Clark Lea on Vanderbilt's Rise + Urban Meyer's Top 10 College Football Programs

Summary

---

The Triple Option – Episode Summary

Podcast: The Triple Option
Episode: Clark Lea on Vanderbilt's Rise + Urban Meyer's Top 10 College Football Programs
Date: July 29, 2026
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Featured Guest: Clark Lea, Vanderbilt Head Coach

---

Episode Overview

This episode delivers insights into the changing landscape of college football, highlighting the evolution of offseason training, anticipating top games for the 2026 season, and presenting Urban Meyer’s definitive list of the top 10 college football programs "built to win it all." Central to the episode is an in-depth interview with Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, focusing on the meteoric rise of his program and the unique challenges and culture at Vanderbilt.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

College Football: Offseason Evolution & Current Landscape

Timestamps: 01:00 – 04:14

• Offseason Training Has Changed:
  • Meyer highlights how college teams now hold OTAs, with summer spent focused on team activities, a shift from previous eras where NCAA restrictions limited contact (“If you didn’t allow those teams to do that, it’d be the Bad News Bears.” – Urban Meyer, 02:32).
  • Players have very little true "off time," with most classes now online, allowing athletes to optimize schedules for football and academics.

Most Anticipated Games of 2026

Timestamps: 04:15 – 13:14

• Hosts’ Picks – Top 5+ Games (each host alternately selects):
  1. Michigan at Ohio State
     • "Two guys, arguably the top two coaches in college football...that by far is number one. It will always be number one." – Urban Meyer (04:47)
  2. LSU at Ole Miss (“Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford”) – Rob Stone
  3. Miami at Notre Dame – Meyer highlights this as a likely top-5 showdown, potential Heisman implications for Notre Dame QB C.J. Carr.
  4. Ohio State at Texas – Rob expects a 1 vs. 2 matchup, starring Julian Sayin (OSU) and Arch Manning (Texas).
  5. Oregon at Ohio State – Meyer points to Oregon’s veteran leadership with QB Dante Moore.
  6. Ohio State at Indiana – Discussed as a breakout chance for the now-defending national champion Hoosiers.
  7. Oklahoma at Michigan (bonus pick) – Meyer is eager to see how Oklahoma fares after making the playoff in 2025.

Interview: Clark Lea and Vanderbilt’s Rise

Timestamps: 15:17 – 31:40

The Transformation of Vanderbilt Football

• Clark Lea credits "a lot of people" and several years of hard work.
• On changing the narrative: “We call ourselves a team of misfits...what we want is to draw in the right people that want to be a part of making the history, not having it handed down.” – Clark Lea (17:47)
• On recruiting 5-stars: Emphasizes finding players who “fit us” over star ratings to preserve the identity of the program.

Managing Expectations and Roster Questions

• Vanderbilt must replace key departed stars (Diego Pavia, Eli Stowers), especially at QB, but returns experience and a promising run game (19:07).
• Prioritizing defense, particularly third-down situations, to support a new quarterback.
• “We know our margins are razor thin...but we’re good enough to win every game we play.” – Clark Lea (20:23)

Coaching Philosophy and Mentoring

• Lea lists key mentors: Brian Kelly, John Stiglemeyer, Dave Clawson, Bronco Mendenhall, and non-football figures like MLB manager Pat Murphy and Tim Corbin (Vanderbilt Baseball).
• On mentorship: “What we’re doing is complex. These are human problems, too. So it’s not just the tactical things. It’s the human things.” – Clark Lea (23:05)

The Diego Pavia Effect

• Pavia’s legacy goes beyond on-field play: “I learned a lot about not whispering our beliefs...being willing to speak boldly and act intentionally.” – Clark Lea (24:17)
• Still maintains a close relationship: “My kids consider him a brother...” – Clark Lea (25:30)

The Challenge Ahead: SEC Gauntlet

• Acknowledges a “bar” set by the first 10-win season in program history, but notes a brutal 2026 SEC schedule (“You got Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama...and your layups are Arkansas, if that’s not a layup” – Urban Meyer, 26:14).

Vanderbilt Family Legacy

• Multiple generations of Lea’s family attended Vanderbilt.
• Admits he was denied admission out of high school, underscoring the personal significance and pride in his current position (28:29).

Modern College Football: Can Culture Beat Pay-for-Play?

• “I think you need both...We tried, and we lost our best players. I think you need the transaction [NIL], I think you need the culture.” – Clark Lea (30:30)
• Emphasis on “attacking the natural dividers in the locker room” and building unselfishness.

---

Urban Meyer's Top 10 College Football Programs

Timestamps: 33:40 – 45:06

Meyer's Criteria

1. Recruiting: “It really stops and starts there.”
2. Administration: Leadership and support from the university.
3. Fan Base: Passion, loyalty, and engagement.
4. Historical Perspective: Track record of success and tradition.

The List (10 → 1)

1. USC: “Top 5 potential, but haven’t performed in decades.” (36:52)
2. Florida: “How do you not win there?” (37:22)
3. Oregon: Cites Phil Knight/Nike influence, strong support, "missing" a national title. (37:56)
4. Michigan: Historic pedigree; “winningest program in college football.” (38:40)
5. Miami: “Scared the hell out of me when I was at Florida.” Faults the 45-minute distance from campus to stadium.
6. LSU: “Has it all. Awful to coach at as an opponent. The fans...it’s elite.” (40:40)
7. Notre Dame: “Brian Kelly changed the culture.” Facilities and the city have finally caught up. (41:31)
8. Texas & Georgia (tie): “Both have absolutely everything—but Georgia looks different, so does LSU.” (42:42)
9. Alabama: “Average for decades before Saban.” (43:38)
10. Ohio State: #1 overall. “Ohio State was the pathfinder in the Big Ten...going to get the best players anywhere.” (44:16)

Honorable Mentions: Oklahoma, Penn State (noted decline in recruiting region), Texas A&M, Nebraska, Tennessee, Clemson, Auburn.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vanderbilt’s Identity:
  “We call ourselves a team of misfits…We want them to fit us.”
  — Clark Lea (17:47)

• On Modern CFB Realities:
  “Can championship culture still beat the highest bidder, or do you need both?...I think you need both.”
  — Clark Lea (30:30)

• On the SEC Grind:
  “We got Austin P and Delaware to start, but then...at Auburn, at Georgia, at Florida...You got Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, and your layups are Arkansas, if that’s not a layup.”
  — Urban Meyer (26:14)

