The Herd with Colin Cowherd – 3 & Out: Kauff on Campus, OSU–Texas Preview, Bill Belichick’s Debut

Date: August 28, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff
Guest/Producer: "Producer Jackson"
(Episode from iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)

Episode Overview

This episode is a deep-dive, high-energy college football preview led by John Middlekauff and his producer "Jackson" as the new NCAA and NFL seasons approach. The show covers marquee matchups, coaching moves, NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) dynamics, and big-picture trends. Special attention is paid to the blockbuster opening game between Ohio State and Texas (featuring Arch Manning's first major start), Bill Belichick’s much-hyped college debut at UNC, and the evolving arms race of top-tier college programs.

The atmosphere is unapologetically passionate, nostalgic for old-school college football, but sharply analytical about the new era’s challenges and opportunities. Both hosts balance deep, inside-baseball knowledge with humor and memorable hot takes, making the preview accessible for new and experienced fans alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Rise of "Producer Jackson" and College Football Context

• Jackson, a former walk-on at Montana and now podcast producer, brings first-hand football/broadcasting experience and an obsessive passion for college football.
• The season feels as "wide open" as ever ("More questions than ever before this season." – Jackson, 07:00), setting the stage for the year’s volatility.

2. Ohio State vs. Texas: The Arch Manning Hype & Matchup Breakdown

Expectations, Talent, and Coaching Questions

• Texas is an underdog but the hosts see real upset potential, especially given Ohio State’s turnover at coordinator and unknowns at quarterback.
  • "I think there's more question marks on Ohio State versus Texas... I feel more comfortable [with Texas]." – Jackson (10:07)
  • “All of Ohio State's defense last year, the big thing was like they came back to right the wrong against Michigan. Turned out they didn't do that, but they won the national championship, so it was all worth it. But they are reloading a lot." – John (11:18)
• The pressure on Arch Manning’s debut is enormous—unprecedented for a modern college QB. The hosts dissect how his legacy is both a product of hype and genuine ability.
  • “If his name was Arch Middlekauff or Arch Groff, it would not be the same. There’s just the hype on this guy. I don’t think there’s—it’s unprecedented…” – John (12:22)

Key Stats & Strategies

• Ohio State lost eight defensive starters and both coordinators; Matt Patricia (former Patriots DC) is their new DC, inviting skepticism about NFL schemes in CFB.
• The perceived gap from high school to college is discussed in-depth, with anecdotes on blue-chip QBs that transfer or bust.
  • “That jump from high school to college is a lot different… You just don’t know with a lot of these new quarterbacks.” – Jackson (15:37)

Coaching & Culture

• Texas’s coaching staff stability (all coordinators return) is a favored advantage over Ohio State’s staff overhaul.
  • “An underrated point: Sark [Sarkisian] lost no coordinators… Ohio State basically is like the Lions, right? Their OC leaves to the Raiders, their DC leaves to Penn State. That's—I mean, Chip Kelly's been an OC for decades and Patricia's never coached in college.” – John (18:29)
• Urban Meyer’s point on double-teaming Ohio State’s star WRs also analyzed.

Prediction

• Both hosts lean toward Texas:
  • “If Arch lives up to the hype—poised to win a natty. I’m taking Texas…” – John (19:29)
  • Telling stat: “In the last 20 years, when a QB makes their first start against the number one team in the country: 0–18." – Jackson (19:04)

3. Bill Belichick’s College Debut at UNC

• Parallels drawn between Belichick and Deion Sanders at Colorado: immediate, transfer-heavy roster rebuilds.
• Deep skepticism about Belichick's fit for college, both in terms of teaching his complex schemes and relating to young players in the NIL era.
  • “In college, like one, they don’t have the pick of the litter… How does he teach ’em fast enough?” – John (26:41)
  • “You had his girlfriend in the mix… We haven’t heard anything all fall camp... I’m very excited to watch it week to week. Just a lot of unknown players…” – Jackson (30:26)
• Offensive play-caller Freddy Kitchens is critiqued:
  • “The offensive coordinator matters. Bill was sweet with Josh McDaniels; when he didn’t have Josh McDaniels, they sucked.” – John (29:44)
• Outcome predictions range between "could win 8-9 games due to schedule" or "could be a six-win disaster" depending on how well he adapts to college.

4. The NIL Era: Winners, Losers, & Future Trends

Booster Power and Roster Management

• The new NIL era blurs traditional lines between coaching power and donor influence, with the risk that some highly-paid players (especially QBs) get undue opportunities.
  • “You pay a QB $900,000... you’re going to play him. But if the guy sucks, you gotta pivot.” – John (34:25)
• Coaches with real cachet (Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, Lane Kiffin) can bench underperformers; most others feel more donor pressure.

