Michigan State's Tom Izzo Joins Ahead of Sweet 16 & Alabama Football's 2025 Expectations

Summary

The Triple Option Episode Summary Michigan State's Tom Izzo Joins Ahead of Sweet 16 & Alabama Football's 2025 Expectations
Release Date: March 26, 2025
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone

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I. Introduction

In this episode of The Triple Option, hosts Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone delve into two major topics dominating the sports landscape: Michigan State’s legendary basketball coach Tom Izzo’s continued success in the NCAA Tournament and the future prospects of Alabama Football heading into the 2025 season.

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II. Exclusive Interview with Tom Izzo

A. Personal Connections and Michigan State Pride

The episode opens with a heartfelt welcome to Tom Izzo, celebrating his 16th Sweet 16 appearance. Mark Ingram II expresses his deep-rooted connection to Michigan State, sharing familial ties and personal admiration:

Mark Ingram (00:00): "Coach Izzo, man, I just got to tell you what an honor and a pleasure it is for your boy, being a Sparty at heart. Go Green."

B. Team Dynamics and Success Factors

Izzo discusses the unique cohesion of his team, emphasizing that their strength lies not just in talent but in their interconnectedness and familial atmosphere:

Tom Izzo (02:34): "It's maybe the most connected team... having connections with each other and kind of a real care for one another."

He attributes this unity to deliberate team-building activities, such as taking trips together and fostering a supportive environment both on and off the court.

C. Coaching Philosophy and Adaptation

Izzo reflects on his coaching approach, highlighting the importance of adaptability without compromising core principles. He draws parallels between basketball and football, underscoring fundamental strategies like defense and teamwork:

Tom Izzo (04:14): "I think after Covid, I think I failed a little bit in that. I think I adjusted so much that I forgot... to win championships or compete at that level... there's still only one way."

D. Reflections on Past Experiences

The conversation shifts to Izzo’s past experiences, including his interactions with other legendary coaches and his adaptability during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

E. Thoughts on NCAA Tournament Structure

Izzo critiques the expansion of the NCAA Tournament, arguing that increasing the number of teams dilutes the competition's quality and diminishes the significance of traditional powerhouse programs:

Tom Izzo (16:22): "I don't think that can happen in football. It just... the bigger, stronger teams."

He shares personal anecdotes about past tournament upsets, reinforcing his belief in maintaining a balanced and competitive structure.

Notable Quotes:

• Urban Meyer (01:30): "You're a great friend and one of my favorite people."
• Tom Izzo (06:57): "But I still have a key to that city up there because when we won the championship, they had a parade here."

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III. Alabama Football’s 2025 Season Expectations

Following the insightful interview with Tom Izzo, the hosts transition to discuss Alabama Football's anticipated performance in the 2025 season, particularly focusing on whether the team will achieve double-digit regular-season wins.

A. Review of the Previous Season

Mark Ingram II provides a recap of Alabama's 2024 season, noting their record and the disappointment of missing the College Football Playoffs:

Mark Ingram (27:50): "Everyone loves to say that."

B. Predictions for Regular Season Wins

The hosts debate the likelihood of Alabama securing nine and a half wins versus surpassing the double-digit mark. Mark expresses optimism about the team's potential:

Mark Ingram (29:09): "I'm going three zero."

C. Key Games and Schedule Analysis

Rob Stone breaks down Alabama’s challenging schedule, highlighting pivotal matchups against teams like Florida State, Wisconsin, Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Oklahoma. He emphasizes the aggressive nature of Alabama's scheduling and its impact on the team's performance:

Rob Stone (33:04): "Florida State or Wisconsin are medium slash big dogs."

D. Coaches' Opinions and Predictions

Urban Meyer shares his perspective on coaching within a high-pressure program like Alabama, advising against taking a job following a successful coach like Nick Saban:

Urban Meyer (30:16): "The rule is you never take a job following someone like Saban."

Mark Ingram II discusses the pressures facing Alabama’s coaching staff and the expectations to rebound strongly:

Mark Ingram (31:30): "I think he has three years... to be able to turn this thing around."