• Urban Meyer’s top criteria:
  “It stops and starts at recruiting. If you can’t get players...you can’t win.”
  — Urban Meyer (34:12)

• On legacy at Vanderbilt:
  “To be at my alma mater, to coach in my hometown...you just don’t get that lucky.”
  — Clark Lea (29:22)

• On Diego Pavia:
  “My kids consider him a brother...I’ll be connected to him the rest of my life. Love Diego and just appreciate him very much.”
  — Clark Lea (25:36)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–01:57: Start of episode, changing relevance of historic programs
• 01:58–04:15: Offseason transformation and player experience
• 04:15–13:14: Top games of 2026 draft & discussion
• 15:17–31:40: Clark Lea in-depth interview
• 33:40–45:06: Urban Meyer’s Top 10 Programs and rationale
• 47:40–48:33: Big Ten & Indiana’s surprising rise
• 48:33–End: Wrap-up, fan engagement, and closing remarks

---

Tone & Language

The episode combines in-depth strategic discussion (especially from Meyer), a player’s-eye-view (Ingram), and enthusiastic, informed hosting (Stone). The tone is collegial, candid, and often humorous—marked by stories from coaching and player experience, friendly jabs, and genuine curiosity.

---

For Listeners

This episode provides a robust update on college football’s current landscape, delivers exclusive insight into the making of a Cinderella SEC program, and offers a blueprint for what programs should prioritize for sustained excellence. Whether you’re a fan of the sport’s blue bloods or love an underdog story, this episode is rich with both practical coaching theory and bold opinions.

Follow @3XOptionShow on all platforms for more content.

Transcript

[Urban Meyer]

We've witnessed some historic programs that have been non relevant for decades. Now that it blows my mind. I do not understand that. How does that happen?

[Rob Stone]

Indiana, right?

[Urban Meyer]

I mean, look at the ADN of coach. They're better than, you know, USC and Auburn and some of these programs like, well, what in the hell is going on?

[Rob Stone]

Welcome to the Triple Option presented by Wendy's and their $1 small classic Frosty Limited time only. Get it while it's hot. Glad you're with us for another edition of the Triple Option. He's Urban Meyer. I'm Rob Stone. Today we're going to take you down to Nashville, Tennessee and see what Vanderbilt and their head coach Clark Lee have in store. Remember they almost, almost crashed that College Football playoff party last season. What a job Lee has done turning around that program. We're going to find out who Coach Meyer thinks are the 10 best programs set up to win it all. And we're going to dive into the top matchups of the upcoming 2026 season. As always, please rate, subscribe, send us questions, we're across social media, 3X option show and new episodes coming away on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. After this week, we're going to take a break, Coach. We're going to rejoin everybody the week of August 24th. In the meantime, if you're just sitting on the beach, you're on the plane, whatever you're doing, catch up on all of our prior episodes. We had some wonderful guests this off season. Julian Saiyan, the Buckeyes QB CJ Carr might be the Heisman favorite, Mario Cristob and the national championship winning head coach, Kurt Signetti. All there. All right. So Coach, there are now just 31 days until we have games on any given Saturday. And this season we're going to have some massive games one month essentially out from the season. Coach, what are the teams, what are the players doing right now one month out ahead of game time?

[Urban Meyer]

Well, here's how the world changed. They're actually having OTAs, you know, throughout the summer and that was a no, no back in the day that, you know, the day I remember near the end of my career, you were not allowed to, you know, they, they finally let you go in the weight room with the players. But there was a time that once spring ball ended, you didn't see them again. That's when you, you know, you heard about teams with violations. They would set up cameras, they look out of their office windows and watch them have seven on seven and all that. But they're actually Functioning it as a team right now. And that's the only way with all the transition of rosters. That's why you see such high performance in the fall. If you didn't allow those teams to do that, it'd be the Bad News Bears because you just functionally can't get ready, you know, to run an offensive defense. Special teams, if you didn't have the. Didn't allow these teams to work out throughout the summer. So you. There is no time off for these players. That's what's amazing is I didn't want to study one year. The year we won it all in 2014, once our players started, the only time they had off was spring break. They didn't have Christmas off. They didn't have Thanksgiving off. The only time they went right, we played our national championship game on the first day of class against Oregon. So the players went right back to class. The only time that they had off, like off with spring break.

[Rob Stone]

So is this a good thing for the players and for college football?

[Urban Meyer]

I think, I mean, the performance on the field right now is as good as it's ever been. So I'd say yes. You know, you'd have to ask the players this. I don't see. It doesn't seem like they're complaining because, I mean, what, are you kidding me? They're getting taken care of like they've never been taken care of before, too, as far as food, as far as housing, as far as being paid. So I don't hear much of the complaining.

[Mark]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

That I thought I would hear during this time of year.

[Rob Stone]

They got the run of the campus, too. Right. They can get the lay of the land. They can just kind of focus on. On them, whatever that is, whether that's strength or speed or even academics.

[Urban Meyer]

Remember academics, too. And I don't, you know, I don't want to be the downer here, but I mean, my understanding is now majority of these classes are online. You know, you're not even going to

[Rob Stone]

class, so you're, you can take those classes in the summer. Check those boxes. Focus on the fall.

[Urban Meyer]

Check those boxes.

[Rob Stone]

Check those boxes, baby. All right. Later on, on this episode, we're going to discuss. Coach. The top 10 programs in college football. Built to win it all. But right now, we're going to talk top five games that we are looking forward to, whether that's the best game on the schedule or maybe there's something behind the scenes that makes it a little extra spicy. So you and I are going to go back and forth. You get the number one pick. So you get to pick the number one game you're looking forward to most this season. And I'll follow it up.

[Urban Meyer]

You can answer it for me. I mean this is the same one that Fox Sports picks every year. You're going late November game, it's, it's in Columbus, Ohio. This year it's going to be two guys that worked on my coaching staff. Ryan Day and Kyle Woody and am. Two guys, arguably the top two coaches in college football, if not certainly top five. Look at their records, look at what they've done. Elite, elite coaches, elite people. And that's that by far is number one. It will always be number one.

