and it's certainly not fair to those two teams that were left out. That so I know coach Stoops and I had a long conversation about that because he never, I don't believe he ever started coaching. But I was at Bowling Green and then I was at a young Utah team on the Mountain West. But people said when I was at Utah, Mark, we, we beat A and M badly, we beat Arizona, be Cal beat Oregon. You know, I would force those if they want to have that conversation. And I said this last week or two weeks ago they have to play three perennial top 50 teams. Now that's all fluid because it changes. But you have to or you can't. Conversation stop. You just can't because there's no measuring stick. You can't measure some of those other games and say, how would you think this will look like? So you have to play and compete with those so the committee can have a look and say, okay, this is what this might look like. Because that was, it was kind of embarrassing for college football to have that happen, you know, extremely embarrassing. And, and I'm not. Like I said, what do you think was going to happen? You know, that was going to happen. And it did. Yeah.

[B]

Thank the one saving grace was we had NFL football on Saturday. So at 5 o', clock, 8 o', clock, I was on Fox watching NFL football because the college games were not exceptional. They were not great. But yeah, you said it, coach, man, what do you expect to happen? It happened. But hey, those are the rules. Those are the rules that are set in place by our forefathers, our forefathers.

[C]

Our College Football Playoff forefathers, by our.

[B]

College football, by our CFP forefathers.

[A]

I want to have someone stand up and own it and say that was my fault for doing that. Now, of course you'll never hear that because I keep asking who wrote that rule? Who wrote that rule? And they just.

[C]

Athletic directors. Right? Yeah.

[B]

They wrote this rule thinking that that scenario would never happen.

[C]

Correct.

[B]

If Miami just wins the acc, none of that ever happens. Now there will be a G6 representative, but it wouldn't be James Madison in there. You know what I mean? And it would probably be, you know, Miami, if they held her on, they won the acc, then Notre Dame would have got in.

[C]

So there wouldn't have been this noise if the ACC had carried their water. Right? Right.

[B]

ACC was booty cheek.

[C]

So the fact that two, two group of six programs got in I think just kind of tilted the competitive balance out of whack too much. If it was just one program like it was last year, I don't think there would have been this hand wringing this angst. Right. Because a Notre Dame or maybe even a BYU would have gotten in. And I just don't think this conversation would have gotten as much exposure as it had. And maybe it's a good thing that it did, that it brought it out. But again, these are the rules in place.

[B]

Yes, but even like last year, Boise was a legit team.

[C]

Absolutely deserved to be.

[B]

They lost by, they lost to Oregon by a field Goal last year. So you had a measuring stick of the G6 representative, you know what I mean? So there was no measuring stick, like coach said, like James Madison, they beat Duke. Duke was cheeks like, you know what I mean? Tulane, they got beat 45 to 10 in the regular season. They got beat 41 to 10 the other night. So we knew what was going to happen. But it all stems from the ACC not holding their weight this year.

[C]

Yeah, your Boise State program is.

[A]

Is.

[C]

Is really valid, right? Because when you're talking about these group of sixes, it's, you know, you're riding a wave, right? Like there. There could be some really good outliers, like a Boise State last year. Right. That deserve to be there. And then you get a year like this where, again, I don't want to discredit Tulane and James Madison. Congratulations on wonderful seasons. I'm so happy that. That those two teams, their fan bases, the groups, got to experience a college football playoff. But I think we all agree they weren't to the level of Boise State. Here's my one pushback, and I'm going to throw questions to you, Coach Mark, if we were writing the Declaration of Independence for college football, right?

[B]

If we're the forefathers.

[C]

We are the forefathers of college football right now. Mark Ingram, I am putting it in my declaration that we want college football for all. Is that fair?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay. No, we want to. We want to spread the gospel. Oh, no, not college football for all. All right, so zero chance.

[A]

Are you. Are you one of the. Are you a group hug guy? You want to.

[C]

You.

[A]

You want a group hug?

[B]

A participation.

[A]

You want to say, everybody get a chance. Let's all put our arms around each other. We understand that you don't have one player recruited on your team that can compete with the other one. But you know what? Let's all do a group hug and we'll. We'll sing afterwards.

[C]

Kumbaya. So.

[B]

Forefathers.

[A]

Rob, that's not what you do.

[C]

Okay? So let me go. Let me go back to my football.

[A]

Survival of the fittest.

[C]

So our college football country is built.

[A]

On players and badass teams get in the playoff.

[C]

It's built for just this little tiny pie graph. What about everybody else? Isn't it part of our responsibility to grow the sport, to educate people, to give them greater opportunity, to give the opportunity to love and embrace and enjoy and maybe have the opportunity to step on this sacred ground of the college football playoffs we.

[A]

Talking about.

[C]

They're not even allowed. They're not even Playing.

[A]

Your job is to crown a national champion and get the best 12 teams in America. That's it. Your job's not to spread the goodwill.

[C]

Okay?

[A]

No. Your job is to kick someone's ass on the field as hard as you possibly can. Thomas reward players that deserve to be there.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

No, no, no.

[C]

But what if those group of six teams deserve to be there?

[A]

Then they're in.

[C]

Okay, good.

[A]

That's why I, I mean, if I.

[B]

Was like Boise last year, like Boise.