Notable Quotes:

• Urban Meyer (30:16): "You start diluting the quality of teams, you keep going deeper and deeper and deeper."
• Mark Ingram (34:06): "We have the magic number is, is it 9 or is it 10 or even at that number for Alabama."

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IV. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with final thoughts from the hosts, reiterating their support for both Tom Izzo and Alabama Football. They encourage listeners to follow The Triple Option on various platforms and stay tuned for future discussions.

Closing Remarks:

• Mark Ingram (34:35): "So I'm gonna sit between you two and this, do a little rubbing, and figure maybe it'll take me to a final."
• Rob Stone (34:35): "Alabama's going to be back and they're going to get double digit regular season wins."

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Key Takeaways

• Tom Izzo’s Continued Excellence: Izzo attributes Michigan State’s basketball success to team cohesion, adaptability, and maintaining core principles amidst changes in the NCAA Tournament structure.

• Alabama Football’s Challenging Path: Alabama faces a tough 2025 schedule with high expectations to achieve double-digit wins. The coaching staff is under pressure to adapt and excel to meet the formidable demands of their fanbase and the competitive landscape.

• Coaching Insights: Both Izzo and the Alabama coaching discussions highlight the delicate balance between tradition and adaptation in maintaining competitive advantage and achieving sustained success.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mark Ingram (00:00): "Coach Izzo, man, I just got to tell you what an honor and a pleasure it is for your boy, being a Sparty at heart. Go Green."

• Tom Izzo (02:34): "It's maybe the most connected team... having connections with each other and kind of a real care for one another."

• Tom Izzo (04:14): "I think after Covid, I think I failed a little bit in that. I think I adjusted so much that I forgot..."

• Urban Meyer (30:16): "The rule is you never take a job following someone like Saban."

• Mark Ingram (34:06): "We have the magic number is, is it 9 or is it 10 or even at that number for Alabama."

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For fans looking to dive deeper into these discussions, new episodes are released every Wednesday on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms. Follow The Triple Option on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @3XOptionShow for bonus content and updates.

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Presented by Wendy’s.

Transcript

[Mark Ingram]

Coach Izzo, man, I just got to tell you what an honor and a pleasure it is for your boy, being a sparty at heart. Go Green. My dad played at Michigan State. Mama went to Michigan State. Grandpa played in Michigan State. So I grew up Michigan State. Bed sheets.

[Urban Meyer]

But you didn't go there.

[Rob Stone]

Barry in the lead.

[Tom Izzo]

I know he let. He let Nick take him. I know that.

[Rob Stone]

The triple option presented by Wendy's head to the Wendy's app to get a $JBC or a $1 double stack with offer and additional purchase. Hey, everybody. Thanks for joining us this week on the triple option presented by Wendy's. Member rate. Subscribe over at Apple Podcast Spotify. Wherever you get your podcasts, find us on social media 3x option show. So this past year, college football expanded the playoff system to 12 teams. We spent a lot of weeks talking about it. You know why they did it? Because they want to be more like college basketball, the success that they've had with March Madness in the tournament. So with that in mind, let's bring in the winningest men's basketball coach in Big Ten history, your 2000 national champion, the unquestioned dean of college basketball, coaching Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo as he gets ready for his 16th sweet 16. That is amazing. Congrats on that, coach, and thanks for joining us this weekend, man.

[Tom Izzo]

Yeah, you guys are just making me sound older than I am. That's the problem. Those are not compliments. I don't take those as compliments.

[Mark Ingram]

Great hall of Famer.

[Rob Stone]

That's a compliment, Coach. We're full of compliments, Coach.

[Urban Meyer]

You're a great friend and one of my favorite people. You were so good to me during my career. I'd get some of the greatest freaking text messages from you after a great win. And sometime when we had that loss, you'd hit me up afterwards, and then we'd run into each other. So you are in. Mark, I'm sure you know this. You know he's not a basketball coach. Deep down. You ripped that heart open. That's a football dude right there.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, sir.

[Tom Izzo]

I agree.