[Rob Stone]

There's a chance there could be three Ohio State games on this list, by the way. All right, so with my first pick at number two overall, September 19th, Lane Kiffin rolls back into Oxford. LSU, old miss. This is going to be regular season grudge match that everybody is going to be talking about and I'm sure the nice, kind, lovely people in Ole Miss are going to roll out the red carpet and welcome the old coach back.

[Urban Meyer]

And there's a tendency, you know that Ole Miss, I got coached there a few times and they were pretty good. They were never had the great teams. I don't believe when I was there they obviously they beat us in 08. But those fans traditionally are not the nasty LSU. You know, Penn State where you walk in that arena, the Wolverines where they're

[Rob Stone]

busy with their hottie toddies.

[Urban Meyer]

Is that what you're telling them this will be? You're going to see a level of nastiness I don't know if you ever experienced in.

[Rob Stone]

And Lane has had some, some interesting returns in his career. This is the one that that might take, might take the cake. All right, so number one, Michigan at Ohio State. Number two, LSU at Ole Miss coach

[Urban Meyer]

number three, I'm going to go Miami at Notre Dame. And here's why I think you have a Heisman trophy candidate in C.J. carr. I would probably put him in the lead. And here's why you look at their schedule, there'll be double digit favorites, Rob, maybe all the way through until Miami rolls into South Bend. And by the way, it's November. I would, I when I was there that was very rare that you would see a southern team schedule because these are all, you know, they don't have to play each other, not conference games. So like USC would never play that game in late new year. It was always early in the year. They just wouldn't do It. And so when I saw that schedule and that.

[Rob Stone]

That's what's held up this rivalry too, by the way. Right? Notre Dame wanting to play USC late in the season in South Bend and USC want no part of that in the middle of their conference grind as well.

[Urban Meyer]

Well, my Miami, I. I stood next to him. I got a lot of respect for Mario Cristobal. I stood next to him in the national championship game. That was a national champion looking team. I think they got one of the best players in the country in the receiver Malachi. And I just think that game is going to be the impact on the Heisman Trophy and the College Football Playoff. Who will be the high seeds? It's going to be Miami and Notre Dame.

[Rob Stone]

That's a top five showdown.

[Urban Meyer]

Pretty.

[Rob Stone]

It should be a top five showdown at least preseason wise. This one though, at number four could be a top two showdown in week two. Ohio State at Texas. We were at the home edition for Ohio State last year when Julian Saying and the Buckeyes took down then number one Texas. Now the Buckeyes head south to the Longhorns. Julian saying, that loaded Buckeye squad and that wide receiver room which just keeps getting better and better against Arch Manning. I think Texas is going to be number one when the preseason poll comes out. You can say what you want about preseason polls, but it gives us something to talk about. I think it's going to be 1 versus 2.

[Urban Meyer]

I agree with you and I. I had that way up there as well. I got another Ohio State game.

[Rob Stone]

How about Ohio State, Texas falling to number four, by the way.

[Urban Meyer]

How about that? Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

All right. Number five, coach.

[Urban Meyer]

Well, I would have them ahead, Ole Miss, lsu. But you did that for the fan perspective and telling them field. But I the next one that I would say is. So the top three teams right now are Texas, Ohio State, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon. And I would throw Notre Dame in there again because of talent, because also their schedule. So my next game would be Oregon. He has to visit Columbus, Ohio.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

And that is a rugged trip for them. It's a long way. And obviously the thing that's amazing here is Robert, Ohio State's got a real schedule. Like they've always had good schedules. This is a real, real schedule. This is like the old SEC days when you look on that schedule like, what the hell. So Ohio State's got a tough road, but this will be a big game. Dante Moore I think will be in New York. I think he's the most veteran. He is the most veteran quarterback out there. I love the kid as his patience. I love the fact we've had him on air a few times and he's a wonderful guy, but he's fallen in the template. Oregon has fallen in the template of the. The oldest teams win. The Wolverines did that, The Buckeyes did it and Indiana did it last year. And right now Indiana is a very. Or Oregon's a very veteran team led by Dante Moore.

[Rob Stone]

I'll, I'll throw in an additional one and I think this one's interesting on a couple levels. And it's another Ohio State game and it's. Then it's the team you just talked about, Buckeyes in Bloomington mid October. Man, when have we ever said that like, oh, Ohio, Ohio State at Indiana. Coach used to be like so low on the programming pecking order like, how do we, how do we not take Ohio State? But they're in Bloomington. It's not going to be a great setting. It's going to be a blowout. And now you're saying, well, this is where we're going to find out just how good Kurt Signetti's team is this year. Year three, the defending national champs, bringing one of the real blue bloods into town. We're going to open up Big Noon in Indiana as they open up their campaign. But this, this showdown in, in mid October with everything that's going on with Ohio State's brutal schedule like you just talked about, and in an opportunity for Indiana to welcome that blue blood into town and to, to send a message that they're not a one hit, two hit wonder that they are. They are here for sure that they have lasting power.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah. Just because of my history with Indiana. I was always. This house of cards is going to crumble at some point. But then as a football coach, you study the coaching, you study the development of players and the quality of player and I think Indiana is going to put on their big boy pants and that is going to turn into a real great environment. And it has to because it was obviously one of the worst environments out there. Now it's, you know, this one will be legendary. The status of the game, the environment, obviously Big Noon will be there, but my next game and I'll close.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, you're done. We were only doing five. Are we doing 10? You want a bonus one?

[Urban Meyer]

I want a bonus one.

[Rob Stone]

You get, I got a bonus one. You get to.

[Urban Meyer]

Because it's my boy, Kyle Whittingham. I can't wait to watch up close in a person with all this stuff going on. Oklahoma, Oklahoma Week in Ann Arbor. Week two, Big Noon will be there. You know who's going to play quarterback for the Wolverines?

[Rob Stone]

I can't believe we're having that question. Right. You know, for the, we're questioning Bryce Underwood and his off season and that had to be priority number one for Coach Witt in his staff this offseason.

[Urban Meyer]

Sure, sure. Retention of the first of all, not just retention of him, but retention of his team. And he did a pretty good job keeping them together. You know, here's the one thing about players. They are so resilient. Do they really care what happened three, four years ago? Do the players really care who the AD is? Do the play? No, they want to know how much they're getting paid, what time training table is and am I starting and what's the, what's the next what's our first third down and six call. That's the beautiful thing about the players.

