The Triple Option LIVE From Norman, presented by NHTSA

Summary

The Triple Option: LIVE From Norman, OK

Podcast: The Triple Option
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Special Guest: Bob Stoops (Oklahoma legend, Hall of Fame Coach)
Date: December 20, 2025
Theme: Navigating the New Era of College Football – Playoffs, Rivalries, and Leadership, LIVE from the Oklahoma Campus

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Episode Overview

Broadcasting before the much-anticipated Oklahoma vs. Alabama playoff game, the panel dives deep into the new landscape of college football — from expanded playoffs and coaching strategies to the emotional highs and lows for players and fans. With a live campus audience, legendary coach Bob Stoops joining the discussion, and plenty of lively banter, this edition captures the evolving nature of the sport and the stakes of a new postseason era.

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Setting the Stage (00:22 – 03:12)

- Campus Energy and Live Atmosphere:

• Rob Stone, Mark Ingram, and Urban Meyer fire up the Norman crowd, exchanging playful jabs and college football chants (“Roll Tide!”, “Boomer!”).
• Rob: “We are on campus for a college football game. First time it’s ever happened here in Norman.” (02:52)
• The panel notes the unique energy for a playoff game hosted on campus, showcasing one of the new features brought by the expanded playoff system.

- The Stakes:

• No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) vs. No. 9 Alabama (10-3) – Two blue bloods with everything on the line.
• The winner advances to face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The New Playoff Era & On-Campus Games (03:12 – 04:51)

• Urban on Playoffs:
  • “I'm hoping they expand the playoff, get rid of the committee and it’s all play-in...there’s nothing like these games on campus.” (03:12)
• The southern advantage is discussed; with no snowy conditions, “the snow teams got byes this year” (03:46).

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2. Alabama's Rollercoaster Season: Highs, Lows, and Leadership (04:51 – 09:36)

• Mark Ingram’s Assessment:

  • “It’s a new day. We’re forgetting about everything. It’s 0-0 right now. We’re coming to play when the time matters the most.” (04:53)
  • Admits Oklahoma “been fathering us the last few times we played...but it’s a new day and age, and I’m coming with new energy.” (06:52)

• Urban Meyer on Bama:

  • “Paper doesn’t play.” (07:32)
  • If “Team A” Alabama shows up, they can win; if “Team B”, they might get “beaten maybe bad.”

• On Team Identity & Run Game:

  • Mark: “Sometimes we struggle to run the football…you have to manufacture positive plays on first and second down...stay away from third and long versus this Oklahoma defense.” (09:03)

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3. Coaching Insights: Bob Stoops Joins the Show (10:06 – 16:14)

• Campus Playoff Vibe:

  • Stoops: “There’s been a great vibe around town. Everybody’s excited…everyone wanted to count us out. ‘Oh, we went to the SEC. We’ll never be heard from again.’ Really? We’ll see.” (11:47)

• Brent Venables’ Defensive Schemes:

  • Urban & Stoops praise Venables’ unpredictability:
    • “You can’t prepare for those three defenses in a week…he’s got packages you’ve never seen.” (12:24 – Urban/Brent)
    • “That’s part of the secret sauce.” (12:50 – Stoops)

• Stoops on Coaching Pressure:

  • “Oklahoma’s not one of those places...Brent’s solid in who he is...I don’t feel ever it was at that point. Nationally maybe, but not here.” (13:41)

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4. The Expanded Playoff & Power vs. Group of Five (14:18 – 16:10)

• Stoops Advocates Two Separate Tournaments:
  • “I think they should have their own [playoff]…they are good teams but not going to beat Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon.” (14:44)
• Perspective on Playoff Cut-Off:
  • “I don’t have much of a pity party for when you’re 13, 14, 15 and you’re out of it. That’s your fault.” (15:59 – Stoops)
• Unified Texas Antipathy:
  • The crowd and panel unite against Texas: “We can all agree on somewhere: Texas…” (16:19)

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5. Preparation: Regular Season vs. Playoffs (18:06 – 21:12)

• Urban on Preparation:
  • “Every great player, every great coach has a routine...keep them in that routine. Our players told us it was one of the best things we did.” (18:06)
• Stoops on Simulating Game Speeds:
  • “Sometimes you have to simulate a game, whether it’s scrimmage or maybe not to the ground but go through the mechanics.” (19:36)
• Mark Ingram’s Player Perspective:
  • “We would ramp up intensity, live periods…you go through your process.” (21:12)

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6. Offense: Best of the College Football Playoff Teams (23:21 – 25:23)

• Mark’s Picks:

  • “I have to go Texas Tech, the Red Raiders…they can give it to you however you want it…then Ole Miss, and then a hybrid of Indiana and A&M.” (23:28)

• Urban’s Top Three:

  • “Oregon, but their OC is now at Kentucky; Ohio State, their OC is at South Florida; Ole Miss, head coach now at LSU. All are going through transition.” (24:19)

• Stoops on Oklahoma’s Style:

  • “What’s wrong with winning by field position? Get two first downs on offense and punt…we got the best kicker in America. There are different ways to win…win is a win.” (25:23)

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7. Quarterfinal Preview: Who Stands Out, Who Wins? (27:29 – 36:57)

• Texas Tech Praise:

  • “They look like an SEC team.” (27:37 – Urban)

• Combo Picks:

  • Urban likes Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and WR Eliza Surratt (California), but says Bama’s getting through tonight.
  • “Role Tide by a million, man. No analysis.” (33:03 – Mark Ingram)

• Title Favorites:

  • Stoops: “I don’t know how you ever pick against Ohio State...but Indiana’s for real.” (30:26)
  • Brent: “Georgia’s playing lights out right now...so I’d say Georgia and Ohio State.” (31:05)
  • Mark: “I’m actually high on Texas Tech...but I think Georgia has the biggest upper hand.” (31:22)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

