Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: 3 & Out – National Championship Preview, Transfer Portal, Importance of GM's in College Football
Date: January 16, 2026
Host: John Middlekauff
Guest: Josh Pate

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of 3 & Out features John Middlekauff and Josh Pate diving deep into the evolving world of college football. The discussion centers on the National Championship game, the wild landscape of the transfer portal, the emerging importance of GM-type roles in college football, and broader changes that are shaking up the sport's traditional power structures. The conversation blends personal anecdotes, inside stories, and sharp analysis on how money, governance, and shifting dynamics are altering the college football scene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind the Scenes in College Football Media

• Josh Pate shares his experience appearing on ESPN's Get Up and First Take, noting the difference in production between established rundown shows and more improvisational formats.
  • Quote: "It was the most, like my YouTube show...you just walk right in, get mic’d up, and we’re on. It’s awesome." (05:34)
  • Importance of authenticity in today’s media landscape; modern audiences demand genuine personalities, not manufactured hot takes.
  • Quote: "Who he is on-air is who he is off-air...Just being yourself on air is the ticket." (09:17, 10:27)

2. The Rise of General Managers in College Football

• The GM role is evolving: Middlekauff and Pate reflect on how the personnel structure has shifted in recent years, with college teams now employing NFL-like front offices—a departure from a time when recruiting departments were rare.
  • Quote (Pate): "It’s not an if, but a when—you’re going to see head coaches get fired by a general manager with the endorsement of the AD." (13:52)
• AD’s role changing: Athletic Directors are increasingly happy to delegate football-specific decisions.
  • Quote: "A lot of guys and women who are athletic directors happen to be the best fundraiser around...one of their qualifications is normally not, 'football’s in my wheelhouse.'" (12:45)

3. Wild West: The Transfer Portal & NIL

• Agents and the 'Fake Portal': Coaches often learn about their players' intentions through agents or rumors, not direct communication.
  • Quote (Middlekauff): "How often are coaches finding out about players they thought were happy, actually sniffing around elsewhere?" (14:17)
  • Pate responds: "Everybody’s dealing with that...I’d be shocked if a coach told me they don’t." (15:11)
• Problems with structure: There’s little accreditation for agents in college football, leading to chaotic situations and poor guidance for young players.
  • Quote (Pate): "What does it take to be an agent in college football? The answer is putting 'agent' in your Twitter bio." (17:50)
• Lack of governance: Decisions are made on the fly, with little concern for long-term impact—akin to treating college athletics as a rental car.
  • Quote: "A lot of people treat college athletics like a rental car...let me get what I can out of it, it’s not my problem what it looks like five years down the road." (18:28)

4. Economics, Conference Realignment, and the Threat of a Super League

• Not all conferences are created equal: Big Ten and SEC are economically outpacing everyone. Large alumni bases and billionaire donors are increasingly influential.
  • Quote (Middlekauff): "If Ron Rivera can convince a couple of those guys...that’s a pretty big deal. Most schools don’t have 100 millionaires and billionaires funding their program." (28:38)
• Will super-conferences emerge? Some believe Power 2 conferences want to break away and form their own self-governing league.
  • Quote (Pate): "That’s probably not even conspiracy theory—it's probably just true." (21:07)
  • Pate expands: "You can't just rely on rich people to bankroll you minus ROI infinitely. That’s not going to happen." (29:58)

5. Pressure, Expectations, and the Importance of Winning

• Money = Pressure: As teams spend millions on roster assembly, the stakes—and expectations—rise dramatically.
  • Quote (Middlekauff): "It's become: we're spending a lot of money on this roster—we better win." (33:03)
  • Expectations for high-paid programs like Texas and Ohio State are set at national championship or bust.
• Expanded Playoff’s Effect: With a 12- or even 16-team playoff, making the cut is no longer good enough for big-money programs.
  • Quote (Pate): "You think that fan base is about to say, 'Oh good, we’re one of the 12 best' after spending $40 million? That’s not a $40 million return." (33:48)