[Rob Stone]

And again, remember, this is an Oklahoma team coach that made the college football playoffs last year. We, we road tripped down to Norman, you mean? Yeah, we took the triple option. Coach Stoops joined us as well. And Oklahoma to me will be fascinating. They got the defense, you know, can they find a running game? You know, what's the passing outlook? Good look, can they protect Mater and company? I think that's going to be a real fun week two game that not a lot of people are talking about. That was never cutting corners. Brought to you by Wendy's $1 small classic Frosty Limited time only. Get it while it is hot. Coming up next, Coach and Mark sit down with Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lee on the triple option presented by Wendy's.

[Urban Meyer]

Light it.

[Rob Stone]

Summer's better with the Frosty in your hand. And this summer Wendy's is giving you a sweet deal on your fave summertime treat for a limited time. You can now get a small classic frosty for only $1. That's right. All it takes is one buck, one Washington one, whatever you want to call it to get one of the best treats of the season. Because summer, it should be fun and not expensive.

[Urban Meyer]

So whether you're wrapping up a day at the pool, taking a cross country road trip or just looking for an excuse to cool off, Wendy's has you covered. Go ahead, treat yourself to a hot deal on a cool treat and celebrate $1 frosty summer at Wendy's.

[Rob Stone]

But hurry up because this deal's over when summer's gone. So get it while it's hot or you know, get it while they're still cold. Grab a $1 small classic Frosty for a limited time at participating US Wendy's.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for from

[Urban Meyer]

a browse to a bike ride this summer.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Find more on Facebook

[Clark Lee]

at the Home Depot. Get up to 15% off all installed carpet projects for a limited time featuring brands like LifeProof, LifeProof with pet proof technology, home decorators collection and Traffic Master. Take your pick of carpet built for real life and designed for real comfort. Plus with installations starting as low as 49 cents per square foot and a free measure to get you started, we'll handle the hard parts for you. Offer valid July 16, 2026 through August 2, 2026. Exclusion supply for licenses see home depot.com licensenumbers

[Mark]

welcome back to the triple option. We are now joined by a man that somehow beat my crimson tide in 2024. We got our get back, but Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lee. How you doing, man? We appreciate you coming on the show and man, you got Vanderbilt as a talk of college football the last couple years. Man, how you, how you, how you got that going on, man?

[Clark Lee]

Well, it's been a lot of people doing a lot of work and it's taken, you know, a number of years, but it feels good to be on this side of the results. And as you guys both know, now it's about trying to fight to not just maintain but elevate. That's, you know, that's the challenge in front of us. But we're doing well. We're here mid summer, so churning through it, but excited about what awaits us in the fall.

[Urban Meyer]

Coach Lee, thanks for joining us. And I'm going to say a statement that not many people understand. I Ziggy Zumba.

[Clark Lee]

Oh, yeah, very.

[Urban Meyer]

I know that Mark. You have no idea what that means, do you? Teach me. That's a Bowling Green war chant that Coach Lee spent some time. How many years of Bowling Green?

[Clark Lee]

I was just there once, but I sang that song enough to remember it.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, it's the easiest fight song usually I've, my kids had to learn the fight songs along our journey. And I mean from Notre Dame, Ohio State, then I went to Bowling Green. That's like, wait, what is it? Isaac Is umbrella. And that's it.

[Clark Lee]

It's a, it's a great. You know, like that just that right there is what's great about our game. You know, you have such a. Bowling Green, Ohio. My, my oldest son was born there. What, what a, what a town of pride. A program of pride. A great place. Was a great year for us. I was fortunate to be there.

[Urban Meyer]

Let's talk about Vanderbilt, a program I know well coached against him and I think it was Bobby Johnson, right, Was a coach, right. And the great quarterback Jay Cutler. So I mean, it wasn't a, it wasn't an easy out, it was a tough out. We had some battles with them. But the biggest thing I noticed about Nashville was when we played there, it was all us. The entire stadium was orange and blue. You've changed that and that's a hard thing to. Obviously you have to win. But I know there's a lot of behind the scenes because when you watch Vanderbilt play now, it's fun to watch. But what that does also is you now you get in the game on these big time recruits instead of the underdog and you just got Jared Curtis and beat some blue bloods for him. And when I was at Utah, we were always concerned that you would lose the underdog mentality when you start recruiting these five stars. Is that a concern? Are you really looking to that or, or do you just try to get

[Clark Lee]

the best you can, get the best you can? But, but we, we have to be really true to who we are. And I like, we, you know, we call ourselves a team of misfits. And I would, I would say that Jared Curtis fits right alongside us. I mean, you know, there's still a lot of work here to be done and so we're not calling people into something that's finished. And we, we, we tend to focus in recruiting on just how hard it's going to be, how much you're going to have to love football, all those things. And, and you, you draw in the right people that, that want to be a part of making the history. Not, not kind of, you know, being handed down the, the history that someone else has made. So obviously we're gonna, we're gonna go find the best and the brightest. We want them to fit us. We, we want to win a very. You know, it's our goal to build this program into a national champion and to become one of the blue bloods. You know, that's, that's the vision. We're early in on it still, but certainly a guy like Jared making The decision to jump on mission means a

[Mark]

lot to us now 2024, Vanderbilt kind of snuck up on some people last year. Not so much coming forward. Everyone knows that Vanderbilt is coming with a good football team led by a great head coach. How do you keep that same energy, that same mentality moving forward and now that those two, those last two seasons kind of be the exception to the rule?

[Clark Lee]

Yeah, I mean, obviously this year we got a real challenge in replacing some very productive players. Diego Pavia, Eli Stowers to name two on offense that obviously you got the golden arm winner and the Mackie Award winner and Heisman runner up. I mean, you know, and those guys forever changed our program. So we want to work in honor of them. We want to, we want to really honor their contributions by building upon them. But anytime you're answering the quarterback question in the summer, you know, nothing's guaranteed. I do think we return a lot of experience and we have a good team around that position. So my hope is that we can, you know, through playing well in the offensive line, establishing a run game with a couple of running backs that we think are among our league's best, that we can take pressure off the quarterback position and then, you know, really what we, what we've identified is strengthening performance on defense, particularly third down defense is an area that can again help support an offense that we know we have the system to put points up and move the ball, but we need, we need to create some margin for error for the quarterback position. It's a team effort. You know, that may have been a little more granular than you wanted, but that's exactly what my mind's on. I think the attitude of the program, the energy in the program, it's all there. You know, I feel really good. I trust the team that I stand in front of every day. These guys have put a lot into this. I know they want it. I think we have to play good football now and, and they know we're, we're not going to line up and be the most talented team every time we play. I mean there are going to be plenty of games where we're still punching up. But what they also know is that we're good enough to win every game we play. And it's about playing good football and understanding our margins are razor thin and, and you know, doing all the things we need to do to, to capitalize on the opponent mistakes.

