Indiana Hoosiers On Top of the College Football World, Mark Makes the HOF, & 2026 Predictions

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Triple Option

Episode: Indiana Hoosiers On Top of the College Football World, Mark Makes the HOF, & 2026 Predictions
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Date: January 21, 2026

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Episode Overview

This landmark episode of "The Triple Option" dives deep into Indiana's stunning, improbable run to the college football national championship—one of the most talked about sports moments in years. The crew breaks down the Hoosiers’ historic season, examines what it means for college football’s new landscape, celebrates Mark Ingram II’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, and looks ahead to the 2026 season with their bold predictions and hot takes. The tone is equal parts incredulous, celebratory, and analytical—a genuine reflection of a sport in transition and, as Rob Stone puts it, "a new world order."

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Indiana's National Championship: Once-in-a-Lifetime Upset (00:00–08:10)

• Indiana completed a perfect 16-0 season, becoming just the second team to do so in college football history (the first since 1894 Yale).
• The hosts marvel at coach Kurt Signetti's ability to galvanize unheralded talent and build a "one-of-one" team unlikely to be replicated soon.
• Quote [02:01] Urban Meyer: "1 million to 1."
• Quote [02:17] Mark Ingram II: "Signetti, what he's been able to do with this program... they're one of one, man. I don't see this being replicated anytime soon."

Turning Points in Indiana's Season

• Winning at Oregon and beating Ohio State in the Big Ten championship were pivotal but not wholly convincing for the panel until they dismantled Alabama.
• The group recognizes that Indiana consistently out-played teams with better NFL-caliber talent, crediting discipline, cohesion, and mistake-free football.

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2. Game Analysis: National Championship vs. Miami (08:10–18:59)

Pivotal Moments

• Blocked Punt (08:34)

  • Marked the game's turning point—turned a close contest into an Indiana surge.
  • Quote [09:10] Urban Meyer: "All he did is he out effort-ed the Hurricanes on that play...the momentum was over."
  • Miami “dominated” yardage in the second half (278 to 155) but lost due to critical mistakes.

• Two 4th-and-5 Calls (11:24)

  • Indiana's aggressive play-calling on two fourth downs on a single drive, including a back-shoulder throw and a bold Mendoza run for a TD, sealed the win.

• Quote [14:30] Urban Meyer: "The Mendoza run...you'll see that for the next 25 years. That's statue material in Bloomington."

• Miami's offense, led by Carson Beck, nearly staged a comeback, but Indiana’s opportunistic defense (notably, a blocked punt and a late interception) maintained the upper hand.

• The panel underscores how Indiana’s staff maximized every player and moment.

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3. The New College Football Blueprint (18:59–20:24)

• The Big Ten has now won three consecutive titles (Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana). The hosts discuss the new "template" for championships: teams built on maturity, depth, and veteran leadership—average age of nearly 21, and four years’ experience.
• Locker rooms of "grown ass men" (19:12) are becoming the new standard.

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4. Mark Ingram II Enters the College Football Hall of Fame (24:15–32:36)

• Mark shares a heartfelt, humorous story of how he learned the news at home thanks to his wife’s snooping.
  • [25:32] Mark: "She opens my package… sees what's in it... starts taping it up and gives it to me."
• Emotional reflection on his journey from Flint, Michigan, to national champion, NFL star, and now Hall of Famer.
  • Quote [26:57] Mark Ingram II: "I'm just a young brother from Flint, Michigan, with hopes and dreams of being the best footballer I could be… now, check your boy out."
• Panel openly critiques Hall of Fame selection process, notably Cam Newton not being a first-ballot inductee.
  • Quote [31:38] Mark: "If that's not first ballot... what else do I gotta do?"
• Ingram credits coaches, teammates, and his support system for his journey.

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5. Debating the Heisman & Indiana’s QB Fernando Mendoza (32:52–37:17)

• Mark names Mendoza as his Deuce Deuce Dog of the Week for his grit and leadership throughout the season and in the national championship.
• The group debates Mendoza's season and whether it was indeed a “Heisman year.” Urban Meyer notes Mendoza was not the front-runner early, but a spectacular playoff run clinched it.
  • Quote [35:07] Urban Meyer: "These last five games probably got him a $30 million contract in the NFL...a little bit of a Joe Burrow type."
• Agreement that Heisman voting should occur after the playoffs.

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6. Indiana: The Target & What Comes Next (37:42–44:43)

• Indiana is now the hunted, not the hunter. Every Big Ten and national opponent has Indiana "circled, highlighted, bold, italicized, and underlined" on their schedule.
  • Quote [38:31] Urban Meyer: "Every arrow right now in college football is pointed at Indiana."
• Discussion on the sustainability of Signetti's success and looming poaching of Indiana’s coaching staff.
• Anticipation of major infrastructure upgrades at Indiana due to newfound success and attention.

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7. Who Could Be the Next Indiana? (45:44–48:39)

• Mark, Rob, and Urban take turns picking which long-suffering programs could, theoretically, shock the world:
  • Mark: Northwestern, Navy, Vanderbilt
  • Urban: Rice, Rutgers, Wake Forest ("If Indiana can, they can!")
  • Rob: Adds Kansas as a basketball-school-turned-football-contender.
• General consensus: Must be a Power Conference team, with decent tradition and institutional investment.

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8. Way-Too-Early 2026 Title Picks & Closing Thoughts (49:31–52:28)

• Mark: Notre Dame, citing returning QB C.J. Carr and Marcus Freeman’s leadership.
• Urban: Oregon, following the Big Ten "template" with Dante Moore, maturity, and depth.
• Rob: Texas, highlighting Arch Manning’s emergence and new weapons.
• Quick odds check: Ohio State & Notre Dame as favorites (+650), then Indiana (+700), Texas (+750), Oregon (+900).
• Show wraps with gratitude to the listeners and sponsors, and a promise of off-season episodes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[Indiana] is one of the greatest football teams of all time. They name a mistake they make." — Urban Meyer, 03:32
• "That's our best football player." — Signetti, on undersized defensive star Ponds, as told by Urban Meyer, 06:10
• "If Indiana could do it, okay, Northwestern should be able to do it, right?" — Mark Ingram II, 45:52
• "Every arrow right now in college football is pointed at Indiana." — Urban Meyer, 38:31

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Key Timestamps

• 00:04 – Indiana’s historic national title confirmed
• 08:10 – National championship in-game analysis, pivotal blocked punt
• 14:30 – Iconic fourth-down Mendoza run, “statue material”
• 19:12 – Big Ten's winning formula: experience and maturity
• 24:22 – Mark Ingram II’s Hall of Fame induction story
• 32:52 – Deuce Deuce Dog of the Week: Fernando Mendoza
• 37:42 – Indiana as the new target in college football
• 45:52 – Next possible Indiana: Northwestern, Navy, Vandy, Rice, Rutgers, Kansas
• 49:31 – 2026 way-too-early predictions: Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas

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Original Language & Tone

The episode is energetic, nostalgic, and irreverent—hosts are in awe of what’s transpired, often poking fun at how unimaginable Indiana’s football dominance would have been even a year ago. There's heartfelt camaraderie as Mark celebrates his Hall of Fame nod, and candid debate about the state of the sport, mixing expertise with genuine fandom and a touch of locker-room bravado.

