Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: 3 & Out - INSTANT REACTION: Carson Beck & Miami OUTDUEL CJ Carr & Notre Dame
Date: September 1, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff (with guest Jackson)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Overview

This episode is an instant reaction to Miami’s dramatic victory over Notre Dame in college football. John Middlekauff and recurring guest Jackson break down the key moments and significance of the game, analyze the broader college landscape (including Alabama, Florida State, and others), and discuss coaching philosophies, the transfer portal, and playoff implications. The conversation delves into the details of both teams’ performances—particularly quarterbacks Carson Beck (Miami) and CJ Carr (Notre Dame)—and provides observations on the new college football playoff era and coaching transitions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Miami vs. Notre Dame: Game Breakdown (02:53 - 24:20)

• Miami’s Turnaround and Mario Cristobal’s Legacy

  • Middlekauff reflects on Cristobal’s impressive recruiting prowess and career journey:

    "He can stack a team... There is no disputing this guy is elite at identifying, recruiting, and landing talent." (04:31)

  • Shannon Dawson (Miami’s OC) is highlighted as a key figure.

    “I don't know that much about him, but the offensive coordinator, Shannon Dawson ... turned Cam Ward into the number one overall pick. If their offense is good again ... I don't see how this guy doesn't either become a head coach in 26 or NFL teams don't start offering this guy an offensive coordinator job.” (07:54)

  • Miami’s late-game resilience: Despite a potential meltdown, Miami’s defense and special teams sealed the win with a crucial field goal and defensive stop, displaying newfound composure.

• Notre Dame’s Grit and Freeman’s Evolution

  • Middlekauff notes Marcus Freeman’s growth as a head coach, showing more poise and steady leadership compared to his early tenure.

    “Marcus Freeman kind of had a Belichickian thing tonight and I was like, damn ... what he’s done ... they’re never going to have elite wide receivers, can’t get them into school. But in terms of top-flight defense, their defense is going to be really good.” (10:16)

  • Notre Dame’s offensive challenges exposed: reliance on TEs and running backs, lack of explosive WRs, offensive line fatigue in the heat, particularly evident on the decisive drive.

2. Guest Analysis: Jackson on Notre Dame & C.J. Carr

(13:44 - 15:36, 19:58 - 20:58)

• Jackson reflects on Notre Dame’s approach, quarterback performance, and the broader implications of the loss:

  • “CJ Carr played well ... The confidence behind their arm ... and it almost got me flashbacks of Shedeur Sanders in preseason ... Notre Dame is a tough team under Marcus Freeman ... These are the games Mario Cristobal loses.” (13:44)

  • Notre Dame struggled to get key RB Jeremiah Love involved; surprise that Carr had even more carries than him.
  • Miami’s physicality up front surprised Jackson; “didn’t expect Miami to out-physical Notre Dame on both sides ... up front." (15:20)
  • Love and Carr’s combined efforts weren’t enough, but the nature of the loss isn’t season-ending due to the playoff expansion. “It's not a one-game season for Notre Dame.” (14:45)

3. Quarterbacks & Skill Talent Landscape (16:02 - 21:16)

• Middlekauff details the challenges in judging quarterbacks like CJ Carr and Carson Beck when supporting casts fluctuate:
  • Key comparison to Stanford’s historic teams under Harbaugh/Shaw, which succeeded with great defense and O-line but never had elite WRs: “Sometimes it’s hard to judge the quarterback ... unless you’re Mahomes or Josh Allen, if I remove those two guys, you’re going to look worse.” (16:21)
  • Miami true freshman WR Tony gets special mention as a breakout star—“That little guy, number 10, Tony, I mean, holy shit. Keep an eye on that cat for the next couple of years.” (08:30)
• Reiterates Notre Dame’s need for a more explosive outside passing threat to truly compete.

4. Expanded Playoff Era – Implications for Elite Teams (21:18 - 24:20)

• Middlekauff and Jackson discuss how losses are less dooming given playoff expansion.