[Urban Meyer]

Let's talk about you personally. We had similar pedigree coming up. I was at Bowling Green while I was at coach and you were at Notre Dame? I was at Notre Dame. I had two mentors that were on speed dial, and Lou Holtz was my walking encyclopedia. Every, I mean, multiple times a week, I'd reach out to him. Earl Bruce had Sonny Lubick, Bob Davey, Clark. Clark, Clark Lee, the coach. Now, who are the guys are on speed dial? Because we all have them.

[Clark Lee]

As far as mentorship, well, you know, it's interesting. I've been fortunate to have a lot of great people that I've worked for and people that have built into my career. You talk about Brian Kelly as a guy at Notre Dame, that, that really taught me a lot about being a head coach, you know, and, and has stayed in support of me as, as I've, you know, work through the build here. John Stiglemeyer is a guy that I worked for at South Dakota State that really meant a lot to me. He'll come every training camp spent, spent about a week with us. I really value his opinion, his perspective. Dave Clawson, who, of course, you know, was, was at Bowling Green and at Wake Forest. I worked for him twice. Dave's a guy. Early in the build here, I really relied on him because he and Bronco Menenhall were two people that I, that I, you know, worked for Dave and become friends with Bronco, and they, they knew what it felt like to build a program. I did not. And so I'm going to be honest with you that the first couple years, I was not liking what I was experiencing, and, and I was trying to figure out how to, to find a way through. But what I've also found, coaches, is I, I also enjoy having relationships outside of football. And so Pat Murphy, who's the manager for the Milwaukee brewers, is a guy that I, you know, the ball's different, but the problems are the same. I spend a lot of time on the phone with him. Tim Corbin, obviously, is our baseball coach here, too. Those are two guys that mean the world to me. So I, I try to stay kind of in touch with coaches. And, you know, certainly what's also been fun here is you got a guy like Jesse Menner, who's now the head coach for the Baltimore Ravens. I mean, you know, he was our D coordinator year one. To feel like we're starting to, to expand our little tree here is exciting, too, but it's, you know, what we're doing is complex. These are human problems, too. So it's not just the tactical things. It's the human things that require us to be really sharp. And so I, I, I Have a few people that I, That I network with really often, and, and those are just some, to name a few.

[Mark]

And Coach, you mentioned Diego Pavia, obviously a really confident guy, big personality. How did you manage him and the success that he was able to obtain the last two seasons? And are you guys in contact still to this day as he embarks on his NFL journey?

[Clark Lee]

For sure. Diego is a guy that means the world to me, and, you know, I, I was. I feel fortunate, and I'm sure Coach feels this way. They're. They're guys that you get to coach and you feel like leaving is just a privilege. I learned a lot from Diego. I learned a lot about not whispering our beliefs, but. But being willing to. To make statements and to speak boldly and to act intentionally. You know, Diego was such an incredible presence in our locker room and what he was able to cultivate here beyond just the play on the field, but, but actually the spirit and the relatedness in that locker room, I think it is much of a legacy as anything. And, and with any great competitor, there's complexity, too. You know, I mean, obviously they were learning moments for Diego here and times where he bumped up against the boundaries of the program and, but, but, you know, those of us that know him and know his heart understand exactly what he's doing. And, And a lot of times those were quick conversations of redirection. This guy is going to have great impact in the world right now. He's. He's chasing as an NFL football player. We're in full support of him that way. But even beyond football, I mean, he's. If you ask my kids, they, they. They consider him a brother. I mean, I always, always say I appreciate him because he, he allowed my kids to go to school and talk a little trash, which, which they needed to be able to do. And, and we're, We're. We're in touch. I mean, you know, you never know when your phone will buzz and it'll be day on a FaceTime. And you also never know who will also be sharing the screen with you on that face. So we went and saw him in Baltimore. We were able to see him kind of at one of the OTAs. Really proud of him. And, and again, you know, that's someone I'll be connected to the rest of my life. You know, love Diego and just appreciate him very much.

[Urban Meyer]

Real quick, I got good news and bad news. Good news Is you went 10 and 3 last year. Last year. The bad news is you went 10 and three. And I stare at the damn Schedule and I see SEC all over. You got Austin P and Delaware to start, but then NC State's a tough out. That coach does a hell of a job. And then you got. How about this mark at Auburn, at Georgia, at Florida, at Kentucky, at Mississippi State.

[Mark]

I mean, damn, nine game SEC schedule.

[Urban Meyer]

Then you got Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, and your layups are Arkansas. If that's not layup. I mean, I got good news and bad news, man. Time to follow up the 10 and 3.

[Clark Lee]

Yeah, you know, in, in. It's so true. I think we first of all, first 10 win program, season and program history means a lot to us and it also, it does set a bar. You know, we were undefeated at home last year, which was a really cool thing because our, our stadium, we just finished renovations and that meant a lot and that's something that we want to uphold. You know, what we've created is a sense of pride internally that we fight for every day. And when you play in the sec, week in, week out, you know you're going to be up against it. Just like for you, coach. You know, our focus is on how do we play the best version of Vanderbilt football every time out. So no matter who's we're lining up against, everyone is capable of beating us. How do we make it a focus on us, our performance, the energy, effort, spirit that we play with, our level of execution and ultimately that'll be our best chance, whether we're playing at home, playing on the road, and no matter who we're lined up against. That is the challenge though, man, that's, that is not easy at any point in time. But certainly when you're coaching 18 to 22 year olds and there's a lot going on in their worlds right now. I'm really proud of the way our team has maintained focus and I'm proud of the way this team is coming together. It's one of those things where I feel a closeness with this group and it's like that feeling of like, hey, come what may, you know, I know there's going to be adversity for us. There obviously be celebration too, but I'm just excited to go with it, go through it with these guys and to be a part of it. So looking forward to it, but, but certainly understand the challenge ahead and, and we have a quite a high bar that the team a year ago set.