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Final Thoughts

This episode captures a transformative moment for college football, where underdogs can—and did—rise thanks to shrewd leadership, new rules (NIL, transfer portal, expanded playoff), and cultural change. The panel’s insights offer both a celebration of Indiana’s miracle season and an examination of what’s possible for the next wave of contenders.

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For more episodes and bonus content, follow @3XOptionShow on social platforms. Find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Transcript

[Rob Stone]

Buckeyes in Bloomington. Guess who's got the target on them?

[Mark Ingram II]

Indiana.

[Rob Stone]

Cream and crimson have the target on them. Not scarlet and gray. Cream and crimson have the target on them. With the Buckeyes in town, welcome to the new world order of college football. 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. Welcome to the triple option. A triple option that is. It's part of Indiana's national championship run. I just said it. Indiana's national champions. Not in soccer, not in basketball, in college football. What world are we living in? It's a crazy world. So glad you're here with us. Rob Stone, the Hall of Famers, Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram, the second. As always, thanks for joining us in. If you enjoy the show. Rate, subscribe, Share. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever it is you locate your podcast. We are on social media 3x option show. Leave those questions. Leave those comments. We love to respond to them. Let's talk about what transpired on Monday courtesy of any given Saturday. And the Hoosiers.

[Mark Ingram II]

The who? Who, Who?

[Rob Stone]

Hoosiers are your national champions. They are just the second team to go 16 and 0 in college football since that legendary 1890. Is it 497? I can't read my handwriting. 1890.

[Urban Meyer]

Yale.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, Yale. 1894. Back in Yale to go.

[Urban Meyer]

I just went out and threw a couple bucks on Wake Forest. Who else? Uab.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, you're. You're talking. You're already going deep.

[Urban Meyer]

Who else can.

[Rob Stone]

Can run it back? Massachusetts, man.

[Urban Meyer]

Think about it. What are we talking about?

[Rob Stone]

It's insane. It's. It's.

[Mark Ingram II]

Indiana's one of one, man. Indiana's one of one.

[Rob Stone]

Is like, is this an outlier? Is this an outlier, like, never to be done again?

[Urban Meyer]

1 million to 1.

[Mark Ingram II]

One of one man like Signetti, what he's been able to do with this program, the buying he's had from his players, the support he's had from the nil, the way he coaches, the group that he's assembled, they're one of one man. I don't see this being replicated anytime soon.

[Urban Meyer]

I agree, spectacular.

[Rob Stone]

But we would have said there's no chance this would have ever happened. We're talking about replicating.

[Urban Meyer]

I mean, 48 months ago, 12 months ago, you'd say, no way. Come on. I mean, that was a nice run with James. Nobody had kids last year.

[Mark Ingram II]

Nobody had Indiana in the national championship this year, even after last year they went 12 and two, we thought that they would be good. We didn't think they'd be in the national title game winning it.

[Rob Stone]

Was there any point this season where you guys said to yourself, oh wait, this team can win a national title? I remember when they went to Eugene and won. I was like, hey, they're here. But I still had this reservation. Even when they beat Ohio State in the Big ten championship game.

[Urban Meyer]

When they beat Bama. When they beat Bama.

[Rob Stone]

That was it. Huh? Why?

[Mark Ingram II]

And then they solidified it with the same thromping of Oregon.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram II]

Like when you see that going into playoff you're like, okay, they beat Ohio State.

[Urban Meyer]

Even when you beat Ohio State, Mark, it was a two red zone opportunities by Ohio State that really Ohio State should have won the game. And I was there. We were all there. We're watching the game. Who had better players or how state they did, you know who. But my gosh, it's the, it's one of the greatest football teams of all time because we're going to go review the game here in a minute. They name a mistake they make.

[Rob Stone]

I can't.

[Mark Ingram II]

They don't.

[Urban Meyer]

I'm. I'm not talking about like in the game Saturday. I'm talking about two years.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

Of studying this football team where they've had two losses in two years and the people on the other side got better when that. You got in a lot of those games. So I mean that this is a monumental. And I'm never going to take away from those players because those aren't good players. Those are great players.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yes.

[Urban Meyer]

But the NFL draft is going to show you there's, you know, there, there the majority of that draft, the draft opportunity players are going to be mid to late, which is a credit to them.

[Mark Ingram II]

I mean my gosh, was that maximizing it? You said maximizing, Maximizing?

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah. Most maximized team in the history of college football.

[Mark Ingram II]

Every single team they played other than a few of the, you know, non conference games, we've always said the other team has better players. But this team plays hard. They put a chip on their shoulder and they fight for one another man. They coach well. They don't make mistakes. And dog, this is just like, I just can't believe it. They went 160 and won the natty dog. Like what are we talking about?

[Urban Meyer]

So Mark, I was there again. Mark, I was there again. I was there in the first playoff game. Not first. I was there against Oregon and walked around on the sideline again. And I was there with Tebow Yesterday, and we were walking from drill to drill, drill to drill, drill to drill again. Just staring at these guys and the coaches, the business. Like Aiden Fisher and his linebacker, Haynes, the coordinator. The work, the efficiency, the confidence. Did you see any Fisher rush over that tailback? The effort and the technique he used on the tailback. He gave him a little out, in, out, and he sacked the quarterback. And I just was watching him warm up and I'm staring at these guys going, this is the. This is for a football coach that love football, that the better part of my life has been in it. That was magical. That was really cool to watch. I can't wait for that movie to come out.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, who's yours? Part two.

[Urban Meyer]

Oh, Jimmy Chipwood, played by Fernando Mendoza.

[Mark Ingram II]

But you talk about those guys like ponds, ponds, what, five, nine, a buck 80 and places. Yes, off man, tight end going up to catch a high point of ball. He just goes and hits him clean and jars the ball loose. A big third.

[Urban Meyer]

You should see this kid warm up. This kid warmed up once again, the three feet from him and he is. I'll tell you what, for what he doesn't have in this, he's got twitch. Yeah, he's. He's put together and he's got great twitch and great instinct. And how about Big Ten network guys told me last year, Signetti called him over and this is preseason camp. A year ago, they pointed upon, said, that's our best football player.

[Rob Stone]

Wow.

[Urban Meyer]

Big Ten network guys was like, wow, that's great. But if that's your best player, good luck. You know, we're not going to be.

[Rob Stone]

In the women's world a lot.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, you're not, you're not. We're not going to win that. We're not going to list, lift the national championship trophy in 24 months.

[Rob Stone]

And by the way, the. The coaching staff, the work that entire staff did. I know Signetti gets all the attention and understandably and deservedly so, but those coordinators and the people underneath them as well, to your point, what they've done, how they've educated these players and schooled them and put them in. In the moments to succeed constantly. And they listen, they. They take in this knowledge that that staff is borderline legendary with what they did, considering what they had together for nine years.

[Urban Meyer]

And I didn't know this BTN brought this up, that the defensive coordinator who G8 for me and in 2013, and I don't remember much because he was on the defensive side, I just didn't spend much time with him over There. But. And I asked Coach Fickle, I asked him, they tried to hire him. They said, oh, excellent coach, obviously excellent coach. But they said he was on government assistance because he was making $10,000 a year working for James for working for IUPI IUP and now he's making $3 million a year as a national championship defense court. And, and by the way, he earned that three mil. He did. That's one of those guys sometimes scratch your head, say, does that, does that guy earn that?

