The Triple Option – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Close Calls in the Big Ten, Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love Joins, Heisman Race, and Week 12 Picks
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Guest: Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame RB)
Date: November 12, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Triple Option brings immediate reaction to the latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, breaks down wild finishes in the Big Ten, features an insightful interview with Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love, and delivers sharp analysis of the 2025 Heisman race and top Week 12 matchups. The energy is high as Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram, and Rob Stone combine coaching insights, player experience, and broadcaster perspective to paint the pulse of a shifting college football landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football Playoff Rankings: Analysis & Implications

Timestamps: 01:27 – 10:43

• Rob Stone opens the show with a College Football Playoff rankings breakdown, highlighting no changes in the top five and BYU's drop due to a loss at Texas Tech.
• Urban Meyer provides historical context, emphasizing the mentality of focusing on performance rather than rankings, and supports the committee’s decision not to penalize teams like Indiana and Oregon for close road wins.
  • “Every time I see the rankings come out, I guess I still got that coach mentality. Who cares? You know, you gotta do what you got to do.…There’s a lot of ball left.” (03:43)
• Big 12 and ACC are both discussed as conferences with real chances to get multiple teams into the CFP, especially with Miami now in the bracket and South Florida currently representing the Group of Six.
• The crew notes the continued rise of non-traditional programs (e.g., South Florida, Memphis, James Madison) due to the expanded playoff format and realignment.

2. ACC Analysis & Conference Scenarios

Timestamps: 07:00 – 10:43

• Rob Stone dives into the ACC’s unique scenario where Miami is ranked 15th but only 7th in league standings, opening a path for two ACC programs to sneak into the playoff if the right upsets happen.
• Urban reflects on the increased parity:
  • “I like the fact that ACC…is as competitive league as any… You are still in this thing.” (08:37)
• Urban also laments teams from his coaching tenure (the 2015 Ohio State team) that would’ve thrived under the current playoff format:
  • “Breaks my heart because we had a couple of teams I think that would have probably did very well if we would have had the playoff era back in 2015.” (09:07)

3. Big Ten Close Calls & “Two-Minute Drill” Masterclass

Timestamps: 10:43 – 16:03

• Urban enthusiastically breaks down the three kinds of two-minute drills with concrete recent examples from Oregon, Indiana, and Penn State:
  • Tempo: “Do what we do, but do it fast and let great players play great.” (12:17)
  • Fast: “Get out of bounds and get first downs…no routes under 10 yards.” (13:20)
  • Chunks: “…it’s the only time I’m ever going to tell you this, but force this throw.” (14:11)
• He shares anecdotes from Florida and Ohio State, highlighting the tension and excitement of last-minute comebacks.
• Mark and Rob appreciate Urban’s “professor mode” and real-time coaching tips.

4. “Deuce Dog of the Week” & Vanderbilt’s QB Diego Pavia

Timestamps: 21:35 – 24:07

• Mark picks Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) as Deuce Dog of the Week for an electric performance, reiterating his Heisman “dark horse” argument:
  • “He went 25 for 33, 377 yards, three touchdowns…He balled out. Got Vandy still in the playoff hunt.” (21:42)
• Urban shares a conversation with DJ Durkin (interim Auburn HC) who calls Pavia "relentless" and the team’s identity.
  • “That damn quarterback…relentless…tough as shit…he just bounces up like nothing.” (22:28)

5. Indiana’s Back-to-Back 10-Win Seasons & “Sound Off” Segment

Timestamps: 24:52 – 34:01

• Celebration of Indiana’s second straight 10-win year, a rarity in program history.
• Urban Meyer analyzes the climactic win at Penn State, focusing on the chess-match nature of the Hoosiers’ final drive and crediting both Indiana’s resolve and Penn State DC Jim Knowles’s aggressive strategy:
  • “I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my days. I’ve never seen anything quite like this.” (26:32)
  • “First and goal on the seven…he [Knowles] brought eight every time, blitz zero… [Cooper made] one of the most ridiculous catches.” (28:54)
• Mark and Urban praise Omar Cooper Jr.’s toe-tapping TD as NFL-level.
• Rob marvels at the physical feat and the officials’ poise: “For every person involved in that play…that was just precision in real time.”

