The Herd with Colin Cowherd – 3 & Out: Bill Belichick's UNC Debut Ends in BLOWOUT by TCU, Did the NFL FORCE Dallas to trade Parsons, What's WRONG with Bama

Host: John Middlekoff (iHeartPodcasts, The Volume)
Air Date: September 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of “3 & Out” dives into Bill Belichick’s disastrous coaching debut at UNC against TCU, examines the blockbuster Micah Parsons trade and whether league pressure played any role, and explores what’s gone wrong with Alabama football post-Saban. John Middlekoff provides unfiltered analysis, answers mailbag questions, and offers insider perspectives on some of the biggest stories in college and pro football.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. Bill Belichick’s Catastrophic UNC Debut vs. TCU

Segment Starts: [02:27]

• Electric Start, Shameful Finish:
  The environment was “North Carolina royalty”—Jordan, LT, Roy Williams all in the building. UNC scored fast, but “it is a massacre… as embarrassing of a loss as I ever remember Bill Belichick having. I mean, destroyed.” ([02:30])

• Roster Challenges:
  Middlekoff highlights UNC’s bare cupboard:

  “They have 70 plus new players. They had 40 plus in the transfer portal... before Bill even gets the job, the cupboard is very bare.” ([04:30])

• Quarterback Disaster:
  The initial starter “didn’t complete a pass for over an hour of real time” and his performance was “atrocious.” Max Johnson replaced him in garbage time but even then it was barely functional.

• Coaching Analysis:

  • Belichick’s style hasn’t translated well. John reflects that Bill’s signature gruff persona doesn’t fit college football’s energy:

    “This isn’t the Patriots versus the Jets... college football, bro, gotta lighten up a little bit. And he couldn’t do it.” ([08:40])

  • Laments Freddy Kitchens as OC, critiquing the lack of imagination and energy on offense.
  • Blames Belichick’s inability to adapt, hire dynamic offensive minds, or recruit playmaking quarterbacks.

• Comparisons & College Landscape:

  • Stresses how Belichick is up against elite college lifers (Dabo, Norvell, Cristobal) in a competitive conference where recruiting and NIL money reign.
  • Contrasts Belichick’s stubbornness with Nick Saban’s ability to adapt and entertain while being respected:

    “Saban...when the lights were on...you just kind of gravitated toward him. Bill just gave off miserable vibes.” ([14:00])

• Recruiting Red Flags:

  “Guess who’s watching this? A lot of 17-year-old kids... and you’re gonna call them, they go, ‘God, I want to play for that miserable guy?’” ([14:50])

• Overall Outlook:

  • Middlekoff is skeptical Belichick will last at UNC, calling the debut “an epic train wreck” and noting, “you got a lot of L’s on the schedule.” ([18:10])
  • Suggests Belichick’s NFL approach—where you can cut and swap players quickly—doesn’t work in college.

Quote Highlight

“That was as embarrassing of a loss as I ever remember Bill Belichick having… It looked like JV versus varsity.” —John Middlekoff ([02:30])

2. Mailbag: Micah Parsons Trade Conspiracies & NFL Dynamics

Segment Starts: [23:25]

• Did the NFL Force Dallas’ Hand?
  A listener asks if Jerry Jones was forced to trade Micah Parsons due to legal/agent pressure. Middlekoff explains:

  “I don’t think it would be constructive to sue the Cowboys...players have a lot more power in 2025 than they’ve ever had in the NFL.” ([25:10])

  • Trades now only happen if the player agrees to sign with the new team, limiting options.
  • “This was more about...We’re not going to deal with this anymore.” ([29:25])

Memorable Parsons Trade Quotes

• “The moment Micah started laying on the training table and showed up eating nachos, that was like the straw that broke the camel's back.” ([29:35])

• “People act like [Dallas] traded Lawrence Taylor…If the Chiefs would have traded Patrick Mahomes. Can you believe the Ravens traded Lamar? That’s how everyone’s acting, and I just don’t see it that way.” ([40:50])

• He theorizes Micah’s contract demands and leverage dictated the destination, not league pressure.