[Mark]

Yeah, Coach, man, I did a little research, man, I saw you attended Vanderbilt. Your father, your sister, your uncle. What makes Vanderbilt so special to the Lee family?

[Clark Lee]

Oh yeah, it's Interesting, man. I appreciate that's, that's, you're the first person to bring up that, that lineage.

[Mark]

So that's legendary. That's legendary. Legacy. I'm all about legacy. So I had to ask you that, man.

[Clark Lee]

Yeah, you know, I, I actually found a, it was a wayward path to me here. I always tell, anytime I have a chance to speak to the admissions office here, I tell them that they actually denied me admission into school out of high school. So it took me a couple years to be good enough to get in. Yeah, it means a lot. Obviously, I'm from Nashville, so growing up here, for both my sister and I and being around the program, this is an excellent university. This, this, this education on campus is life changing in and of itself, you know, and what we want to do that, what we want to do with that is complement it with a life changing education, this program. But to, to be able to be at my alma mater, to be able to coach in my hometown, this being my sixth year, to have signed an extension last year, all those things aren't lost on me, is incredible, incredibly significant. I'm, you know, raising my family in my hometown. I know where my kids are going to school. You know, I, as a coach, you just, you don't get that lucky. And, and so I'm grateful for it. And, and to be at a place with, with such close personal connection to me means the world. Now I'll tell you that in 2023, I came to the stark realization that you can only come home once. We needed to figure it out so I could stay here a little longer. No, I've got a great partner in Candace Lee. I don't know if you guys have had a chance to meet Dr. Lee or not. She is just the best leader in college athletics. Our chancellor, Chancellor Dearmeyer. Such an aggressive vision for our university and sees Vanderbilt football's place in that vision and, and I don't think that's been said in our past. You know, he leads the way. Candace obviously clears the path for us and, and I feel lucky to, to be in this seat at this time and excited about, you know, the climb ahead.

[Mark]

All right, this is the last question, man. I've been asking it because it's something that we discussed especially with the landscape of college football. But can championship culture still beat the highest bidder or do you need both?

[Clark Lee]

I think you need both. And, and, and I say both. Just there, there, there are transactional elements of the game right now that if, if you. We tried, we tried in the first couple years and we lost our best players, you know, so I. I think. I actually think you need both. I think. I think you need the transaction. I think you need the culture. And I think championship culture is important. This is still a game of 11 guys being on the same page. And it's not like some of the sports where, you know, one guy can score, you know, 60 points. I mean, and so how you build a roster, but more importantly, I think how you attack the natural dividers that are now present in your locker room. You know, we. We have to. We have to be an unselfish group. And I think that takes a culture where we realize we want to belong to something bigger than ourselves. So our attempt is to do both. Obviously, I don't think that we're spending up to the level of some of our peers and, and certainly I'm proud of what we've done in terms of establishing a foundation for some resources that we've needed. We try to close the gap with, with our environment, our culture, the behaviors we actualize every day that we, we think ultimately make us who we are.

[Mark]

Well, there you have it. Head coach of Vandy Clark Lee 2025 Eddie Robinson, coach of the year.

[Urban Meyer]

We appreciate you.

[Clark Lee]

So good to be with you guys. Thanks.

[Rob Stone]

When you speed while driving, you have less time to react to whatever comes across your path. A sharp turn could take you by surprise, causing you to veer off the road. Another car could turn out in front of you, leading to a fender bender. A truck. It could break, suddenly injuring you and the other driver. A pedestrian could just be walking their dog, and your foot on the gas might lead to a tragedy.

[Mark]

You may not think any of these could happen to you, but you won't see them coming until they happen. When you're speeding, you don't have the time to course correct, and it only takes an instant to for disaster to strike. The speed limit isn't just there to protect you, but everyone around you too.

[Urban Meyer]

So slow down, obey the law, and keep everyone on the road safe. Speeding catches up with you. Paid for by NHTSA this episode is

[Sponsor Voice 1]

brought to you by Welch's Fruit Snacks. Back to school season can be tough on parents, but choosing a snack you and your kids can both get behind doesn't have to be. Stock up on Welch's Fruit Snacks, made with whole fruit and now made with no artificial dyes. It's a snack kids already love and one you can feel good about giving them. Go back to school with Welch's Fruit Snacks, now made with no artificial dyes. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast instead of doom scrolling Smart move, another smart move getting help from one of State State Farm's 19,000 local agents when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Rob Stone]

Welcome back to the triple option. Urban Meyer. Rob Stone back here with you. It's time now for this moment presented by nhtsa. Speeding catches up with you paid for by nhtsa. We are getting closer and closer of course to the college football season. Who is going to seize the moment? Who's going to win it all like Indiana did last season. So coach, we want to talk about who are the top 10 programs that are set up for success. So that's is that long term success? That's, that's more than just this season, right Coach?

[Urban Meyer]

It is and I Yahoo Sports put it out there and it made me think a little bit. And that's why I kind of sent out a text to you guys saying I think this is worth talking about because coaches make decisions on ads and you know, when you start having success and you have an opportunity to go somewhere, you know, I went to the University of Utah and the things that I look for, I left Bowling Green to go to Utah. The top four things that you look for when you go into a program, ironically, Utah really didn't fit that. I just the ad and I saw the budget and I saw, you know, greater Salt Lake area with close to 2 million people in that area that I said, you know what if I can't get 55,000 people in the stadium, then the hell's wrong with us? And I loved our ad crisis. He had a vision. But normally when you, the number one thing you always look for when you go or when I, when I evaluate a program is number one is recruiting. And it's really stops and starts there. Can you get quality student athletes in there? That means academically will they work with you? Can you keep them, retain them? And that's all the infrastructure of the, of the university. Well, they can you get players there and can you retain them a distance? Second is the administration. We've witnessed some historic programs that have been non relevant for decades. Now that it blows my mind. I do, I do not understand that. How's that happen?

[Rob Stone]

Indiana, right?

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah. I mean look at the ad and a coach that are better than, you know, USC And Auburn and some of these programs like going, what in the hell is going on?

[Rob Stone]

Stability.