[Urban Meyer]

He loves him and Mark D'Antonio are great friends, probably still great friends. I know he supports you. You love your school. You love supporting a football team. I always idolize that because I've always had that relationship with my. I've had. How about this? I had Rick Majeris. I had Dan Dakich, I had Thad Mata. And then obviously, Billy Donovan was my neighbor, and we were best friends. I mean, we support. I was at all the games, they were at our games. So great to have you here and tell us about your team and what makes this team. Potentially. You've had it once before, it's been a while. What makes this team? Is there a shot with this team?

[Tom Izzo]

You know, it's the strangest team I've had in this respect. It's not the most talented team. I'm not sure it's in the top five or six that I've had or top 10 or 15 that I've had, but it's maybe the most connected. And as you know, especially this day and age, having connections with each other and kind of a real care for one another. We all talk about family, atmosphere and all that stuff. It's getting harder to deal with now than it ever was. I mean, we become like society so self centered, so about ourselves that it's hard to do that for some reason. I don't know if it was the trip to Spain. I took my team back where Mariucci and I are from Northern Michigan. I've taken them to Lions games, Tiger games. I've tried to do more and more with them to develop that and it's worked so far. We kind of had role definition. We're playing 10 players. I guess that would be equivalent of. Of playing like eight receivers or you know, even two quarterbacks. You know, it's not the norm, but it's work because I think they've all come together so far.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Now, coach, you said like how you've been able to adapt. You said how this might be the most connected team you've ever had. With today's day and age, you haven't missed the NCAA tournament since 1996. Like over time, like how have you been able to adapt as a coach? What have you learned to help? You kind of come to this method of being able to have. Be a great coach and have a team that's competing in the sweet 16.

[Tom Izzo]

Yeah. You know, I'm sure Urban has had to deal with this too. And the hardest part for me is staying in the same place. That's good. But it's hard because your fans, your media, you know, they all get sick of it and you know, they get sick of the same press conferences. But I think what I've tried to learn to do, I watched Bobby Knight when I first came in. I watched Gene, Katie, you know, Bob struggled to adapt to the new times where Gene was still the gruff. They were both tough, gruff. Clem Haskins was in that. Those are the three I came in with. I Was afraid to go to conference, coaches meetings with those three guys, but, but I learned from all of them that you do got to make adjustments, but don't change the principles. I think after Covid, I think I failed a little bit in that. I think I adjusted so much that I forgot and I used the terms, and they're the same for me. The end of the day, you know, you guys in Football got the RPOs. You got this, you got that, you got changes. Passing, running, everybody wants to adapt different defenses. At the end of the day, you got to be able to block and tackle and not turn the ball over. The end of the day for us, we got to be able to defend and rebound and not turn the ball over. And I use every super bowl, and this one was a classic. You turn the ball over, you're probably not winning, and I mean at a high rate. And so that's why I love football. I, I, I just think it's easier to see those things in basketball. There's so many possessions, it doesn't carry the same weight. But at the end of the day, I've adjusted without changing who I am and what I believe it takes not to win games. That's, that's a lot of people can do different things, but to win championships or compete at that level, as Urban has done, there's still only one way, right, Coach? I mean, you got to be tough, you got to, you got to be demanding, you got to be accountable. That doesn't change.

[Urban Meyer]

Well, ironically, I had a player, Ryan Wingrove, for my first Bowling Green team. And I mean, those stories are legendary, and they're all true. I mean, it was back in the day, we had matrils and combatives and all that. And he made a comment, he says, do you realize if they had transfer portal when you were coaching, that all 85 would have left? And I said, yeah, of course. I mean, that's the way you tried. It was Navy SEAL training. I wanted you to ring the bell, but it's the same. And he teared up as he left, and he says, the greatest year I've ever had in my life, because we went from 1 in 10 to 9 and 3. And so my question to you, the word transfer, the phrase transfer portal, has that changed? Tom Izzo on the court, in the meeting rooms, because you're, you're a tough ass dude now. Are you still that?

[Tom Izzo]

You know, it's funny because you were at Ohio State, and when I had my championship team in 2000, I had some tough kids and I mean, Cleaves, Andreas Rugged on, but all those guys were tough. And we got beat at Ohio State in a rebound, in our rebounds. We were like one in the country. And I remember my kid, Andre Hudson, grabbed Zach Randolph, pinned him up against the wall and said, we don't do that here. We don't lose. We lost the game by one. We lost the rebound. So Saban was here then. So I came back and I said, I called Nick, I said, I need 12 sets of football gear practicing tomorrow. Can I do that? Yeah. He brought him over, put the guys in football gear for the Ward drill. And I remember Cleaves trying to, trying to show a guy how to buckle a chin strap. A 610 guy, you know, and we were at it for like 20 minutes.