[A]

I would have a play in Saturday that you play if, if someone. And we got to work it all out. But yeah, I'm telling you, and I'm Boise. And the Utah team in 04. They should have been. You know why? Because we kicked the, out of those other Power 5 teams. If, if James Madison or, or Tulane beat Ole Miss. Absolutely. They're in.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

They did. They got, they got 45.

[C]

I, I, the group hugger in me just wants to make sure that there's always that opportunity for those teams out there. And again, Coach, I love you, Robert.

[A]

Wow.

[C]

But listen, man, that's why there's no.

[A]

Chance you can be on this. I love you to death.

[C]

Rob, think about what these last few days have done for college football in the Virginia area around James Madison.

[A]

And.

[C]

I don't care about ratings. I know games. Yeah. You know what I'm going to do.

[A]

Is I'm going to get a conference call at Notre Dame and I'm going to have Rob explain how this is really important.

[C]

Why does Notre Dame automatically belong? Because their name is Notre Dame. Like, that's it. Like, how come they are automatically part of this 12 team conversation? Why can't we.

[B]

Because they would have killed Tulane or James Madison.

[C]

You don't know until you play the game.

[B]

We just saw the game.

[C]

Notre Dame didn't play.

[A]

Let's go. This is really good, Rob, but I would, I would force that. And I said this before in the scheduling. You did the, the small guys, which I was a small guy for a long time. You want to play with the big cats, you schedule them. And you could say, well, what if you can get them on that schedule?

[C]

We'll figure out a way, Right?

[A]

Yeah. They have to play three. Three teams. And there's your measuring stick.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

If James Madison, or like we mentioned Tulane. I love Tulane. I love their coach. If they would have beat or at least swung hard at Ole Miss and then the one other one. Absolutely. They go in or at least they get a chance to play it. If they decide to play a soft Ass schedule. No, no. Yeah, you can't.

[C]

So again, everybody has to play that game though, right coach?

[E]

Right.

[C]

The big boys have to agree to play the James Madison's in the two lanes of the world. Like. And I don't know how you come up with those rules. Right.

[A]

And I've been involved in the schedule and they could have got those now. They might have. You know, every. It's all about money now. How much are you going to pay? And all for sure they have to play if, if I'm a power, a non power forward team which I was at Bowling Green and I know I like Utah in 04. I knew I had them coming back.

[C]

Mark.

[A]

I would have done anything in my power to make. If there is a playoff back then to get a big boy on that schedule at least. And we do. Yeah. Because. Because you have to. I know there's, there's no other measuring.

[B]

Or you don't get respect.

[A]

Yeah. So it's great dialogue though.

[C]

College football. Maybe college football has a scheduling problem, right?

[A]

Sure does.

[C]

They schedule these games so far in advance that you have no idea where these programs are going to be three, four, five years down the road. If you look at the college basketball schedule, right. And it's so many more games and I understand you can play more games through the course of the year and things are a little bit more fluid. But the scheduling, like I, I'll sit here and I'll wait for the college basketball schedule to come out. Like who are the non conference teams? Like what do we, what are we doing? They're figuring it out in the summer, right? They're figuring out, hey, this is who we're going to be and this is what that team looks like they're going to be. Maybe college football needs to slow down, just slow down. And hey, in the spring let's get together and let's see. Let's see where certain programs are right now and give those schools the opportunity to schedule and to prove or say that you know what, we're not quite at that level. My only beef again, coaches, I just want to make sure that those outlier programs are given the opportunity, like Boise State was last year to get the proper credit, to get into play with that boys to put their paws up and, and for that fan base, for those alumni, for those students, for that, that team, those coaches, that staff to experience the college football playoffs. I never want to take that away from somebody.

[B]

The problem is the college football is now discouraging scheduling. Like you have a weak schedule, you go 12 and oh, you're going to the playoff. So like. So yeah, we have a lot of college football just is. If college football is stuck, I'm buying it. We just need to reconstruct this thing.

[C]

Oh, it's, it's on the rise. It's a rocket ship for sure. Just need some fine tuning and, and coach, to your point, I think we saw it at the end of last year's college football playoffs. There was fine tuning, right? Just because you won your conference doesn't mean you get a buy anymore, right?

[A]

And they did. They made it better than they did a year ago with the, with the buys. They'll just keep adjusting. It's still great. But that was not good.

[C]

And my guess is it's going to be adjusted in the off season a little bit. Mark Ingram might have adjusted his thoughts on the University of Alabama going forward.

[A]

Huh?

[C]

There was a whole lot of roles. I know you were always behind Roll Tide, but now there's some vindication, right?

[B]

Yeah, I always Roll Tide. I don't know why they go harder for the Tide than me.

[C]

Coming up next on the triple option. Mark, bring that smile back, baby. You know who's joining us? Alabama. He man, Kaylin DeBoer. Next, our option presented by Wendy, our coach. College football not feeling as juicy as it once did. Let me put you on to something that'll shake up your Saturday and every other day of the week. Because now that Wendy's has crispy chicken tendies and a powerhouse lineup of new sauces, it's time to you transferred to the hottest team in the league.