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah, that defense is tough, man. That defense is tough. And you continuously, you talk about the supporting staff, you talk about the coaching staff. That's one thing I admire about Coach Signetti. He deflects the praise all the time. He's always saying it's about a process, a plan, a vision and the people that you have in the building. We've been a part of some special teams. You've been a part of a special group of people. When you have the right people in a building who put their ulterior, their egos aside for the betterment of the team for one common goal. They, that's what this team has did and it's because of the group that they assembled in that building. And that's why they had a special season because they had special people in the building.

[Rob Stone]

All right, let's pivot to some of the big moments, particularly in the second half. The first half was dominated by Indiana, you know, shutting out the Hurricanes, heading to the locker room. All that energy, things changed a little bit. But the biggest, I think probably the biggest play in the game was the block punt. It was a three point game at this juncture third quarter and coach, you just call it an effort play.

[Urban Meyer]

So as I went back and watched it, actually watched it again this morning is that was a. They were in punt safe mark. They were just preparing to get a return.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yes.

[Urban Meyer]

And if you think about pivotal moments that that's going to, that's going to haunt the Hurricanes. There, there's, there's three plays to my mind that they would be, they would be waking up national champions. It was an offsides penalty by baines on a third down situation. It was a third and 17 face mask. But the most detrimental the, the play that will haunt the Hurricanes. And punt safe. It was simply one guy going really, really hard against someone that didn't block him.

[Mark Ingram II]

It was the difference in the game.

[Urban Meyer]

It was. And he got the MVP of the defense and he should have got it. All he did is he out effort. The Hurricanes on that play put his left hand up, blocked the punt, scored touchdown. Because the momentum was. It was over. It was over. Think about that. The yardage differential in the second half. Miami kicked their ass in the second half. Now, Mark.

[Mark Ingram II]

Right?

[Urban Meyer]

And it felt that way.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. 278 to 155, coach, and give Miami.

[Urban Meyer]

Credit, but Miami is kind of been a mistake team throughout the year a little bit, because on paper and future NFL players, I would probably say Miami was the better, most talented, more talented. I don't. I think that's pretty. Well, I wouldn't say obvious, but. Because Indiana's got great talent. But Indiana, I mean, being there, watching the two teams, Miami a better personnel.

[Mark Ingram II]

Listen, you talk about that block point. Let's put this. Let's just give them the grand scheme, right? Miami comes out, they score a touchdown. You come on, defense, you're about to get the ball back at midfield, maybe even a big play with Malachi Tony. That's why you're a punt save, Coach. You're gonna punt safe because you're about to have a return man for your returner, and you guys are trying to scheme up to get in better field position. It's 7 to 10. You get a block punt for a touchdown. Now it goes 17 to 7. You're supposed to get the ball back in midfield. You go. That's essentially the difference in the game right there. It's seven to 10. You lose by what, six points? They get a touchdown off a block punt. That is the sole difference in the game, in my opinion. It gave Indiana some. Some momentum, and it had Miami fighting uphill for the rest of the. The rest of the game. But Miami, bald man, you talked about Carson Beck. He played almost three flawless games. You know, other than the last play of the national championship game, he played almost three flawless games. Malachi Tony balled out. This kid is a dog. This kid goes. He inserts and blocks safeties and linebackers. Mark Fletcher Jr. Toted the rock this. They got some ball players, man. And if I'm Miami right now, they let one go. I feel that way because in the second half, they dominated. They came out, they made adjustments, they dominated. And one block field goal was the difference of the game. He lost by six points.

[Rob Stone]

So that made it 17, seven. And then the next two big plays, and I had these circled and I wrote them down. Two fourth and five calls by Indiana. And it was funny. I was watching the NFL playoffs over the weekend with one of my buddies and his kids, and his kids are out of college and. And whatnot. And I said to them, I'm like, hey, youngsters, there was a time when if you looked over and it's, and it showed, you know, on the sticks, fourth down, you're kicking the damn ball. You're, you're punting or you're going for the field goal, right? It was, it didn't matter if it was 4th and 2, 3, 4.

[Urban Meyer]

What?

[Rob Stone]

You're kicking the damn ball. Now, we live in this age where you're like 4th and 5 at the 37. Let's go for it. And, and that one for. That's the first of two fourth and five calls on the same drive, Coach. You felt that one was, was a no brainer. That ended up to be another one of those classic back shoulder throws to Charlie Becker. What, what a job Becker did in the playoffs. But let's start with that 1st 4th and 5 call at the 37. Why did you like it?

[Urban Meyer]

Well, the, the, the, the call, the decision. I would say that the decision is correct. Yeah, it's a no brainer. That's 100% decision. You can't punt it. And that's two out of. That's. You practice that all the time and you have a, you have a, that there. He looked right on his sheet that yard. They, they practice that, however, a back shoulder throw. Do you remember last year, Mark, they were doing the back shoulder throws too. Yeah, as we were. I mean, so that you have to start giving credit to the coach because first of all, Mendoza did it. He's a Heisman Trophy winner. Charlie Becker did it. He's a great football player. But that's not something you go out and, hey, let's go do that on 4th and 5. They've done that 10,000 times. Yeah, they've done that all summer. They've done that the off season because he, he didn't baby that throw either.

[Mark Ingram II]

He threw it.

[Urban Meyer]

He threw a back, I mean, threw him open. One of the great plays, man.

[Rob Stone]

So it is a three point game though, coach. In a three point game, you know, it would have been a long field goal. You, you would have been more comfortable pushing to get the seven rather than maybe not a guaranteed three.

[Urban Meyer]

You're talking about the 12 yard line or you're talking about.

[Rob Stone]

No, I'm at, I'm still at the 37.

[Urban Meyer]

That's, that's done. Yeah. 47. 55 yard field goal.

[Mark Ingram II]

No.

[Rob Stone]

Okay.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

All right. So the other one was at the 12 and again it was 4th and 5.

[Urban Meyer]

Okay.

[Rob Stone]

Different scenario for sure.

[Urban Meyer]

Completely different.

[Mark Ingram II]

Boy run.

[Urban Meyer]

So Jeremy Foley, my athletic director, Florida would come in my office and we would often just have a quick conversation and he would always talk about certain situations that he's experienced it as, as an ad that if you get in that position, you have to go, you know, that's a game set match. That's game. Because you've. Miami went down and scored.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah, the, the.

[Urban Meyer]

That's a game set match.

[Mark Ingram II]

The prior two possessions Miami had, they scored touchdowns. So three points in this. If I'm, if I'm Signetti, three points is not doing me nothing.

[Rob Stone]

Six point lead is not enough.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yes.

[Rob Stone]

Is what you're saying.

[Mark Ingram II]

The chance to go up two possessions was crucial and was critical in that part of the game. So. But go ahead and finish up, coach.

[Urban Meyer]

So we had a similar situation against Oklahoma when I had Tebow in the group and we went for it because you know, if you give them the ball, that's one of those things that you'll regret. And your players, you know, the players that probably look at you say why would we not do this at this. I mean we've got here, let's go win the damn game. And that was game, set, match. So I And the play call of all the iconic. So let's think of a Vince Young. I'm a little biased. The tebow jump pass in 08. I'm sure Mark, you got some iconic plays from your national championship. But that Mendoza run.

[Rob Stone]

Yep.

