NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Texas on Top, Panic in Florida, Conference Rankings, and Week 4 Picks

Summary

Episode Summary: The Triple Option – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Texas on Top, Panic in Florida, Conference Rankings, and Week 4 Picks

Release Date: September 18, 2024

In this engaging episode of The Triple Option, hosts Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone delve into a comprehensive discussion on the current state of college and professional football. The episode features a special guest appearance by Roger Goodell, the Commissioner of the NFL, who provides invaluable insights into the evolving dynamics between college football and the NFL, player safety, and the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations.

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1. Welcome and Introduction

The episode kicks off with the hosts sharing light-hearted banter and acknowledgments to their sponsor, Wendy's. Rob Stone introduces the week’s topics and announces the prominent guest, Roger Goodell.

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2. Texas Football Dominance and Arch Manning's Emergence

The hosts extensively discuss the University of Texas' impressive rise to the top of the rankings, now ranked #1, overtaking Georgia. A significant focus is placed on Arch Manning, the young quarterback, and whether his performance signifies the start of the "Arch Manning era".

• Mark Ingram II highlights Arch's early performance:
  "Arch comes in and Arch was everything that we thought he would be. 267 total yards, five touchdowns." [10:00]

• Urban Meyer compares Arch to legendary quarterbacks, emphasizing his maturity:
  "He had surgery a couple days after. And I hope... he's going to somehow raise a trophy one more time." [02:25]

The conversation touches upon the potential rivalry between Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers, raising questions about Texas's quarterback decisions moving forward.

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3. Florida Football Troubles

The discussion shifts to Florida's football programs, highlighting struggles faced by the Gators and Florida State Seminoles under coaches Mike Norvell and Billy Napier.

• Mark Ingram II expresses concern over the Gators' current state:
  "I think it's the Gators... when you have the results that you've had and you're getting pressure from boosters, from fans." [23:35]

• Urban Meyer reflects on conversations with friends like Steve Spurrier, noting the fragile momentum:
  "Momentum has never been more valuable because people want to win and won now and would do anything." [24:56]

The hosts analyze the high buyout numbers for coaches and the potential impact on the programs' futures.

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4. Conference Rankings and SEC Supremacy

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing current conference rankings, with the SEC leading prominently.

• Rob Stone summarizes the rankings:
  "The SEC shocker sits alone up top. They have nine programs in the top 25, six of the top seven." [59:07]

• Urban Meyer reminisces about past conference dynamics, underscoring the SEC's current dominance:
  "The Big Ten changed, you know, and I think Ohio State had a lot to do with that." [62:44]

The hosts discuss how conference realignments and team performances are reshaping the college football landscape.

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5. Nebraska's Revival Under Matt Rhule

The resurgence of Nebraska's football program under head coach Matt Rhule is another key topic.

• Urban Meyer praises Nebraska's commitment to excellence:
  "They just built a brand new Tom Osborne facility. They are nonstop investing in their program and their athletes." [32:35]

• Mark Ingram II connects personal experiences with Nebraska’s rich football history:
  "I have Marvin Harrison Jr., a Hall of Fame wide receiver, on the team. When you have that pedigree, they understand the process." [16:44]

The conversation highlights Nebraska's strategic improvements and their potential impact on upcoming games.

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6. Player Safety and Helmet Innovations

A crucial segment is dedicated to player safety, specifically discussing new helmet technologies and kickoff rule changes aimed at reducing injuries.

• Roger Goodell explains the rationale behind the new kickoff rules:
  "The kickoff was multiple times over that. You lose momentum, you lose recruiting, you lose..." [55:15]

• Urban Meyer shares firsthand observations on the physicality of kickoffs:
  "You see players running 22 miles an hour, hitting things, coming at them... It's violent." [56:18]

The hosts and Goodell discuss the effectiveness of these measures in enhancing player safety while maintaining the game's integrity.

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7. The Impact of NIL on Player Decisions

The episode addresses the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) regulations and their influence on players' decisions to enter the NFL draft early.

• Roger Goodell comments on NIL's role in player responsibility and decision-making:
  "It changes the dynamic... The zeros get pretty big and the impact when you make bad decisions is pretty significant." [38:50]

• Mark Ingram II emphasizes the importance of financial literacy for players benefiting from NIL:
  "Financial literacy is key. So yes, no, I agree with that, Mr. Commission." [39:53]

Goodell notes a decrease in early draft entries since NIL's implementation, suggesting a positive trend towards players staying longer in college.

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8. NFL and College Football Relationship

Goodell elaborates on the relationship between the NFL and college football, highlighting cooperative efforts and scheduling challenges.

• Roger Goodell states,
  "We believe we should be there to support college football as best we can." [46:55]

• Discussions include potential scheduling conflicts with the expanded college playoffs and the NFL's strategies to mitigate overlaps.

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9. Roger Goodell’s Support for the Saints and Clearing Misconceptions

Addressing rumors, Goodell clarifies his stance on the New Orleans Saints, affirming his support.

• Mark Ingram II asks,
  "Do you hate the Saints?" [48:15]

• Roger Goodell responds candidly:
  "Absolutely not. Everyone always asked me my favorite team and I said any one of them, I love them all." [48:39]

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10. Upcoming Game Picks and Analysis

The hosts conclude with their predictions for upcoming games, utilizing insights from their discussions and Goodell's perspectives.

• Illinois vs. Nebraska: Meyer favors Nebraska, citing their strong defense and balanced offense.
  "I have Nebraska covering. Think about what they did to Colorado." [67:23]

• NC State vs. Clemson: Despite Clemson being favored, Meyer notes USC's improved defense under new coach, predicting a cover by USC.

• USC vs. Michigan: Strong support for USC's defense gives Meyer the confidence to back them past Michigan.

• Utah vs. BYU & Oklahoma vs. Tennessee: Predictions lean towards BYU overcoming the spread in their matchup against Kansas State, while Tennessee is favored against Oklahoma due to their robust offense.

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Notable Quotes

• Mark Ingram II on Arch Manning:
  "What is it? Texas? San Antonio." [12:28]

• Urban Meyer on player influence:
  "Every young person... they're usually a mess. So who are they listening to?" [16:06]

• Roger Goodell on NIL:
  "Players are better prepared for the NFL when they do have not just the additional experience in college football, but really exposure to the educational system." [41:56]

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Conclusion

This episode provides a robust analysis of current football trends, player development, and the intricate relationship between college football and the NFL. With Roger Goodell’s authoritative insights and the hosts' seasoned perspectives, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the game's landscape, ensuring they are well-informed as the season progresses.

Key Takeaways:

• Texas's Rise: Arch Manning’s performance is pivotal in Texas securing the top ranking, signaling a new era for the program.

• Florida's Challenges: Both Florida and Florida State face significant hurdles, impacting their standings and future prospects.

• SEC Dominance: The SEC continues to lead in rankings, showcasing the conference's depth and talent.

• Nebraska's Comeback: Matt Rhule's leadership is revitalizing Nebraska’s football legacy.

• Player Safety Advances: Innovations in helmet design and rule changes are enhancing player safety without detracting from the game's excitement.

• NIL's Influence: NIL regulations are fostering greater financial responsibility among players, encouraging them to remain longer in college.

• NFL-College Synergy: Collaborative efforts between the NFL and college football are crucial for the sport's growth and sustainability.

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to The Triple Option on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or their preferred platform to stay updated with weekly episodes.

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Relevant Timestamp Highlights:

• 02:25 - Urban Meyer praises Arch Manning’s competitive spirit.
• 23:35 - Discussion on Florida Gators' current state.
• 32:35 - Nebraska's investments under Matt Rhule.
• 38:50 - Roger Goodell on NIL and player responsibility.
• 48:15 - Clearing misconceptions about Goodell’s stance on the Saints.
• 67:23 - Game prediction for Illinois vs. Nebraska.

Transcript

[Mark Ingram]

That's this. This was my audition for my Hollywood role. Next, shout out to Wendy's because I'm going Hollywood.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I actually see that happening someday. I really do. I see.

[Mark Ingram]

AKA Hollywood, Coach Hollywood. But I'm Holly Hood, though, where it's all good.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

We got Deuce Deuce going a little bit.

[Rob Stone]

I love that music, man. That music gets me going every single Wednesday. We welcome you to the triple option presented by Wendy's. Try Wendy's new saucy nugs today. Huge guest guys on this week's show. The commissioner, the commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell will join us. And before we get underway, I always want to remind you, as always, to subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, as well as across social media at 3X Option Show. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Are we ready to go here? Ready to go, Coach. Ready to go, Mark.

[Mark Ingram]

Ready to roll.

[Rob Stone]

Let's go. Let's go. All right, this week we're going to talk about the right and wrong kind of uncles in college football. I know Mark's got a good unk. We see your unc every week on the road with us. Is there a quarterback controversy brewing in Austin at the University of Texas? And as Mark's dog of the week, is it a whimpering pup in the cage like last week, or is it a purebred physical specimen?

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, the whimper got me to cash out on a dog of the week, so the whimper might be the recipe. You never know.

[Rob Stone]

All right, so we'll keep him in the cage. Pet that little, little puppy here. But we're going to begin not with a whimpering dog in a cage, but coach tracking a tiger this week. What was going on with you, Coach in the New York City area?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

That was a Liberty national at the Veterans Golf Association. I'm on their board. And the Fireman family that the family that started Reebok, Paul Fireman and his son Dan, they're big sponsors of our group. And Tiger woods was there. And I've known Tiger for a long time. And, you know, I just, every time I don't get in awe of many people, Mark, I'm in awe of Tiger woods, man.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, I was.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

There was nothing better when that red shirt went on on a Sunday. And come on, I got locked in. I mean, he was up there with Tiger.

[Mark Ingram]

Did you tell him? I said, what's up?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Like I said, come on, be our guest.