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

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[C]

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[A]

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[C]

The only decision that will change your world for the better is the decision to call for a sober ride. Drive sober or get pulled over. Paid for by nhtsa. Welcome back to the triple option presented by Wendy's Rob Stone. Mark Ingram, the second urban. Oh, Mark, show me that smile because look who's joining us with that beautiful backdrop in Alabama head coach Caitlin DeBoer. Coach, thanks. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas early on. And thanks for joining us on the triple option.

[E]

Yeah, Merry Christmas to you guys as well. So it's good to be back on with you.

[C]

So that's good to still be coaching this time of year, right?

[E]

It is. It is, definitely. And so, you know, it's a great Christmas when you're still playing and especially with the games that we have coming up.

[A]

Congrats, coach. That's one of the best performances I've seen a long time. When you take every. And. And we were there. Triple option was there. That blue blood versus blue blood. And give Oklahoma credit for one of the best environments I've ever seen. And so here's a question that I've had many teams like that where your best version. I was telling Mark, when you watch on tape your best version of Alabama, I don't know who can beat you. However, there's some other versions that show up every once in a while. You're like, wait a minute now. And so of all the teams that are out there, the best version of Bama is the best version. How do you get that damn best version? All the. I know that's. If you had that answer, it'd be worth a lot of cash. But how do you get that best version?

[E]

Well, yeah, and again, if the. We started out slow, but I thought really the last two and a half, three quarters, we really, really played well. We played team football. And that's. That's where it starts. I think that's one thing that we have is we have a real team. And, you know, again, the SEC championship was something that, you know, really was. Was frustrating for our guys. No, we didn't play our best and. But you keep working back. There's just been these moments where the team just always rises at the top and guys playing for each other. And I think our guys truly believe that, you know, when you play great competition, there are going to be plays. There are going to be times and moments where it doesn't go perfect, but the other side of the ball, the other phase of the game is going to figure it out. They're going to make an adjustment. They're going to. They're going to get back on a roll. And especially in this game, we've. We had guys A little healthier. And we were able to, I think, play for four quarters that we had more guys hitting top speeds than really any other game other than Tennessee. We had the most guys playing the fastest in this game. All season long. It was tied with the Tennessee game. So that's quite a while ago. And so, you know, that was great to see. We talked to the guys about that, and, you know, that motivates them even more to be in the weight room and conditioning, what they were just doing here again today. So a lot of it is the practice, you know, the show. Right away, we just missed some opportunities to convert some third downs, which keep us on the field. I thought a couple angles on tackling. You know, early in the game, they got us. And so once we really settled in, thought both coordinators made some good adjustments to get high in a rhythm to keep their quarterback material off his. Off his spot. Got some more pressure in different ways. Had to mix it up a little bit and make some adjustments there. I thought our coordinators and our players did as good of a job in this game as we have all season long of staying the course, but also adjusting to the moment.

[B]

Hey, coach, man. Appreciate you being on, man. And when our producers reached out, they told me that, man, you had some requirements from me, man.

[C]

What?

[B]

What'd you say I had to do, man, in order for you to get on the show?

[E]

I don't know what that is.

[C]

I don't know.

[B]

Apparently, maybe.

[E]

I apologize for questioning whether we should.

[C]

Be in the playoff.

[E]

Is that what they're getting at?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. Okay, Mark.

[E]

Hey.

[B]

Hey. But listen, I can't apologize because it was some reverse psychology. I was throwing the rat poison out there, and clearly y' all heard me because we went out to Norman and we did the job, and we gonna do the job again in a few weeks. So, you know, I go harder for bama than anybody in the nation. I go harder for you than anybody in the nation. And did I feel like we left our destiny in the committee's hands? Yes, I did. Did I feel like the committee would have been justified by doing us dirty? I felt like they might have had some of that. But at the end of the day, I root for bama. I want bama in the playoff. I want bama to win the natty. I want bama to ball every single time we on the field. So I do apologize. And you know, I'm the ultimate king gump. They crown me king gump. Cause I go harder for battle than anybody else. So but, you know, we love you and now I love your wife and I love your daughter.

[C]

So.

[B]

Big Deborah fan over here.

[E]

Yeah. No, hey, here's the thing. You come back all the time. You help us. Like, I know where the loyalty's at and I know where the love's at. And so, hey, just you're saying how it was and we didn't play very good, you know, in that game. And so it was all real. And that comes with the territory.

[B]

You heard it from the man himself. I love you, coach. And I appreciate you, Coach.

[C]

You're sitting, you're sitting there down 170 on the road and that, that crowd is, is on you. What was the messaging, what was the tone that you wanted to display to your team at that moment?

[E]

Well, I, you know, the defense, I've, you know, start with that side. First of all, just when they come off the field and, you know we've given up some points, I just have. I don't know. They believe in themselves. Our whole team believes. And just telling them to keep playing, keep playing and they're going to force a turnover at some point. They just do it in the biggest moments. It's been happening really almost all season long and keep playing and the offense will make the adjustments. I know I go to the offense and tell them, hey, the defense, you know, they're going to come around. And so it's just that belief keeping them headed in the right direction, their mindset, where it needs to be, but just keep playing. And really, the over. You know, the, the part about it was just, I find a way to get seven points to the board, you know, just even three, 17 to three, but, you know, you really would like to get seven. And we got that. And when we got that seven points there, it really felt like, hey, this game, we're settling in now. We've taken some big punches here and, you know, we've weathered hopefully the, the major part of the storm and we just got to keep playing and then, you know, we got three more points and then the pick six and I was good. Even with where we were at going at halftime, feeling 17 to 10 with what we took on. Hey, it's going to come down to the end, but, but we can manage this. We've been in these moments all season long and we'll find a way. But the pick six by Zabian cb. Yeah.