6. Special Guest: Notre Dame RB Jeremiah Love

Timestamps: 36:25 – 50:24

Career & Team Reflections

• Jeremiah credits improved efficiency in his running style for his growth:
  • “My focus going into the season [was] just making sure that I was more efficient on every single run.” (37:30)
• He details the influence of older teammates and their communication, citing his partnership with Jadarian Price:
  • “He goes in there, executes it. So, you know, that’s just our relationship in general. JD does that for me; I do that for him.” (42:21)

Notre Dame’s Evolution

• Urban asks about ND’s evolution—better facilities, support, and staff:
  • “Notre Dame is continuing to evolve, and I’ve been able to see that with my own eyes. As compared to you…back in the day, Notre Dame wasn’t…my ideal place to go. But as of now…I love everything about Notre Dame.” (39:37)

Handling Adversity & Coach Marcus Freeman’s Message

• Love credits “keep going, keep working” as Marcus Freeman’s mantra after rough losses and the 0-2 season starts:
  • “Just keep going, keep going, keep pushing forward and resetting week after week.” (41:12)

Favorite Plays & Heisman Talk

• Jeremiah identifies last year’s hurdle vs. USC as his signature play.
• Mark Ingram advocates for Love’s Heisman credentials and the undervalued nature of running backs.
• Love respectfully declines Alabama’s recruiting pitch, underscoring ND as the right fit.
  • “Notre Dame was a better choice for me.” (48:13)
• Jeremiah throws a question back: “Who is your lead for the Heisman right now?” (49:21)

7. Mid-November Heisman Race

Timestamps: 50:30 – 56:58

• The hosts debate a wide-open Heisman field, mostly quarterbacks but with strong cases for WR Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), RB Jeremiah Love, and dark horse QB Diego Pavia.
  • Mark: “Nobody has really elevated themselves as the top three, in my opinion.” (53:09)
  • Urban: “The best football player in the country…is Jeremiah Smith…Number two…Mendoza with his Heisman moment…” (55:04)
  • Rob: “It’s a game winning drive, last second play, a pass and catch that’s going to be etched…that is a Heisman moment for sure.” (56:45)

8. Week 12 Picks & Pat Narduzzi “AI” Quote Debate

Timestamps: 57:00 – 64:03

• Major focus on Notre Dame at Pitt—line set at ND -11.5 but everyone senses a trap.
• Rob brings up Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s headline-grabbing claim: “I’d gladly get beat 110-10 in that game. They can put 100 on us as long as we win the next two games.” (59:51)
• Urban is incredulous: “That’s AI. He didn’t say that. No, he didn’t say it—that’s that fake stuff.” (60:14)
• The hosts humorously debate whether it’s mind games, media play, or a botched quote, but agree Pitt will play tough and could cover.

Other Week 12 Picks

• Texas at Georgia: Urban expects a close contest, likes Texas +6.5 but stops short of an outright upset.
  • “I think Texas holds it…they’ll beat the spread.” (63:06)
• Oklahoma at Alabama: Mark expects a tough fight but likes Bama to cover and deliver in a revenge spot.
  • “I feel like we cover at the end somehow.” (65:58)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Every time I see the rankings come out, I guess I still got that coach mentality. Who cares? …You gotta do what you got to do.”
  — Urban Meyer, 03:43

• “There’s three different styles of two minute drive and there’s variables that get involved… The first one is what—tempo. The second one is fast… The last one, and it’s awful, it’s called chunks.”
  — Urban Meyer, 12:17–14:11

• “He went 25 for 33, 377 yards, three touchdowns in the air. He also added 18 carries for 112 yards and another touchdown on the ground…”
  — Mark Ingram, on Diego Pavia, 21:42

• “As far as like right now, you know, we just focus on one game at a time, one play at a time, and one day at a time and just doing the things that we need to do.”
  — Jeremiah Love, 44:25

• “I’d gladly get beat 110 to 10 in that game. They can put 100 on us as long as we win the next two games.”
  — Quoting Pat Narduzzi, 59:51

• “That’s AI. He didn’t say that. No, he didn’t say it—that’s that fake stuff.”
  — Urban Meyer, on the Narduzzi quote, 60:14

• “It’s a game winning drive, last second play, a pass and catch that’s going to be etched…that is a Heisman moment for sure.”
  — Rob Stone on Mendoza, 56:45

Segment Timestamps

• CFP Rankings & Context: 01:27–10:43
• ACC Analysis: 07:00–10:43
• Big Ten Close Calls/Two Minute Drills: 10:43–16:03
• Deuce Dog/Diego Pavia: 21:35–24:07
• Indiana’s 10 Wins/Sound Off: 24:52–34:01
• Jeremiah Love Interview: 36:25–50:24
• Heisman Race: 50:30–56:58
• Pitt-Notre Dame & Week 12 Picking: 57:00–64:03

Tone & Style

• The tone is energetic, candid, and a blend of friendly banter and deep football analysis.
• Urban brings a coach’s intensity and granular breakdowns; Mark offers player wisdom and levity; Rob steers the conversation and injects fan-level enthusiasm.

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive view into the current college football climate—expanded playoff strategies, the real-life pressure of must-win drives, player development, and the heated race for postseason glory. The interview with Jeremiah Love provides a player’s insight into adapting, teamwork, and handling adversity under a rising Notre Dame program. The hosts’ spirited debate over Pat Narduzzi’s “AI” quote and willingness to both challenge each other and dig deep into X’s and O’s makes this a must-listen for any passionate fan.