[Urban Meyer]

And then the third one is fan base. You know, I saw people get after like Ohio State's fan base, because when they lost to the Wolverines, people were pissed. Yeah, that's the way it is. The one thing about fan bases, certain fan bases, they're going to be there, and that's a good thing. That means they're supporting your program. So fan base is number three, and then number four is the historical perspective, you know, if it's never been done. You know, Kirk Signetti in Indiana blew it completely out of the water. But that's very rare. It's obviously very rare. So with that said, I had a hard time. You know, there's about five below this and I'm sure I'm going to catch some hell for some fan bases on this. But number 10, and to me it's a top five program, but they just have not performed in decades. And that's usc. You know, I like Lincoln Riley. I think he's a heck of a person, heck of a coach. But how in the world is USC not in the playoffs every year?

[Rob Stone]

They got the recruiting area that does

[Urban Meyer]

not comprehend, that does not the history. I grew up watching usc, the great coaches, the Heisman Trophy winners and national champions, you know, the location, you fall over players, you stumble over great players when you leave USC. So USC is number 10.

[Rob Stone]

Fan base could be better. A lot of days where you look at that Coliseum and you're saying, boy, there need to be more buzz in those seats.

[Urban Meyer]

That's true. That's true.

[Rob Stone]

That's it.

[Urban Meyer]

I just see, I've seen it when they're hot. It's pretty good.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, it's great. It's elite. All right, that's 10. Number nine.

[Urban Meyer]

Number. Number nine is a little bit of a homer in me. I got the University of Florida Gators. I think they poked the tiger finally. I think John Sumrall is going to turn it might take a year, but how in the world, once again, recruiting elite administration. I think that's too bit determined. I like Scott Strickland, the ad. They just want it in basketball. How do you not win there in

[Rob Stone]

football, you know, you got the fan base and you know you've got history. Courtesy.

[Urban Meyer]

Best stadium in college football when it's rolling.

[Rob Stone]

Man, that swamp is nasty. It is nasty. Good. Nasty.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Good.

[Rob Stone]

All right, number eight, coach, number eight.

[Urban Meyer]

It doesn't really fit because of the recruiting base. However, what Phil Knight and Nike and what the uniforms have done the, you know, Oregon. I'm Putting Oregon at 8. Could be higher. They got the right coach, they got the right support staff. They got a wonderful infrastructure and then get players there. And that's not. That's been through three or four coaches. They've been getting players.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, Dan Lanning's got it right. Dan Lanning might be the best coach overall in America with what he's done in the passion. He does. And the guy.

[Urban Meyer]

One thing missing, one thing missing.

[Rob Stone]

It's that number four, historical perspective. Right. They need that natty. They need that natty. They might get it this year, by the way. They might get it this year. So already Big Ten, sec, Big Ten. All right. Number seven.

[Urban Meyer]

Got the Wolverines. You know, I got the Wolverines there. That the fan base is out of control. You know, I've been in that stadium. They went on a little bit of a very average run for quite a while. Historically. Someone, you know, I remember put out that Ohio State's won 10 games straight for however many years and. Or 12 games, whatever it was, and the Wolverines haven't. But I just think, you know, that the Wolverines, historically winning this program at college football is number seven.

[Rob Stone]

Okay. Yeah. Administration obviously going through some moments right now and new head coach with Whittingham in there. But everything that they have done in the past, it's amazing that they are not a top five program. All right, so Michigan is at number seven. That's three. Three big tens. All right, coach. Number six.

[Urban Meyer]

Number six. I got Miami and I went back and forth on this one because the fan base, you play your stadiums 45 minutes away.

[Rob Stone]

Hate that about them.

[Urban Meyer]

I. I know. I can't stand it. I can't imagine that.

[Rob Stone]

Can you just imagine if they were either on campus or just closer and. And what they can do? That place is a tough, tough place to get to. But again, you talked about stumbling on recruits in Southern Cal. Same thing at Miami.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I think they. And you look at the administration that the. The new and improved administration, the support the head coach is getting, the financial support, the coach himself. I look at Miami right now. I was Miami when I was a Florida. They scared the living hell out of me because they were. When Miami said, I'm going to go get a player, it was hard to beat. It was really, really hard to beat. But they had some very, very down years for a long time. So some people might disagree with that one. I just, I got a lot of respect from Miami. What the potential of that program is.

[Rob Stone]

There'll be a top five team this program, their season, I'm sure. All right, so Miami just misses your top five programs. First one from the acc. All right, number five, lsu.

[Urban Meyer]

LSU arguably could be anywhere in the top five. You know, they've had a up and down. Like most programs. They've gone up and down a little bit, but LSU has it all. I've coached in that stadium many times. It's awful. It's. It's. I remember saying, that's one place I'll never ever go again is lsu. So I could tell you story after story of things.

[Rob Stone]

What was the old lady. What was the old lady doing, too?

[Urban Meyer]

She went like this.

[Rob Stone]

The double bird.

[Urban Meyer]

We had eye contact, and it was very clear. Welcome to Baton Rouge.

[Rob Stone]

If you could. Could you do a police sketch right now of that woman from when you. When you.

[Urban Meyer]

Absolutely, I could. If she walked down the street here in Reno, I could.

[Rob Stone]

There she is. She might be in Reno, by the way. That's. That city would fit with LSU lady. All right, so LSU cracks the top five.

[Urban Meyer]

Number four, coach, University of Notre Dame. Again, they went through years and years of. I think I said this publicly. I think Brian Kelly changed the culture and the way people think there. He demanded. He rubbed the feathers and said, enough's enough. Enough with. When I was there, I think I told you facilities were God awful. I mean, awful. And then the. You know, it just was like that. They. They didn't pay the coaches. The facilities were. It was almost like you took great pride in that. We don't need this stuff to be Notre Dame. And someone made that change. And I think that someone was Brian Kelly. I said that they got the right coach now. They got. They got a role. And the facilities are absolutely. And here's what else they did in South Bend. South Bend's better. The city, the community around Angelet, Edison, the street and all that. I mean, it's. What they've done in South Bend is made. Because I don't believe Notre Dame was a top 10 program for a while.

[Rob Stone]

Okay, Notre Dame's at number four. So we got three spots left in the best programs in America right now. I think I know at least two of them. I'm curious what one of them's going to be. All right, so who's number two?

[Urban Meyer]

I got a fubar there. I just. I got. I'm gonna. I'm gonna slash Texas and Georgia. I know you guys get pissed when I do that. Okay, I think Texas and Georgia.

[Rob Stone]

Now my math is coming in clear. All right, so Texas and Georgia shared the number three spot. Huh.