[Urban Meyer]

Rob, big boat in the archives in the history of. You'll see that for the next 25 years on coach.

[Rob Stone]

Coach. That statue material in Bloomington, the outstretched.

[Urban Meyer]

Mark Cuban is I'm sure cutting Joza airborne and he should. He should. Yeah, he should.

[Mark Ingram II]

That was a big boy run, coach. Fourth and five with the natty on.

[Urban Meyer]

He got hit.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yes, he got hit. Hey Miami, we talk about them having dudes, right. We talk about.

[Rob Stone]

He's feeling that this morning while we're.

[Mark Ingram II]

Recording at the line the game. At the five yard mark, he drops his shoulder and runs over to Mike linebacker. He bounces off, keeps his balance, extends with breaks the plane of the goal.

[Rob Stone]

Line and gets hit.

[Mark Ingram II]

Gets hit in the back for the tutty and lunges. Yes.

[Urban Meyer]

I mean that's a big one. That's the, that's the bronze statue, right. The going in the end zone.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yep. But to me, coach, if you look at the last four Miami possessions, they had touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, interception on the final play of the game. You had to go. Signetti saw this. Signetti was like, we're in trouble here. They kind of made some Adjustments. They figured us out. We're not slowing them down. I can't kick this field goal and lose this game.

[Urban Meyer]

Cuz didn't they pull him off? Didn't he send the field goal team on?

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah, he.

[Rob Stone]

There was a, there was a timeout, I believe, coach. And, and there was, There was real discussion.

[Urban Meyer]

Yep. Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. And, and I get it. Yeah, that's a.

[Mark Ingram II]

You have to make that decision. And I respect it from Signetti because if you don't make that decision, the game, the outcome of the game might be different because they did not slow down Malachi, Tony. They did not slow down Mark Fletcher. Carson Beck was in his own. The offensive line was firing off the ball. The offense of three prior possessions. They have three touchdowns, coach, we're not stopping them. I can't give them the ball back.

[Urban Meyer]

Miami was a great looking team and I stood next to Carson Beck for the first time, I'm stood next to him. That's a great looking player. 6 4. I'm saying 230. And he has a nice arm. Nice. And I know there's going to be a lot of. A lot of his legacy is going to be somewhat like, you know, he had so many chances. He played for two national championships. Didn't really play at Georgia in those games. And then I think Mark or Rob, you said he had eight. Eight times. Oh, he had late.

[Rob Stone]

Six losses. Six losses.

[Urban Meyer]

Eight losses. Six of the eight. Six of the eight had the ball in his hand.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. And threw an interception.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

And he was great through the playoffs too, by the way.

[Mark Ingram II]

He was flawless his playoffs. He was what Miami needed to play the game.

[Urban Meyer]

I just wonder why he threw that last ball like that was double coverage, Mark. He predetermined. He looked like. He said, I'm going to take this shot, bro.

[Mark Ingram II]

You got time, man. Don't be desperate. You know what I mean? But Miami, the way I believe a football team is supposed to look is how Miami looked. I was skeptical of them early in the year. I thought they would win nine, 10 games and not go much further. But how this offensive line was built, how they were built in the trenches. And then you have a running back, then you have a receiver of a jack of all trades, just an athlete who you get the ball to defensively. They play hard, they play tough. This is the, this is sustainable. What Mario Crystal ball has built this year in Miami. And if they had Cam Ward on that team, I think that we might be talking about one of the best teams in the country. You know what I mean? So Cam Ward didn't have no defense like that when he was there.

[Rob Stone]

So it's interesting you bring up the Cam Ward part Mark, because in this day and age where we're getting one and dones at the quarterback spot. Right. How many times are you sitting there saying man, if we just had this guy for two years, we're, we're here but we could be here and maybe Oregon saying that right now like we got Dante Moore and guess what? Dante's coming back. And I know he can make a lot of money in the NFL, but I think the fact that Dante Moore is coming back for that second year at the same place gives Oregon a boost. Is going to have Oregon in that top five in the, in the preseason. And those are the little the difference makers between winning a national title and not winning.

[Urban Meyer]

I think that the template has all been set now. The Big Tens won it three years in a row. Most mature veteran teams experience every team average age is what someone said they were 20. They were you know, about the same like 25.

[Mark Ingram II]

That's what they were.

[Urban Meyer]

Average playing haver experience was almost four years.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

Someone threw that at me yesterday as well. So the Wolverines did it. The Buckeyes did it. I actually talked to coach Day about that yesterday. We talked before the game and he, he mentioned that, that everybody is now that's. And everyone's talking about it. How do we get a locker room of grown ass men that's been through it.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

As opposed to coaching that 21 year old mark is a much different cry than that 18 year old.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

You got a grown ass man with experience that understands the game.

[Rob Stone]

Coach member. Back in the day, who were the two programs that were doing it with the grown ass men in the state of Utah? BYU in Utah. Right.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

Go on that mission. Come back a little bit bigger, a little bit faster, a little bit older, more mature. And that's why they had so much success as well. So the template is there. The Big Ten wins straight national titles for the first time since the early 40s. Remember it was Minnesota in 40, Minnesota in 41 and Ohio State in 42. Three straight Big Ten n the Big Ten.

[Mark Ingram II]

The King Four want to call four.

[Rob Stone]

In a row right now.

[Mark Ingram II]

The king of college football. Big Ten.

[Urban Meyer]

Right. The Big Ten coffers in Indiana. The hooers.

[Rob Stone]

If it's 4 in a row. If it's 4 in a Row, it's going to be the 4th different program do. It's going to be Oregon. Go ahead. There's your way too early call. If it's going to be four straight from the Big Ten, it's going to be Oregon doing it. Wow. Congratulations to Indiana, man. And thank you, college football. By the way, what a tremendous season and a college football playoff that it delivered. We'll see if there'll be more college football playoff games next year in the next couple days. Coming up next, who's going to be that next? Indiana. We'll talk about that. Our newest hall of Famer. I'm looking at you, Mark gives us his last deuce deuce dog of the week for the season. And we go back in time when Indiana football and national championship seemed like an absolute impossibility. We frankly don't have to go all that far back. College football not feeling as juicy as it once did. Let me put you onto 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.

[Urban Meyer]

That's right, Rob. Team Tendies. Wendy's Tendies. They're making the their undeniable rookie season one for the books. Enjoy first string flavor from some five star recruits. Rep your new favorite team everywhere you go, but make sure to cheer with your mouth closed.

[Mark Ingram II]

Take it to the end zone of savory sauces like Honey Barbecue, Creamy Ranch and the new Wendy signature sauce to experience a total taste of bud blitz of flavor. It's time to join a team that won't upset you with an upset. Taste the phenom that's gracing the gridiron with this juicy, crispy and tendery tendencies. Don't fumble the bag. Commit to a team Tendies and call the most delicious plays in the playbook. All right, huddle up. Tendies on three. Tendees on three.

[Rob Stone]

1, 2, 3.

[Mark Ingram II]

Tendies, tendies. Let's do this.

[Rob Stone]

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[Urban Meyer]

All customers get a profit boost pack every NFL playoff game day. Each game day during the championship round, you'll find a pack loaded with multiple profit boosts waiting for you in the app.

[Mark Ingram II]

Pick the matchups you believe in. I'm looking forward to the Seahawks and Rams and take your shot on the upset. Or build a parlay that fits the moment. Then apply your profit boost and go after even bigger payouts.