[C]

How did that, how did that change your. Your halftime messaging to the team that pick six?

[E]

I'm a lot. The, the vibe was probably the biggest thing, you know, when you go into locker room and all of a sudden you've overcome a 17 point deficit as fast as we did. That was just. There was an energy in there. So it was, it was honing in that energy and understand you have to refocus and we can't have what happened in the first quarter happen again in a third. And you know, we just kept playing, made the adjustments. I thought our coaches did a great job. I could just, it was solution oriented in the locker room who had been on the sideline as well on the headphones. But just thought it was a really good halftime moment for us as a team.

[A]

You know, early scouting reports on Indiana, big noon kickoff, we covered them a bunch of times and it, it's, it's two years in a row. It's, it's enigma to me. I, because I coached against Indiana so many times, but I'm sure you're knee deep in them. It's just fewest big plays on defense, they give up and fewest. One of the fewest missed tackle teams in the country. And then the other side just, they don't make mistakes and they take care of the ball. It's one of the great stories in our lifetime in the, in the game. What have you seen in Indiana?

[E]

Yeah, I mean, coach Signetti, he's got, he's obviously got a great coaching staff because these guys, you can see they're coached up everything you just said. I mean, they don't hurt themselves, but they go attack their physical defenses up front. Just, you know, they get, they, they stop the run and they force the turnovers. They do all the things that championship level teams do and there's a reason why, you know, they're ranked number one and undefeated. So we know we got a great test ahead of us.

[B]

Coach, man, Ty, I want to talk about Ty, man, and the offense. He didn't turn the ball over. He made the right decisions. Obviously, Daniel Hill gave us some spark in the run game even though the run game kind of struggled at times. How do we continue to maintain some offensive balance, manufacture some run game, stay in third and managers will get positive first and second downs, especially against this Indiana defense, who is very disciplined and tough to, tough to handle.

[E]

Yeah, I thought, you know, the, the unfortunate part was the first couple drives, the first three drives, you know, just got a couple, couple yards. But we, you know, we actually took the sack on the one screen pass, which you're just trying to get again to your playmakers and then execute as well. They did a nice job too, but you Know that getting tied to rhythm. And I think we really got him in a rhythm, as good of a rhythm as we've had him in a long time. And the ball was going to the outside and just, you know, hitches and inside on, on some, some little intermediate routes and short routes and the guys made plays. There's still some opportunities early on where the ball's on the ground on a third down, you know, you didn't make the comp completion. And if you can just stay on the field now, you can get more runs and, and more attempts and just find that rhythm. But as the game went along, we found that rhythm. And then really what I think was the key is finding that, you know, that downfield, those downfield throws. And really what it comes down to is you think, oh, you know, spark. Well, guys make plays and they, you know, the catch by Germ made by Isaiah, you know, in the fourth quarter there and you know, I put that on the, those on the money, you know, and gave them a chance and that's the key. And saw isolation one on one. And those are some of the things when the last maybe three weeks or so we just weren't quite making those plays. And the protection, I thought it got better as the game went on. When you got obvious pass down situations, it got hard again, but, you know, very in. I know he took a sack there or two, you know, but I thought for the most part in the normal downs, I thought we did a much better job protecting Ty felt that and felt comfortable making the throws. And again he got rid of it pretty quick for most of the game.

[C]

Coach, let's go back to 2019. You are in Bloomington, Indiana. I use offensive coordinator. What was Indiana football in that little snapshot of time that you were there in Bloomington?

[E]

Yeah, I, I really had a great time there. Bloomington. You know, I was there just for 10 months. They went back to Fresno to be the head coach. But just great people there enjoyed living there, my family and I, and a lot of respect for the people, you know, just in, in the building. The people, the fan base, the, the media, all of it. And so, you know, it was, it was a time where we, we caught a spark there. Went to the Gator bowl and you know, had a good season. I know offensively it was a lot of fun. We got it rolling there pretty consistently and so had a great time, a great experience there. And obviously Coach Signetti has taken it, you know, to another level here these last two years and just what he's done, you know, it's just really impressive how he's got that momentum, how he's got that swagger that the team has.

[A]

You know, you said something a minute ago that just struck me and I just wrote it down, is that, you know, you're down 17 to nothing. Every coach, Mark and Rob, you try to. You try to put your team in adverse situations. That's the whole idea of off season in my mind is to. Because people show their true colors. The bad thing is sometimes you get adversity and lose. How value. I'm just sitting there thinking how valuable for you and your staff to witness right in front of you that environment that you got punched right in the face as hard as they could. And they came back, just talk to us about how valuable that is. I'm sitting here thinking how valuable that is. You can't put a price on what just happened to your team, man.