● “I don’t give a piss about none but the Tide, baby.”
 — Mark Ingram (05:35)

● “Paper doesn’t play.”
 — Urban Meyer (07:32)

● “If Team A shows up, Alabama wins. If Team B shows up, they get beaten maybe bad.”
 — Urban Meyer (08:09)

● “Sometimes you have to simulate a game...get after it. I thought it helped us. We were ready to play [in 2000].”
 — Bob Stoops (19:36)

● “What's wrong with winning 20–17?...A win is a win, that’s how we’re doing it.”
 — Bob Stoops (25:23–26:31)

● “Alabama by a million. I don’t even give a damn, man. Roll Tide by a million.”
 — Mark Ingram (33:03)

● “I just gotta say—everyone’s been showing love, a lot of hospitality. I appreciate y’all. We all go head to head, but I appreciate y’all as humans.”
 — Mark Ingram (36:38)

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Notable Segment Timestamps

• Campus & Playoff Atmosphere: 00:22 – 03:12
• Alabama’s Season Recap & Leadership Discussion: 04:51 – 09:36
• Bob Stoops Joins, Discusses Venables & Playoff Pressures: 10:06 – 14:18
• Debate: Group of Five Playoff vs. CFP: 14:18 – 16:14
• Coaching Preparation Insights: 18:06 – 21:12
• Offensive Powerhouse Rankings: 23:21 – 25:23
• Quarterfinal Picks, Title Favorites: 27:29 – 36:57

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode is unscripted, boisterous, and full of collegiate rivalry energy—complete with playful mockery, chants, audience participation, and trash talk. Through it all, the hosts deliver sharp analysis, deep coaching insight, and genuine respect for the traditions and future of the game.

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If You Only Remember Three Things...

1. Expanded playoffs are redefining college football, bringing high-stakes atmospheres to campus.
2. Alabama and Oklahoma both face identity crises—with coaching, running games, and defense at the heart of the debate.
3. Old rivalries, new challenges: No matter the bracket, the heart of college football remains in passionate coaches, loyal fans, and the joy (and occasional unity) of rooting against Texas.

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For more, follow @3XOptionShow and catch new episodes every Wednesday!

Transcript

[Mark Ingram]

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a live edition of the Triple Option. Get your hands together. Here is Rob Stone, Mark Ingram, and Urban Linm.

[Rob Stone]

How we doing, Norman?

[Mark Ingram]

Oklahoma.

[Rob Stone]

Good to see you, Norman. Oh, we got some tight fans here, don't we? Hall of Famer.

[Urban Meyer]

Hey.

[Rob Stone]

I hate ro.

[Mark Ingram]

T. I hate ro.

[Rob Stone]

There's a lot. I understand. I understand Oklahoma's feelings right now.

[Bob Stoops]

Don't worry.

[Rob Stone]

Hall of Famer Bob Stoopz is going to join us in moments. We're going to level the playing field here a little bit. So glad you're here with us. We are the Triple Option, and today we are presented by nhtsa. Whether you get pulled over or get into a crash, drinking and driving will change your whole world. Drive sober or get pulled over. Try your best to remain kind of so. Yeah, let's bring it. Just sling it in.

[Mark Ingram]

Bring it, bring it. It ain't loud enough.

[Bob Stoops]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah. Ye. Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Y' all going to need that all night. Y' all going to need that all night.

[Rob Stone]

Hold on.

[Mark Ingram]

Time roll. We here in the building.

[Brent Venables]

In the. We taking over in the fl.

[Mark Ingram]

Yeah, we taking over. We wanted to make sure we came to y' all house and did this.

[Rob Stone]

Hold on.

[Brent Venables]

We're.

[Rob Stone]

We're losing precious content time as we have. Have the yell off over here, by the way. Listen, cute. Even if you're an Oklahoma fan, like, you've got to be able to appreciate this outfit. And let's not sleep on the kicks. Mark, show. Show the folks the shoes. We see what we got here. Got a little roll tied on the side.

[Urban Meyer]

Hey, hey, don't worry. Look at that right there, huh? Just.

[Brent Venables]

Just.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, little Heisman.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah. Little.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah. Just for y'. All.

[Urban Meyer]

You really know what's going on, you know what I mean?

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Roll, tie, roll. And I don't give a piss about nothing but Bama blitz.

[Rob Stone]

Just keep going. It's a triple option tradition. Whenever the word Alabama is spoken, this gentleman goes off. He's Urban Meyer. He's a Hall of Famer. He's from the Ohio State and Florida. Great to have Urban here with us as well.

[Urban Meyer]

College Football hall of Famer.

[Rob Stone]

Hall of Famer.

[Mark Ingram]

Round of applause for my guy. College Football hall of Fame, man.

[Rob Stone]

By the way. By the way, can we talk about this setting, right? I mean, we are. We are mid December. It is 60s, 50s right now. Blue skies for most of the day. Stadium right over there. Perfect setting. And I love this, Coach. We are on campus for a college football game. First time it's ever happened here in Norman.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah. That's one of the great things about the playoff. And you know my feelings. I'm hoping that they expand the playoff, get rid of the committee and it's all play in. And so you see campuses across the country for the championship week hold up, holding championship playing games as well. So, yeah, this is spectacular. There's going to be some schools in the north. Are there any playoff games up north?

[Rob Stone]

I mean, Oregon is the closest you would get Pacific. They don't count.

[Brent Venables]

There's no way. Ann Arbor, obviously. And there's no Columbus.

[Rob Stone]

How to get that in.

[Brent Venables]

Didn't you coach all the snow, all.

[Urban Meyer]

The snow teams got buys this year.

[Rob Stone]

So it's, it's, it's got a Southern.

[Brent Venables]

So you don't give a piss about nothing.