[Rob Stone]

So visit FanDuel, an official sportsbook partner of the NFL and grab your profit boost pack. Every NFL playoff game day must be 21 plus and present in select states. For Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 and present in D.C. kentucky or Wyoming. Often required bonus issued as non withdrawable profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including any token expiration and max wager amount. See terms@sportsbook fanduel.com gambling problem call 1-800-gambler or visit fanduel.com rg call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call gambling 800-327-5050 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY in New York. Welcome back to the triple option presented by Wendy's Rob Urban. Mark here with you. Before we get our deuce deuce dog of the week, you know who the real dog is, Coach, right, right over there.

[Urban Meyer]

The real dog, hall of fame dog.

[Rob Stone]

Is the college football hall of famer, Mark Ingram ii. Congratulations, my man.

[Mark Ingram II]

Thank you, brothers. I appreciate it, man.

[Rob Stone]

Hey, how did you. How did you find out?

[Mark Ingram II]

So I get home from working out and I'm like, just sitting here chilling and, like, I never opened packages or something, but my wife, like, she, she, she must have got there. She got home. She was home before me or whatever. And so there's like an overnight package getting delivered to the door. And she gets it and she's like, this must be important. So she opens my package and she, like, sees, like, what's in it. She's like, oh, oh, oh, oh. So she's like, taping it up, taping it up, like, and, like, she's taping it up. And I get home and, like, you know, I'm eating this. I just finished my workout. She gave me a food, a plate of food or whatever. And she's like, yo, open this. I'm like, what is this? She's like, I don't know. Something overnight. See what I mean? So I get it and I open it and I look and I just see, like, the football. I'm like. Then I see the letter. I'm like, I'm like, hey, Chelsea, come look at this. And she's over there recording me like this. I said, how you know about this? I said, you know about this?

[Urban Meyer]

I'll tell you. Of all my former players, all my former coaches, Mark, I, I, you become family. We couldn't be more. I know the Meyer family. They all texted you, right?

[Mark Ingram II]

They all called you Ms. Shelley called me.

[Urban Meyer]

You are joined Big Noon and this your family, bro. We are so excited for you and deserve name another guy more deserved than that.

[Mark Ingram II]

Rob, I appreciate it.

[Urban Meyer]

Mark Anger what you done for college football. Are you kidding me?

[Rob Stone]

No brainer. No, no brainer. Should have been last year. We'll get to that one in a second. Should have been going in with you. Should have been a double party. We also want to extend some congratulations to others who are going into the College Football Football hall of Fame next year. Yeah.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah. Our coach, family coach.

[Rob Stone]

Hey, by the way, Coach Patterson. Gary Patterson, who might be getting back into the game. What a job he did at TCU and Damasu. Marvin Harrison, one of the whiteouts. Aaron Donald to going with.

[Mark Ingram II]

Man. I had some teammates that I played with. I played with Olen Crutz, who's going in there? He was. I was a rookie. He was in like year 14. I played with James Laurinitis. Ohio State Buckeye legend. Eric Weddle, very familiar with him. Playing against him.

[Urban Meyer]

I recruited him. Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

Yep.

[Mark Ingram II]

Garrison Hurst, a legendary running back. Like, what a great class to be able to go on with. I'm so honored. I'm so thankful. It means the world to me. I'm just a young. A young brother from Flint, Michigan, with hopes and dreams of being the best footballer that I could be. And man, check your boy out. Stone.

[Rob Stone]

There she is. There she is.

[Urban Meyer]

Hey, you know what's really neat about the class Mark, too, is so in Vegas, you don't really get to know the class you're going in with. But when they rerun it in in January at the Peach bowl, they. It's just you guys. And so they. And actually in the hall of Fame, you're going to see the class of 2026. You're forever. That's going to be your class. And that. And we talked about it. Everybody got up to speak and it got real emotional. More emotional in V in Atlanta than it was in Vegas. Vegas is just a big crowd.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

And. But it's really tight. You really get to know. I think Vegas is more for your family than the Peach Bowl. And the hall of Fame actual is more for the class of 2026. But let me see. Wow. Yeah.

[Mark Ingram II]

This messed me up, Stone. This messed me up. Let me read this to you. So they send you a letter, right? It says you are joining an elite group of the 5.78 million who have played and coached the game just over 1300 individuals are in the history of our sport have earned interest into the College Football hall of Fame. In other words, less than 1% of players, coaches, all time have been worthy of this distinction. And now you're one of them.

[Rob Stone]

Nice. Does it have like that Gaelic script type handwriting? Oh, there it is. Nice. So, you know, it's funny is the three of us were together in Norman, Oklahoma a couple weeks ago for that first college Football playoff game, and we hung out with the hall of Famer, Coach Stoops. Coach Stoops knew.

[Mark Ingram II]

He did. He knew at the live show. And he was just kikiing all in my face. Didn't want to give me no type of inkling, no type of hint. But no, I appreciate Coach Stoops because that was a great way to find out, opening up the letter. You know, they was like, we're going to announce it at 2:00'. Clock. And that was just a blessed day, man. I'm just so honored and thankful, man. I'm fortunate to be around some great people. Coach Signetti said that it was all about the people he was around. It was all about the people I was around. I had great coaches, I had great teammates, I had great trainers, I had great academic advisors. I had so many people around me, family, friends and support that it's for all of us. It's for everyone, man. And I couldn't have did it without everyone that helped me. And I'm just so thankful. And God is extremely good. It's another thing to go ahead and add to the list, man, because God blessed me with this talent and this ability. It's up to me to give it back to him. So I'm just so thankful and appreciative that God blessed me with this platform.

[Rob Stone]

It's. It's an awesome honor. We're so proud of both of you guys. But there is room for critique here. And I've got a couple beefs with the College Football hall of Fame number one. And I think all hall of Fames are all great places that are honoring people need to show a little flexibility like Coach last year and Mark this year. I was sick. I was sick that we, your big noon family, couldn't announce it and pop it on you and bring it up. I think putting it on a bigger platform would have served the College Football hall of Fame to a higher calling, and I would have loved that. And some of that is certainly selfish as well, because I would have loved to have jumped in you and given you a big hug, then thrown you In a. Thrown you in a pool. Number. Number two is listen, you know, and this happens at all hall of Fames. There's some great guys that didn't get in for now, last year we were like, why is Mark not going in? Right. All right, so he's going to be a year two guy this year. You look at and I know, I know he's, I know he's a barter.

[Mark Ingram II]

Cam Newton, he's real.

[Rob Stone]

Listen, what Cam Newton did, he, he should be there with you. And, and he's. He's not. And you know, the, the voting is a little bit nebulous out there. You're not really sure what, what it is you're looking for. And it's not like you have to say, hey, you gotta run for this many yards and catch this many passes and do this many wins to get in. But it is odd. Like, it does feel like Ham should be there with you.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram II]

Like, yeah, last year, you know, I was very kind of hurt that I wasn't going in with Coach Meyer and Coach Saban. You know, obviously Coach Saban was my coach who recruited me and obviously Coach Meyer, someone who I've gotten extremely close with, is my family. His family is my family. And then now. So I was wondering why I didn't go first ballot. So I don't know what it takes to be a first ballot. College Football hall of Famer being the first Heisman in Alabama history. Nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards, undefeated, 20 touchdowns, national championship. Now you have Cam Newton who comes on the ballot. And I don't care, Auburn or not, this dude had probably the most dominant season from a player that we've seen in college football. You know, we have Joe Burrow, you have Reggie Bush, you have Tebow. But Cam Newton, nearly 3000 pass shards, almost 1500 rush yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns totaling 50 touchdowns. Like perfect 140 season BCS national champion.