[E]

You know, 34, 24 is the final score. And now that we've won, it was maybe miserable at times, early going through it, but now that we've won, it's one of those program things that, you know, we've done together. I talked to the guys about that yesterday. You know, we each have our experiences and I have my experience. Haven't done it long enough. Coach, you would have yours too. Just where you overcame something. And, and I always have a 99 yard drive that I kind of refer to. And the guys met the quarterback about a month ago that led that in. In the final minutes to win a football game, to go to a national championship. And there's things like that where it's just like, man, just keep punching. And that's how I. Those moments are the ones that I believe in. But we've had some great moments this year where we had to do some of those things. South Carolina, the end of the Auburn game, just different. Different moments like that. The back and forth that the SEC games a lot of times bring. Georgia, you know, got the lead, but all of a sudden they're right back in it. But this one, I think just like you said, coach, just 17, nothing and. And coming back now, that's one we've done together and that's one that we have to remember, like how we did it. And, and it wasn't just like barely scratching, getting through it.

[A]

We.

[E]

We thrived, we excelled. And as the game went on, you know, you could see it just growing on us. And so we got to remember that one, not just for down the road and the off right now, in the moments we're in and facing these great teams that are coming ahead, we, we're going to take more punches at times. I mean they're just too good of teams that we have, you know, ahead of us, starting with Indiana. So just, you know, that's, that's what we got to remember. And we got through coach.

[B]

We got about 10 more days till we play in the Rose Bowl. Me and coach and we're always talking about how do you manage, you know, a slight break, like how do you, you know, keep the intensity going in practice, but also staying healthy, staying fresh. What is the message to the team and how do you plan to handle this 10 day gap moving up to the Rose Bowl?

[E]

Yeah, we're back lifting and, and running today. Same thing tomorrow. It's like a bye week. But I cut one practice off, you know, and we did the same thing after the SEC championship going into to this one. You know, the guys aren't going to have a chance to get home with the way the setup is with the playoffs or anything, but they're in the moment and they're loving it. So I feel bad for their families at times but, but hopefully they get to get out there too, to California. So we'll, we'll have a bonus, couple bonus practices. You know, a Sunday practice that we, you know, would have, that's kind of the equivalent. And then again one more bonus practice that we're going to have here on the 24th, mid morning. So we need to get these guys healthy again. There's just dings, nothing that's going to be where I feel like a guy's out, but just enough of the stuff that a physical game brings and especially when you four quarters. So we'll get these guys back. Our staff, our medical staff is unbelievable. They did a great job the last two weeks getting us ready for the Oklahoma game.

[B]

We need another Allen. He's the man.

[E]

Yep. All our doctors there, top tier.

[C]

So Coach, I want to take you quickly back to what I thought was a surreal moment Friday night. End of the third quarter, before the fourth quarter starts, lights go down, crowd starts feeling this weird buzz. And out of that tunnel near your sideline comes 50 comes out. And all of a sudden there's like this impromptu concert going on. And I was way up in the booth with Coach Stoops and both teams lost their focus. They lost it, Coach. They were like jumping and looking and staring at 50 cent and taking in this moment. So many questions. One, did you know it was going to happen? Did you know what was going on in the Moment. And how did you want to manage that bizarro, really fun, entertaining moment? Because again, these are kids and this is something really unique for them.

[E]

Yeah, it was. And I think. I don't know if you know, but the guys talked about it afterwards on Fridays. The song. That song is the one that the guys played right before we start our stretch. And high energy, excited. They got the game, you know, 24 hours or whatever, you know, ahead. I did not know. I knew there was a video. I thought that was a video. I was kind of towards the other end. I saw the guys all getting excited and kind of right as I saw the clock coming down, like, all right, told the coaches, like, let's get these guys back, back. But I, you know, in the moment, I love the energy. I knew it was going to take that. We're on the road. I'd rather have them be like that than, you know, you know, their eyes, like, too wide open, like, just like, what's hitting us here in the fourth quarter. So, you know, they scored actually a couple plays later on us. We gave up. So you could say, well, we weren't.

[B]

I was like, damn you, 50.

[E]

But I also know that we responded the rest of the quarter as well in a very good way. So it's not. Can't just always be about one play. But, yeah, that was. That was something. I didn't realize that it was actually live. I knew the song was playing. I knew why our guys were hyped up, but I didn't know really the extent of what was going on, I'll be honest.

[B]

Well, I was out there popping my stuff to autumn Sooners, man. I was out there holding it down. We had the podcast. We did a live show. We were right in the middle. Bunch of Sooners. They know I was out there. Hey, tell them how I was getting at him, Stoner.

[C]

You were. He had his shoes on, coach. He had that full hoodie on. Black and white. It was. Yeah. There was no denying who Mark was there for.

[E]

He's a real one, man. He's.

[C]

He's one of one, coach. He's one of one. So are you, Coach. Kayn Deboer. Thanks so much. Happy holidays to you. Safe travels and best of luck against Indiana at the Rose Bowl. Caitlyn Deboer, head coach of the University of Alabama. Thank you, coach.

[B]

Row tie, Coach.

[E]

No tie.

[A]

Thanks, coach.

[E]

Yeah, thank you.

[C]

So good, so good, so good.

[F]

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[G]

This episode is brought to you by Jack Daniels. Jack Daniels and music are made for each other. They share a rhythm in the craft of making something timeless while being a part of legendary nights. From backyard jams to sold out arenas, there's a song in every toast. Please drink responsibly. Responsibility.org, jack Daniels and Old no. 7 are registered trademarks. Tennessee whiskey, 40% alcohol by volume. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee.