[Urban Meyer]

I don't give a piss about none. But the tie, baby.

[Brent Venables]

Do you guys really say that in Alabama?

[Urban Meyer]

Like he says, just, you know, I.

[Brent Venables]

Want to hear someone else say that.

[Mark Ingram]

You heard him. We don't give a piss. We don't give a piss.

[Rob Stone]

This is good. This is good. Say, pace yourself, guys. It's a big game coming up.

[Mark Ingram]

Let him wear out. Let him wear out.

[Rob Stone]

Let him wear it out.

[Mark Ingram]

Let him wear it out. Yeah, let him wear it out.

[Urban Meyer]

Don't. It's, it's, it's a, it's a. It's a. I got a plan here, you know.

[Rob Stone]

You know, they're not linebackers right? Out there trying to stop a tear.

[Urban Meyer]

I got a plan.

[Rob Stone]

All right, so it's number eight, Oklahoma at 10 and two. Number nine, Alabama at 10 and three. Like two blue bloods in the playoffs. Rematch and a rematch. We're going to get to that in a second. But real quick, just give me like your 30 second take on your Alabama vibe at the moment because it's been, it's been a tough year for you.

[Urban Meyer]

Listen.

[Rob Stone]

For Alabama standards, right?

[Urban Meyer]

Listen, listen. It's a new day.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, that's what we're doing.

[Brent Venables]

Okay.

[Urban Meyer]

It's a new day, so we're forgetting about everything. It's 0 and O right now and we coming to play when the time matters the most, okay? We gonna show up. When the lights is brightest, when the awards is the biggest and the heaviest, that's when we show up. When it's time for championships, when it's time for playoffs and it's time for Natties, that's when Bama come and we kick the dough in, right?

[Rob Stone]

Do you remember what happened last time Alabama took the field? They got kicked in Georgia, but we'll talk about that.

[Brent Venables]

Later. What's that?

[Rob Stone]

I just. Hey, man, there's a lot of Oklahoma fans here.

[Urban Meyer]

I said it's a new day.

[Rob Stone]

It is.

[Urban Meyer]

He's living in the old past.

[Rob Stone]

All right, so both of these teams had some challenging losses this season. We're going to take a look at the biggest win of the year for each of these. It's the Don't Settle moment of the year presented by State Farm. Time to take care of this. Want to give State Farm a little love for bringing us out here. Having insurance isn't the same as having State Farm, so don't settle for just any insurance when they're State Farm, like a good neighbor.

[Urban Meyer]

What State Farm is there.

[Rob Stone]

You guys know that. All right, so we're going to start right here in Norman with Oklahoma. I don't know how much proper love and attention outside of this state, outside of the city these Sooners are getting right now. Two losses, Texas and Ole Miss, their defining win that really helped make their playoff case. November in Tuscaloosa. Taken down the tide 23 to 21. Mark gets to talk about Oklahoma right now. Are you ready for that one? What have you been saying about these Sooners in relation to your Tide all season long?

[Urban Meyer]

I said nothing about.

[Rob Stone]

Yes, you have. I have it on tape.

[Urban Meyer]

Said nothing about. All I said is they defense is like that. That's it. That's all I said.

[Rob Stone]

It's not all you said. They're your father.

[Urban Meyer]

Not mine. Not mine.

[Rob Stone]

I know your dad, not mine.

[Urban Meyer]

All right, no, but basically, they've been fathering us the last few times we played.

[Rob Stone]

There we go.

[Urban Meyer]

We come from their loins. But no, it's a new day and age, and I'm coming with new energy and new vibes and so quit bringing up old stuff. I don't care about none of that.

[Rob Stone]

Well, it's sponsored. That's why I'm bringing it up. Okay.

[Urban Meyer]

All right. Sponsored.

[Brent Venables]

Ease.

[Rob Stone]

Okay, These. Let's talk about Alabama right now. They were sitting on the edge of that dude right here. Oh, I do see.

[Brent Venables]

Deuce.

[Urban Meyer]

Deuce.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah. We out here.

[Rob Stone]

Spin that around. Spin that around.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Flip up the hood.

[Rob Stone]

Harris.

[Urban Meyer]

Najee, wait a second.

[Rob Stone]

There's only one Deuce.

[Urban Meyer]

Okay.

[Brent Venables]

He young.

[Urban Meyer]

He don't know no better. He young.

[Brent Venables]

I would put them as one of the top three or four rosters in college football. They have a better roster on paper than Oklahoma. They do, just on paper, but paper doesn't play. The loss of Florida State, the loss to Georgia, the beating that they took, that was bad. Bad losses. So how do you get them back? I would take. And I'd watch every film over and over again. I'd be running it all all week when Oklahoma beat them and I would show the turning points of the game. And if this player makes this play, if this. We handle this situation different, this is how we win. I'd run it over and over and over again and. But if team A shows up, Alabama wins. If team B shows up, they get beaten maybe bad.

[Rob Stone]

Here in Norman, the winner goes to the Rose Bowl. Take on number one seed, Indiana. You know who's being inducted into the.

[Brent Venables]

I want to hit that. What? You know the Bama team. Why? I've never seen a bigger dramatic. The team B is awful. I mean, that's a. That's not a good team. They don't play hard. Even the team A, who's a national champion caliber team.

[Urban Meyer]

What I say is when we play to our ceiling, we could be anybody in the nation. But unfortunately our bottom is blew out right now. You know what I mean? And like when we play bad, it's really bad. And it's just because.

[Brent Venables]

Is it leadership? Is it what?

[Urban Meyer]

Leadership? I think just, you know, I think there's a lots of different, you know, things like with the identity of the team, you know, sometimes we struggle to run the football.

[Rob Stone]

Run the damn ball. That'll get your identity.