[Urban Meyer]

What a story.

[Tom Izzo]

But I was mad, you know, I wanted it to be anger. They had so much fun. It was so that it pissed me off, to be honest with you. And yet to this day, when they come back to reunions. Coach, you bring out the pads this week? I said, no. A little different than what you're saying. I ain't worried about them transferring. I'm worried about their lawyers suing me. Oh, I don't do that anymore. I changed.

[Mark Ingram]

Oh, man, that's a great story there. Hey, man, I love that.

[Rob Stone]

Hey, coach, this time of year, you know, you've gone through the gauntlet of, of Big Ten conference play in the Big Ten tournament, and now you're in this NCAA tournament where you have new opposition, you have little time, and, and you have a team that has just played so many games. How do you manage your preparation? You know, is it, is it more dealing with the opposition than dealing with yourself or vice versa as you head into the sweet 16?

[Tom Izzo]

Unfortunately, I'm one that deals with the opposition more. I guess I'm a filmaholic. I've been brought up with all the football guys back in the day of Northern Michigan. And what it, what it's done for me is, it's taught me how to prep quicker and more efficient. They always said John Worry wouldn't worry more about his team, but his third tring, his third string center was a, a draft pick. You know, so it's a little different talent level there. But, you know, what we've done here is, it's, it's not bad this week. But now you play Friday. If you win, you play Sunday afternoon. That quick turnaround I kind of started my first year. We went to these 20, 25 minute segments because the tension span of these guys isn't great. So we'll go to breakfast before breakfast, 20 minutes, eat breakfast 20 minutes, lunch 20 minutes, go to the shoot around 20 minutes before, 20 minutes after. And it's really served me well. You know, when you're in a hotel, sometimes we have walkthroughs right in the hotel and that's the way I've done it. And it's been pretty successful on second day play. You know, it's helped us a lot.

[Urban Meyer]

I got to hit you real quick about the football program. When I got into the Big Ten in 01, Michigan State was a top team in the Big Ten. Mark D'Antonio Narduzzi, I know you were real close to those guys. They were the best team in the Big Ten in 01. And I'm sorry, in 2012. 2012 12.

[Tom Izzo]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

And they fallen off the planet, man. And yeah, they were known to take that three star athlete and grind them into a first rounder. How far are they off?

[Tom Izzo]

Well, I think Jonathan's going to do a good job here. But you, boy, you hit on something that I got to deal with every day too because I've had my one and dones. You know, I've had Randolph and Richardsons and, and Jaren Jackson's and Miles Bridges but probably had more, more three or four and done guys and where you develop them, they kind of know what it is like the player. The Michigan, Michigan State game means more, you know, if you've been here a while. And in football, you know, I think we had the change over in coaches and things didn't go well. And when you, when you mess up in football it is a little longer to get back in most cases because just the number of players now the transfer portal might eliminate some of that but. Or ease some of that. But I still think it's harder to turn a football program around quickly than it is a basketball. Light it.

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[Mark Ingram]

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[Urban Meyer]

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[Mark Ingram]

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[Mark Ingram]

Coach Izzo, man, I just gotta tell you what an honor and a pleasure it is for your boy being a sparty at heart. Go green. My dad played at Michigan State. Mama went to Michigan State. Grandpa played in Michigan State. So I grew up Michigan State. Bed sheets. When I was getting recruited, you was one of the main reasons why I loved Michigan State. I would go to the basketball games student section would be talking about, we want Ingram. We want Ingram. So I just want to tell you I love you and I appreciate you for all you doing what you but.

[Urban Meyer]

You didn't go there.

[Rob Stone]

I did not bury in the league.

[Tom Izzo]

I know that. But. But I still loved him. I still pulled for him when he was down there, to be honest with you.