• Emphasizes that while Micah is an elite pass rusher, “there are flaws...You can run at him,” and that the Packers were willing to pony up the gigantic contract where other teams balked.

3. What's Wrong with Alabama?

Starts: [44:30]

• Fan Mail Woes:
  A despondent Bama fan notes, “We look like a fucking Pac 12 team. That cuts deep.” ([44:35])

• Nick Saban vs. Kalen DeBoer:

  • Saban’s intimidating, no-nonsense style is compared with DeBoer’s more accommodating approach.
  • “Saban would kill 10 people if...more penalties in every single game since he’s been there.” ([49:37])
  • “Clearly things that are being tolerated in that program would never have been tolerated with Nick.”

• Program Culture & New Realities:

  • Middlekoff notes that boosters and the administration may not have the same willingness (or cash) to make quick, drastic coaching changes in the NIL era.
  • The reality—massive TV money is now partly redirected to players, not just facilities and coaching buyouts.
  • On Bama’s loss to Florida State:

    “You didn’t just lose to a little school, you lost to a school…that recruits SEC players that play ACC schedules.”

• Outlook on DeBoer:
  Skeptical he’ll get fired immediately due to financial and institutional realities, even with underperformance.

4. Scouting and College Football Pulse

Starts: [52:00]

• Arch Manning Analysis:

  • “His arm talent is average…If his name was Arch Middlekoff, he probably would just be playing at Rutgers.” ([52:35])
  • “Peyton Manning did not throw a great ball... but his mind was a huge part of his game.”

• On Justin Herbert:

  • Acknowledges national skepticism and “disaster last year in the playoffs”—but believes the talent is there if surrounding factors improve.

• Why First Round Picks Flame Out:

  • Not always effort—injury, loss of confidence, or inability to mentally grasp complex NFL systems can all play a huge role.

• Utah as a Big 12 Playoff Bet:

  • Praises coach Kyle Whittingham and likes Utah’s odds, citing their consistent defensive prowess and openness of the conference.
  • “If I was a betting man right now to win the Big 12… I feel pretty good just betting on Utah and Kyle Whittingham.” ([58:10])

Additional Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Belichick’s future at UNC:

  “Is he going to quit after one year? Is he really going to want to do this?...Just to get curb stomped by TCU’s and Clemson’s and Florida States?” ([11:00])

• On NIL’s impact and the new college football world:

  “Recruiting, obviously the nil has changed the game, but Bill’s personality...You would think he would lighten up a little bit and just show a different personality.”

• Alabama’s institutional investments:

  “The golf team at Alabama has a $47 million facility. What do you think that money came from? Of course not. It came from football.” ([48:00])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Belichick’s UNC Debut & Analysis: [02:27] – [21:15]
• Micah Parsons Trade & Mailbag: [23:25] – [44:30]
• What’s Wrong with Bama: [44:30] – [48:57]
• Scouting/CFB Observations & Utah Bet: [52:00] – [59:30]

Tone & Style

Middlekoff speaks candidly, lacing his analysis with irreverence and a willingness to question football sacred cows. The episode’s language is direct, occasionally profane (“We look like a fucking Pac 12 team”), and combines sports nerd knowledge with an everyman sensibility.

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for fans grappling with seismic shifts in both college and pro football. Whether dissecting Belichick’s first taste of humiliation at UNC, the surprising reality behind the Parsons trade, or Alabama’s post-Saban struggles, Middlekoff mixes deep context with strong opinions and audience interaction.

Selected Quotes & Memorable Moments:

• “That was as embarrassing of a loss as I ever remember Bill Belichick having.” ([02:30])
• “Players have a lot more power in 2025 than they’ve ever had in the NFL.” ([25:10])
• “We look like a fucking Pac 12 team. That cuts deep.” ([44:35])
• “His arm talent is average... if his name was Arch Middlekoff, he probably would just be playing at Rutgers.” ([52:35])

For more: Listen to the full episode on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or The Volume’s YouTube channel.
Mailbag questions: DM @JohnMiddlekoff on Instagram.