[Mark Ingram]

But I know a young man named Tiger Hoods.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

But you can tell he's hurt. You can tell he's hurting a little bit. And he had surgery a couple days after. And I hope. I don't know, man. I just. As a fan, I hope he gets to swing that club and somehow raise a trophy one more time, but I'm just a fan. He's. I love competitors, Mark. I'd have to say Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods. I don't know. Are those the most elite competitors in our lifetime?

[Mark Ingram]

Kobe goes up there, too.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

How. How fun would it be, though, to see Tiger kind of pull off one of these Jack Nicklaus type runs late in his career, and the whole place is just behind him and going. And just to see that smile, that celebration from one of the games.

[Mark Ingram]

Well, golf is at his best. When Tiger is in the running for a tournament, everyone's tuned in.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Golf, you talk about, move the needle. Move. Come on. Sponsorship is. I mean, you know, I lived at Mirfield for 10 years, and we used to talk about that all the time when he played in the Memorial.

[Rob Stone]

Boom.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

The needle moved.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

You know, the crowds are gigantic. The TV ratings are off the chart. So I hope. I hope.

[Rob Stone]

All right, let's pivot to our last couple days with Big Dune Kickoff in Madison, Wisconsin. Our great sponsor, Wendy's. Notice the cup and the plastic footballs over there. They coughed up some coin to put us in one of their ads. Guys, this is Mark leaping into the crowd. And then it was you, dude. You were like a stuntman.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

You actually really did it.

[Rob Stone]

Cardboard boxes and, like, those gymnastic tumble mats. It was. It was an awesome experience. And we so appreciate Wendy's leaning into us and giving us giving us time to have fun and make a little commercial. That was a cool little spot we did for Saucy Nugs.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, Wendy's. They just need to cut the budget for the stunt doubles because I am my own stunt doubles.

[Rob Stone]

You are your own stunt double.

[Mark Ingram]

I don't need. Yeah, as long as you got some safety for me to land into. I got. I got the stunts under control, man. That's. This. This was my audition for my Hollywood role. Next, shout out to Wendy's, because I'm going Hollywood.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I actually see that happening someday. I really do. I see.

[Mark Ingram]

AKA Holly Hood, Coach Hollywood. But I'm Holly Hood, though, where it's all good.

[Rob Stone]

One of the great things about doing these commercials is watching Coach through the course of these hours upon hours where he gets to say, like, maybe three words. So, Coach, take us through your line.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Oh, my gosh. What was it?

[Mark Ingram]

Must be good for the lumbar.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Must be good for the lumbar. Hey, where's the napkins? I think I said.

[Rob Stone]

Yep, that's. Don't forget the napkins.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, me and Brady were. Me and Brady were stand ins. I think that's good, though.

[Rob Stone]

You guys were the background. Very important. The background work there was all about Mark and a little Maddie. It is about there.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

You're right.

[Rob Stone]

It's always about Mark. I'm getting kind of tired of it always being about Mark. Talking about podcast. Big new kickoff. You're not a nice person, Mark, you know.

[Mark Ingram]

What is up with you lately, bro? Animosity towards me lately? Everything.

[Rob Stone]

No, it's because you need to settle something.

[Mark Ingram]

I know you want to put up. You want to put up the Dukes.

[Rob Stone]

Man, you put me through that NFL running workout on the treadmill in Madison. That was.

[Mark Ingram]

You weren't even breathing hard.

[Rob Stone]

I know, because I'm a soccer guy. Hey, how did we celebrate that run, Mark Ingram?

[Mark Ingram]

By jumping in the water. The lake. Lake. I don't know what lake that was. What lake was that?

[Rob Stone]

There's a couple lakes around there. It was the lake right outside our hotel. Mark. Mark, in front of coach and his wife, dropped to his drawers to go diving.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, man, you hate.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

And the water was cold. The water. That was a Seinfeld moment.

[Mark Ingram]

The water was cold, the water was chilly. And we didn't have no way out. We had to get on the docking tricep extensions to get out of the water.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I'll tell you, Madison, Wisconsin was beautiful. People treated us great. How about the Naples Restaurant? Naples 1520.

[Mark Ingram]

Come on, man.

[Rob Stone]

If anybody's ever in the Madison area, that is where you have to go look for salad. Naples 15.

[Mark Ingram]

I had the lobster with the scallops with the linguini, and it was just smacking. It was.

[Rob Stone]

They so take care of us there, don't they? Hey, coach, real quick, while we're talking about Madison, we barely got into it on big noon kickoff. But what did Madison represent to you when you were an opposing football coach?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

That was my favorite place in a Big Ten, other than Columbus, obviously. The students, the people, the. You know, I've just always admire, you know, the friend. You know, normally when I was a coach at Ohio State, I'd hide, you know, I don't want to disrupt the team because there's some places, man, it's rugged. And so I'd come out right for a kickoff and, you know, right at the end of warm ups. But in Madison, I'd come Out early. I'd come out early and go over the student section. You saw him there. It was great. You know, it's just a. It's a very unique place that's got an incredible history. Number two winning program in the Big Ten since 2000. They're struggling a bit now. I think Coach Fickle will get it going, but I mean, elite. Elite place.

[Rob Stone]

Outstanding. And we love the jump. The jump around in between the third and the fourth quarter. That fan base because it wasn't a great day for. For the. The Badgers against your Alabama Crimson tie. But they stuck around to jump and then they kind of headed. Then they headed back to their tail immediately.

[Mark Ingram]

They left immediately.

[Rob Stone]

We going zone.

[Mark Ingram]

I don't know. They said they were going to KK Club.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, they were going to the college club. Spelled with a K. We were there on Thursday night, Mark, you, me and Matt. Yeah, I went through the little crazy professor.

[Mark Ingram]

We went through the secret entrance.

[Rob Stone]

Coach. All right, I got to tell the story. We. Matt had the. Matt had what? The phone number for the manager of the owner club or whatever it was.

[Mark Ingram]

So Matt knows the owners, only Matt.

[Rob Stone]

That's a Matt kind of move, right? So Matt, Mark and I and my buddy from Colgate, Steve professor, his hair was all over the place by Buddy Weiker. Oh, he's the best. So we get to this. I mean, Coach, I'm saying it's a college bar. It's a college bar. Like, you're looking and you're like, oh, man, we are. We're going to be the oldest people in this place by far. And there's a line outside the door. And Mark and Matt are like, we ain't standing in no line to get into this place. So Matt calls. Calls the manager. The guy comes on out and Matt's like, hey, man, is there like another entrance? Is there like a.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Just happen to have the number?

[Rob Stone]

Is there like a VIP Heisman winner type entrance? He's like, hey, man, just go, go. Go down the side of the building. First right. It's kind of an alley. Take a right, and in there there'll be like a small door, and I'll open it up for you. So, Mark, what do we do? We walk down, turn down the alley, the shiesty alley, sheisty alley.

[Mark Ingram]

Then we see a small door. I'm like, there's no way that's the door. I keep walking, find a small door.

[Rob Stone]

Operative word, small door.

[Mark Ingram]

And lo and behold, the small door opens.

[Rob Stone]

Coach, Coach. Even I had to like, shrink to half my Height. You have the picture of the door inside this door. I do have a picture of the door because Mark and I went by and hit that dude. That door was like one of those like 3 inch metal thick doors that has no reason to be that secure. Um, yeah, it felt like we were doing some kind of like weird late night delivery. So. Madison. Props to Madison. All right, time now. For any given Saturday, we're actually going to talk football. And I think the big question right now, congratulations to Texas. They are the number one ranked team jumping over Georgia this week. But the bigger question is, has the Arch Manning era started in Austin? Quinn Ewers was having a Heisman type start to his campaign. Left with that abdominal injury versus utsa, Arch comes in and Arch was everything that we thought he would be.267 total yards, five touchdowns. 5.5including his first pass was a touchdown and I believe it was his the third read of the play. So he's already showing this maturity. He ran it for 53 yards, including that touchdown run of 67 yards. So there's going to be this conversation of has Arch supplanted Quinn Ewers? Quinn is probably out this Saturday, which would give Arch his first career collegiate start. Now Coach Sark's got a lot to deal with, right? They got that win at Michigan the same weekend that Notre Dame had that home loss to Northern Illinois. So immediately that Monday, which was last Monday, Sark is preaching, hey, we got to stay away from the Notre Dame effect. Don't start reading your headlines. Don't be reading the clippings. You know, you're a good team, but things can happen. So he was preaching, beware of the Notre Dame effect. Now he's got this quarterback. I'm not saying. I think maybe it's a quarterback quandary right now. Right, because you've got two elite players. And if Arch continues to play at an elite level, what do you do when Quinn comes back and he's ready to go? So how would you be managing things right now before things get ahead of themselves and get over their skis a little bit?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I've had a couple well known situations. I had Tebow, Chris. Tim Tebow and Chris Leak. You know, Chris Leak was the incumbent returning starter and here comes the superstar that the fans love. I mean, every time Tim Tebow would walk on the field, the place went berserk and they actually would boo when I put Chris Leak back in. You know, I think, I don't think Texas is there yet, but I understand architecture is the crowd favorite, of course. And then I also had Cam Newton backing up Tebow. Think about that. I had Joe Burrow backing up Dwayne Haskins. So I've had a couple of them. I think it's all a credit to the Manning family. You know I would lean on that. Quinn Ewers is your starter boys. I don't. Until he beats him out and doing well against Texas. What is it? Texas? San Antonio.

[Mark Ingram]

Is that.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

That's who they beat, right?

[Rob Stone]

Yep. Uts.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, that does. That's a.

[Rob Stone]

That doesn't count.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Warm up. That's a warm up show.

[Mark Ingram]

Can't lose a job to injury coach.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

That's. That's right now.

[Rob Stone]

Oh yes you can. If you're that good, you can lose it to injury. Next up is UL Monroe on Saturday. So another kind of not a scrimmage type team, right?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah. So Quinn, yours has beat Alabama at Bama when yours beat the Wolverines badly at Ann Arbor. He's your starting quarterback.