[Mark Ingram]

I see that's a real one right there. See, that's a real one. But hey, one of the, one of my things that I love the Most is in 2000, you have Flintstones. You had my boy Mo Pete, you had Mateen Cleaves, you had Charlie Bell. When you get a Flintstone, when you get a brother from Flint, let these people know because they, I tell them I'm from Flint. But they don't really know what that means. What you getting when you get a player from Flint, Michigan.

[Tom Izzo]

I'll tell you, back in those days especially, and even before you were there, you got the toughest, baddest guys. Flint Sagan, I mean, Draymond.

[Mark Ingram]

I could tell you about Jay Rich.

[Tom Izzo]

Jay Rich. And. But you're right. Cleaves, you know, was the leader that Antonio Smith, his two brothers played pro football. Everybody then played both sports. Right, right. And so we had tougher guys. Now we get this specialization and you guys are lucky. In football, we get the guys. Sometimes you get the tougher guys, you know, but there was something about that. You know, Mark, I still have a key to that city up there because when we won the championship, they had a parade here. Amira Flynn had a parade up there. It was like. It was unbelievable in that. And that was a hell of a parade, by the way up there.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, I love that. That's great. Key to the city is over the key to Flint, Michigan, baby. Let's go.

[Rob Stone]

Coach. We, we experienced the expansion of the college football playoffs this year. And it kind of keeps creeping closer and closer to what, what you deal with every year in the basketball format. Do you think college football should get bigger and better in the postseason tournament and get closer and closer to what basketball has right now?

[Tom Izzo]

You know, the one thing you don't have that basketball has that I, I, you know, I still, I'm a small college guy, but usually if it's four or 12, you got the best 12 teams. You know, we still have this Cinderella stuff. And Cinderella has landed on my shoe a couple times too, you know. So when you go to 15, it's hard because players don't respect the teams as much. Media doesn't respect them. But as coach knows, we respect everybody because those things happen. We were beaten by Middle Tennessee. We had a really good team, I think 16. And everybody says, well, you overlooked them. We were the Best defensive team in the country, statistically. They shot 56% against us, 53 from the three. It was one of those nights that the damn ball went in, you know, and. And we got beat. And I thought that was a Final Four team. So I don't know if I. You know, I don't think that can happen in football. It just. The bigger, stronger teams. I don't think you could let the smaller programs in, even though there's some good ones. When you were at Bowling Green, you were probably good. There's been some teams. Northern Illinois, there's been some good, small college teams, but, boy, I don't know if you could do that, and I don't know if you'd want to do that. First of all, you couldn't play as many games. It's taxing enough on these guys. And you start adding another game and another game and then injuries and all the things go. And I don't think you could do that. What do you two guys think? You guys are in it.

[Urban Meyer]

I kind of agree what you said. You start diluting the quality of teams, you keep going deeper and deeper and deeper, and yet you do have a Cinderella. I guess that's one of the things that makes Marsh Bendis, as a fan, as a coach. It drives you out of your damn mind because your players look at that Middle Tennessee State, and you're like, wait a minute now. Watch the tape. Yeah, they. They're good enough to beat you.

[Tom Izzo]

So, yeah, that is a problem. And I. I just think that, you know, when you. When you get the football, too, you know, when it was four, there was always somebody left out. And it's 12. There's always somebody left out. Ours was 64. Now it's 68. There's still somebody left out. You know, win more games and you won't be left out.

[Urban Meyer]

Well, Coach, thanks for your time, man. Love you. We're pulling for you, as always.

[Mark Ingram]

Is that one more time?

[Tom Izzo]

We're great. Mark, we gotta. We gotta get a couple more Flintstones on my team. Hey, you gotta call your people up there, tell them to produce some.

[Mark Ingram]

I know, man. City got to get back. The city struggling right now, but. Yeah, we gonna make them. But. Hey, Coach, I got one more for you. One more. We've been preppering you. We do this on the show. We've been peppering you with questions. You can ask anyone on the show one question. Go.

[Tom Izzo]

What is it like to win the Heisman? I mean, I see it in the back. I see it. I mean, you know, There are certain awards you get, and I know they're all team awards and that, but, boy, when you get that, you know, those Heisman commercials to me are the greatest, man. I tell my wife, record all those. I love them all, you know, just watch those damn things. Yeah, man.