[C]

Welcome back to the group hug that is the triple option. Presented by Wendy's Urban. Mark Robstone back here with you. It is time now for Mark's Deuce Deuce Dog of the week and it's it's tailback time. Hey coach, tailback time.

[B]

Go ahead and take off your headphones.

[C]

Because.

[B]

It was a real dog performance. It was a real R Beast performance and I gotta go with the R beast out of the Miami Hurricanes. Mark Fletcher Jr. He was toting that rock like a grown man. Coach. I don't know if you watched him but whenever they needed a play, it was Mark Fletcher Jr. Rob running through, breaking tackles, stiff arming, going to the crib. 17 carries, 172 yards. And if they didn't have Mark Fletcher Jr. Miami will be going to the crib. They will be going back to Coral Gables and they will be done for the season. And so dog of the week, your boy, Mark Fletcher Jr. For the grown man.

[A]

Shelley's favorite. Shelley's favorite part of the show is when you bark and I said shelly, when he does, I can't.

[C]

That's my favorite part. When it starts really low.

[B]

Boy towing that rock, I don't know.

[C]

Where that sound comes from. Hey Mark, that 56 yard run by him in the fourth quarter that led to that game winning score, that was, that was like that run alone Would have earned him deuce, deuce, dog of the week.

[B]

Grown man, Stoner. Grown man. When you watch somebody tote the rock and I start wanting to put my chin strap on, I'm like, oh, he told that thing properly. Stoner.

[C]

It, it's interesting. He, he's going to be a factor or a non factor, right? Because if you go back to his last game in the regular season at pit 10 carries, just 30 yards and then the explosion of 17 for 170 for a guy who you know where he originally committed, don't you, Mark?

[B]

Ohio State.

[C]

Ohio State. Yeah. Former Ohio State man. So that was your fresh take of the week presented by Wendy's. Join team Tendies and enjoy a lineup like never before. Crispy, juicy tendies now at Wendy's. All right, let's fire up the two minute drill brought to you by FanDuel. Visit FanDuel.com triple option to download the app and take advantage of a 50% profit boost. Today we are going to pick Texas Tech vs Oregon, Ole Miss vs Georgia on next week's episode. So this week we're going to look at Buckeyes taken on Miami, Alabama, Indiana. All right, let's start with the second ranked Buckeyes inside the Cotton bowl again like they were last year and they take on Miami. Coach, right now, Buckeyes favored by nine and a half over under 41 and a half. How do you see it?

[A]

Well, last time we saw the Buckeyes they lost Indiana and if you remember, they lost Indiana played fantastic, especially on defense. And Mendoza won the Heisman that night right in front of us. Big noon was there and so I'm just concerned about Miami's offense. I've kind of been concerned about them all year. But they, they didn't look good. They didn't even look like they were the. If you go back and watch the final drive of the first half, they were huddling and trying to get out even after I believe it was a turnover. They got good field position and. And then it was just offensively they looked a mess. And so Carson Beck is as talented as there is. I made a comment that that was going to be his most important game of his career. I'm going to follow up with the most important game of his career. This is going to have. Draft status is being determined here right now against NFL quality defenses. Against A and M he didn't pass that great, you know, and quarterbacks get far too much blame and far too much glory when they win. So it's not just Carson Beck So I don't, I think Ohio State covers. I just don't know how Miami is going to score points against the top defense in the land. And they're going to watch that film and you're going to see an excited group of Buckeyes getting ready to play that offense. Now on the other side. Miami's defense is legit, Mark. Yeah, they're legit. Yes, they, they, they made the quarter. They made A and M look really bad on offense, those two hands. So if Ohio State comes out and plays, you know, they just didn't play well on offense against Indiana. This could be a low scoring game. But I just don't see Miami scoring. You know, I don't see it. Ohio State scores two touchdowns, they win.

[C]

I got questions for both of you. I'm going to go to you first, Coach. Carson Beck, we were saying last week on the triple option, is it Carson Beck A or Carson Beck B? Right. So the Carson Beck we saw in windy conditions in College Station, 14 to 20. So pretty efficient. But just one oh three and a touchdown. So was that Carson Beck A or B or kind of. I guess I feel like it was kind of in between. No turnovers. Right. But nothing electric.

[A]

So I'm going to give, I'm going to give a. First of all, Miami and Cristobal what a great season. And, you know, is Miami back? We'll see. I mean, they're getting close. Maybe they managed the game that way because, and I've done that before, when you look out there and you see her just hammer. Your defense is playing the way they were. Let's keep the ball in front of us. Let's take care of the football and play a field position game because that's what it looked like to me. So maybe it wasn't all on Carson Beck because they didn't, like you just said he was, you know, they threw for 100 yards. But this, this one's going to be different inside, right?

[C]

There's no wind, right. He, he's going to have to be Carson Beck A, it feels like, right.

[A]

And you guys, my worst. His, his mark. When we do the NFL draft, when big triple option goes to the draft, this, this will impact his. Where he's selected in the NFL draft. This game and last game, he, he.

[B]

Didn'T lose the game, but he didn't win the game. And that like coach said, managing the game, it doesn't matter how you win the game. You know, if you could play field position, let your defense do what they do. But versus Ohio State. You cannot be conservative.

[A]

You can't.