[Urban Meyer]

I know that's cheating, but that's, that's all right.

[Rob Stone]

It's your list. You do what you want.

[Urban Meyer]

I think Georgia's got it all. High end academics, great location. Historically, they've always been good. They're the one school in the sec. Them and lsu, they players. Just to me, every time I'd watch them recruit or recruit against them and I'd see those teams come jogging out of the tunnel, I'd be like, how in the hell are we going to beat that team? LSU and Georgia look different.

[Rob Stone]

Okay.

[Urban Meyer]

And Texas has it all. Texas has it all. Texas, Texas, they got great administration, great high school football. They check every box.

[Rob Stone]

I'm going to guess who your number two team is.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, it's Alabama's number two.

[Clark Lee]

Yep.

[Urban Meyer]

And Ohio State is number one.

[Clark Lee]

Yeah, yeah.

[Rob Stone]

I'm writing them down before you say it. That makes sense.

[Urban Meyer]

You know, Alabama went through a couple decades of very average football. Then they hired Coach Saban and then

[Rob Stone]

they should have been number one. I think during that run, they would be the number one.

[Urban Meyer]

I'd agree. Well, the only thing I'd say about Ohio State, you can give them a slash. No, no slash there. No, not now.

[Rob Stone]

No, I meant back when Alabama was running it.

[Urban Meyer]

Oh, yeah.

[Rob Stone]

Doing it. Well, no doubt. Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

But I'd say historically, you know, in Ohio State's adapted. I'd like to think we were part of that, that the Big Ten. Notice there's a lot of Big Ten programs. I'd say five, six, seven, ten years ago that wouldn't have been the case because the Big Ten was caught in recruiting their footprint. I kept hearing that when I was hired there in 2012. And I was like, I kept telling people, I don't give a shit about the footprint. We're going to go after the top five running backs, top five receivers, top five linemen. I don't care if they're in Texas or Georgia or anywhere. And I think the Big Ten has followed suit. They're into the best players and if they're in the footprint, that's great. But the reality is Ohio State was the pathfinder in the Big Ten is saying we're going to go recruit the best of the best and a change of the Big Ten.

[Rob Stone]

So you had five from the sec, four from the Big Ten. Excuse me, one from the acc, one independent. And always when we do these type of lists, there's going to be like,

[Urban Meyer]

whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Rob Stone]

How do you not include program?

[Urban Meyer]

Let me, let me Throw those at you real fast.

[Rob Stone]

Okay, you're going to beat me to the punch.

[Urban Meyer]

There you go, Oklahoma and then Penn State. But I think Penn State's a more difficult job than it was several years ago. I think Joe Paterno kept that thing going for so long. But the population shift, you know, the reality is that Penn State's a much tougher sell than it was. I still think it's a phenomenal place, but there was a time that was a top five, top ten job. I just think it's right outside the top ten. A&M. How's A and M not in there? Nebraska should be in there. Tennessee should be in there. And Clemson. Those are the ones that just. And what the hell. Auburn. I coached against Auburn. They used to be. Yeah, that stadium, Rob, you've been.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, I have. I bet that was my first big time college football experience when I was working in Albany, GA and I Road tripped up for an Auburn game and my little northern eyes were just like, what is happening here and there? And it, it's an amazing setting.

[Urban Meyer]

Remember, Tommy Tuperville owns Alabama. He owned it. And that was back in the day, you know, when I. You think Auburn would not be a top 10 program? How. You know, again, how's that happen?

[Rob Stone]

Right. I just want to go back to Penn State. How do you say it's tougher to get the. I understand the concept of it's tougher to get bodies and recruits there, but you think that's tougher than getting them to Bloomington?

[Urban Meyer]

I do, and here's why. I mean, you hear the stories about you have to fly into Pittsburgh, you have to fly into, you know, that small airport there. I just, I've asked coaches there and the facilities are, you know, obviously the stadiums. I have it as the hardest stadium

[Rob Stone]

is growing and the stadium is growing

[Urban Meyer]

as well, but facilities are okay. I think they've improved. You know, I have not seen them recently. The mystique of the Joe Paterno and Penn State and all that. The reality is they have to go get kids from the South. You have to. That's the reality. Can you get a kid from the south to go play at your school? And Ohio State has, I believe the Wolverines have. Can Penn State consistently. I think James Franklin did a hell of a job. Hell of a job. Matt Campbell is going to do a hell of a job. But what's a hell of a job? He never won the big. He won the Big Ten once. James Franklin. So is it a top ten job?

[Rob Stone]

How about this? Where would you put. And I know it's not fair with your top four criteria, right. Of recruiting, administration, fan base, historical perspective. But. And a lot of this is big picture stuff, right, Coach? I understand it, but where's Indiana right now?

[Urban Meyer]

To be determined. You know, I think it's a two year show right now, so I'd say their stadium is very average.

[Rob Stone]

Yes.

[Urban Meyer]

You know, if they can throw 30 more thousand people in there inside and

[Rob Stone]

out, that stadium is average. And I think they've realized that. They've known that, but they haven't had anything to motivate them to celebrate it, to upgrade it, to make it worthwhile of a national championship team. I think that's going to change. Yeah. It's a good list, coach. It's a fun exercise. At a minimum, at least we'll stir.

[Urban Meyer]

I got to feel it's going to stir some people up too, but that's okay.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. Again, Michigan at number seven. If you want to stir people up.

[Urban Meyer]

Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting, administration. Because an administration can really kill an organization. Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

So Ohio State number one, Bama two, Texas, Georgia share at three, Notre Dame four. LSU five. Miami the lone, ACC at six, Michigan at seven, Oregon at eight, Florida at nine and number 10, USC. Discuss it, have fun with it. Enjoy it this summer. That does it for the triple option. Follow subscribe rate us on YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Wherever you find your podcasts, we are on social media 3X option show. Submit those questions, fire us those comments. We love when you engage with us. And as always, thanks to our amazing sponsors, Wendy's and nhtsa,

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Starting a business can seem like a daunting task. Unless you have a partner like Shopify. They have the tools you need to start and grow your business. From designing a website to marketing to selling and beyond, Shopify can help with everything you need. There's a reason millions of companies like Mattel, Heinz and Allbirds continue to trust and use them. With Shopify on your side, turn your big business idea into Sign up for your $1 per month [e-mail] specialoffer.