[Urban Meyer]

I think that's paramount in today's game. Even if you, you know, you have to keep running the football, you have to find a way to manufacture run game, manufacture positive plays on first and second down. I said it earlier, you got to stay away from third and long and second and long versus out from this Oklahoma defense because that's where they thrive. They have lots of different looks, lots of different pressures. They have fourth line of scrimmage, five in line of scrimmage, sixth, seventh line of scrimmage. And they give you all these exotic looks and that puts you in pressure. So got to be able to stay ahead of the sticks, get first downs on first and second and down, get the third and manageable and take care of the football. Those are things that our offense has to do today.

[Rob Stone]

As I mentioned earlier, the winner of this game heads to Pasadena, the Rose bowl to take on the number one seed, Indiana.

[Urban Meyer]

We love Pasadena. Who doesn't love Pasadena?

[Rob Stone]

You know who's about to love Pasadena even more? Our next guest. Because he's going into the Rose bowl hall of fame this coming year. Guys, he is one of yours. He's 2000 national champion. He is Oklahoma football. He is. Bob Soups, everybody.

[Mark Ingram]

Come on, Coach. What up, coach?

[Brent Venables]

What up, coach?

[Rob Stone]

He's putting up a good fight, isn't he?

[Urban Meyer]

It's gotta get old at some point. It's gotta get old.

[Rob Stone]

No, Coach, put on a headset. Let's hear from Bob Supes, everybody.

[Mark Ingram]

Roll. Damn.

[Urban Meyer]

Time.

[Mark Ingram]

Boomer. Boomer Rol.

[Urban Meyer]

Hey, ain't gonna be too many more Boomers tonight.

[Bob Stoops]

Y' all.

[Mark Ingram]

Get y' all Boomers out right now.

[Urban Meyer]

Cause it's gonna be dying once we get in that stadium.

[Mark Ingram]

We're gonna shut the Boomers up.

[Rob Stone]

Hey, Coach Dukes. Love, love seeing you here. Thanks again. Thanks again for last night. Thanks for joining us and you guys.

[Bob Stoops]

You guys are the best. Rob, I love watching Big Noon kickoff fox. These guys do an awesome job and been fun always. Always fun. Good to see you, Urban.

[Brent Venables]

Appreciate it.

[Bob Stoops]

Your golf game is probably a little better than mine right now, but I'm gonna get it in order.

[Rob Stone]

You'll figure that out. Coach, you've been here so many years in so many game day situations, here's the first time it's ever been a playoff game. And on campus, the last couple days today, when you've been walking around town, have you felt anything different or is this just another, another business day in the sec?

[Bob Stoops]

Yeah, you know what's crazy, it took me about four or five years to learn how to tailgate.

[Rob Stone]

But he still doesn't know how you got it down.

[Bob Stoops]

Urban Juggernaut and me and retired later than me. He'll get it and. But anymore I've, I've become pretty good at it and.

[Rob Stone]

But there's been a surprise because there's.

[Bob Stoops]

Been a great vibe around town. Everybody's excited about this opportunity playing another historic, you know, team in Alabama. And it's great. I mean we're. Everyone wanted to count ou out. Oh, we went to the sec. We'll never be heard from again. Really. We'll see. But anyway, here we are in the playoffs and it's exciting.

[Brent Venables]

I want to talk about your former assistant coach. Venerable. I've coached against him when he was at Clemson and he would play 33% of the time, odd 33% of the time, double eagle and 30% of the time. So 1 3rd, 1 3rd, 1 3rd. I even asked him one time and he gave me that smart ass look. I said do you do that? Of course he does it on purp.

[Bob Stoops]

Yeah.

[Brent Venables]

And so as you're preparing, you can't prepare for those three defenses in a one week. Now you have bowl, you know, you Have a few weeks to get ready for it. But those are drastically different defenses. And then off of that, he's got packages you've never seen. So we've really struggled against his defenses over the years.

[Bob Stoops]

People don't understand an odd front where you have a guy head up on the nose on the tackles. You know, just the regular odd front compared to a four down. You know, how you could pin and pull. It's not so easy on that 50 front. And it's definitely part of his deal that he doesn't. You don't know as an offense what he's going to emphasize that week and the blitzes off of it. And Brent does an awesome job of mixing that up. And that's. That's part of the secret sauce.

[Brent Venables]

And then I also want to go. He started real slow, and Oklahoma is used to winning around here. And how much pressure was on him preseason? How much pressure? And others always pressure. Yeah, but I mean, it was kind of lose your job type stuff for a minute, wasn't it?

[Bob Stoops]

Yeah, but I don't think so.

[Brent Venables]

Okay.

[Bob Stoops]

Oklahoma's not one of those places. And Brent's solid in who he is, and he's had such a history of success that I don't feel that ever entered his mind. And as you know how close we are. I mean, I got four brothers, two sisters. He's like my youngest brother. And I don't. I never sensed it whatsoever. And again, Oklahoma and our administration, we know what he's building, and I don't feel ever. It was at that point now. Might have been nationally, but not here.

[Brent Venables]

Coach, man, what do you feel is.

[Urban Meyer]

The solution to the College Football Playoff and this committee stuff? Because clearly everyone got their opinions and no one thinks it's working. As a legendary head coach like yourself and a college football connoisseur, what is the solution to this College Football Playoff?

[Bob Stoops]

I've always felt. I said this a few years ago. I believe those group of four or five or whatever they are, you know, not power four.

[Urban Meyer]

Gotta go, right.

[Bob Stoops]

No, they have their own tournament.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

They have their own because I watch it. Those are good teams. They are good games. But they're not going to beat Alabama. They're not going to beat Oklahoma, they're not going to beat Oregon. Now watch them turn around and do it. But point being, I think they should have their own.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

You know, playoff.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

And then now you got Notre Dame and Texas in this.

[Urban Meyer]

Yes.