[Rob Stone]

Waited not to.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

You gotta play him. I play him.

[Mark Ingram]

Arch is about to get much needed reps. He's about to keep balling and shot calling because that's what he is. And he's not son of Eli and Peyton as you see on the long TD run. He's Cooper's son. The man can run and he can pass.

[Rob Stone]

He's. He's the real deal. I think it's going to be a situation.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

They're good enough, Rob. He'll play a lot because they're going to be beating the sauce out of teams this year. I there. That's a great team. So he'll play a lot.

[Mark Ingram]

So good problem to have for the Longhorns.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Sure.

[Rob Stone]

I hope it's a good problem for them to have. But it could be just a. It could become a problem and I don't think it will.

[Mark Ingram]

It's always a good problem.

[Rob Stone]

Well, it's better than having no quarterbacks.

[Mark Ingram]

Exactly.

[Rob Stone]

I. E. The team in Ann Arbor right now with what they're going through right now. But shots fire about.

[Mark Ingram]

Wow.

[Rob Stone]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's. It's facts. Even the Michigan people understand that. Let's go back to this Texas situation. I find this fascinating and I don't think it's going to become an issue. And it's only going to become an issue if Quinn Ewers lets it become an issue. I don't believe Arch is going to fall into that because as we talked in the. In the pre show, if you will. There's good uncles and there's bad uncles, right? And I've always loved this term hanging out with the college football guys. We got an uncle, there's always, and I'll let you get into this, coach, about kind of the odd uncles. But when you're talking good uncles, you're talking Eli Manning, Peyton Manning. Good uncles. That's what Arch has right now. He has got an absolute solid head on his shoulders and he's got DNA, he's got pedigree and he's got generations of talent in that family who can properly guide him. Not every young student athlete out there, coach, has that.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I call him the third uncle. And the third uncle would be that guy that comes in, Mark, and all of a sudden he's sitting in the meeting with the coach and you're like, who is this guy? Why is he here? You know, he has an interest and it's usually him. And I would, I mean I was pretty.

[Rob Stone]

He's a bag.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I was pretty crude about it too, like, get the hell, what are you doing here? And the player would sometimes, you know, well, it's my who. That's your who. Where's your father? Where's your worst family? Because the way God created young people, they're usually a mess. They have to listen. Every young person in my experience, Mark, and I can't wait to hear your response listens to someone. You, sir, 18, 17, 18 year olds are not equipped to make life changing decisions. So who are they listening to? I got a great story. Marvin Harrison Senior, he was the, the person that Marvin Harrison Jr. Was listening to. There's no one better. It wasn't about nil, it wasn't about money. It was, you know what it was about? I remember hearing Heartline tell me a story. It's about becoming the best possible version of yourself and you work your ass off. Don't worry about that other stuff. It'll come. And I know, Mark, your father Senior and your uncle Bob, you know, you surround yourself great people. I've seen the opposite. When you see people that have self interest as opposed to the interest in the young person that would drive. I mean, of all the things in college sports that drove me insane, that might be one. Because I'm looking at this poor kid thinking, why in the hell are you listening to that person? Because that person is not in it for you, right?

[Mark Ingram]

Well, a lot of these young kids, they listen to someone who has no. So like you said, Marvin Harrison Sr. He played, he has went through, he understands the process, the grind, like it's not just an overday. It's not an instant gratification. A lot of these parents and a lot of these or a lot of these guardians want instant gratification. Like for money, for whatever, for whatever it may be. But my father played 10 years, won a Super bowl, did all was the first round draft pick. So when I went to college, I was listening to him, and maybe I would have wanted to leave. I wanted to transfer. He's like, no, you're going to stay your butt there. You're going to work your butt off and you're going to get what you deserve.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

So every player at some point in their mind says, I got to go.

[Mark Ingram]

Exactly. My freshman year, I said, I had to go. My dad was like, no, you don't got to go. You got to sit there, weather the storm, work your butt off, overcome the adversity, compete, and you'll be better for it. And so when you have the pedigree and someone like Arch has his uncles, his father, Marvin Harrison Jr. Has Marvin Harrison Senior, a Hall of Fame, a Hall of Fame wide receiver. When you have that pedigree, they understand the process. It's not something that you could just get instant gratification. You can't take any shortcuts. There's no secret recipe. It's hard work, it's dedication, it's commitments overcoming adversity.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I will add this, Mark. When you see a player go through a struggle, I promise you it was some knucklehead making a decision for that player that had some self interest. And that drives me like, and I've talked to other coaches, but it drives you absolutely insane when you see people leave a great situation, you're like, why the hell did you just do that? When Cooper Manning was on our show a couple weeks ago and I grabbed him, and I know you did too, Mark. And I imagine, Rob, you talked to him, and I just said, man, what. You know, the. The decisions that you guys have made so far for this guy has been phenomenal.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, I told him the same thing, Coach. I was like, I admire what you have done with Arch, how you have handled that whole situation. Because you know, he could have left, been left and went and started anywhere in the country, but he stayed in Texas. He's staying true to who he is, to his morals, his values. And look, it's going to pay off tenfold because we already see the talent, we already see the potential. And when he. When this Arch Manning time in Texas, it's going to be the real deal. It's already the Real deal in Texas. They're number one in the country, but now they got a future. They got a future beyond Queen ewers. And that's what you look for when you had a great program like Texas.

[Rob Stone]

Any college football player in the country could have left and you wouldn't have given him much grief about it. It would have been Arch Manning. Facts with everything that comes with the name and what his background was. And just to be properly humbled by sitting behind another quarterback and learning. And we're seeing that in the NFL right now. Right? We just saw that with Bryce Young and Carolina, that these young, young men, whether it's on the collegiate level or the NFL level, getting thrown to the proverbial college football NFL wolves early on before they're ready. Arch Manning is ready. Like using that time to sit has made him a better player to sit. Tom Brady was going off on that the other day as well.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Excellent.

[Rob Stone]

Yep, yep. Sit and learn and be patient. But that is not the society we live in right now. But congratulations to Texas. Number one guys in the AP poll for the first time in 16 years. You know who's not number one? Florida.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, 16 years.

[Rob Stone]

16 years, man.

[Mark Ingram]

So how long ago was that? That's 2014. That's 2000.

[Rob Stone]

I was told there'd be no math involved. 2008. Middle of the 2008 season is when Texas was last number one.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Light it.

[Rob Stone]

You've had Wendy's nugs dipped in sauce, right? Mark, you've had the Wendy nugs I've.

[Mark Ingram]

Had, and I love them.

[Rob Stone]

All right. But Mark, I ask you, have you had them covered in sauce? Wendy's new saucy nugs. Take the crispy and spicy nugs that I know you love. And you know what they turn them up to? They turn them up to 11, Mark.

[Mark Ingram]

Oh, more than 10?

[Rob Stone]

More than 10?

[Mark Ingram]

Choose between flavors, like buffalo, honey barbecue, garlic parm, or if you're a real heat seeker, try spicy Ghost pepper. Only on Whitney's signature spicy nugs. I dare you. There's seven delicious ways to try the nugs you already love.

[Rob Stone]

Are you man enough to try the Spicy Ghost pepper, by the way? Do you think you could pull that off?

[Mark Ingram]

That's not for me. I'm the honey barbecue type guy.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, I can do the peppers, pick a flavor, grab some extra napkins, and then go back and get a few more napkins and prepare to nug. Apparently, the word nug is a verb now. So, Mark, prepare to nug like you've never nugged before for a Whole new way to nug. It's gotta be Wendy's at participating us Wendy's Keep on nugging America. Nug City in our job, the office is always changing, whether it be at the Big House, the Coliseum, or even Death Valley. While there are many different types of offices out there, one thing is for certain. Choosing the right candidate for any office is a huge responsibility.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Coach hey well, if you're hiring, you want to find the best candidates for your office, you need ZipRecruiter. And right now you can try for free at ZipRecruiter.com option ZipRecruiter is the.

[Rob Stone]

Hiring site employees prefer the Most based on G2. How fast does ZipRecruiter's smart technology start showing your job to qualified candidates? How about immediately? And you can invite top candidates for your job to apply to encourage them to apply sooner.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Remember, if you want to find the right candidates for your office, you need ZipRecruiter. See why 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Just go to this exclusive web address right now to try ZipRecruiter for free.

[Rob Stone]

ZipRecruiter.com Options Again that is ZipRecruiter.com Options ZipRecruiter the smartest way to hire Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. With the price of just about everything going up during inflation, we thought we'd.

[Mark Ingram]

Bring our prices down.

[Rob Stone]

So to help us, we brought in a reverse auctioneer, which is apparently a thing Mint Mobile Unlimited Premium Wireless 3030.

[Roger Goodell]

Bid to get 30 get 202020 bid to get 2020 a bit to get 151515 15. Just 15 bucks a month.

[Mark Ingram]

Sold.

[Rob Stone]

Give it a [e-mail] Swift $45 upfront payment equivalent to $15 per month.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

New customers on first three month plan.

[Rob Stone]

Only taxes and fees, extra speed slower above 40 gigabytes. You detail. Can anybody remember when Florida was last number one coach? You were probably there and involved. 2009 you Gators brother, your Gators are sinking. Coach Billy Napier getting booed at halftime, getting booed coming off the field, having to deal with questions about his tenure. Is he going to continue? And he basically kind of admitted he would have booed himself coming off the field with another home loss. And then there's the team up north. If you're a Florida Gator if you will, Florida State Tallahassee. They fall to Memphis 20 to 12. They are 03 FSU the first preseason top 10 team to start 03 with all three losses coming to unranked opponents. So as good as Miami is right now in the Sunshine State and even maybe give UCF and USF a little of love, it is a massive fall from grace for Florida State and for Florida. I'll start with you, Mark. Which coach, which program do you think is in more perilous state right now?