[Mark Ingram]

Coach, it was a. It was a blessing, man. It was amazing. You know, I never dreamed of that. I was just out there doing my job, playing to the best of my ability to help my team win games, and I just kept putting one good game together after another. I was on a good football team, and we kept winning games, and we were ranked high, and I kept having good performances against. I had. I had a great performance against your boy right there. Coach Meyer went for about 200 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in the SEC championship, and I went up there.

[Tom Izzo]

Those guys from Clint are. They keep bringing up stuff like that. They don't even let you enjoy your podcast.

[Urban Meyer]

No.

[Mark Ingram]

But, Coach, it was an amazing blessing, man. I'm just so thankful. And I can't believe. I can't believe that I still. It's still crazy to this day that I want it, but I'm just thankful that I had a great teammates around me, that I had coaches who pushed me. I had so many people who poured into me and put me in a position where I had the right mental, physical, emotional, spiritual toughness to be able to go out there and perform the best of my ability over a long period of time and be able to win that trophy.

[Tom Izzo]

So, you know what else had that I loved? My guy Cleaves had this. He was tougher than nails. Unbelievable humility, you know, like, no big ego, no big this and that. So I appreciate that about you, Coach Meyer. I appreciate the championships you won at different places. I. I studied a little bit. When you were at Utah Bowling Green. I remember when you went to Bowling Green, your name was mentioned here. How dumb were we? You know, I mean, I don't know if we could have got you, but I think at that time, we maybe could have. But it's. It's great. I. I always love being around people. I. I say it's like osmosis. If you rub up against somebody who's been really, really good, maybe some of it rubs off. So I'm gonna sit between you two and this, do a little rubbing, and figure maybe it'll take me to a final.

[Urban Meyer]

Hey, Tom. Coach, real quick. So you brought that up. I was at bowling gre. At my desk. We. We. Undefeated, 16th in the country and a headhunter Called me early on and said, I'm representing Michigan State. And then he called me back and he said, would you be interested? I've always loved Michigan State. And then he called me back and he said, you're out of the search. We want a tier one coach. I remember hanging off the phone and you talk about fired my ass up. I said, so, oh, I got you. You know, I'm not a tear. I mean, it was great motivation. I don't know who the headhunter was, but I should thank him. Cinema thank you note for saying that because that pissed me off. Like, wait a minute, pal.

[Tom Izzo]

We needed to give you your chance. The one thing they did do is they gave me a chance. I wasn't a head coach, you know, and. But I kind of knew the president a little bit then. You know the politics so. Well. Anyway, you've had a lot of success. You've had a lot of success, Mark. And I'm. You're going to have a lot of success because you're with these two guys. So everybody should feel good. Now I got to go back to work. You're all going golfing and I'm pissed off about.

[Mark Ingram]

We appreciate you, coach. Go Green.

[Rob Stone]

Safe travels to Atlanta, coach. Appreciate it. We'll see in the fall when big noon kickoff comes, comes to town, post game pizza party down in your basement, right? Maybe some adult beverages. We'll, we'll invite raft in for the game. Coach Izzo, congratulations. Thanks for joining us. This week on the triple option, the legend Tom Izzo. How good is he? How good is he? Thank you again. Michigan State moving on to their 16th Sweet 16 under head coach Tom Izzo is the fresh move of the week brought to you by Wendy's. Head to the Wendy's app to get a $1 JBC or a $1 double stack with offer and additional purchase coming up next on the triple option, we talk about Alabama football's expectations for 2025. Will they hit double digit wins in the regular season? It is March and that means only one thing. Pick your path to tourney glory in our free to play game. For each round of March matchups, you have the opportunity to make predictions about what will happen. That includes outcomes like game winners and over under. And you will earn points based on a scoring system and you could win a share of $250,000 in bonus bets based on your points earned mark.

[Mark Ingram]

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[Rob Stone]

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[E]

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[G]

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[E]

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[Rob Stone]

Welcome back to the triple option presented by the Wendy's Urban Meyer. Mark Ingram, Rob Stone back here with you. The triple option. Crystal ball is back, boys. The largest crystal ball known to man is back. It is brought to you by bet. MGM pick.