[B]

You're going to, you're. You, you can't turn the football over for one. But you're going to have to make throws. You're going to have to make plays to win this game, to beat this football team. So we're going to have to see the A version of Carson Beck, the early season version of Carson Beck if they want to have a chance to compete against Ohio State.

[C]

All right, last question on this game. I go to you, Mark. Coach, you can chime in if you want elite, elite wide receivers in this one, right? I don't think there's a better wide receiver room in America than what's in Columbus. There's a motivated Jeremiah Smith out there. 80 grabs, over a thousand yards, 11 touchdowns. You know when he was overlooked for the Blitnikov Award given to the top receiver, he, he went on social media, didn't say anything. He just, he just posted a little clip and the clip was. I'm a motivated man, basically just to, just to kind of put it in parentheses and air quote it on the flip side. Baby Jesus.

[B]

Now, Malachi Tony.

[C]

Malachi Tony, right. 992 yards, seven touchdowns. He scored the game's only touchdown versus Texas A&M. He's thrown for two touchdowns. He's run for a touchdown. He's a dangerous return man. I feel like it might even come down to just those two kind of wide receiver specialists. Which one provides those game breaking moments?

[B]

100%. And Ohio State. You said it. They have two of the top receivers in the entire nation. Then you look at Miami like they need to find a way to generate offense. Outside of Mark Fletcher Jr. And Malachi Toney, you kind of stop the run game. I'm, I'm, I'm doubling. I'm having eyes and bodies flying towards Malachi Tony. And I'm going to force the rest of the team to beat us because I don't think they could do it if I'm Ohio State. We could beat them if we contain the run game and contain Malachi Toney because that is their bulk of their offense right there.

[C]

A lot of people remember January 3, 2003. Do you guys remember Ohio State? Miami double o, T number one, Miami number two, Ohio State.

[B]

Listen, is that the Willis McGahey game where he blew out his knee and.

[C]

Then that questionable pass interference call as well? The Buckeyes ended up winning at 31 24. I think you'll be seeing more and more flashbacks to that one going forward. That was A fun game, but has no bearing whatsoever on this year's edition of the Cotton Bowl. All right, let's head to Pasadena, California, the Rose Bowl. We heard from Kaylin DeBoer earlier in our conversation here on the triple option. His Tide ranked number nine taking on top ranked Indiana. Mark Hoosier is favored by six and a half. The over under 48 and a half. Are you going to sing me a song right now?

[B]

Hey, middle of our fight song. Remember the Rose bowl will win. And hey, Rose bowl, we love a Rose Bowl.

[A]

Rose Bowl's in your fight song, right?

[C]

It's a Big Ten Rose Bowl. It's not Alabama, I don't know. But we in there.

[B]

It's in there because guess what? We won the Natty at the wrong bowl. You know what I mean? But it was in there before that. I don't know why. Hey, but it is in the fight song. But listen here to this game. Indiana, one of the most complete teams, one of the most disciplined teams, one of the most well coached teams in the country got the Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza. You got two backs in the backfield, Roman Hemby, Kaylin black. You got three receivers, Elijah Surat, Omar Cooper Jr. Who hurt his ankle against in in the Big Ten championship, but he should be available. You also have Charlie Becker. You have a great old line. You have a defense of line that gets tackles for loss. You have a good secondary. You have a team that is overall just really well coached. They play sound football. They don't beat themselves. With that being said, when Alabama how we played from the second quarter on in the Oklahoma game, that's the team you want to see. You want to see a team that stays in third, stays is moving to change, staying in first and second, getting positive plays, staying in third and manageable, not getting behind the sticks. You want to see a defense who's getting pressure on the quarterback. You're going to need to pressure Fernando Mendoza and make him get uncomfortable in the pocket. I think Alabama's going to play their best football. I think this last game should galvanize them, give them a lot of confidence. Minus six and a half is a big number for me. I think Alabama covers that. I think Alabama wins outright. I like our path to the playoff. We had Oklahoma, we got Indiana, we beat. If we win this game, we get, I think either Oregon or Texas Tech. I like Alabama's path to get to the whole thing.

[F]

And.

[B]

And I'm taking Bama. I'm taking Bama in this game. I'm taking the Six and a half points. I'm taking him to win outright. Ty Simpson didn't turn the football over last week. Had a good game, made some good decisions. Our run game still is kind of eh but Daniel Hill, we got him going a little bit. Made some good runs down the stretch. Manufactured some run game with the quick passing game with the screen game. Staying positive plays first and second down. I'm taking Alabama in this one.

[A]

Hey Mark.

[B]

I'm taking Alabama in this one.

[C]

Coach.

[A]

Hey Mark.

[B]

I like our path to the Natty.

[A]

I'm saying that was one of the best performances I've seen. We were there in Oklahoma. How about that atmosphere? It was down 17 nil and they came back and the poise, the coaching, the leadership on that I was, I thought it was game set match because that environment, that was a tough ass environment playing. So again I'm going to go back to the and I've sat in that chair on the Sunday. When you see the best version of your team which coach DeBoer is doing right now, he's staring watching that right now. How do I get my best version of that? Because you're bet you're not good version. You guys are going to get your ass kicked.

[B]

Get killed.