[Mark Ingram]

I think it would have to be the Gators. I think it's the Gators, although the. The nos aren't far behind, but.

[Rob Stone]

Right.

[Mark Ingram]

I love Mike Norvell as a coach. I love Napier as a coach. But when you have the results that you've had and you're getting pressure from boosters, from fans, from students, pro, possibly players, too. I've seen a player post some stuff on social, like f this team, like, you know what I mean? When you have that type of division going on within a program, that is not what you want. So I don't know. I. They're both down bad right now. And I, like, I'm a fan of Mike Norvell because I spent some time with Mike Norvell. I don't know Napier personally, but I feel for both of these coaches. Man, I seen a picture of him and his wife hugging on the field. Like, you see stuff like that. These are human beings, you know what I mean? This is a coach who doesn't want this to happen for his program. Coach knows better than anyone the Swamp, they have championship standards. They don't have standards where they're 1 and 2 losing to unranked teams at home in the Swamp. So I would say that the Florida Gators are probably in a worse state just because maybe they feel more stable with Mike Norvell in Florida State, but.

[Rob Stone]

Particularly after what they did last season.

[Mark Ingram]

Right, right.

[Rob Stone]

Winning, going undefeated, winning the acc, but getting bounced from the playoff picture. Coach, your take on what's going on with your former program in Gainesville.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I talked to Coach Steve Spurrier last night, and him and Jerry celebrated their 58th anniversary.

[Rob Stone]

Nice.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

He's a great friend and a guy I admire so much. He's been so good to me over the years and Shelly and Jerry. And so I talked to him and he's there and I said something. I said, were you in the game? And he said he left, you know, to beat the traffic, but he said it was bad. And when that momentum is such a fragile thing, you know, and I. You got a really experienced team momentum, you know, you kind of. Whether, you know, in game decisions or program decisions, but momentum has never been more valuable because people want to win and won now and would do anything. You see these buyouts, you're going to talk about them here in a minute where they just keep firing people because you start to lose momentum. You lose momentum, you lose recruiting, you lose, you know, and then fans and nil. And I mean, I'm getting a little bit stressed out here even thinking about what's happening there because the momentum, momentum is gone. It's been gone for a while there and that's hard to imagine. Mark, you've, you never went to the Swamp, did you? But you played the Gators.

[Mark Ingram]

I played the Gators though, when they were.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

There's no better place, there's no better stadium.

[Rob Stone]

Great setting, great setting right behind fantastic college town when you're cooking and you.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Got, you know, jobs are based on recruiting and there's within a 300 mile radius. You don't have to go anywhere else. And you know, I was offered the Notre Dame job and the Florida job and I'm Irish Catholic and I love Notre Dame. I would go there in a minute. But the reason I took Florida, not many people know this, is because I had young kids at the time. When you recruit for Notre Dame, Mark, you recruit Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, New Jersey, New York, Memphis and Florida, you know where you recruit, you're Florida. Florida, you got a king Aaron, you got a citation at your disposal. I was home almost every night because you recruit Tampa, you recruit Miami, you recruit Polk county, you go up in Georgia, but you're home. And so Florida's got it all right there.

[Mark Ingram]

It's hard for me to see what's happening in Florida because when I was playing in college, they were the best team in the country. They were the standard. They whooped us and caused and triggered our dynasty. That was what motivated us in 08. We went there, we, we played Coach Meyer, his games in the SC championship. It was one VERSE two We lost that game. That motivated us and inspired us for the next year. We were undefeated in the one that was championship and that's essentially what triggered the dynasty that you see today at Alabama. So it's hard for me to see Florida in the position at the ring right now.

[Rob Stone]

It's funny the things that come back to your brain and just like your first memories of somebody or something and Coach, one of my first memories of you was a classic video clip to Coldplay, I will fix you. And it was urban coming to Gainesville to fix the Florida Gators. And I remember it vividly. It was so great. And all the, you know, the Gator Nation was behind you and feeling this change of pace. And I guarantee you there's some boosters, there's some alums out there saying, you know what? Let's. Let's find Urban Meyer's number and let's get his tail back down to Gainesville. Somebody called, you said, coach, Coach, come fix us again. What would you tell them?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

That ship has sailed, Mark. And I want that program to do well so bad. I know so many people there and give a big part of our life to that program, but that ship has sailed, Mark.

[Rob Stone]

All right. We don't want you to go.

[Mark Ingram]

People keep trying to take coach, man, and I don't like it.

[Rob Stone]

I'm not trying to take coach. I have fought for years to keep coach. I lost him once, I'm not going to lose him to again. Let's talk about these buyout numbers. Napier, this year, 26m. That's a big number, man.

[Mark Ingram]

Buy me out.

[Rob Stone]

Damn it, guys. But that.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, buy me out, please.

[Rob Stone]

Dude, you can buy me out with a 26T. I don't need a 26M. Next year it goes down to 19 million. 20, 26 down to 13 million. If we're talking Tallahassee, Norvell, this year, $68 million buyout.

[Mark Ingram]

Please buy me out.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. Next year, 59 million. 26, 51 million. These are massive, staggering numbers.

[Mark Ingram]

Stoner. Put me out of my misery.

[Rob Stone]

Everybody done. I'm going to do you a favor. I'm going to cash that check and I am gone. You will not see me on the triple option. You will not see me on big noon kickoff.

[Mark Ingram]

You will not see me on World cup on my own. That's the Matt Rule program.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, man.

[Mark Ingram]

Get that money from Carolina. I think they still paying him six figures a month. And he over there undefeated with Nebraska. That's the Matt Rule program.

[Rob Stone]

Can we talk about Nebraska right now? Are they for real? 3,0 guys for the first time since 2016. And this mat Rule flipping of programs is crazy. I'm going to throw some numbers at you. This is on the collegiate level. Memory started at Temple. Temple is a tough place to win. Coach.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, sir.

[Rob Stone]

If Temple came to you like, hey, coach, Coach, come fix us at Temple. Coaches me like, wrong number. Who's this? All right, so temple two and 10, right? Year one under rule. And then six and six, right? That's. That's a. That's a six and six. 500 in Philly for Temple. That's a. They're building you statues. Then he goes 10 and 4 and 10 and 3, Baylor comes calling. Remember when Baylor was just God awful 1 and 11 and then bam. 7 and 6, then 11 and 3 goes to the NFL. Maybe it didn't work so great for him there. Nebraska comes calling. Then AD Trev Alberts, what a great signing. This was. Matt Rule. And you got to remember these guys, like, just because they had one bad year, maybe in another league, doesn't mean they're bad coaches. And maybe they're just better fits on the collegiate level. But Matt Rule comes back to the college game. Five and seven at Nebraska, but you could see things improving dramatically. And here they are, three and oh. Friday night prime time on Fox. A ranked matchup against Illinois. And coach, it will be the 400th consecutive sellout in Lincoln dating back to early November 1962. That place loves that program and their football.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Unique, unique place. I think it's the envy of college sports. If you've really studied college sports. 400, 400 straight sellouts, Mark. The city, Kentucky tight. The entire state migrates to Lincoln. Nebraska. I've been there. I've been a fan. I've been a fan since Tom Osborne changed the game in the 70s. Mark, you, you weren't around, Mark. Some of us were. You know, they were the first program to really invest in athletes the way that everyone does now. Mark unmasked. You knew that they called it Husker Power. That was back when strength training was really not a thing to do. I remember people telling us, don't do it because it's not good for you. And Allison, I remember is that, you know, I started really lifting because of Nebraska and I would have their pictures all over my bedroom. And we had a little $20 weight room that I put together. Wait, it was because of Nebraska.

[Rob Stone]

Pictures of Nebraska weightlifting guys in your bedroom. Man, I had that sound.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

That sounds bad. That sounds bad.

[Rob Stone]

I had Farah Fawcett, you got some Nebraska weightlifting up on your wall. Coach, what is going on with you?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

The Husker Power, I'll never forget it. And as for Christmas, I got a $40 weight set. Mark, remember those concrete and plastic weights that you put on?

[Mark Ingram]

I got you.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I got that because of housekeeper power. But the point is this. They just built a brand new Tom Osborne facility. They are nonstop investing in their program and their athletes. You have to admire that. And that's why I'm a huge fan of Nebraska.

[Mark Ingram]

I love football and I love the history of football. So I've always, even though I wasn't around in the 70s, I've always heard about Nebraska, the Cornhuskers, and my coach, coach, Coach Burn Burns, who was my running back coach, he played in Nebraska. So I always heard about the history and the rich culture of the Nebraska Cornhusker. So I think it's better for college football when they're back and they're three and zero. They in prime time Friday night. Matt Rule got the squad going. Dylan raiola, Patty Mahomes Jr. In the flesh. Doing the whole pregame get up and all, the haircut, the number, everything. You know, they got the guys flying around on defense. The Corn Huskers, we gonna see what they battle on Friday.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Really, really well coached team. Top 10, number eight in the country on defense, balanced offense. They got a young freshman quarterback. If you really watch what he's doing, he's completing. I think 80% of his balls are protecting him, Mark. I mean, it's one of the best jobs I've seen protecting a young quarterback. They're not putting him in harm's way. The ball's coming out, they're taking care of him and they got a nice run game to go with it and top eight in the country in defense. So that's a, that's a real team. They're not ready to go. They might sneak into a playoff. I don't think they're already this year. But the future is strong there.

[Mark Ingram]

What I admire is what you said since 400 and something games. So even when they weren't good, they were still selling out. That tells you everything you need to know about the culture of a program.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

You know, one time, real fast, Mark, before we move on is we were, we. They were, they weren't very good. And we went out there to play and I asked my guy, my like operations guy, I said, let's go, I just want to go look around. And so I put a hat and sunglasses on. This is two hours before the game. And they kind of drove me around a golf cart and it wasn't, you know, I just, that's how much I admire Nebraska.

