The Triple Option – Episode Summary

Episode: Future of Belichick & Dabo, Texas Tech's Joey McGuire Joins, Best Stadiums, & Week 5 Picks
Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Special Guest: Joey McGuire (Texas Tech Head Coach)

Overview

This episode dives deep into the seismic changes and storylines shaping college football, focusing on high-profile coaches (like Bill Belichick and Dabo Swinney), Texas Tech’s steady rise under Joey McGuire, the impact of NIL, and the evolving landscape of the game. The hosts blend insider perspectives with candid debate, offering fans both the coach and player point-of-view.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

"How Does It End?" – Coaching Futures (03:39–18:40)

Bill Belichick at North Carolina (03:39–10:49)

• Urban Meyer reflects on his personal connection to Belichick and his influence on coaching and recruiting. He’s concerned by UNC's play: “They're worse on tape than I thought they'd be... misfits on defense... on the offensive side, it's a train wreck.” (05:19)
• Meyer dismisses money as a motivating factor at Belichick’s stage.
• Rob Stone calls UNC under Belichick “a joke... a meme... they might have won the press conference, but right now they are a laughing stock.” (07:02)
• Panel doubts a quick turnaround given massive roster changes. Mark Ingram: “At the end of the day, Bill was great because he established a culture. And right now in North Carolina, there is no culture.” (08:35)
• Consensus: Belichick likely gets two years. Both Meyer and Stone expect UNC to reset after him, not hand the job to his son.

Coaches on the Rise – Fran Brown (Syracuse), Kurt Signetti (Indiana) (10:41–17:33)

• Fran Brown (Syracuse): Praised as “the hottest coach in college sports” (Meyer, 11:58), admired for toughness, player development, and building a strong post-football culture.
• Mark Ingram: “He’s establishing the culture that he wants and the type of player... Coach Fran’s is one of the top young and up and coming coaches.” (12:47)
• Hosts predict Brown will soon be hired by a bigger program.
• Kurt Signetti (Indiana): “Would have to be the right gig for him to ever want to leave Indiana... he has a great situation,” says Ingram (13:47), adding Signetti is unlikely to jump ship unless a blue blood program comes calling.
• Meyer: “I think he turns Indiana... to a playoff team every year—maybe not make it, but in the conversation.” (14:51)
• Both agree Indiana found a sustainable winner with Signetti.

Struggling Coaches – Luke Fickell (Wisconsin), Billy Napier (Florida) (20:34–27:37)

• Fickell: Meyer is “worried about this one” at Wisconsin, noting the job is less attractive post-conference realignment and citing Ohio State and Bama as classic examples of reduced margins for error. Unlikely to be fired this season due to large buyout ($25M+).
• Napier: Florida’s legendary expectations underscore peril, yet Meyer and Ingram agree the administration is unlikely to eat his $21M buyout right now.
• Rob Stone: “Coach spoiled them, Mark. That's what it is.” (25:04)
• The consensus: Both likely finish the season due to economics more than performance.

Dabo Swinney and Clemson (27:27–30:39)

• A vulnerable, emotional Swinney is featured in his own words post-defeat: “I'm not a cyborg. I’ve been here 23 years. I love this place. I give this place the very best I got...” (28:09)
• Rob Stone: “I believe in Dabo. I don't think he's going anywhere… he ain’t going anywhere.” (29:55)
• Hosts agree Clemson is experiencing a “bump,” but Dabo’s job is secure, especially if he adapts more to the transfer portal.

Special Guest: Joey McGuire, Texas Tech Head Coach (34:38–49:45)

• Leadership & Locker Room: McGuire credits the hosts’ advice for instilling a player-run culture: “The players run this locker room... We cannot be scared.” (35:54)
• Urban Meyer lauds Tech’s talent and energy: “That is a good looking, fast, high cut, skinny ankle, veined up looking team, man.” (37:46)
• Quarterback Play: McGuire updates on Baron Morton’s injury (will play), but praises young QB Will Hammond: “He’s really, really special... we have a two year contract, so anybody that wants to try to come get him, he's already under contract for next year.” (41:12)
• Culture Buttons: McGuire admits using public criticism about Tech’s NIL support as motivational fuel, turning “money” narratives into a chip on his team's shoulder (44:31).
• Operational Excellence: Proud to have a dedicated GM (James Blanchard): “I still get to keep the purity of the coach-player relationship and I don’t have to be in that negotiation.” (48:04)

Notable Quote (Joey McGuire, 35:54):

"The players run this locker room. If there's anything that coach needs, he's going to tell me and we're going to get it done... We cannot be scared.”

Notable Quote (Urban Meyer, 37:46):

"That is a good looking, fast, high cut, skinny ankle, veined up looking team, man."

