The Triple Option Podcast: Episode Summary

Episode: James Franklin fired, Curt Cignetti puts Indiana on top, Top Running Backs, and Week 8 picks
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Date: October 15, 2025
Theme Overview:
This episode dives deep into the stunning firing of Penn State head coach James Franklin, the meteoric rise of Curt Cignetti and Indiana football, the best running backs in the country, and the panelists’ picks for pivotal Week 8 games. With a mix of insider perspectives from coaching, player, and media viewpoints, the show unpacks the seismic changes reshaping college football.

James Franklin Fired: Reactions and Ramifications

Key Segment: [03:07–14:34]

Why Was Franklin Fired?

• Rob Stone sets the stage: Just a couple of weeks earlier, Penn State was a national title contender before a three-game skid (Oregon, UCLA, Northwestern) ended the Franklin era.
• Urban Meyer (“Coach”):

  "This is a $75 million transaction... I was shocked. I always tend to side on the side of the coach. I think this was an overreaction." [04:29]

  • Emphasizes the financial and operational upheaval, guessing the full cost (coach buyout, staff, new hires) could reach $75 million.
• Mark Ingram II:

  "He took over a Penn State program when nobody wanted to go there. He did a fantastic job of being a coach, a leader of men… [but] 4 and 21 against top 10 teams, that kind of was brewing. You could feel that brewing in Happy Valley." [06:50]

  • Credits Franklin for resurrecting the program post-scandal, but sees inability to win big games as his undoing.
• On the Locker Room:
  Meyer points out that when elite talent underperforms, “there’s two reasons: locker room issues or staff issues. That’s it.” [10:21] Suggests something was broken internally; not talent, not recruiting.

Franklin's Legacy & The "Peter Principle"

Notable Quote:

"He hit that Peter Principle... they max out, essentially this is as good as it's going to get. They can't get you over that next bump… I think James Franklin hit that Peter principle, at least at Penn State." - Rob Stone [17:39]

• Franklin lauded for stabilizing the program during a period of intense sanctions and turmoil, but hit a developmental ceiling with poor showings in key games.

Careful What You Wish For: Grass Isn't Always Greener

Key Segment: [17:38–20:13]

• Rob Stone draws parallels to Mullen at Florida, Pelini at Nebraska, Paul Chryst at Wisconsin, Gus Malzahn at Auburn—each fired for "not enough" despite strong records, and each program struggling since.
• Lively Exchange:

  "We never want the grass green at Auburn. More brown, please." – Mark Ingram [20:08]

The Penn State Job: National Status & Search

Key Segment: [24:15–29:29]

Where Does Penn State Rank?

• In the Big Ten: Roughly 4th or 5th, behind Ohio State, Michigan, and (sometimes) Oregon or USC.
• Nationally: “Just inside the top 10, maybe top 15.” – Urban Meyer [25:36]
• Recruiting Landscape: Not as strong as decades past due to population and talent shifts; schools now recruit more nationally.

Top Candidates & Concerns

• Matt Rhule:
  • Deep ties to AD Pat Kraft and Penn State; described as “family.”
  • But: His career record vs Top 25 teams (“2 and 23”—[30:28]) mirrors the very issue that doomed Franklin.

  "Those numbers are fireable." – Meyer [30:56]

• Kurt Cignetti:
  • Red-hot at Indiana; described as “hottest name on the market” ([29:29]), “done one of the greatest coaching turnarounds I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.” – Meyer [29:46]
  • Age may be a factor (he’s 64), but Meyer notes, “Six [Cignetti] is the one you like, that takes you back. What he’s done is historic.” [34:49]
• Manny Diaz: Former Penn State DC, now at Duke, also in the conversation.
• Dan Mullen: Undefeated at UNLV, Northeast ties.

On Decision-Making:

"I can’t imagine you make that decision without saying, I know who I’m getting." – Urban Meyer [35:21]

Money Matters:
Big buyouts and top-tier hires mean big numbers. “$75 million? You know who you’re getting, and you know where you're getting the money from… You have to.” – Mark Ingram [35:37]

Curt Cignetti and Indiana: Miracle Worker?