[Rob Stone]

Let me give you a couple little nuggets here about Nebraska as well. They should be, here's the big one. They should be seven and. Oh, they could. Should be seven, zero going into Columbus, Ohio, October 26th. How about that one? Big Noon is already eyeballing that one. I'll give you one other number. Last time Nebraska hosted a ranked matchup, right this week, number 22, Nebraska, hosting number 24 Illinois. Congrats, Coach Bilama and the Illini. Last time Nebraska hosted a ranked matchup the year was 2013 and that is your saucy nug of the week. Try some at your nearest Wendy's.

[Mark Ingram]

I got the nugs. I got the saucy nugs.

[Rob Stone]

Coming up next, we're joined by the commissioner of the National Football League, Roger Goodell. Well, as you all know by now, we have teamed up with our great friends at BETMGM this season and we're going to be using BET MGM lines to make all of our picks. We'll also have special offers for our listeners each week. Mark, you're listening, right? You're listening to this.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

Pay attention, pay attention. All right, so if you haven't signed up for BETMGM yet, we urge you to use the bonus code option or go to betmgm.com option and you will get up to fifteen hundred dollars. First bet offer Mark on your first wager with BetMGM, we're talking fifteen hundred bucks. Mark.

[Mark Ingram]

Fifteen hundred. But here's how it works. Download the Bet MGM app and sign up using Bonus Code option. Deposit at least $10 and place your first wager on any game. You'll receive up to 1500 dollars in bonus bets if your bet loses. Just make sure you use Bonus code option when you sign up or go to betmgm.com option it's all about the option, Mark. It's all about the option, especially the triple option.

[Rob Stone]

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[Coach Urban Meyer]

Want to shop Walmart Black Friday deals first Walmart plus members get early access to our hottest deals. Join now and get 50% off a one year annual membership.

[Mark Ingram]

Shop Black Friday deals first with Walmart Plus. See [e-mail] this episode is brought to you by State Farm. You might say all kinds of stuff when things go wrong, but these are the words you really need to remember. Like a good neighbor. State Farm is there. They've got options to fit your unique insurance needs, meaning you can talk to your agent to choose the coverage you need, have coverage options to protect the things you value most. File a claim right on the State Farm mobile app and even reach a real person when you need to talk to someone like a good neighbor. State Farm is there.

[Rob Stone]

Huge guest this week on the triple option. From downtown Manhattan, the commissioner of the National Football League, Roger Goodell joins us right now. Thank you, Commissioner, for joining us.

[Mark Ingram]

Oh, my pleasure to commission.

[Roger Goodell]

Good to be with you guys.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Thanks for Commissioner. Good to be with you again. It's been a minute. And by the way, my son Nate, who you invited on the field after the Green Bay packers won the super bowl. You were holding his hand, walking him on the field. He's now married and he had a child a week ago. How about that?

[Roger Goodell]

Oh, my goodness. Congratulations.

[Rob Stone]

They grow up.

[Roger Goodell]

Congratulations. Wow, that's amazing, isn't it?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Well, something that connected us years ago, Roger, was our love for the. The game and then also for life after the game. I remember probably 15 years ago or 12 years ago, I came to see you and you were good enough to come speak to our team about, you know, fiscal responsibility, about leadership, about life after the game. And now nil has popped up. And do you think that's a positive for preparing at least, you know, the sting of, you know, that first paycheck when they get in the kind of, you know, not understanding the value of money, do you think it's really helped or. I guess it's to be determined if it will help players as they get to the NFL.

[Roger Goodell]

You know, listen, it brings on a lot of responsibility at an earlier age, and I think it probably puts a lot of responsibility on colleges to make sure that kids understand that and they're prepared for that. So it changes the dynamic. Listen, it's deserved, so I understand that aspect of it. But, you know, the zeros get pretty big and the impact when you make bad decisions is pretty significant for a young man and their family. So they need to be prepared for that. And I think the more we can help and support ecologists to make sure that our transition programs could be applied potentially to them would probably be a good thing because it's a big jump to college football, from college football to the NFL. This probably does reduce that a little bit because it's one less adjustment, but it's still big jump. Mark could tell you that.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, for sure. You go from. You go from making $0 to making a lot of dollars. You know, the financial literacy is key. So. Yes, no, I agree with that, Mr. Commission. You know, player safety is Always on the top of the list for you, for everyone at the league. It's something I admire. I appreciate you and the constant pursuit of taking care of the players and especially in the sport as physical as ours. Obviously, Tua with his concussion. It's been a huge discussion this past week, but the most recent study by the National Federation of State High Schools has over a million students participate in high school football. That's the Highest number since 2017, 2018 players. We see them wearing guardians in training camp, some even in the games. Now we're seeing it. How do you feel the league has addressed the safety concerns for the sport as a whole? And what can you. What can I do to further progress? You know, the positive look, you know, for parents and children, for the youth of our game.

[Roger Goodell]

You know, Mark, I think we have to do our thing, and the way we approach that is we look at the data. You know, people are talking about the hip drop, which is.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, is.

[Roger Goodell]

Is. Is extended into college football and impacted college football a lot last year. It's a. When you see the kinds of injuries that occur there, they may not be a lot, but they're devastating.

[Mark Ingram]

They are.

[Roger Goodell]

You need to get them out of the game. Kickoffs is another one. We're modifying our kickoff. It'll be a transition. It'll be a period of time. We'll have to make changes to it, undoubtedly, as time goes on. But as we get data, so we're really focusing on the data. Where are the injuries occurring? What are the techniques that cause those injuries? How do you study those? And then how do you use that in looking at our rules every year, I think we're over 60 rule changes in the last 15 years that have been designed specifically for safety and have made the game safer, taken those techniques out. So I believe our game is safer. We also look at it how we're training our athletes. You know, it's not the same training camp that you were played in.

[Mark Ingram]

Right, right.

[Roger Goodell]

The off seasons are different, but, you know, I think we have 11 practices that you're allowed to have with bats during the season. I would say most teams don't even get to that anymore. So we're learning to train our players differently. Coaches are adjusting. I think the real trick for us is to share that with every level of football and frankly, every level of sports. When we develop new helmets, it ought to be available to every level of sports. When we develop new rules, we want to share that. When we look at data that shows how we can address new rules, we. We share that with every level. And, you know, NCAA reps come to our competition committees every year, and we share that data. We give them every bit of information we have. It's up to them to make those world changes if they feel it's appropriate. But so it's a. To me, it's a shared responsibility for the good of the game.

[Rob Stone]

You talk about the helmets. Do you forecast today where those guardian caps are basically mandatory in the NFL?

[Roger Goodell]

You know, there's a lot of data that shows that guardian cap, with what we would call a lower quality helmet, is still about as good as wearing the best helmet. So a lot of our players, I think we have 360 players wearing the newer helmets this year. And what we're trying to do is invest in the quality of those helmets. We actually invested in some that are now some of the best helmets. And when I say invest, not that we're holding any equity in it, but that we. We put seed money towards investing in better helmets. And I think that's showing a lot of promise. So I think the best helmets can be as good as helmets that they might be more comfortable in that they've worn for many years. But, you know, if they're going to wear the guardian, that's okay with us. If they feel better about it. I don't know if that'll end up being the helmet of choice, if you want to put it that way.

[Mark Ingram]

That thing is ugly. That thing's ugly. Commission. I'm not gonna lie.

[Roger Goodell]

Well, you know, Mark, that was the first reaction from a lot of guys. And, you know, our point to them was this is safer for you based on the quality helmets we had then. And it's been about a 20 reduction in concussions. And that. That's a. That's a positive change for us. And it's. That's just concussions. The micro hits, the micro concussions. Those are the things that we want to take out of the game. And so all of that, I think, has been a contributing factor. But I believe we're going to have helmets for each position. We already have it for. For quarterbacks and linemen. And, you know, there are different types of hits that every position takes.

[Mark Ingram]

Right.

[Roger Goodell]

And you want to have helmets that are built to be able to handle those types of impacts. And so that's where I see the change.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, you know, I was with you a couple times the NFL draft, and it's amazing. A couple fan bases boo you. I felt like you and Ann Arbor last week when the fans are getting me pretty good.

[Mark Ingram]

He Couldn't even work last week.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Commision.

[Mark Ingram]

So he's trying to get. He trying to get some.

[Roger Goodell]

I know. I felt for you, Coach.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Well, as they say, if your rivals are cheering for you, you must not have a very good record against. That's what Steve Spurgeon.

[Roger Goodell]

If they welcomed you in, you'd be in trouble.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

So the NBA, the, you know, the hockey, you know, it's Gene Smith and I, the former AD at Ohio State, at one point we had a little conversation. Do you see? I mean, if someone says we know what the college football landscape will look like in five, six, ten years there, they probably don't. You know, there's even conversation about breaking away and maybe having a minor league where they don't have to go to class. I can't. It's hard for me to fathom that. What. Do you have a forecast of the way the relationship between the NFL and college football continue to grow?

[Roger Goodell]

I certainly don't have a forecast on what the landscape is going to be, Coach, but I will tell you this. We're going to be supportive of every level of football. We believe that's one of our roles as the NFL. We've had an unbelievable relationship with college football, as you know, our primary relations really with the conferences in football. That may not be the case in basketball, where it's probably more directly, I think the NCAA controls the Final Four tournament. But from our standpoint, we believe we should be there to support college football as best we can. We work hard in our scheduling to avoid conflicts. That's a little bit of an issue now with the expanded playoffs. We have one day when we're going to be playing against each other. That's not something we'd look. And we look to try to find ways to avoid that. It won't. It won't be easy to always do that. But our view of strong college football is good for the overall game of football, and so we'll be supportive of that and try to do everything we can to be consistent with that.

[Rob Stone]

Commissioner, you mentioned that overlap. That's the second day of the first round of the College Football Playoffs. December 21. 3 College Football Playoff games on a. A Saturday that is, quote, unquote, traditionally a college football day. Right, but I know you.