How Teams Can “Keep Up”

• Programs with deep pockets and strong alumni bases (Texas Tech, Oregon, Notre Dame) are better positioned to benefit.
• Emerging trend: schools must sell themselves aggressively and retain roster talent year-to-year amidst poaching and transfers.
  • “You gotta sell yourself, and then you gotta prove that you can win.” – Jackson (36:44)

5. Rapid-Fire: Top Returners, Conference Races & Coaches With Pressure

Best Returning QBs & Playoff Hopefuls

• The hosts debate top returning QBs and their pro prospects (Lagway, Aller, Nussmeier, Clubnik, etc.) and point out the year’s heavy QB turnover among bluebloods.
  • “I think Aller is one of those guys that probably gets drafted higher than people expect. Now his team’s going to be good, he’s going to win a ton of games… but he can just be a little bit of a wild card.” – John (40:56)

Pressure Cookers: LSU & Brian Kelly

• LSU faces the most pressure among the bluebloods given their investment, championship history, and high-profile roster.
  • “To me, I think LSU has the most pressure this season… Brian Kelly’s finally going in… now or never… I feel like the pressure is really high for LSU and they start out horrible…” – Jackson (47:15)
  • “Eventually, you gotta win one of them. That's the difference between Dabo, Saban, Kirby, Ryan Day vs. James Franklin: they win the big games.” – John (49:56)

"Sneaky pressure" teams: Georgia & Penn State

• Georgia is in danger of becoming “just another elite program” without the surefire QB talent pre-NIL and faces higher expectations post-back-to-back titles.

  • “Most people are not Saban… every other year you’re going to win a natty. Georgia and Kirby are going to be in the mix a lot, but… people expect 10 wins minimum.” – John (58:05)

• Penn State’s path to the playoff is “kind of a joke” schedule-wise, but James Franklin’s inability to win the "big one" lingers.

  • “From a roster standpoint, [Penn State] feels like a lock… but we've seen this dance every year with Penn State and they can’t win the big one.” – John (63:39)

6. Conference Realities & Coaching Futures

USC & Lincoln Riley in the Big Ten

• "Fit" is key: skepticism that Lincoln Riley, a Texas guy, really belongs at USC long-term—he's seen as an outsider, and defensive shortcomings persist.
  • “Where you're from and where you coach in college matters… There's a weird fit.” – John (75:02)

Jon Gruden’s Coaching Future

• Wild prediction: Jon Gruden will coach in the SEC (Auburn, Arkansas, maybe Florida/LSU) by 2026, given past college football precedent for "wildcard" hires and the immense money in the South.
  • "I would say my biggest prediction in college football is that Jon Gruden will be coaching in 2026 in college, and I would be stunned if it’s not the SEC." – John (93:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the hype and pressure for Arch Manning:
  • “There’s just the hype on this guy. It’s unprecedented… In the Internet age, the ‘stars’—it built over time. This is just different.” – John (12:22)
• On staff continuity as a hidden edge:
  • “An underrated point: Sark didn't lose any coordinators. His coaching staff is... I mean, he’s paying a boatload.” – John (18:29)
• On NIL chaos and player movement:
  • “In college football, I pay you a lot, so you get to do whatever you want. That’s not how any of these other businesses work.” – John (39:24)
• On LSU’s championship window:
  • “To me, it’s now or never for Brian Kelly to try to win over this LSU crowd and keep the momentum for the next couple of years.” – Jackson (47:15)
• On Penn State’s playoff chances:
  • “Their schedule is kind of a joke, right? They got Oregon, Ohio State… worst case, probably 10 and 2… relative to some of the SEC schools, their road's got a little Clemson vibe to it.” – John (63:39)
• On Jon Gruden’s future in college football:
  • “I think Jon Gruden will be coaching in the SEC. And I guess you could throw Florida State if they have a disastrous season... College football one million percent will [take him].” – John (95:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Episode kickoff/season setup, Jackson's journey: 02:12 – 07:18
• Ohio State vs. Texas preview & Arch Manning discussion: 10:07 – 19:29
• Belichick at UNC, roster overhaul, transfer portal impact: 25:23 – 32:05
• NIL, coaching leverage, roster retention: 32:05 – 36:44
• Best returning QBs and Heisman discussion: 40:56 – 47:15
• LSU, Big Ten/SEC pressure, Brian Kelly’s window: 47:15 – 52:43
• Georgia, Penn State, playoff paths: 57:23 – 67:55
• USC/Lincoln Riley fit, conference predictions: 74:37 – 77:15
• Notre Dame’s unique position, new narrative: 78:49 – 87:47
• Season bold predictions (Gruden, A&M, Utah): 93:06 – 99:42

Conclusion

This episode is a comprehensive, candid, and entertaining preview of the new college football season, spotlighting the star power and volatility at the top (Ohio State, Texas, LSU, Notre Dame, Georgia, USC), the evolution of the sport in the NIL era, and emerging storylines like Belichick’s NCAA experiment and coaching "hot seats." John and Jackson’s banter is full of specific player knowledge, stats, and big-picture references, balancing fun with insight for die-hards and casuals alike.

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