The Triple Option – Episode Summary

Episode: Michigan Punished, Jeremiah Smith Joins, & Players to Watch This Season
Date: August 20, 2025
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Main Guest: Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State, WR)

Overview

The hosts kick off Year 2 of The Triple Option by diving into college football's return and tackling the fallout from the Michigan sign-stealing scandal. They discuss NCAA enforcement, legacy implications for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, and broader impacts on college football. The state of the Power Four (Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12) and Notre Dame are analyzed ahead of the 2025 season. Notably, Heisman-contending Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith joins to talk about stardom, humble beginnings, and the coming campaign.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Michigan Punished: Breakdown of NCAA Sanctions and Legacy

• Details of the Sanctions:
  • Michigan fined up to $30 million.
  • Four years probation for the program.
  • Show-cause penalties:
    • Jim Harbaugh (10-year show-cause; effectively banning him from college coaching)
    • Connor Stalions (8-year), Denard Robinson (3-year), multiple staff with shorter bans
  • Current coach Sherrone Moore: Additional 1-game suspension; two-year show-cause
• Compare to Previous Eras:
  • In the past, similar or lesser violations would carry two-year post-season bans and major scholarship losses (USC and SMU cited).
• NCAA’s Weakened Role:
  • Urban Meyer: “The NCAA is no longer an enforcement entity. It doesn’t exist, Mark. It does not exist.” (09:41)
  • Monetary fines seen as ineffective deterrents for wealthy programs.
• What is a Show-Cause?
  • Urban Meyer: The hiring school must “show cause” to the NCAA for why the penalized coach should be employed, risking further punishment for violations—viewed as “nonsense” for high-profile coaches like Harbaugh, now in the NFL.
• Legacy Fallout:
  • Despite being “a winner,” Harbaugh’s legacy is marked by controversy.
  • Mark Ingram: “He [Harbaugh] was a winner…they got away with it. They’re paying money from a very wealthy university and they got a show cause to a coach who’s not coming back to college.” (18:24)
• Memorable Quotes:
  • Rob Stone: “This is one that will go down in history books. This is something in my lifetime I’ve not seen.” (07:13, Urban Meyer)
  • Urban Meyer: “There was little if any emphasis on following the rules…Compliance directives were rebuked, dismissed and disregarded by the football program." (11:19)

2. Transfer Portal, NIL, and the Essence of College Football

• Coach Thomas Hammock on Long-term Lessons:
  • “I would do it again for free…because of the things I learned. That’s why I’m standing here today.” (26:25)
  • Hammock criticizes NIL/transfer obsession, urging focus on education, life skills, and legacy over short-term gains.
  • Urban and Mark echo the importance of education, adversity, community, and growth (28:08, 29:20).
• Player Perspective:
  • Encourages embracing challenges and cherishing the college experience—not just chasing money or immediate starting roles.

3. The State of the Power Four and Notre Dame (2025 Season Outlook)

• Big Ten:
  • Urban Meyer: "You’re number one…It’s amazing to say that the Big Ten has surpassed the SEC the last two years." (32:19)
  • Conference depth bolstered by Oregon, Washington, USC, UCLA.
• SEC:
  • Mark: “They trying to prove…they still the most dominant conference." (35:12)
  • A chip on the shoulder after losing top spot, eager for redemption.
• ACC:
  • Needs Clemson and others to step up.
  • Next episode: Dabo Swinney guest announced.
• Big 12:
  • Wide open; "six to eight programs could win it all" (39:47).
  • Modernized, innovative approaches under Commissioner Brett Yormark lauded.
• Notre Dame:
  • “As long as they keep doing what Notre Dame typically does, they should be in the College Football Playoff just about every season.” (41:13)

4. Farmageddon in Ireland / Importance of Early Season Conference Games

• Iowa State vs. Kansas State (Week Zero):
  • Discussion of the unique challenge and strategic significance of opening the season with a key conference matchup overseas (43:15).
  • Early games and new playoff format: Win the conference = automatic playoff bid, so every game matters.

5. Players to Watch for 2025

• Urban Meyer’s Picks:
  • Julian Sayin (QB, Ohio State): “The ball jumps out of his hand…he’s very slight. I’m anxious to see how the strength staff has developed him.” (45:25)
  • DJ Lagway (Florida QB): "He did all that as a freshman…incredible."
  • Bryce Underwood (Michigan QB): "He has it all."
• Mark Ingram’s Picks:
  • Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame RB): “Straight baller…17 touchdowns also a threat out of the backfield."
  • Ty Simpson (Alabama QB): "Respect that he stayed, learned, waited…has his opportunity."
  • Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State WR): "15 touchdowns as a true freshman…an alien out there at wide receiver one."
• Rob Stone’s Picks:
  • Arch Manning (Texas QB): "It’s all about Arch Manning, baby…can he bring the Heisman back to Austin?"
  • Cade Klubnik (Clemson QB)
  • Garrett Nussmeier (LSU QB): "Most passing yards over 4,000 last season by any returning quarterback."