[Bob Stoops]

You think that'd generate any viewership?

[Urban Meyer]

Come on, now.

[Bob Stoops]

Yeah, come on. So I think we're on the right path. I think it still needs to be adjusted. I do believe they should have their own playoff system. The group of five, six, however many there are. And it would be interesting. It would be fun to watch and to cover. As for tv, do you ever look.

[Brent Venables]

Back and say, okay, my. This team. I do. In 2015, if we had a playoff, I think we went on it. We wanted a 14, then 15. We lost one game.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Brent Venables]

And then we went and beat the hell out of Ann Arbor and then beat Notre Dame in a bowl game. Bad. That was my best team. Yeah. But we're at one game. Remember those days? Usually it was one game.

[Urban Meyer]

You're out. We lived.

[Bob Stoops]

You were two teams in it.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

Yeah. And that's why I don't have much of a pity party for when you're 13, 14, 15, and you're out of it, that's your fault.

[Brent Venables]

Used to be three. You're out of there.

[Bob Stoops]

That's right.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

Well, it's hard to have a pity party for Texas here in Norman, Oklahoma.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

No, no, no, no.

[Rob Stone]

Right? I mean, I mean, what are we even doing?

[Mark Ingram]

I guess we can all agree on somewhere. Texas.

[Bob Stoops]

There we go.

[Urban Meyer]

We all can finally agree on one thing.

[Rob Stone]

To find a common opponent in this one. Right. That's how we see that. Everybody came together when I mentioned Texas and some horns. We know where they go.

[Brent Venables]

All right.

[Rob Stone]

I love this.

[Bob Stoops]

I love this.

[Mark Ingram]

All it takes is just a little.

[Urban Meyer]

Hate for another team.

[Mark Ingram]

We all together now.

[Urban Meyer]

You know what I mean?

[Rob Stone]

Hate brings love. Hate brings love.

[Urban Meyer]

It brings us together.

[Rob Stone]

All right, time now for Crossroads. Presented by nhtsa. Drinking and driving is a decision that will change your whole world. Things will never be the same once you get a dui because legal fees and time in court are just the beginning. Getting into a crash, that's another way your world could be irreversibly changed after drinking and driving. Your vehicle, of course, may not be the only thing that gets damaged in that crash. You could face a life altering injury or even death. But you're not the only one who can face those kinds of consequences. Your decision to drink and drive could permanently change someone else's world. So whether you injure them or you leave their loved ones grieving, the next time you're out drinking, and I think some of you are doing that right now. Please call a ride, share a taxi. A sober friend. You got, you got. You got some sober friends right up here for you guys. Or a designated sober driver. The only vision that will change your world for the Better is the decision to call for a sober ride, drive sober, get pulled over, paid for by our great friends. And it's a great message, especially this time of the year. All right, we're going to go from the regular season now and transition here. The post season, the playoffs, the crossroads, if you will, for a lot of these programs, our two coaches. I'll start with you, Urban. How did you change, alter your preparation from the regular season into the postseason?

[Brent Venables]

Yeah, I worked for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame. He became a very close confidant, like a walking encyclopedia. And it was 06 when we, we. We won the SEC and we were going to go play Ohio State for the national title. We had four weeks, and I called him and he kept saying, remember, the ball hits the foot, hits the ball at January 8th, so don't have your team too ready. And then he said this. Every great player, this is really interesting, Bob. Every great player, every great coach has a routine. You guys are playing really well. Keep them in that routine. So we actually went Monday, day off, Tuesday, inside drill, Wednesday, you know, third downs, Thursday, drive it Friday, walk through Saturday, did a mock game, and they're out of there on Sunday. So we kept the routine going, and then we just started installing the game plan so the players kept the routine. And to this day, our players told us one of the best things we did because they were. They were sharp all the way through.

[Bob Stoops]

We were very much the same way. When you got to game week. Monday's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. I would lose track of what day of the week it was, because in my mind it was Monday. It might have been a Thursday, depending on when you're playing, but that's all I knew is this practice schedule. What we did do, I thought was really good. And I've told a few coaches this. In 2000, we beat Florida State, win the national championship. We got there a day early. We had a couple extra days because we had to get. We didn't have an indoor yet. We had to get out of the snow. So we went to Miami early. First day we ran them, got a great sweat. That was it. The next day we had a 40 play, live scrimmage, ones against ones. Yep, good on good tackling to the ground. We got after it, and I thought it helped us. We were ready to play. Then, like, all right, it's been a while since we had tackled somebody, took someone to the ground, and now we're been hit. Take care of the ball and. And, you know, we. We end up beating Florida State. But That I thought. I think sometimes you have to simulate a game, whether it's scrimmage or maybe not to the ground, but go through the mechanics of the game.

[Brent Venables]

That's odd. What he would. That's old school.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Brent Venables]

I go to practices now, and you don't see that at all. You don't see the tackling.

[Rob Stone]

So. So how did Oklahoma and Coach Venables handle it this week?

[Bob Stoops]

They've been doing like. Like Urban and I said going through Monday, Tuesday with their normal practice schedule. And, you know, and last week they had extra practices, and I don't know if they did anything. I doubt they did anything live. I don't think you can do that anymore.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

But anyway, so I. I know they had. I've been at a few practices. They still. Brett. They get after it at practice, so they. They go hard at each other. And I. I'm excited to watch them tonight. I know they're ready as a player.

[Brent Venables]

What did.

[Rob Stone]

What did you want leading into these type of games?

[Urban Meyer]

What you hear from them is there's a process, and I come from a coach where the process was everything. Coach Saban, we would hyper.

[Brent Venables]

We.

[Bob Stoops]

We would re.

[Urban Meyer]

Ramp up the intensity in practice. Like he said, Live thud. And live periods. We would ramp up the.