[Rob Stone]

What else I got to do? What else I got to do if.

[Mark Ingram II]

That'S not first ballot? I mean, other than Coach Meyer, Coach Saban, I know they are the most legendary coaches in college football history. So they went first ballot. But as a player, I'm not sure what it takes for you to be college football hall of Famer first ballot. And I'm kind of just appalled by Cam Newton not being on. I was appalled by myself, humbly not being there. Definitely Cam Newton not being first ballot. I'm gonna have to look back and see who has been first ballot players.

[Rob Stone]

Cam will be there. Cam will be there. But Just, oh, yeah, he'll be there. He'll be there next year. He'll be there.

[Mark Ingram II]

I'm not sure what it is, but he'll be there next year. RG3 was on the ballot. I think he was the first in Baylor history. He had a crazy season, so he'll be there too. But, you know, we're just not sure what it takes to be a first ballot College Football hall of Famer at this moment.

[Rob Stone]

Regardless, we have two College Football hall of Famers on the triple option presented by Wendy.

[Mark Ingram II]

Where can you get that at?

[Rob Stone]

I don't know. I don't know. Look around, look around. Have, have, have at it or just hang out with us all the time. All right, here it is, coach. Open up your senses. Get ready for sensory overload. It is time for the final Deuce Deuce.

[Mark Ingram II]

The finale. The final Deuce Deuce. Dog of the week, man. You know who we gotta go with? We gotta go with. Yeah, boy. Fernando. My Heisman brother, Mendoza. And why the statistics? They're not sexy. But he did exactly what was needed to be done. He got cheap shot in the chin when he wasn't looking. He got hit, you know, blindside shots. He was getting smacked and he was just getting up and he was just making throws. On fourth and sixth to Charlie Becker, he's making those on third and long to Surat, he was making those to Omar Cooper Jr. He was running the Mike linebacker over Boom on 4th and on 4th and 5 for a 12 yard touchdown run to go about two possessions. The Heisman brother, the man who led Indiana to a perfect 160 season. It's not just about the national championship game. It's about what he did all season long. And it's Fernando Heisman brother, Mendoza, Heisman doza for the Deuce Deuce dog of the week. Because he did that and he really is that.

[Rob Stone]

Can you even imagine that there was like a Heisman debate? I know the season, you know that some of the other great players in college football have. But like, looking back now, you're like, of course it was Mendoza to win the Heisman.

[Urban Meyer]

I don't, I don't, I don't see that, Rob. I, I see him mid season is. No, no, he in, in seven games, he threw five picks. At one point, he was averaging under two yards per game, throwing the ball. Looked quite average in a few games. And then everybody's Remembering these last five games. These last five games. Body Mahisman, probably a $30 million contract in the NFL when Todd McShay myself said he should go back to college. So I just think it was a little bit of a Joe Burrow type. I mean, last year. He's a good player. You know, he. But I just think his maturity, his. I mean, and I'm the biggest fan of that guy. But to say that he was in 2000. What was it, 25. The Heisman front runner. And he should have won it. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No way. I mean, he was a guy that.

[Rob Stone]

I'm not saying he was the front runner coming into the season. I'm just saying when you look back.

[Urban Meyer]

When you voted at Heisman time, I don't think it was a. Yeah, I think it was a dunk. You think?

[Rob Stone]

That was. That was right after the Big Ten championship game. And for me, it was. It was no brainer. Right. Just the leadership and what he'd done and.

[Urban Meyer]

You know, let me ask you this, Rob. If he didn't do that in the Big Ten Championship, would you felt the same way?

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. So we talked about the moment.

[Urban Meyer]

To me, yeah, The.

[Rob Stone]

The Big Ten championship game was the one that did finally kind of swing it to him. And then if you. If you're lucky enough. And you're not, of course, because the Heisman voting has already had to be in. But to look back at what he did through the course of these playoffs and how he led them and how.

[Urban Meyer]

But you look at Penn State and Iowa and you would say, yeah, probably not a Heisman, Kai. I mean, I'm the Heisman moments. But you. You. I'm. I'm talking entirety. Because I've coached and been around Heismans.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

You know, you just mentioned a guy, Cam Newton. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Was.

[Mark Ingram II]

Whoa.

[Urban Meyer]

That was a. Whoa. Different now.

[Rob Stone]

But who gave you a woe this year? Who would have.

[Mark Ingram II]

It was a down year for the Heisman.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, good point.

[Mark Ingram II]

It was a down year for the Heisman.

[Urban Meyer]

Now the woe is over, you know, with the Ohio State and then the playoff run. It's an absolute, you know, magical.

[Rob Stone]

He, He.

[Urban Meyer]

He will go down in history. Deservedly history. That's why I think the Heisman mark should be now. They should be doing the Heisman now.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah. After the season.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah. I mean, those are those Heisman moments. I mean, there's some people. And I would get rid of the Heisman voters that vote early because they're lazy.

[Rob Stone]

So they have stopped.

[Urban Meyer]

You need to vote after the big games.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, they have stopped that.

[Mark Ingram II]

So they usually vote after championship weekend now. Right.

[Rob Stone]

To their credit, they've done a great job with that. So, yeah, he deserved it.

[Mark Ingram II]

I'm proud of him that he won it. You know, the. When you look at some of the quarterback numbers, compared to the last few quarterbacks who have won it, like Joe Burrow, Bryce Young, etc, the numbers were kind of a little down. But at the end of the day, what he did for Indiana, 16 0. How he went.

[Rob Stone]

16 0. That's a good number.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yes. 16 0. I don't care what level you play football. I don't care what Sport it is. 160 is hard to do. And they. And he led this team to do it. Fernando Mendoza.

[Urban Meyer]

How about their non conference schedule? No one's ever going to Kennesaw State. Old Dominion, Indiana State.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram II]

That's why we were all skeptical of them. Because we're like, you ain't playing.

[Rob Stone]

Again next year. It's coming again next year. I already have been looking at the schedule.

[Mark Ingram II]

I don't know what they got going on because they ain't playing nobody, but when they play somebody, they put belt to butt.

[Rob Stone]

Bow, bow, bow.

[Urban Meyer]

Big noon in Bloomington, huh?

[Mark Ingram II]

Big noon.

[Rob Stone]

I don't know how, how often Big noon is going to be in Bloomington because it's a pretty soft schedule to open things up. But I'll tell you one weekend that jumps out, Coach. Buckeyes in Bloomington.

[Urban Meyer]

Type it in your calendar right now. Put it on your calendar right now.

[Rob Stone]

Buckeyes in Bloomington. And guess who's. Guess who's got the target on them?

[Mark Ingram II]

Indiana.

[Rob Stone]

Cream and crimson have the target on them. Not scarlet and gray. Cream and crimson have the target on them. With the Buckeyes in town, welcome to the new world order.