[Roger Goodell]

No, that's traditionally. I take that on it's traditionally an NFL day. College football is usually done by the second week.

[Rob Stone]

Correct. And you guys have an NFL double header essentially going up against those three college football games. So you, you mentioned that. That's. That's in your, in your sight. How did you in college football try to work around or try to navigate? So it's the best for football as a whole on that day.

[Roger Goodell]

Well, it came because they expanded the college football playoffs, which is certainly their right. And, and you know, we've been scheduled the last several years on playing on that date. You know, we looked at, you know, can we modify the times, could they modify the time? Can they play on Friday night, they play on Thursday night. Those are all things that, you know, we explored. We just couldn't get around the entire conflict. So. But I think at some point when we all have a little more time to plan, maybe there'll be ways we could do that.

[Mark Ingram]

Roger, now this is a lighter question, you know, don't take any, you know, this is a lighter hearted question. Okay, you want to see what I got for you? Okay.

[Rob Stone]

You know, watch out, commissioner.

[Mark Ingram]

My who dancer.

[Rob Stone]

My who.

[Mark Ingram]

That's for balling this year. You know, they, they off to a hot start. Spanked up on the Cowboys last weekend. Now the narrative around who that nation is that the NFL does not like the Saints, that Roger hates the Saints. So I'm giving you a chance to clear the air. I know that's not the case with you, Roger. You're a good man, you know, a stand up man. Hey, I'm give you a chance to clear air. Do you hate the Saints?

[Roger Goodell]

Oh my God, absolutely not. You know what? Everyone always asked me my favorite team and I said any one of them, I love them all. And so we want them all. And so I'm always rooting for the team behind. But I think it's great to see the Saints come out of the box. The way they're playing, it's like nobody ever expected it. And they've had the first two wins, have been dominant. And so I can't wait to be down there for a game. This season will be fun.

[Mark Ingram]

There you go. Who that nation? You heard it from the man himself, man. He supports us. He loves the Saints. He loves the who that nation. So welcome him and nola. Give him the NOLA love when he comes down, please.

[Roger Goodell]

I'm going to take you with me, Mark.

[Mark Ingram]

I got you.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

They might boo you a little bit. Hey, one of the things we also, we also talked about over the years was it drove me nuts when the player went that was not ready for the NFL and agents or the third uncle that we talked about earlier show would get a hold of this kid and he'd leave and there'd be, he would Survive a year or two and then, you know, have to go back and get his degree. The nil has changed that. I think. You know, a lot of kids are staying now. And have you. Obviously it's still fairly early. Have you felt that a little bit in the NFL where not as many are leaving early?

[Roger Goodell]

Yeah, I mean, we were getting to the point where you, you know, our, our eligibility rules, I think are really important. We've defended them court. We believe in it. And it goes to the point we believe in a strong college football system and we also believe that players are better prepared for the NFL when they do have not just the additional experience in college football, but really exposure to the educational system, which is even more important to get that degree or even if you don't get the degree, hopefully to get close enough where you can go back and get it. And a lot of our players do do that. I think what the numbers showed, coach, when, you know, you got at the end of your junior year and an option of whether you wanted to apply into the NFL draft, we were getting up about 110, just roughly that would choose to do that. Since nil, it's dropped back down into the high 70s. And I think that's a good thing for us because that's indicating kids are staying. They're not making that choice. They're going to say, I'm going to go back and play college football another year. We think that's always great. We'll support that every day. So I'm really proud of our eligibility rules and proud of the fact we want our kids to stay in college football as long as they can. And frankly, in the college system.

[Rob Stone]

Commissioner, you mentioned you mainly talk with the conferences on the college football level. Where are some places that you would like to see that bond strengthened, whether it's through communication or scheduling or whatever it is, where the two gigantic sporting forces in this nation can come together to make the sport even stronger.

[Roger Goodell]

You know, I think again, I think our job is to try to make sure every level of sport is healthy. And so sharing of information, sharing of data on injury, sharing information of how we can grow our sport and let more kids participate in it is always a good thing. You know, we're spending an awful lot of time on development of flag football. And I don't think that takes kids away from tackle. In fact, the numbers are showing, as Mark mentioned before, number of kids playing high school football is an all time high. We want kids playing at any level. We want them having different entry points. If they want to start with play football, we have a lot of NFL players today who started playing flag football. The also the opportunity for.

[Mark Ingram]

I have three that play NFL flag, by the way, Commish, so shout out to NFL.

[Roger Goodell]

I'm glad you putting the numbers up big Mark.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I'm helping. Hey, I'm trying to help promote the game too, you know what I mean?

[Roger Goodell]

But, you know, I think the ability for young women to play our game is unbelievable. The impact it has on them. The same thing that we would all say about playing the game of football. Now young women are getting the opportunity to say that, and it's the confidence, it's the ability to play a team sport and understand the values of that. I just think if we can do that, that's, that's good for kids. And so to go back to your question, really on that one, Rob, I would say anything we can do to help grow the game, and that's, you know, making it safer, getting more kids interested in it and, and being able to play the game that we all love and learn the values of it.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, Commissioner, we talked about the safety and I know we implemented the new kickoff rule. If I'm in kindergarten, can you explain to the people out there like they're in kindergarten?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Here we go.

[Mark Ingram]

The new kickoff rule and how that will in turn result in more returns, but also in safety for the players.

[Roger Goodell]

So it already has led to more returns. It probably not as many as we expected, but we always thought we were going to have to toggle things. Like, are the, are the kicking team and the receiving team 5 yards apart or 10 yards apart? Does the ball, if it's, if it's down in the end zone or out of the end zone, should it come out to the 30 or the 35? Right now it's the 30. I think if you move that the 35, you get a tremendous increase in the number of returns. Because teams kicking off would say, I think I can stop them from getting to the 35.

[Mark Ingram]

Right.

[Roger Goodell]

So I think that's a big change that will probably be considered at some point in the future. But the big thing was to sort of see we've now we've gone from 22% of our kickoffs return to last weekend it was about 34. The reality is that towards the end of the season, that'll be hundreds of additional returns. Good for the game, good for the fans. Our start drive is going from about the 24 to the 29. So it's about a five yard difference. So that's great for offense and scoring. So it's had the impact we thought it would have. What we want to do is make sure the injury data. So we're trying what we've done, Mark, and I'm probably way over the kindergartner head now, so I apologize. But what we look at is the injury rate from a line of scrimmage play. And the kickoff was multiples over that.

[Mark Ingram]

Wow.

[Roger Goodell]

Because of the speed and the impact. So that's really what it was. This new kickoff has taken that speed and impact out because you're 10 yards apart from each other to start.

[Mark Ingram]

Okay.

[Roger Goodell]

So that's. That's a big change.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

You know, Roger, the last few years. And when we used to put those chips on their jerseys, how fast they run, and I did not put two and two together until a lot of data started coming out because we would always try to kick that thing on the one yard line and, you know, just try to smother the guy. After I saw people running 22 miles an hour, hitting things, coming at them, another 20, that's when I. Not enough. We start kicking the ball out of the end zone. And I'm glad. I admire that you guys took the, you know, like you said, you probably adapt it, change it. But there's no other play in any sport like that where someone's running 22. Think about that, Mark. 22 miles an hour. Some kids run 21 miles an hour and then they hit something coming at them. You know, when it's open.

[Mark Ingram]

I was back there returning for the kickoff. I was back there blocking for the returner. So I know I had to kick out the number two guy. He's flying.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

And it was violent, man.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, it is.

[Rob Stone]

Mark Hitman.

[Roger Goodell]

I think this. We've seen that reduction of impact and the impact it's had on all injuries, not just concussions. And so I think. I think we're onto something here.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I do, too.

[Roger Goodell]

Again, it'll be adapted, but. And I do think, Mark, we brought back the big play. We're already well above our numbers on number of kickoffs beyond 30 yards. We had a kickoff return on the. In the first weekend. I don't think we had them last weekend. But the bottom line on it is, you know that that crease is. So you get that crease and you're gone.

[Mark Ingram]

Right.

[Roger Goodell]

And so I think. I think teams are learning how to play with this. It'll be adjustment from a coaching and applying level as well as officiating, but I think it's all in a good way.

[Mark Ingram]

Just a quick follow up on that. Now I'm watching a football game with my wife last night. She's asking me, what is the green box? I don't know how to explain it to her because I'm not even in the league no more. I usually would get that, you know, that information. What is that green box? So I could explain to my wife, Please help me.

[Roger Goodell]

I'm laughing because people think the yellow line for the first down is actually on the field.

[Mark Ingram]

Right.

[Roger Goodell]

That's all digitally inserted.

[Rob Stone]

Does it keep moving?

[Roger Goodell]

Exactly. The networks had done that just to show that's the kickoff. That's a zone. So the kickers have to kick it between the goal line, the 20 yard line. And that's. That's. If you don't get it in that zone and it goes out of the end zone, It's a test.

[Rob Stone]

30.

[Roger Goodell]

Yeah, yeah. And it goes to 30. If you get in that zone, it's to 20.

[Rob Stone]

Commissioner, just to pivot back to college football real quick. Is there a rivalry game? Is there a stadium out there that you haven't hit that you'd like to take part in?

[Roger Goodell]

Yeah, well, coach is good enough to have me out at Ohio State, so I checked that one off. Unfortunately, it went one time to the. To the teams of the north in Michigan, so. And that was fun. I've been to an LSU game, which was a lot of fun. I have not been to Bama yet, and I'd like to do.

[Mark Ingram]

We got to get you down there. Hey, hit me up, Commission. You need to go to Bama. I got you.

[Roger Goodell]

Take me.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, I'm gonna roll out the red carpet for you.

[Roger Goodell]

I'd like to do that. And I've been to USC out at the Coliseum several times when they were playing there, so there's still a lot of schools I like to go to. Besides Mama, I haven't been to a Florida game, so coach didn't invite me when he was down there.

[Mark Ingram]

Of course, that was the time to go. It's not the time to go now.