[Brent Venables]

The focus.

[Urban Meyer]

Was that some music about.

[Brent Venables]

I heard something.

[Urban Meyer]

But yeah, we'd ramp up the intensity. We'd ramp up the focus. And there's a process. You go through your process. You got to know what you're supposed to do, how you're supposed to do it, and wait.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, we got a flyover. Two more coming.

[Bob Stoops]

Two more coming.

[Brent Venables]

Triple option flyover.

[Rob Stone]

The quad option.

[Mark Ingram]

The triple option flyover.

[Bob Stoops]

Yeah, that's triple option.

[Urban Meyer]

Hey.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

You could tell they knew you guys were here.

[Mark Ingram]

No, you set that up for us. That's what you get when you come to the triple option. I'm just trying to help.

[Rob Stone]

Wow.

[Bob Stoops]

Man.

[Mark Ingram]

Make sure y', all, like, subscribe. Comment. You see the. Wow. The flyover.

[Urban Meyer]

You know what I mean?

[Mark Ingram]

The triple awesome podcast, man.

[Urban Meyer]

You fly over and all.

[Rob Stone]

A double flyover, man. You don't get that.

[Bob Stoops]

Anybody been in an F16?

[Brent Venables]

I have.

[Bob Stoops]

I thought I have, too. And it's something, isn't it? It was.

[Urban Meyer]

Did you go to sleep? Did you go to sleep back? Did, like, pass out a little bit.

[Bob Stoops]

He took a minimum radius turn, and the GS were big. The rest of it, I was great. I had no. I don't have motion sickness or anything. And funny. Kelly Clarkson threw up in the F16 ahead of me. So I had to clean it up before I got in.

[Urban Meyer]

That's hilarious.

[Brent Venables]

I love this.

[Rob Stone]

All right, time now for three and out, presented by Google. We're going to take a look at what fans like you guys out here have been searching for this week. Remember, no matter what question comes next, you can just ask Google. So we have seen a 220% increase in searches asking, quote, who are the best offenses in college football? And we're going to. We're going to alter that question mark. I'll start with you. The best offenses of the 12 teams left in the college football playoffs right.

[Urban Meyer]

Now, solely offense, not defense. Now, who I think is gonna win?

[Brent Venables]

Offense.

[Urban Meyer]

Solely offense.

[Rob Stone]

Yes, sir.

[Urban Meyer]

So if we go solely offense right now, I have to go. I have to go Texas Tech, the rare Raiders. Look, we got some. We got the gun.

[Rob Stone]

We got some Red Raiders. There we go.

[Urban Meyer]

I'm high on Texas Tech. What I say about them is they can give it to you how you want it. You want to throw it outside the numbers. You want to throw it vertically, you want to throw it short. You want to run the first football. They could do it all. Then obviously their head coach went to lsu, but Ole Miss, they've been one of the most explosive offenses in the country this year. So I go Tech Ole Miss. And then I go. I'm going go hybrid. It's not none of these teams in this. In this game today, unfortunately. But I had to go a combination of Indiana and A and M. A and M. Marcel Reed, Mario Craver, Casey Concepcion, one of the best receivers in the nation. They can run the ball. I have to say those two. And then, you know, A3, A3B right there with Indiana and A and M Urban.

[Brent Venables]

I'm gonna have to say it's interesting. The three that I'm gonna pick are, number one is Oregon. But their offense coordinator is now at Kentucky. Think about that. And then you got Ohio State. Their offense coordinator is where? South Florida. And then you got Ole Miss. Their head coach is at lsu. So I think those are the. The top three offenses in the country, but they're going through some transition. What's interesting, Coach, is that when we wanted.

[Urban Meyer]

Georgia is probably the best team right now in the playoff.

[Brent Venables]

So when we wanted in. Oh, eight. Oh, eight. Dan Mullen took another job. He came back to coach the game, and then Tom Herman left. So I. We did it twice with coordinators that were leaving. But those top three offenses are without coordinators right now. Coach.

[Rob Stone]

Coach Stoops. How about just the Oklahoma offense? What you've seen from them over the course of this four game winning streak. Three of those wins are overranked teams. I think the big news this week, tape coming off the thumb of John Mattia. Right. It. It feels like that thumb surgery has pestered him and bothered him. What have you seen from the Sooner offensive?

[Brent Venables]

Late.

[Bob Stoops]

He'll never admit that and I respect him for that. I think it has affected him to some degree. But. And he has. I saw him a couple times this week, no tape. He's ready to go. That can be a big deal if he, if he's feeling better and can really step into his throws, finish them, whatever it takes. But overall, yeah, we've got to be able to run it, hit some chunk plays. And what I've said is you would get this. Urban, being an Ohio State guy like Jim Trestle won. What's wrong with winning by field position? Defense get two first downs even on offense and if you don't score, punt the ball, put them on the 10 yard line. Yep. And then they go three and out. You got the ball at the 50. We got the best kicker in America. I mean, there's different ways to win. And I laugh because so many for through the years. Oh, we won because we scored 50, 60 points a game. Well, what's wrong with winning 20 to 17?

[Urban Meyer]

Now a win is a win, win.

[Bob Stoops]

Is a win and that's how we're doing it. So to me it's taking care of the football. Don't get behind the chains. You don't want to be first and 15, we're not made that way. Take care of the ball, move it. You know, get field position, get your chunk plays here or there. Then get your points and count on your defense.

[Rob Stone]

Winning strategy. Time now for winning combo presented by Wendy's. No tendies combo meal is complete without a diet Dr. Pepper order. Now on the Wendy's app, you see the tendies, you see the diet Dr. Pepper right there. We've been sucking those down in the backstage. All right, there are four teams that are staying home this weekend, right? Your top four seeds, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech, and of course one seed Indiana. We're looking now, Urban, I'll start with you. The two player combo on one of those four teams that aren't playing this weekend that you think will make an impact in the quarterfinals.