[Urban Meyer]

So Lou Holtz used to always say, and it's true, as you climb the mountain, takes passion, energy, because the arrows aren't pointed at you. Once you're at the top of the mountain, it's nothing but fatigue. You know why? Every arrow right now in college football is pointed at Indiana.

[Rob Stone]

Y Y.

[Mark Ingram II]

Everyone that got Indiana on that schedule, it is circled, it is highlighted. It is it bold, italicized and underlined. And they are bringing your best shot.

[Rob Stone]

Hold on. Hit pause. Hit pause. The two of you let that sink in, what you both just said. Indiana's on the top of the mountain and everybody's coming for you.

[Urban Meyer]

And I mean blazing. They are coming after us.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yes.

[Urban Meyer]

I know a bunch already that have told me they're coming after them.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. And Coach, they're coming after them by replicating them. They're like, how did Indiana get it Done. That's how we're gonna do it.

[Urban Meyer]

That's right.

[Mark Ingram II]

Just imagine how they whooped on Alabama. Alabama was Indiana. There's a melt mark.

[Rob Stone]

Belt to what?

[Mark Ingram II]

Belt to ass. Hey, hey, hey. Just imagine how they whooped out Oregon. Do they play Oregon next year?

[Rob Stone]

Oh, my God.

[Mark Ingram II]

Oregon gonna want some of that.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, watch out for Oregon.

[Mark Ingram II]

Ohio State.

[Rob Stone]

Want some Gna. Want some of that? They're gonna want some of that. That was your fresh take of the week. Presented by Wendy's.

[Urban Meyer]

Join team Old Dominion. Want a piece of them? They want some of that too.

[Mark Ingram II]

They.

[Rob Stone]

And enjoy a lineup like never before. Crispy juicy tendies now at Wendy's. Love you Wendy's. Thank you for your support. Time now to sound off and we're going to go back to before Kurt Signetti even stepped on the football field in Bloomington. This is not his Google speech. This is another one inside assembly hall. Take a listen.

[Mark Ingram II]

Hey, look, I'm super fired up about this opportunity. I've never taken a back seat to anybody and don't plan on starting out. Purdue sucks, But so does Michigan and Ohio State.

[Rob Stone]

Oh my God.

[Urban Meyer]

You know, like the a.

[Rob Stone]

The ad and the wife might be like, you know, like maybe just say Old Dominion socks and you know, maybe take a shot at a Kent State. No, we're going right for the big boys. From the tip. From the tip.

[Urban Meyer]

Yep.

[Mark Ingram II]

Not taking a backseat to nobody coach. And that's who you want running your program. Alpha dog like that, who not only has the balls to say it, but more importantly has the cojones, the onions to back it up. You know, I coach Signetti did.

[Urban Meyer]

I knew Signetti.

[Rob Stone]

We.

[Urban Meyer]

We talked about this one time back. We had dinner together back in 30 years ago. He was at pit. I think it was like 30 years ago, probably 98. So just under 30. And. And we remained kind of in touch, but not really. But then you really study his background. The guy really does win everywhere. His record's unbelievable.

[Mark Ingram II]

Google me.

[Urban Meyer]

I mean, it's, it's. This is not a one shot wonder, but I'll tell you what, now it is because I experienced it. Life's about. I remember. So quick, quick, real quick story. We won in 06, Rob, in Ohio, our first national championship. I remember I called my father in the locker room. I called Earl Bruce, my mentor. And I laid back because, I mean, this is an intense job, you know that. And I looked at them both and I said, you know, the really cool thing is for the rest of my career, I get to do this for Fun, because we did it. That's the most incorrect statement made. It's about to get hard right now because the target, like you said, no one even thought of Indiana. I played against him a bunch of times. You know, it was kind of whatever.

[Rob Stone]

That's a win.

[Urban Meyer]

Everyone is targeted. Everyone who's a target.

[Mark Ingram II]

And the big dogs want some of you. Ohio State wants some of you. Oregon want some of you. Bama wants some of you. Miami wants some of you. Now when they can get you on the schedule.

[Urban Meyer]

And they want everybody stop too. I can't believe those two. Coordinator. Within a year there'll be head coaches.

[Rob Stone]

You would think so, right, Coach? I was thinking about that. There's been no attrition to the coaching staff. And another reason that.

[Urban Meyer]

Look at Saban. Saban. Our staffs, I mean the great staff, they get just poached, man.

[Mark Ingram II]

It stayed. The Bama staff stay consistent for from about 08 to about 13, 14, 15. And then did it really started? Yeah, it stayed consistent until about after. Like. Yeah, about. Because we won three out of four. We. We won in 09. We won in 11 and we won in 12. After that, it started breaking up. Once Kirby left and went to Georgia, it started breaking up. So. But what coaching Nettie has for Indiana, he has the resources with his com. With his contract. He said, I need the resources to be able to pay my coaches. That's the only way you're going to be able to keep them before they start leaving.

[Rob Stone]

Hey, by the way, that stadium, Memorial Stadium, it's going to look a lot different pretty soon.

[Mark Ingram II]

The money that's flown into Bloomington.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. There's some things that they can do to upgrade that place. And again, why. Why upgrade it? Right? Like when Signetti took over, there were all these pictures online last night I was seeing of like, here's. Here's a snapshot of me sitting in the stands at Memorial Stadium, Signetti's first game. And it's just emptiness, right? It's emptiness. And now people are going to be flooding in there and there's so much they can do with the exterior, the interior that that place is. I mean, it's just. It's remarkable, coach, like to be where to remember what Indiana was when you would go in there with Ohio State, right. And now to put a pin in it and say, hey, let's go visit it. Two years from their national title and look at what Bloomington is going to be like. Like, hotels are popping up already, right? We're staying at new hotels for big noon kickoff. Like Every. All this energy that football has brought to that town and will continue to bring is.

[Urban Meyer]

Mark, you go in those kind of environments and I want to tell always tell people that the pregame speech before the rivalry game or when you're playing in Alabama is not really that important. What is it you want to the players down and you want to focus on your job against Indiana? Used to break the chalkboard. I would throw chairs. I would break the chalkboard. I would call us coach our coaches because we'd have to get this some energy because you'd play in a place like that.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yeah, you got to bring your own injury.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah. The players were dead. And you know, you don't have to get Ohio State fired up to play the Wolverines. You have to get Ohio State fired up to play an early game in Bloomington. Indiana was awful.

[Rob Stone]

Not anymore.

[Urban Meyer]

New Moss.

[Rob Stone]

Not anymore.

[Urban Meyer]

Good for them, man.

[Rob Stone]

It's an amazing story and you're right. Hoosiers Part 2 coming to theaters soon. Time now for three and out. When we come back, who is the next program to pull off in Indiana? We'll tell you next. Welcome back to the Triple F presented by Wendy's Urban Meyer. Mark Ingram the second, Rob Stone back here with you. Time now for three and out. So Indiana, maybe the most improbable national champion in football ever for three and out this week. Give me three programs. Mark, I'll start with you. That could be the next Indiana. Meaning teams that are used to losing have really bad records and can somehow rise from the ashes to become national champion. You can do it a little bit tongue in cheek if you want the losing legit picks. Losing his teams. There's a lot to pick from out there, my friend. Northwestern is currently the losing his football program.