Best Stadium Environments – “Three and Out” (50:26–55:13)

Urban Meyer’s Top 3 (50:26):

1. Penn State Whiteout: “It’s ridiculous... with a veteran team, a seven point flip; with a young team, more than that.”
2. The Swamp at Florida: “When we were cooking, at a night game against LSU, it was the loudest I’ve ever heard.”
3. LSU at Night: "They poke that tiger... those are my three in order."

Mark Ingram’s Top 3 (51:36):

• Echoes LSU at Night (“That place at night is bonkers”), gives love to South Carolina (“Maybe most underrated stadium”), and picks Neyland Stadium (Tennessee) for “all those annoying people.”

Rob Stone’s Stadiums:

• Goes cross-sport: Azteca Stadium (Mexico City) for soccer atmosphere and a moat, Cameron Indoor (Duke basketball) for intimidation, and cheekily picks Riviera Lanes in Ohio for bowling.

Week 5 Picks & Analysis — Two Minute Drill (55:13–end)

USC at Illinois (56:40)

• Rob Stone: Illinois’ O-line is under scrutiny after giving up seven sacks and just three rushing yards in a half. “Trojans lead the Big Ten with 16 sacks... I say Trojans get the win at Illinois and they cover... people are going to start talking about USC as a legit Big Ten contender.” (57:23)

Alabama at Georgia (58:19)

• Mark Ingram: Details Alabama’s road struggles but is bullish: “Ty Simpson is the man... we own [Georgia] nine of the last 10. They'll still be our little brother. There’s going to be no difference in Athens this weekend, Bama.” (61:13)
• Picks Alabama to cover and win.

Oregon at Penn State – Whiteout Game (61:30)

• Urban Meyer: “On tape, it's Oregon. Oregon's going to win the game... but the respect I have for that damn whiteout... that's a seven pointer.” (61:55)
• Sees a close, classic contest; outcome swings on which team “had the best Tuesday practice.”

Other Notable Moments & Quotes

• Urban Meyer on coaching realities: “Just the expectations are unrealistic. But they've also been tamped. Welcome to college football.” (25:35)
• Discussion on Indiana’s turnaround: “Don’t mess with Happy. If it's working, it's working. And [Signetti] seems to have the formula at Indiana.” (16:36)
• Dabo Swinney’s emotional post-game: “I hurt. I mean, I’ve invested my life here... when I don’t get the job done, I’m responsible and I feel the pain.” (28:09)

Jake’s Top 12 (First Reveal) (63:44–65:54)

Introduced as a new segment: The Top 12 CFB teams from Jacob Jarvis, a long-time Ohio State fan and inspiration for Meyer.

• Top 5: Ohio State, Miami, Penn State, LSU, Georgia. (Disagreement over Oregon being a bit low at 6)
• Segment will return weekly.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Urban Meyer:
  “They're worse on tape than I thought they'd be... misfits on defense... on the offensive side, it's a train wreck.” (05:19)

• Rob Stone:
  “They might have won the press conference, but right now they are a joke. They're a meme.” (07:02)

• Mark Ingram:
  "At the end of the day, Bill was great because he established a culture. And right now in North Carolina, there is no culture." (08:35)

• Joey McGuire:
  “The players run this locker room... We cannot be scared.” (35:54)

• Urban Meyer:
  "That is a good looking, fast, high cut, skinny ankle, veined up looking team, man." (37:46)

• Dabo Swinney (audio):
  “I'm not a cyborg. I’ve been here 23 years. I love this place. I give this place the very best I got…” (28:09)

Flow and Tone

The show blends expert, first-person perspective with humor and passion. Urban Meyer brings the coach’s lens with blunt honesty. Mark Ingram mixes player insight with alumni pride (“We own [Georgia]...they’re little brother!”). Rob Stone guides discussion, injects fun, and tosses curveballs (like his cross-sport stadium picks). The conversation is candid but supportive—no “hot take” drama, but lots of football wisdom, with the occasional tease or playful dig.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Belichick at North Carolina: 03:39–10:49
• Fran Brown & Kurt Signetti: 10:41–17:33
• Fickell & Napier: 20:34–27:37
• Dabo Swinney’s struggles: 27:27–30:39
• Joey McGuire interview: 34:38–49:45
• Best stadiums debate: 50:26–55:13
• Week 5 picks / Two Minute Drill: 55:13–63:44
• Jake’s Top 12: 63:44–65:54

For Those Who Haven't Listened

This episode covers the shifting fortunes of big-name coaches, the intricacies of building and re-building college programs (with a real-world look at locker room and leadership culture), a must-listen interview with Texas Tech’s head coach, and a playful but insightful discussion about the real toughest stadiums in sports. The Week 5 picks and “Jake’s Top 12” cap it off, with expert reasoning and no-holds-barred predictions.

If you want a smart, inside look at the college football world—failures, success stories, and all the personalities driving the sport—this breakdown is for you.