[Rob Stone]

You're welcome to join us any week on Big Noon Kickoff. We'd love to have you on a Saturday. I know your weekends are busy and we know your weeks are extremely packed as well. Love to have you, Commissioner.

[Roger Goodell]

I enjoy college football. I'm watching all day long. I promise you, whether I'm there or not, I'm watching.

[Rob Stone]

We assumed you would assume, fan.

[Mark Ingram]

We appreciate it.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

So good to see you, Roger.

[Rob Stone]

Thanks, Commissioner, thanks for joining us. We really appreciate your time.

[Roger Goodell]

Thank you, Rob, Mark, thank You, buddy.

[Mark Ingram]

Thank you, Roger. Appreciate you.

[Rob Stone]

All right, let's take a look at conferences and how they kind of stack up early on in the season. Last week we mentioned it on the triple option. It was the first time in the 80s, 88 year history of rankings that the SEC had six of the seven top teams in the nation. It continues this week. So top 25 by conference. Just going to spit out some numbers right now. The SEC shocker sits alone up top. They have nine programs in the top 25, as mentioned, six of the top seven after that, Big Ten, four inside the top 11. And they've been buoyed by the two PAC 12 schools coming in. USC and Oregon in third place, the Big 12 with four. The ACC has one top 10 team and three in the rankings. The Mac has one and there's one independent being Notre Dame. So coach, those are the numbers. When you eyeball the conference kind of food chain right now, is it the SEC and everybody else?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I think last year was the Pac 12. I think the Big Ten, obviously with the Wolverines, won it in Ohio State. You know, the upper half of the Big Ten is as good as anywhere. It's the rest of the league that's just okay at times. You know, I worry about the Big Ten. When you see Wisconsin, who's historically a top 10, top 15, they got a lot of work to do. You know, you got the Wolverines right now. They're a shell of what they were a year ago. You see Michigan State, you know, when I first went to the Big Ten, Michigan State was a top 10 program. And I think they have an excellent coach. They'll get there eventually, but they should be and they're not. So right now I think it's, it's not even close at this point in the season that the SEC is number one. You know, I want to, I want to pop back Mark, if it's okay. And in 2012, I was hired at Ohio State. And now that you look back and I did notice the Big Ten was not very good. The Big Ten, you might even say was bad. You look at the NFL draft back then compared to the sec, it wasn't closed. When the Big Ten teams to go play teams in the sec, they normally lost in the bowl games. And I remember we went 12, 0. We went, I took over a team that, we took over a team of 6 and 7 went 12, 0. And we weren't allowed to go bowl game because we were on probation for the previous stuff. And I remember everybody feeling great and saying we should be playing for a national title. You know where I went, Mark? I was invited to broadcast The Notre Dame vs Alabama National Championship game. Game. I walk in that stadium and I see Alabama. I watch Notre Dame warm up, and then I see the Tide roll out. I'm watching their coaching. I'm watching the technique of the hands, the way they warm. Everybody does it on the team. And I'm sitting there and I'm getting so pissed off as I'm watching Alabama. And I'm thinking, we're not even close to that. Our coaching's not close to that. Our talent level is not close to that. And I texted every player and every coach for the next two and a half hours during the game, and I called it the chase. We are now that season's over. We just went 120 in a very average conference. This is not our goal. Our goal is to chase that team right there. And it was the chase. And we put a big sign up in the facility. No one knew what it meant. The media didn't know what it meant. Our players did, and certainly our coaches staff did. When we recruited a player, I would ask, I say, would that player be recruited by the best team in the sec? If not, we're not going to recruit him. We're going to go get the very best players in the country. Not in the Big Ten, not in our footprint. If he's the best player in America, I want to go get that player. Coach. That's when we did it.

[Mark Ingram]

That's crazy because that's essentially what happened to us when y'all whooped us in Florida. Look at how the table was turned. Look how we inspire and motivate each other. We've always been intertwined, Coach. And now it's only right that we on the same team.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

But the Big Ten changed, you know, and I think Ohio State had a lot to do with that. But then, you know, Penn State really elevated their game. Recruiting, obviously, the Wolverines big time did on that. You saw the results last year and won't changed a lot.

[Mark Ingram]

And when did you win the national title over there with Ohio state?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Was that 23 years after we said the chase has started three years later and ironically, you know who he played in the.

[Mark Ingram]

Man, relax, man. We don't got to say all that. Who'd you play in the national championship to win? We don't need to know who you played in the semis. You know what I mean?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

We got Oregon.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah. We don't need to know who you played in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

But I think it's important that the target is not, you know, dependent upon your conference. Like, right now is the Big 12, as, you know, acc. You know, Florida State's down, and, you know, I think Clemson's good, but it's not the Clemson it was a few years ago. Right now, the SEC is the dominant.

[Mark Ingram]

You know, who's not down.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, you're right. You're right, you're right.

[Rob Stone]

Both U's. Both U's. Utah and Miami.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Exactly right.

[Rob Stone]

Both popping right now. Coach, I love the story, and I love for you to share it, that you weren't the only one with the last name Meyer who knew that the Big Ten wasn't quite up to speed at that moment.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. The wife of 35 years looked at me after one of our games. Our first game, we played Miami Ohio, the mvp, and it was. We beat them bad in the second half, but it was awful. And I remember going home, and she said, that's the slowest football game I've watched in years. And I looked at her, I said, I know. Give us time. Give us time here. We're gonna. We're gonna get this thing going. But, you know, that's funny. SEC can run, and, you know, eventually, to go look at that, we're gonna see a team that can run now. And the Buckeyes would be right on top of the sec, too.

[Mark Ingram]

So the Buckeyes are one of the best team in the country, regardless of conference. Like, they could go play any conference. Conference. But it's funny that Ms. Shelly said because. And Ms. Shelly said that because me and my father, we used to watch. You know, I'm from Big Ten country. I grew up in Michigan, so Big Ten's always on the tv. And we flipped back to cbs, and you could see the difference in the speed. You could see the difference in the physicality. My dad be like, you want to play here or you want to play there?

[Rob Stone]

I'd be like, it was two different games, Mark.

[Mark Ingram]

Yes, I want to play there. And so I was never getting recruited there. I had a big senior year. Fortunately, I transferred, had a big senior year. I find that's what essentially helped me get my Alabama offer. And I. And I had to go to the sec, dog. I had to go to the sec.

[Rob Stone]

Different world. Different world.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Well, I mean, you got to give Big Trend credit now. I mean, they just won last year.

[Rob Stone]

They caught up.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Range did. They did catch up, but they did. The whole conference has got it.

[Mark Ingram]

That was back then. That was back then. We're talking, we're talking 10, you're right. 14, 15 years ago. We're not saying nothing about the Big 10 now because. Because obviously you got elite athletes all over the country, Big 12, Big 10, SEC. But I'm just talking back then, coach.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. To the Big Ten's credit though, you know, the additions of USC and Oregon paying early dividends at least if you look at the AP rankings and the SEC schedule is about to pick up. So there's going to be some self sabotage going on in the sec.

[Mark Ingram]

We're going to ruin each other. What'd you say? The good news is, coach, good news.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Is you're the deepest, most talented league in the nation. Bad news is you're the deepest, most talented league in the nation. You're going to kick each other's ass in self sabotage.

[Mark Ingram]

And it starts this week, Right?

[Rob Stone]

Let the cannibalism begin. All right.

[Mark Ingram]

Tennessee, Oklahoma is about to start.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, man. Welcome. We're going to talk about that one in just a second. Pick six is brought to you by bet mgm. Place your Moneyline prop parlay and same game parlay bets at BetMGM. Just download the app today. As always, please gamble responsibly each week. We're going to pick six games against the spread. Mark will pick his deuce deuce dog of the week. So one of another whimpering pup this week one of his underdogs will cover. All right, reminder to everyone listening these.

[Mark Ingram]

We hit last week. Stoner.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, I know you did. I know you did. You were.

[Mark Ingram]

They almost went out, right?

[Rob Stone]

But tell me you were a reluctant you were not telling me you want to dog of the week. These lines are current as of Tuesday and as always can change. We kind of hinted about this first game Friday night, 8 Eastern live on Fox. Love this. One of four ranked matchups in the week, Illinois at Nebraska. Corn Huskers now favored by nine at home. And we mentioned this, the first ranked matchup in Lincoln. Coach in 11 years. How do you see it going?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I wish we were there, Mark. This is going to be electric. It's great for the state of Nebraska, but it's also great for the state of Illinois. Coach Bielema is a. That's a tough ass coach, man. I've coached against him, got a lot of respect for him. He's at the right place too. He's going to get an identity there. He already has because Illinois at one point was horrible and now look what he's done to that. So they got good players, good balanced team. However, I'M in Nebraska. You know Dylan Rayola. That's the story right now. It really isn't. The story is that top 10 number rank ranked defense, a ballast offense and they're protecting them. A well coached team. I have Nebraska covering. Think about what they did to Colorado, Mark. They took Shador and they took Travis Hunter. You know they didn't score a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah. So that neutralize.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I know. I know the story's offense and I know Dylan Raila. I'd like to play quarterback Nebraska with a defense like that.

[Mark Ingram]

Tell us why, coach.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Because they held Colorado to three points and they don't have to be. You don't have to be panicky on offense, especially with the young quarterback. So I'm all over Nebraska.