[Mark Ingram]

We did not upgrade the crystal ball.

[Urban Meyer]

We got budget issues on that crystal ball.

[Rob Stone]

Pick your path to turn to glory in our free to play game. For each round of March match, you have the opportunity to make predictions about what will happen, including outcomes like game winners and over under. You'll earn points based on a scoring system and you could win a share of $250,000. Holy cow. A quarter of a million in bonus bets.

[Mark Ingram]

Quarter million.

[Rob Stone]

Your points earned. All right, we're going to continue talking a little, little spring ball here, if you will. And we're taking out the crystal ball. Yeah, we're going to talk about your program. Mark Ingram, Alabama bet MGM has set the over at nine and a half. Regular season wins at plus 105. Okay. This is regular season wins. So nine and a half plus 105. Under nine and a half minus 135. All right, quick recap on Alabama last season because it impacts this season. 9 and 4 missed the college football playoffs, lost at Vanderbilt.

[Tom Izzo]

Lord.

[Mark Ingram]

Everyone loves to say that.

[Rob Stone]

Let's let it go to Michigan in the bowl game, but that doesn't matter, right? We're just talking regular season here. Jalen Milroe gone. Ryan Williams is back. Who's going to be your quarterback? Is it Ty Simpson? We're going to look at the schedule and again, kind of the magic number is, is it 9 or is it 10 or even at that number for Alabama, when you look at it. And an interesting test, Alabama starting with Florida State, where in years past you would say, oh, that's a great test. If you reflect on last year, what happened in Tallahassee, you're saying that's a, that's an easy W. Florida State's going to be back to what level? I don't know. But what do you see Alabama schedule wise?

[Mark Ingram]

I mean, you talk about that at Florida State to pop off week one. We talked about, yeah, we talked about scheduling the, you know, we talked about the potential of scheduling these type of games to start the year, how it could really affect you. You lose that game, you're behind the eight ball. Are you going to get punished for it? Yes you will. We saw that strength of schedule kind of didn't get taken into place last year. So that start off the season is a be going to be a big test at Florida State. We know the season they had. They're going to want to bounce back. Then you got Ulm, you got. Yeah. Ul Monroe. Then you got Wisconsin, Georgia giving you.

[Rob Stone]

Three wins right there. Mike, are you going three zero out of.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm going three zero. I'm going three zero. And then you got at Georgia. That's obviously going to be a dog fight. Then you go vandy, you're not commenting on that.

[Rob Stone]

I'm gonna hold three then. I'm holding three just to be safe. Dandy. Dub.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah. Missouri dub. Tennessee revenge game. Dub. South Carolina at South Carolina dub. LSU dub. Oklahoma revenge game again.

[Rob Stone]

Dub that's nine eastern Illinois.

[Tom Izzo]

Duh.

[Rob Stone]

10.

[Mark Ingram]

There's your 10 and a half there. That Auburn in the iron bowl. Duh. 11, 11 piece.

[Rob Stone]

And then 12 of you guys, 12 of you guys take care of Georgia.

[Mark Ingram]

So Yeah, that's an 11 piece family meal for you.

[Rob Stone]

Stone, maybe Mark's not the most level headed person to talk about the Alabama schedule.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey listen, it's, it's do or die for us right now.

[Rob Stone]

I agree.

[Mark Ingram]

We gotta come back and hit the playoffs and flex our muscle or it's going to get spicy down there and touch the loose.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. All right. So coach the crystal ball. Coach Crystal ball Alabama coach.

[Urban Meyer]

So, so the rule is you never take a job following someone like Saban. Very rarely does it work out, somebody take a job because what happens is you're going to hear well this is what he used to do. What he used to do, what he used to do. And then it becomes, if you struggle then it becomes overwhelmingly loud. And I imagine Aylin DeBoer, I really, I talked to him a few times. He's shown his career records. Phenomenal. He's a hell of a coach. I mean period. But you're in big shoes there. The question I have for you, Mark, I think they'll win over nine and a half or I think they'll win double digit games. The question I have for you, what happens if they don't, I told you coach, they pull the plug. Is that the kind of school you know have state in Florida. You know Florida's in a different place now but there was a time where if you didn't you know, if you weren't in that double digit, you know, it was, it was out at Ohio State. I would imagine that, you know, he, coach days bought a little time. You know, he's obviously my God, what are you talking about?