Key Segment: [39:42–48:13]

• Mark Ingram awards Cignetti "Deuce Deuce Dog of the Week" for the upset win at Oregon ([40:23])
• Indiana Now #3 in the Nation: Highest in program history—described as “the best they’ve ever been in program history.” – Rob Stone [33:34]
• Cignetti’s Philosophy:
  • “I don’t really care about [doubters]. …You’re gonna have people that are supporting cookies over brownies all the time, right?” – Cignetti (clip replayed) [42:08]
• Urban Meyer Comparison:
  • Cignetti’s turnaround “greater than what Bill Snyder did early in his career at Kansas State.” [43:57]
  • Indiana now with “the best defensive line in the Big Ten, maybe the country” [44:51]
• Can Indiana Win It All?
  • “Absolutely, yes, they can. When you watch them play, absolutely, yes.” – Meyer [47:58]
  • Cignetti’s future: Stay and be legendary at Indiana, or jump to a place with a shot at the national title? (Meyer’s own experience with such decisions at Utah)
• Memorable Exchange:
  • “Kurt Signetti is one of the finest coaching jobs I’ve seen… He and his staff do as fine a coaching job as I’ve seen with development and calling a game.” – Meyer [45:22]

Running Back Roundtable: The Nation's Best

Key Segment: [50:21–54:43]

Prompted by: Big spike in “best running back in college football” searches on Google.

Mark Ingram’s Top 3

1. Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame): “Just a complete back… Get the ball in his hands and watch him make plays.” [51:04]
2. Justice Haynes (Michigan, Alabama transfer): “All-purpose yards, averaging almost eight yards a carry, eight touchdowns… explosive.” [52:02]
3. Ahmad Hardy (Missouri): “A brute… Most yards after contact, most broken tackles in college football… He is a true R beast.” [52:32]

Urban Meyer’s Top 3

1. Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame): “If I’m an NFL GM, I’m taking this guy.” [53:10]
2. Ahmad Hardy (Missouri): “A big fan,” after watching game tape.
3. Cameron Dickey (Texas Tech): “Had 263 against Kansas last week.” [54:03]

Rob Stone’s Notables

• Cam Cook (Jacksonville State): Nation’s yardage leader.
• Bo Jackson (Ohio State freshman): “Highest ceiling for sure.”
• Ahmad Hardy: “He has been brilliant and he is the focus of opposing defenses all season.” [56:15]

Week 8 Picks & Game Previews

Key Segments:

• [56:13–63:17]: Week 8 Big Picks (Tennessee–Bama, USC–Notre Dame, Ole Miss–Georgia)
• [62:09]: Rob and Mark debate the “clapping” timeout incident with Kirby Smart (Georgia)

Picks Highlights

• Tennessee at Bama:
  "Tennessee coming to town… I hate everything about Tennessee." – Mark Ingram [57:00]. Picks Alabama to win, but hesitates on the spread; likes the over.
• USC at Notre Dame:
  “If they play like they did against Michigan, I think USC can win… If they play like Illinois, they won’t.” – Meyer [59:59]. Predicts a close Notre Dame win.
• Ole Miss at Georgia:
  Rob Stone likes Georgia by a touchdown, taking the under.

Notable Moments & Quotes

• On Coaching Turnarounds:
  "This is Bill Snyderish... what Signetti’s done is historic." – Urban Meyer [29:46]
• Cookies vs. Brownies:
  “You’re going to have people that are supporting cookies over brownies all the time, right?” – Cignetti [42:08]
• On Money and Firing:
  "They want to play cry poor wolf... but they're about to pay that money." – Mark Ingram [37:15]
• On the Importance of Clapping:
  "Remember, clap when your team scores. Clap loudly when your team scores.” – Rob Stone [65:17]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• James Franklin Fired/Initial Reactions: 03:07–08:52
• Franklin Legacy & Peter Principle: 13:11–17:38
• Grass Not Always Greener/Coaching Carousel: 17:38–21:24
• Penn State’s Job Status & Candidates: 24:15–31:00
• Curt Cignetti/Indiana’s Rise/Is It Sustainable? 39:42–48:13
• Best Running Backs: 50:21–54:43
• Week 8 Picks: 56:13–63:17

Tone & Language

The show is conversational, witty, and honest, mixing analysis, friendly jabs, and personal anecdotes from decades in the game. Urban Meyer speaks with gravitas; Mark Ingram brings candor and player insight; Rob Stone keeps things lively and relatable.

Summary Takeaways

• Penn State’s firing of James Franklin signals a new era, but potential replacements come with their own question marks.
• Curt Cignetti’s work at Indiana is nothing short of miraculous—he’s now the hottest name in coaching circles.
• The top running backs conversation is as tight as the playoff race, with Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love and Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy leading the way.
• The week’s game picks reflect a blend of boldness, rivalry spice, and inside perspective, with a healthy dose of SEC–Big Ten ribbing.
• Throughout, the hosts revisit a central theme: be careful what you wish for in coaching transitions—the next guy isn’t always better.

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