[Rob Stone]

By the way, if Illinois pulls this one off, let's start eyeballing road trips to Champaign because Brett Bielema and that program would deserve it and it's a really good team.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I watched them today. Yeah. That's not because they played bad teams. That's a good team.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah. Happy for him. He's a good dude. All right, let's talk about ACC right now. NC State on the road at number 21 Clemson. This line has changed and it's grown. Clemson favored by 20 and a half. Why? Here's why. Wolfback veteran transfer QB Grayson McCall knocked out of last week's game. Head coach Dave Doran said he was quote day to day. Certainly looks like the true freshman. Six foot six. True freshman QB C.J. bailey from the Miami area will get the start. He came in last week in relief of McCall. 13 to 20, 156 yards, a rushing touchdown and an interception. But he did lead a comeback victory. They ended up winning by 10. This is crazy. It's been over two decades since NC State last won in Death Valley. That streak, it's not going to end Saturday. Tiger's going to win, but I don't see them covering the spread. All right, it is. Welcome to the Big Ten Saturday for number 11. USC fight on who are favored by six at the defending national champs Michigan. The Wolverines now at number 18 and coach Michigan. They made a quarterback change up there in Ann Arbor.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

They did. We, we kind of thought that might come. Alex Orgy I think is one of the best athletes on the team. You know there's a couple of balls he threw already this year that really question if he can throw. I heard Jerome Moore say he can't thr. He has to be able to throw but he is a very quarterback. Excellent Athlete. However, the coaching hire of the year early in the season is Danton Lynn at is at usc. I mean, for two years that defense at usc, they couldn't tackle. You know, I mean, when I hate to say it like that, they could not tackle. We witnessed it at the, what was it, the Pac12 championship game. They're live. And then also last year we just seen them and on videotape they are excellent tackling. It's still early, but that's the higher of the year. So I have USC covering ifc. USC going in there to win. Not because of Lincoln Rally's offense. How about this? But because of their defense.

[Rob Stone]

Matt, Matt Liner, our buddy's been talking about the defense for the last couple years and boy, he's strutting around.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

It's a coaching hire of the year, Rob, as of where we're at because.

[Rob Stone]

They can play defense right now. It's what an adjustment. And to get a win. By the way, this is, you know, like a lot of people are upset that, that the conferences are changing. And I understand it. I'm not trying to be the old guy mowing my lawn and my socks and my sandals again. But the fact that the conference is changing, offer up these opportunities like USC at Michigan. If I'm a USC fan and I've been stuck for decades traveling up to Corvallis and Washington and all these other places and now I'm like, wow, I get to go to Ann Arbor, I get to go to the Big House to see my team take on a storied blue blood like Michigan. I'm excited and that makes me excited about the changes in these conference alignments. All right, after our big dune kickoff show, we're going to be in Columbus this week as the Buckeyes, number three in the nation, take on Marshall after that game on Fox. This is a great one, guys. Big 12, maybe early season. Kind of tell of the tape of where the real leader is in this conference. Number 12, Utah at number 13, Oklahoma State. The Cowboys favored by two and a half. As we mentioned, these are two of the favorites to win the conference title. Both teams. This is trippy start. 7th year quarterbacks. 7th year, 7th year quarterbacks. Not 4, 5, 6 7th year quarterbacks. For Utah, the story has been Cam Rising did not play again Saturday. They won 38, 21 over Utah State. Remember he had, he injured his finger or his hand crashing into a water cooler against Baylor a couple weeks ago. Rising and the staff and the players talking like he's ready to go, but they haven't committed yet. I understand it. Like, don't play your hand too much for the Cowboys. Mike Gundy. We love Mike Gundy, right? He's. He's one of the funniest coaches to listen to right now. He's so chill, so calm this week. Guys, I got a clip for you. In a press conference, he was interrupted by a soda machine that was just kind of off camera that was making some noise. So this is what coach did you.

[Roger Goodell]

Go back and.

[Mark Ingram]

I mean, y'all can't. There's no way y'all can hear very good. It's not easy.

[Rob Stone]

You hear it humming back there. There's got to be a Coach gets out his tool belt, he's going off camera. We got to sort this out, man. Larry, get in there.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Coach.

[Rob Stone]

Look at coach. He's sorting out the throw.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

An F bomb.

[Rob Stone]

No, no, no, no. He's a problem. Look, look, he's gonna. He's gonna use his legs, not his back mark. And they're going to move the whole machine so they can unplug it.

[Mark Ingram]

That's okay.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

How's he not have gray hair?

[Mark Ingram]

That's good. Okay, so we were. You were talking about their offense with him.

[Rob Stone]

So great. I love that guy. He's like, you know what? It must be the condenser. We're going to go over there, we're going to unplug it so we can carry on with this press conference. So he's just. He's in a good place, right? His. His team. I'm curious where they are though. You know, they unplug the soda machine, but can they plug in do Walker winner Olly Gordon. The second deuce. Three games for Ali. 216 yards, four scores. Last week though. 17 carries, just 41 yards. Teams are saying we're not going to lose to Gordon running the ball. So we're going to have your quarterback, Alan Bowman beat us and Bowman's putting up numbers. But if you're going head to head quarterbacks, if Cam Rising is healthy, I like them. And I think that's why Utah will cover on the road. First SEC game for the Sooners. Mark Oklahoma at number 15. They welcome sixth ranked Tennessee and the Vols favored by seven and a half on the road.

[Mark Ingram]

First SEC conference game going to Norman.

[Rob Stone]

Our friend Coach Stoops will be there.

[Mark Ingram]

Coach. And the sabotage begins. Yes, a top 15 matchup and the sabotage begins. But hey, the Vols are balling. They've outscored opponents 191 to 13 in the first three weeks. It's because of their quarterback. I'm a try it, coach. I'm going to try it.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Here we go.

[Rob Stone]

Just say Nico. Just say Nico.

[Mark Ingram]

Ian Malayalva.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

That's good.

[Mark Ingram]

I think the boy got it. They balling. He's balling. He hasn't even played in the second half yet.

[Rob Stone]

One more time for good measure, Mark. One more time for good measure.

[Mark Ingram]

Nico Ia Malayalva. Wow, that boy knows his pronunciations. And it's because the boys are straight baller. And they're out gaining opponents by 478 yards per game. Now they only been Chattanooga, NC State and Kent State, but now they go to Oklahoma. They go to the Sooners. And the Sooners are still searching for an identity offensively. Their quarterback has been sacked nine times in three games. But their defense is swarming. They forced 10 turnovers in three games, coach. Led by their linebacker, Danny Stutzman. Danny Stutzman.

[Rob Stone]

You struggled with Stutzman.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, Danny Stutzman. No, but he's the man. But listen, with this Tennessee offense, the off the offense of Oklahoma still struggling a little bit, still trying to find their identity, their defense is going to keep them in the game, especially at home. But I like Tennessee, I like Tennessee to win this game.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, I think that's a pretty good call. It's going to be a white out in Provo, Utah as number 13 Kansas State. We're talking about these road teams favored, favored by 7Market BYU. And I've noticed I haven't heard a lot of barking yet.

[Mark Ingram]

What's, what's the lie here?

[Rob Stone]

That's a really good one. Seven. It's seven points.

[Mark Ingram]

That was seven points.

[Rob Stone]

That came from the abdomen. That was like growling. I couldn't tell if you were belching or growling at one point.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, but it's the conference over for both teams. They're both three and oh, Kansas State has really talented offenses with one of the exciting players I like to watch in their quarterback, Avery Johnson. Last week he had 17 carries for 110 yards versus Arizona. But they have a trio of runners who are elite. You talk, you Johnson, you add both the running backs, D.J. giddens and Dylan Edwards, who was at Colorado last year. We know he's a game breaker. But they're going on the road to a tough place to play in byu. Then you add the element of the elevation playing in the mountains. You know What I mean? BYU QB Jake Rescliff averaging 280 yards per game. He would have to use his legs. He'll have to use his legs against his defense, they. Their top running backs are out. They were out last week, so we'll see if they out this week, you know, but they've been struggling with the run game. They got a great wide receiver in Chase Roberts, but this game will come down to quarterback play. And I'm kind of leaning towards Avery Johnson, but I'm kind of leaning towards BYU covering the seven points. So that is. Yo, Deuce Deuce Dog. They're Deuce Deuce dog of the week. Coach, you don't like that? You don't like that?

[Rob Stone]

Coach, I love it.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I'm all right with it.

[Mark Ingram]

The Deuce do the week.

[Rob Stone]

I just like the dog barking. It sounds like it's got like a fragment of a milk bone and some peanut butter stuck in its throat and it's trying to get it out.

[Mark Ingram]

Can't stay at byu. That's my dog of the week. BYU covering the seven points at home. They might. They might be an outy runner.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

I hope we someday make a trip to BYU to what's a big.

[Rob Stone]

That's what I want to. I want to hit on. What is that environment like? I know you've been there when you coach Utah.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I mean, it's. I embraced the LDA L. LDS religion at the Mormon religion when I was at Utah.

[Mark Ingram]

And.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Well, I'll tell you what, in those two games when those two teams used to play, I'd hear stuff that I like. Wait a minute now. That's a beautiful place.

[Rob Stone]

What do you mean, wait a minute now?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

What do you mean? Oh, I mean, you'd walk in and, you know, it's a very clean environment. Except for at that game and we.

[Rob Stone]

Had battles and those are grown men going at it as well.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

And those big Polynesians veined up cats that I had, they have them at Provo. Man, that's a great place.

[Rob Stone]

They have them in spades. That would be a wonderful place for big Noon kickoff again. This week we're going to be in Columbus, Ohio. Buckeyes taking on Marshall. If you're in the Columbus area, come on out to the set Friday or Saturday. Flash us a the triple option sign. We'll take care of you. We'll take care of you. You guys good? We ready for another week of college football? Mark? Coach.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Let's roll.

[Mark Ingram]

What you say, Coach?

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Let's roll. What? Oh. Oh.

[Rob Stone]

Rtr. Give us an oh, Coach.

[Coach Urban Meyer]

Oh.

[Rob Stone]

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel. Follow us on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts as well as across social media at at 3X option show. New episodes drop every Wednesday. As always, we want to give huge props. Huge love to you for listening and watching and to our sponsors, Wendy's, BetMGM and ZipRecruiter. We will talk to you on Saturday on big Noon Kickoff and see you and talk to you again next week on the Triple option. Bark us out.

[Mark Ingram]

Mark.