  • “This game felt really big. All these games, right? The four straight big games ... that’s what college football is.” (21:28)

• Emphasis on the importance of home-field advantage in college:
  • Strong critique of neutral-site games—Middlekauff:

    “If Josh Pate ever becomes the commissioner, we got to ban those. What made tonight so badass is it felt like Miami kind of has a home field thing going. That’s what college football is.” (22:17)

5. ACC and Power Conference Outlook (24:20 - 29:56)

• ACC’s rising fortunes with Miami and Florida State outperforming expectations, Clemson under scrutiny.
  • Jackson: “If you're the ACC commissioner, you got to be smiling ear to ear ... everybody counted out that conference—it just got interesting." (24:38)
• Notre Dame’s Playoff Path: Must regroup, potential for 10-2 finish still playoff-relevant. Strong schedule helps playoff “eye test.”
  • “If Notre Dame’s 10-2 and there’s some fraudulent Power 4 team that played nobody, ... I’m sorry, we saw that song and dance last year. We’re giving Notre Dame, Texas, this, Clemson. This is exactly what I’m talking about. Like, we just saw they’re real teams.” (28:52)
• Speculation on how Big 12 and SEC shake out for playoff berths.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cristobal’s coaching evolution after nearly joining the Secret Service:
  • "He accepted the [Secret Service] job and he told the team and he told the players and then he slept on it and he declined it and he went into coaching. And obviously all these years later, almost three decades, he’s on an $80 million contract at his alma mater.” —John Middlekauff (04:09)
• On Miami’s roster talent:
  • “There is no disputing his ability to identify, recruit and land. Now obviously that’s changed over the years with NIL, but he can stack a team.” —John Middlekauff (04:31)
• On Notre Dame’s limitations:
  • “They’re never going to have elite wide receivers, can’t get them into school ... their defense is going to be really good. ... But when you get down in that situation, it can be difficult.” —John Middlekauff (11:21)
• On fatigue and pressure in big games:
  • “As Jimmy Johnson famously said to the Miami Hurricanes way back in the day, fatigue makes cowards of us all.” —John Middlekauff (12:44)
• On the expanded college football playoff and its effect:
  • “This game felt really big. ... The notion all the games aren’t going to matter as much—bullshit.” —John Middlekauff (21:35)
• On the issues with neutral-site games:
  • “If Josh Pate ever becomes the commissioner, we got to ban those. ... What made tonight so badass is it felt like Miami kind of has a home field thing going.” —John Middlekauff (22:17)
• On quarterback traits (Nussmeier):
  • “He’s a really good player and that was a really impressive game. It’s why you can’t box score scout, because he didn’t throw seven touchdowns. But every single big play they needed, he was on the money. Every time he got knocked down, he’d fucking shake it off and jump right back up.” —John Middlekauff (48:55)
• On coaching fit and geography:
  • “It doesn’t matter where you are from, where you are born and where your career kind of takes off usually is where you’re going to have success as a head coach. ... In college, it does.” —John Middlekauff (32:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Miami vs. Notre Dame Immediate Reaction: 02:53 – 13:44
• Notre Dame Deep Dive with Jackson: 13:44 – 19:58
• WR/Skill Position Analysis: 19:58 – 21:18
• Playoff Implications, Home Field & Neutral Site Critique: 21:18 – 24:20
• ACC/Conference Landscape Outlook: 24:20 – 29:56
• Coaching Fit & Saban/DeBoer/Brian Kelly Discussion: 32:36 – 43:00
• On the Transfer Portal’s Program-Changing Impact: 43:00 – 49:15
• Quarterback Assessments (Nussmeier, Clubnick): 47:10 – 49:20

Tone & Style

• Candid, conversational, and insight-driven with a touch of irreverence typical of John Middlekauff’s podcasting style.
• Informed football analysis balanced with anecdotal storytelling.
• Guest (Jackson) provides a passionate, fan-first Notre Dame perspective.

Final Takeaways

• Miami appears to be a genuine contender this year, highlighted by talent influx and quality coaching, especially on offense.
• Notre Dame, despite the setback, has a resilient defense and an improving culture under Marcus Freeman, but must overcome persistent shortcomings at WR and OL to reach the next level.
• College football’s expanded playoff era, the rise of the transfer portal, and the impact of home vs. neutral-site games are reshaping power dynamics and season narratives across the top conferences.

For listeners who missed the episode, this discussion offers an in-depth, entertaining, and nuanced look at two blue-blood college programs in transition, with broader commentary on the evolving college football landscape.