[Brent Venables]

You know, big new. We covered Texas Tech, Coach Stoops and I stood on purpose. I went out there and stood next to them. They look like an SEC team.

[Bob Stoops]

Oh, yeah.

[Brent Venables]

I mean they. That that is as good looking team as there is in the country right now. So I got Jacob Rodriguez, the Heisman candidate linebacker. That is the best linebacker in America. And David Bailey, the combination of Texas Tech defense, they're for real.

[Bob Stoops]

The other linebackers might be as good.

[Brent Venables]

I know the one that had the.

[Bob Stoops]

Big game in the. In the Big 12 game.

[Rob Stone]

Hey, let's give Joey Maguire a little love. I know he joined us on the show.

[Brent Venables]

I bet you know him forever.

[Bob Stoops]

I've recruited down there forever. I've known Joey forever.

[Brent Venables]

Cedar Hill. Was it Cedar Hill. What was the school?

[Bob Stoops]

Yeah, Cedar Hill.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

No, great guy, great person. I know he got the D line coach at cjiu, a former Sooner played for me, Kenny Perry. The special team guys. I know a lot of their coaches. Really, they're doing a great job.

[Rob Stone]

Your combo.

[Urban Meyer]

My combo would have to be the Heisman trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza. And then to his receivers, obviously the one everyone knows, Eliza Surratt. But also we'll see the status of Omar Cooper Jr. Charlie Becker with the big hit last in the Big Ten championship, third and long. But I think that's my winning combination. But fact they will lose because we're. Alabama is going to beat Oklahoma today and then we're going to go to Pasadena.

[Mark Ingram]

Then we gonna beat Indiana too.

[Urban Meyer]

So that's the winning combination for this week until we get there in the Pasadena. So yeah, roll down tight and I.

[Mark Ingram]

Don'T give a piss about none but the tie roll. Tie roll. Hey, I need it. Hey, give it to me.

[Urban Meyer]

Sooners.

[Mark Ingram]

Give it to me.

[Rob Stone]

I need to hear you. I don't hear you.

[Mark Ingram]

I don't even hear it.

[Rob Stone]

You're outnumbered right now.

[Mark Ingram]

I don't even hear.

[Rob Stone]

We're not there yet.

[Mark Ingram]

I don't hear it. Boomer. Alabama. I'm scared. I'm scared. I don't think Alabama sucks. Oh, I haven't heard that before.

[Bob Stoops]

For.

[Rob Stone]

How about. How about this combo? Jeremiah Smith and Julian saying. Yeah, you know, Smith overlooked some of that. Did you see his Instagram? Jeremiah, when he got passed over for not winning the balitnikov as the nation's.

[Urban Meyer]

Top receiver, he didn't win Balind.

[Rob Stone]

He did not win.

[Brent Venables]

What do you say?

[Rob Stone]

He didn't have to say anything. He posted one of those little video clips of a. Of an angry human being in a car. He won it. No, no, no, no. Malachi. Malachi Lemon won it. Oh, usc.

[Urban Meyer]

That's legit.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, it's a legit legit, but it's motivation for Jeremiah. He had 100 yard game in the Big Ten championship game. But he's extra motivated right now.

[Urban Meyer]

Right.

[Rob Stone]

And I think a lot of people still see Ohio State as the favorite to win it all. Let's talk about that real quick. Coach, if you had your. I'll start with you, Bob. Your favorite. I know. Listen, your favorite that's not named over Oklahoma.

[Bob Stoops]

Okay.

[Rob Stone]

Your favorite not name Oklahoma to win it all. And then we're going to talk about this game coming up tonight.

[Bob Stoops]

I, I got to say, I don't know how you ever pick against Ohio State lately. Just what they've been doing for a good bit of time here and, and what Ryan Day has done even last year, lose to Michigan and then run through the playoffs and win the national championship. But I got to tell you something about Indiana's. For real.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Bob Stoops]

That is no joke. That there's nothing fluky about it, you know, and they. They go to Oregon and win. They beat Ohio State. I think there's something. Agreed. Agreed.

[Rob Stone]

Who's your favorite right now?

[Brent Venables]

I think Georgia and Ohio State have the best rosters. I think Georgia's playing the best. I went back and watched that game closely when they beat Alabama, the sec compared to midseason to the. We're now. They're a much better team. They're playing lights out right now. So I'd say Georgia, Ohio State right there.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I'm actually high on Texas Tech. I'm high on Texas Tech. I think they can do everything really well. I think their offense is explosive. I think their defense can rush the passer. They stop the run. But when. When I look at who the favorite is, who I think has the biggest upper hand in this playoff, I think it's Georgia. Maybe I'm biased because Kirby Smart was part of. Part of that team that I was on. National championship. But they play tough defense, they run the football. They have a quarterback who doesn't make mistakes and he just knows how to get his team prepared to win playoff games. He has two national championships. He's a winning coach. Alabama had to stop him from winning three in a row. And yeah, I had to go with Georgia right now. But I am high on Texas Tech, probably higher than a lot of others.

[Rob Stone]

All right, let's talk about the reason we're here tonight. Right. We are here for Oklahoma and Alabama. A lot of crimson, a lot of red, a lot of maroon out here. I'm going to start with Urban right now. Is this. This is pretty evenly matched up, right? I mean, the two teams seated right next to each other The. The spread is minimal at best. How are you seeing this one playing out? And who do you like?

[Brent Venables]

I've been back and forth, but ever since Coach Stoops brought up that game plan, I got a little fired up. I think they play field position. I think Coach Venerables in that defense really slows this thing down. I think it's 2017. Boomer, boomer.

[Mark Ingram]

You just happy that.

[Urban Meyer]

You just happy that the fans are cheering for you now.