[A]

Get killed. Now your best version. I'm not sure there's a team in the land that can beat Alabama. That's how good they were for when you used to tackle. How about the tackling on defense?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And I mean it was fantastic. It was really well done. That was one of the best wins I've seen this year.

[B]

I keep telling us all season long coach, our ceiling can compete with anybody in the nation.

[A]

How do you get that mark in that locker room?

[B]

Do you know that our bottom is blew out? Our bottom is blew out. The floor is is. I have no idea. You get two different teams. I have no idea. You get two different teams. I don't know if it's unprepared. I don't know if it's not confident. I don't know if it's uncertain. I don't know what it is. But when you have Alabama playing at their potential, they are one of the best teams in the country. We've seen it all throughout this year. We've also seen them play very poorly versus, you know, versus Georgia versus Oklahoma the first time versus Florida State. So if we can get consistent performance playing to our potential. I like our path. I like Alabama to win. I like Alabama to be competing for a national title.

[A]

How about that environment Rob? Was that something?

[B]

Hey, Listen, I was in the booth. I was in the Alabama booth. I was with our AD. I was with our president. I was with Coach DeBoer, Coach DeBoer's wife, his two daughters and some heavy hitters. And it was like a funeral in there at 17.

[C]

But then my 24 odd answer changed the mood.

[B]

Yep, my boy Lottie. Dottie Lotte Brooks gets the touchdown. Okay, here we go. Zabian Brown, pick six. Okay, here we go.

[C]

Pick six was a dagger. A dagger.

[B]

We needed that. We needed that. And then. Then we kept it going. We kept the momentum going. But that's the Alabama we need. The Alabama that consistently plays to their best is going to be a tough team to beat. And that's who I think is going to show up in the Rose bowl. And that's who I think is going to beat Indiana outright and advance to the semifinal.

[C]

An insane historical dichotomy between these two programs, right? Alabama third. Third winningest program in college football. And just a couple weeks ago we were reminding folks that at one point Indiana was the losingest team in college football. But you know what Kurt Signetti's doing last couple weeks? He's finding his way to that recliner.

[B]

Just think of the fingerprints on his program. This CFP has saved his fingerprints all over it, though. Stone Mario, Chris Ball, Kurt Signetti, Kirby Smart, dan Lanning. That's four of the Dang8 teams that are in the playoffs. So them all got championship pedigree. You say we the third win in this program, but we got the most natties in the history of the game.

[C]

You know who don't care? You know who don't care?

[B]

I don't know. I don't give it now to see don't care.

[C]

Sick. Don't care. Hey, Sig's up there scheming, watching tape.

[B]

He is burning my big Indiana guy. But you know I got too much.

[C]

I know you got to do what you got to do.

[B]

I got too much Bama in me, man.

[C]

It's. It'll never leave you, my friend. By the way, you. I was so proud of you. And not that I didn't think you wouldn't stick up for your team, but man, there's a. There's a lot of Boomer Sooner running around us in Norman, Oklahoma. And Mark with the kicks on. With the hoodie on. Standing on the stage during our live show screaming, everybody out. Putting up a good old fight. It was fun, man.

[B]

It was great.

[C]

Great blue bloods in a. In a. Just coach, to your point, a beautiful atmosphere yeah, Coach and I got to walk around with Coach Stoops. Mark in the bowels of the stadium.

[A]

Royal treatment, man.

[C]

We. We ran into Coach Venables, man. Coach. Coach Venables. When we saw him in that tunnel before the game, he was awesome. Like, it didn't even look like he had a game, much less a playoff game. He was loose and comfortable and upbeat and everything that they put on. Yeah, it was a hell of a show in North.

[A]

How about Coach Toops getting treated the way he should get treated.

[B]

Royalty.

[A]

Really cool to see a real king.

[B]

A real king. And we appreciate you, Coach Stoops. You the man.

[C]

Coach. Coach Stoops. Like, when I say you've got good parking, like, we literally parked on the practice field like, like a short slant away from hitting the stadium, Right? But you know how focused Coach was on this game. Urban, do you remember what happened about like, I don't know, about 40 minutes later before we pulled in and got out of his car?

[A]

Oh, he left the car running, right?

[C]

He left the car running, Mark.

[A]

He left the car running.

[B]

I should have went with y' all running. I should have went with y', all, cuz me, Trent and A.J. we walked through the masses. We walked through the masses, went through gate three, which was freaking absurd, trying to get in there. It's me, Trent Rich and AJ McCarron. With all these boomer Sooners trying to get in the stadium, I was like, damn, we should have went with Coach.

[C]

It was a great road trip, man. We need to do that more often. Make sure to follow subscribe rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever it is you seek out your podcast. We are on social media 3x option show next week, huh?

[B]

You don't got no game this week?

[C]

I got no game. I. I got plenty of game. I just don't have game for this one. Next week on the triple option, we're joined by one of our. One of our favorites, a heartbeat, an OG here at the triple option. Texas Tech head coach Joy Maguire joins us. That's a special Monday release. You're going to learn. You're going to learn some things about coaches license plate and the car he drives on Sundays. You're going to want to stick around for that next week. As always, thanks to our sponsors Wendy's, FanDuel and NHTSA. Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy New Year. Happy everything. Happy everything to everybody.

[B]

Happy holidays.

[C]

Hugs, Coach. Hugs.

[B]

Bring it in, Coach. Hugs for everybody.