6. National Championship Game Preview: Indiana vs. Miami

• Indiana’s rise under Kurt Signetti: Historic, improbable run propelled by savvy use of the transfer portal and a Heisman-winning, #1 NFL prospect QB in Fernando Mendoza.
  • Quote (Middlekauff): "If they win this game...beat Ohio State, roll Alabama, destroy Oregon, then beat a Miami team loaded with pros—it would be one of the craziest stories in my lifetime in sports." (39:08)
• Cinderella or not? Pate argues Indiana isn’t a Cinderella, given its resources and the money they spent, but their team culture makes them special.
  • Quote (Pate): "It's not a have-not, not a Cinderella. It's an insanely good story because everyone had access to go after these same players." (40:40)
• Team chemistry vs. star power: Pate notes Indiana’s dynamic won’t be easily replicated. This year’s team may never be surpassed for chemistry and cohesion, even as future teams get more talented.
  • Quote: "Signetti will never have a better team at Indiana than he does right now… This is as good as it gets from a team aspect." (42:07)
• Miami’s raw power: Physically imposing, especially on the line. If Miami can dictate tempo and leverage their size, conventional logic says they should win, but Indiana has defied expectations all year.
  • Quote: "Miami’s line of scrimmage...they outweigh Indiana’s O-line by like 50 pounds. Law of physics says that should work—Indiana’s defied that all year." (44:09)

7. Transfer Policy & NCAA Decision Making

• Eligibility controversies: Discussion on the NCAA’s inconsistent application of transfer rules, and the difficulty of making judgment calls without knowing all the details.
  • Quote (Pate): "Once you’re read in on critical details, sometimes you realize, oh, I’ve been demonizing someone and I didn’t know what I was talking about." (36:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You walk right in, 2 minutes to air, 1 minute to air, and we’re live. It’s awesome."
  — Josh Pate on ESPN studio experience (05:34)

• "Who he is on-air is who he is off-air...Just being yourself on air is the ticket."
  — Josh Pate on authenticity (09:17, 10:27)

• "What does it take to be an agent in college football? The answer is putting 'agent' in your Twitter bio."
  — Josh Pate (17:50)

• "A lot of people treat college athletics like a rental car...let me get what I can out of it, it’s not my problem what it looks like five years down the road."
  — Josh Pate (18:28)

• "It's not a have-not, not a Cinderella. It's an insanely good story because everyone had access to go after these same players."
  — Josh Pate on Indiana's run (40:40)

• "Signetti will never have a better team at Indiana than he does right now… This is as good as it gets from a team aspect."
  — Josh Pate (42:07)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Topic/Quote | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:34 | Pate’s experience at ESPN and differences in live production | | 09:17 | Authenticity in media; Colin and Stephen A. | | 12:45 | GM roles overtaking athletic directors in football decisions | | 14:17 | Transfer portal chaos; “fake portal” and agent problems | | 17:50 | Lack of agent accreditation and its effects | | 18:28 | College football as a "rental car" | | 21:07 | Realignment, super-conference conspiracy | | 29:58 | Financial worries for the SEC and sustainability of current models | | 33:03 | Spending pressure: It's win-or-bust in today's big-money college football | | 39:08 | Indiana's improbable run and its significance | | 40:40 | Indiana not a Cinderella; discussion on resource parity | | 42:07 | Team cohesion and once-in-a-generation team chemistry | | 44:09 | Miami’s physical advantage, matchup preview |

Overall Tone & Final Thoughts

Candid, insightful, and cutting through the noise, John Middlekauff and Josh Pate deliver an honest, nuanced look at where college football stands—and where it’s going. Bringing in both high-level trends (money, governance, transfer policies) and specific, timely stories (Indiana’s run, the upcoming Natty), this episode is a must-listen for fans seeking to understand the sport beyond the headlines.