[Brent Venables]

So for the first.

[Urban Meyer]

The first time, nobody's booing you. So you going. I get it. I get it.

[Rob Stone]

All right, so somebody we got. Coach Myers picks Oklahoma.

[Brent Venables]

What.

[Rob Stone]

What will Mark Ingram. What direction will Mark Ingram.

[Mark Ingram]

Alabama by a million. I don't even give a damn, man. Roll Tide by a million, man. No, I don't even. I don't even give y' all no.

[Urban Meyer]

Rebuttal or no analysis, nothing.

[Rob Stone]

No analysis.

[Mark Ingram]

I'm giving you no analysis, no thoughts, just roll. Tie by a million.

[Urban Meyer]

I don't give a damn. I don't give a piss about nothing but the Tide.

[Rob Stone]

All right, I'm gonna. Don't listen to them, Mark. Mark, they're getting under your skin. They're getting to you, bro.

[Urban Meyer]

All right?

[Mark Ingram]

I just want to know, jeez, how many NASA chips, how many NAS chips.

[Urban Meyer]

Have y' all got since he left?

[Mark Ingram]

Nathaniel. Nathaniel. Nathaniel.

[Bob Stoops]

You can ask me, Rob.

[Rob Stone]

I'm gonna get to you in a second.

[Brent Venables]

Coach.

[Rob Stone]

I'm letting this one play out a little bit. Let it play out.

[Mark Ingram]

This is Yalls daddy.

[Rob Stone]

All right, hold on. One quick of analysis, bit of analysis from you. The running game, how important is that for Alabama tonight? Can they survive the way they've been going all season long?

[Urban Meyer]

So now you want my analysis?

[Brent Venables]

This?

[Rob Stone]

Yes, sir.

[Urban Meyer]

Okay.

[Rob Stone]

I always wanted it. I always wanted it.

[Bob Stoops]

Mark Ingram is showing up tonight. No gonna be out there.

[Rob Stone]

There ain't no deuce deuce out there.

[Mark Ingram]

How many this year?

[Rob Stone]

How many wins this year? Will you quit answering their questions? I'm asking you a question.

[Mark Ingram]

I don't know.

[Rob Stone]

What you got in this pocket over here?

[Mark Ingram]

I got candy.

[Rob Stone]

You do have candy.

[Brent Venables]

Listen, but.

[Urban Meyer]

No, listen. It's paramount for Alabama to be able to manufacture run game.

[Rob Stone]

Y.

[Urban Meyer]

Even if you can't run the ball, traditionally, it's going to be paramount to be able to manufacture run game where there's quick passes, quick screen game, different ways to be able to stay ahead of the change. The key here is stay ahead of the change. Don't get in the third and along. Don't get the second and long. Get first downs on first and second and down. Get first downs at third and manageable. Do not stay in second along third and long. Do not have penalties because that's when. Like you saw, coach, all these different eyes, all these different fronts, all these different looks, that's. That's how Alabama has gotten trouble in the last two games. So it is paramount that if they don't run the football traditionally, they still have to manufacture a run game.

[Rob Stone]

Jam Miller is expected to return tonight. Leads the team with 439 rushing yards. We'll get to your Boomer in just a second. A couple notes about Alabama's offense. On track for the fewest points per game since 08.

[Urban Meyer]

I'm going hear from y' all around 11pm average fewest yards per game. Take over all this stuff.

[Rob Stone]

98.

[Urban Meyer]

All right, so where are my Bama fans at? Cause.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, hey, hey. Don't worry. Hey, all drinks on me. All through this thing later tonight. All drinks on me. Hey, and y' all can come, too.

[Brent Venables]

Y' all can come, too.

[Rob Stone]

I'm gonna give you all the bottom stuff.

[Mark Ingram]

We gonna drink the top.

[Rob Stone]

All right. Urban Meyer has picked Oklahoma. Mark Ingram has picked Alabama.

[Mark Ingram]

Don't never say that.

[Rob Stone]

Stoops. Who do you like in this one? Coach Stoops.

[Mark Ingram]

Hey, Boomer.

[Bob Stoops]

By a million.

[Mark Ingram]

By a million. By a million ain'. Coach, let's be original.

[Bob Stoops]

Coach.

[Rob Stone]

Coach. Give us a boomer sooner. Can you get this car going?

[Mark Ingram]

Boomer. Alabama. There we go. Alabama sucks. Just how kindergarten is that?

[Rob Stone]

Take out Texas and insert Alabama, right? That's how it goes.

[Mark Ingram]

It's like my kindergartner, everybody.

[Rob Stone]

You guys, thank you so much for coming out and joining us here. Live edition of the Triple option. Enjoy the game. Be safe. Yes.

[Urban Meyer]

I just gotta say something, though. All jokes aside, man, I've been here with my son and my uncle. We've been walking through the city. We've been eating breakfast. Everyone's been showing love. A lot of hospitality. I appreciate y'. All. I know that we all go head to head, but I appreciate y' all as humans for taking us and accepting us and showing us a great time. So looking forward to a great game.

[Mark Ingram]

And Roll Tide, baby.

[Rob Stone]

There you go. And one last Roll Tide. Thanks. Thanks for joining us.

[Mark Ingram]

One last Boomer. Boomer. Alabama wins. No. Texas.

[Brent Venables]

Yeah.

[Mark Ingram]

Texas sucks.

[Rob Stone]

Thanks to Wendy. Thanks to Diet Dr. Pepper. You can find us on social media. 3X option show. We are the Triple option. Thanks again for coming out and enjoy the game.

[Bob Stoops]

And oh, yeah.

[Rob Stone]

Let the autographs begin.

[Brent Venables]

Hella big had to run it back.

[Mark Ingram]

Again get the light up Represent had to do it Hella big had to run it.