[Rob Stone]

But you start bought himself as much.

[Mark Ingram]

Time as he needs right now to that Michigan game.

[Urban Meyer]

Right. But I, as much as, as much as I think it's neat to talk about will be nine and a half. I don't care what, what does Alabama do if they don't hit it, coach?

[Mark Ingram]

It's going to be spicy out there. Like I believe, I believe in Coach DeBoer. I think his philosophy I think is really good for this new age of college football. But at the end of the day, how we finished the season last year with our own controlling our own destiny and then laying egg versus Oklahoma and then not getting in the playoff and then laying egg in the bowl game, you come out and you don't have a chance to go to the college football playoff and you don't win double digit games. I don't know if they move, I don't know if they pull the plug but I know it's going to turn up. I know that seat is going to be extremely warm going towards hot, you know what I mean? So I think he has three years, you know what I mean? To be able to turn this thing around and get it back going where you know, everyone is happy but it's tough, man.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. I don't know if three years exists in Tuscaloosa.

[Mark Ingram]

Right. It depends on what the second year looks like, right?

[Rob Stone]

Correct. Correct. And it's a big season. It's a huge season. It's always a big season for Alabama. Right. Like we understand it but particularly what they're coming off of. I imagine right now that locker room, that weight room is loud and full and open 247 Caitlin DeBore we know how frustrated he is. This is not the season that he expected. It's not what the fan base expects. It's clearly not what the, the players expected. But I think there is a big bounce back ability for Alabama. And I coach, we talk about big dog, medium dog, little dog.

[Mark Ingram]

Right.

[Rob Stone]

For, for the out of conference. And I'm not saying Wisconsin's a medium dog, but they kind of follow that. But they Florida State or Wisconsin are medium slash big dogs.

[Urban Meyer]

Oh yeah, right.

[Rob Stone]

If you ask me for sure those are big dogs.

[Mark Ingram]

It's dang sure. Not who, who's pissed they playing. It's not who's on their NAS conference schedule.

[Rob Stone]

I'm with, we got, we got an.

[Mark Ingram]

ACC team and a Big Ten team.

[Rob Stone]

Like that is a aggressive scheduling and I think ones at home, ones away.

[Urban Meyer]

Well done by the now if I'm an Alabama fan paying that money, I'm going to go go to that. You're watching Wisconsin? You're damn right now. Wisconsin. You know, I saw someone picked, I was on a call the other day, they got them picked near the bottom of the Big Ten. I can't imagine Wisconsin like that, but I think that's a great schedule. Wisconsin's a brand. You got the white helmets rolling in there, the red, I mean the fans will love that game. And Florida State, my God, two years ago, they're undefeated. So yeah, well done scheduling and good luck of the draw because right now they got two of those big dogs that are down three of your first.

[Rob Stone]

Three of your first four games. Florida State, Wisconsin, Georgia, and then you.

[Mark Ingram]

Go into the conference schedule. Vandy, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma. That's the first 10 weeks.

[Urban Meyer]

So what you saying, Mark? You going, you still going? 10? 11.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm saying we going. I said 11, you know what I mean? 12, you know what I mean? I can't, I don't see no guaranteed. Ls on the schedule. No, but the main thing about it is we got to find out who's going to be our quarterback, who's going to take us to that next level. We have Jan Miller coming back. We have Ryan Wiz coming back. We have an elite roster. We have coach DeBoer who's just in the national championship two seasons removed. So time is now. Roll damn Tide. We're going to be in the playoff this year.

[Rob Stone]

Agreed. Bama's going to be back and they're going to get double digit regular season wins. I got your back, Mark Ingram. Follow subscribe Rate us over on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever it is you'd elect to find your podcast again, we're on social media 3x option show. Thanks as always. How about the legendary Tom Izzo joining us and thank you to our sponsors, Wendy's, BetMGM and ZipRecruiter. We'll see you next week on the triple option.