[Mark Ingram II]

All right, why don't we go Northwestern? If Indiana could do it, okay, Northwestern should be able to do it, right? All they need is a Signetti and a Fernando Mendoza and somebody to maximize their whole team like Coach Meyer says. So, yeah, Navy, Vanderbilt sucks, right? They gotten better over time. So who we for sure they got better over time. They've kind of gotten over to the winning side. So maybe they can continue to go. Hopefully not because I hate Vanderbilt, but losing his teams, who knows Navy, Vanderbilt, who else sucks?

[Rob Stone]

And there's a lot of bad teams. That's right. That's okay.

[Mark Ingram II]

We like Navy, so we'll go Navy. They're one of the losers.

[Rob Stone]

Let's go Navy. All right, all right. So you go. You go Northwestern. Vandy Navy. All right, Coach, give me a Team that's like looking down a deep well, but might be able to, you know, pull some.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I'm going three. I've never gambled on sports because I'm not allowed. I was never allowed. But was it Fanduel? I want to bang out. I already did. No, I didn't do it yet because I don't know how. But Rice Ruckers and wake and why not, man?

[Mark Ingram II]

We're gonna get you. We're gonna get you signed up for Fanduel. We're gonna throw 100 bucks on and we gonna. We gonna throw 100 bucks on Rutgers and get you 100,000.

[Urban Meyer]

So 100 gives me 100k.

[Mark Ingram II]

Yes, sir.

[Urban Meyer]

That's enough. But I'm gonna say Rice. I have no. I have. I have no idea about rice, no idea about wake, But I'm gonna throw him out there because if Indiana can, they can. But I will say Rutgers because Greg Shannell, who I. I'm biased. He's a great friend and a great football coach, Rob. He had him in the top five in the country at 1.06. For sure.

[Rob Stone]

He did. They must watch television.

[Mark Ingram II]

Why not?

[Rob Stone]

Well, here's the deal, right? In this day and age of college. Yeah.

[Mark Ingram II]

He never said Google news.

[Urban Meyer]

I'm going to call him here in a minute and tell him, say that.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, that's. That's not Shiano's way. Well, so here's the deal, right? In this. You got to be in. You got to be in one of the big conferences, right. I think tradition helps if you have some form of tradition in your university of winning. I think Northwestern can pull it off the losing his program in college football. Right now they're in Chicago. They're investing. They got the new stadium coming up. Now. When. When Fitze was there, they had like every three years, Northwestern was a problem in the Big ten. They can pull that off. They've seen it. They've been that close. To your point. Rutgers has been that close under Seano. I'll throw. I'll throw another one out. You Lance Leipold at Kansas. Yeah. Watch out for can. Remember two years ago, we were saying, here come the Jayhawks. They had a lot of energy and a lot of momentum. They're doing the stadium expansion as well. They have winning at that university, courtesy of the basketball program, just like Indiana had winning at the basketball program.

[Urban Meyer]

Put your money. Here you go, Fanduel. Go get it, Rob. Don't tell us about it. Do it.

[Rob Stone]

There you go.

[Urban Meyer]

There you go.

[Mark Ingram II]

Those are my money on your Chest, we got that shadow Sanders on your chest.

[Rob Stone]

Kansas. Time now for 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. So the season, sadly, is over. Time now for our way, way, way, way poorly researched early 2026 College Football Playoff championship pick. I don't think a lot of people had Indiana on their sheet last year. It was a lot of Ohio State repeating, right? And maybe Penn State and SEC getting their mojo back and getting, getting that national title after being shut out two years in a row. Now three years in a row. So mark right now, our way too early 2026 national football champion is the.

[Mark Ingram II]

Fighting Irish and Marcus Freeman, C.J. carr coming back. They've been there. They was at the national championship.

[Rob Stone]

No love, though. No love.

[Mark Ingram II]

They was at the national championship two years ago. They probably should have been in a playoff this year. They have experience. They know how to win. The schedule ain't scary, as we typically know with Notre Dame, but they have Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina, Navy, Miami. Rematch, Boston College, byu, smu, Syracuse, Stanford. That's got to be a playoff schedule, right? With C.J. carr coming back. Marcus Freeman at the helm. Knows how to handle success, knows what it looks like to win. Got him to the national championship two years ago. Notre Dame way, way, way, extremely way too early. Because you know, I don't give a piss about nothing but the Tide. Not more driving with the Tide.

[Rob Stone]

Okay, coach, who's y'?

[Urban Meyer]

All? Way too early returning quarterbacks at Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas and A and M. I can't go Texas. I've been every year I try to pick them A and M. I don't know enough about Oregon, Dante Moore, Ohio State, Notre Dame. Ohio State's got a rugged, the first rugged, rugged schedule they've had in a minute. But I'm going to go Oregon. I'm going to say Oregon. Dante Moore coming back. The Big Ten wins it again four years in a row. And they're going to follow the pattern set or the template set by the last three national championships.

[Mark Ingram II]

It's gotta stop.

[Urban Meyer]

Maturity, experience, grown ass men in the locker room. Oregon.

[Rob Stone]

And they had a young roster this year, particularly at some skill spots. So those guys have grown up. Yeah, I think that's a great call. You usually take Texas, so you're not going to do it this year. I'm going to take Texas because it feels like the Longhorns are similar to the Buckeyes. A couple Years ago, as you mentioned, you got to have that. You don't have to have that returning quarterback. I feel like it certainly helps in Arch Manning finish the season strong. Now, guys, over 3,100 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, seven interceptions. Here's my, here's my one request to the good folks in Austin. Let Arch talk. Like, put him in front of the media. Let him do stuff. Let him be Arch Manning. Quit putting him in this little cocoon. Release Arch Manning to the wild. Let him be the Arch Manning that I think Texas fans want to see and want him to be. They added Cam Coleman, the number one receiver in the transfer portal from Auburn. They already have Ryan Wingo. They need to find the running game, right? That wasn't up to snuff. So they need to, they need to fortify up front. They need to find that.

[Mark Ingram II]

That they got a dog. They got a dog. True freshman coming in from Shamani down here in Florida, tailback.

[Rob Stone]

So maybe, maybe that's the answer. And they brought in Will Muschamp. They brought him back. Former coach in waiting. He's going to be the defensive coordinator. So I go Texas, I go Texas, coach, you go Oregon. And Mark says Fighting Irish.

[Mark Ingram II]

But I also don't give a piss about none but the Tide. No, never get that twisted.

[Rob Stone]

I got it. Some early numbers, though, just just to put this in perspective. Ohio State, Notre Dame at plus 650. Indiana to run it back at plus 700. That's going to be a lot to ask of them. There's Texas at plus 750. Coach your ducks at plus 900. And finally, well, there's George at 1100. The fight in Lane, Kiffins at 1400. A&M, Texas Tech and Miami. So a season is done. We're not done. Triple option goes throughout the college football season. Can't wait to continue the conversations about what transpires in college football after the games are done. Because as we learned last year, guys, we were not short of topics. There was so much to talk in college football throughout the season. But at the end of this college football season, the three of us want to thank you for listening, for watching the triple option. Man, it's great to do this. We enjoy it so much every week and glad you're a part of it. So we love you more. So follow us, subscribe us, rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever it is you get your podcasts as well as social media. We are at 3x option show and as always, thanks to our wonderful sponsors, Wendy's and fanduel. Most importantly, thank you. You. Thank you for listening and watching. And we'll see you next on the triple option.

[Mark Ingram II]

We love you.