Featured Interview: Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State WR)

Begins: [53:28]

Segment Highlights & Insights

• Dealing with Stardom:
  • “I come from humble beginnings. I don’t let all that stuff get in my head. I just focus on football and the team.” (54:48)
• Ohio State WR Room Legacy:
  • “Each week that we play, I feel like we’re obligated to go out there and perform at a high level because those guys did it each week… I’m obligated to go out each and every day and perform at a very high level.” (55:42)
• Offseason Focus:
  • “Becoming a student of the game…last year, being a freshman, a lot of things were thrown at me…now I have a better understanding of what’s going on." (56:04)
  • Example: Understanding coverage and defensive schemes.
• On Teammates Carnell Tate & Brandon Ennis:
  • “[Carnell] could do any and everything that you ask him to do...Brandon, same way, he got that dog in him.” (57:05)
• Why Ohio State:
  • “When I first came up here for a visit, I felt like this was home...I wanted to get out of Florida...focus on ball and school.” (57:53)
• Handling Pressure of Defending National Title:
  • “I feel like everybody thinks we need to go back-to-back, and that’s something on our minds as well…pressure, we trying to go back-to-back.” (58:42)
• Julian Sayin (QB):
  • “Smart quarterback, can make any and every throw, a student of the game.” (59:28)
• Youth Football/Adversity Story:
  • “Coach told me I was off the team…just walked away, went to my dad, he didn’t get mad...just kept working, made the team next year. To kids getting overlooked: don’t take it too personal, keep your head down, keep working.” (60:52)
• On Michigan ("team up north"):
  • “With everything in me, I hate ‘em.” (61:36)
  • Initial recruiting story: “I made a mistake and I was wearing dark blue…Coach Hartline and Coach Keenan Bailey were like, you can’t wear those colors here.” (61:58)
• On the Offense Under Brian Hartline:
  • "A lot of energy…everyone flying around, want to make plays." (62:33)
• Favorite Play:
  • Third and long, go-to route is “go ball from the field up top.” (62:49)
  • Loudest moment: “National championship game, third and 11…go ball.” (65:00)
• Advice from Mark Ingram (handling noise and hype):
  • “All the outside noise, it was just conditional…When you did good, they praise you. When you did bad, they try to tear you down…stayed focused on what mattered." (66:15)

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Urban Meyer on NCAA Power Erosion:
  • "I lived it...the NCAA is no longer an enforcement entity. It does not exist, Mark." (09:41)
• Mark Ingram on Sanctions as Bargain:
  • “You’ll write the check 10 times out of 10 to win a national title.” (09:52)
• Rob Stone on Harbaugh’s Return:
  • “He is going to be embraced and loved because in the end, Jim Harbaugh got Michigan a national title and that’s all that matters.” (20:19)
• Thomas Hammock on College Football Purpose:
  • “The lessons I learned were more valuable than any money you can ever pay me…Long term." (26:25)
• Jeremiah Smith on Rivalry:
  • “With everything in me, I hate ‘em [Michigan].” (61:36)
• Mark Ingram’s Advice to Young Athletes:
  • “Don’t take it too personal. Keep your head down. Keep working…the outside distractions didn’t matter because it was all conditional to me anyway.” (66:15)

Important Timestamps

• Michigan Sanctions Deep Dive: 00:57–20:19
• Thomas Hammock on NIL, Lessons: 25:10–28:08
• Power Four/Notre Dame Outlook: 32:19–42:27
• Farmageddon in Ireland Preview: 43:15–45:25
• Players to Watch: 45:25–50:41
• Jeremiah Smith Interview: 53:28–67:21

Tone and Takeaways

• Lively, candid, and insightful—deep-dive analyses by veteran football minds, balancing critique (NCAA’s lack of teeth, Michigan’s slap on the wrist) with respect (to player achievements/wins).
• Emphasis on tradition, locker room culture, and life beyond football—especially via the transfer portal/NIL debate.
• Jeremiah Smith comes off humble, grounded, yet driven—echoing the “team first” and “hard work” mantras championed by the hosts.