Best of The Herd

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd: Best of The Herd – January 10, 2025

Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Overview

In the "Best of The Herd" episode released on January 10, 2025, Colin Cowherd delves deep into the riveting world of college football, focusing primarily on the intense matchup between Notre Dame and Penn State. Joined by special guest Urban Meyer, a renowned figure in college football coaching, the discussion unpacks game strategies, coaching decisions, player performances, and the broader implications for the sport's future.

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1. Notre Dame vs. Penn State: A Game of Decisions

Colin Cowherd initiates the conversation by reflecting on the recent Notre Dame victory over Penn State, highlighting the myriad factors that contributed to the outcome.

• Key Points:
  • Penalties and Officiating: Notre Dame was significantly impacted by two crucial pass interference calls that negated interceptions, which Colin describes as “one of the worst calls I've ever seen in a huge game” ([06:30]).
  • Injuries: Notre Dame faced setbacks with key players injured, including their quarterback, whose concussion was a concern, and running backs with limited participation.
  • Coaching Under Pressure: James Franklin, Notre Dame's coach, faced criticism for his game management, especially in high-stakes scenarios.

Notable Quote:

"Their quarterback got hurt in the first half. People thought he was concussed. Their running backs planted about 50, 60%." – Colin Cowherd ([07:15])

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2. Marcus Freeman: Notre Dame's Defensive Maestro

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, drawing parallels between his coaching style and that of Sean McVay, a famed NFL coach.

• Key Points:
  • Leadership and Energy: Freeman is lauded for his intense presence and ability to motivate players, making him a "rock star" in the coaching realm.
  • Impact on Team Resilience: Under Freeman's guidance, despite being undermanned and facing penalties, Notre Dame showcased remarkable resilience and strategic playmaking in critical moments.

Notable Quote:

"Marcus Freeman, to me, feels like you're watching the college version of Sean McVay." – Colin Cowherd ([09:00])

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3. James Franklin: The Struggle to Adapt

James Franklin's coaching decisions, especially during pivotal moments in the game, were scrutinized for their impact on Notre Dame's performance.

• Key Points:
  • Decision-Making Under Pressure: Franklin's choice to throw the ball with limited time remaining was questioned, with Colin suggesting it was a lack of trust in the quarterback.
  • Game Strategy: Despite the challenges, Notre Dame executed a "specific, buttoned up, smart team" strategy in the final drive, contrasting Penn State's seemingly improvised plays.

Notable Quote:

"If Notre Dame would have lost, you'd literally, as a Notre Dame fan, be like, man, we couldn't get a break." – Colin Cowherd ([10:45])

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4. Urban Meyer’s Insights on Coaching and Team Dynamics

Urban Meyer brings a seasoned perspective to the discussion, offering his analysis of both coaches and the broader dynamics of college football.

• Key Points:
  • Coaching Philosophy: Meyer emphasizes the importance of preparation and adaptability, stating, "the most prepared team will win this game" ([38:50]).
  • Player Development: He underscores the significance of intangible qualities like leadership and resilience over mere physical prowess.
  • Future of College Football: Meyer touches upon the evolving landscape of the sport, including the impact of the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals on team compositions and player loyalty.

Notable Quote:

"When talent becomes equated, it's not the pregame talk. It's simply the most prepared team will win this game." – Urban Meyer ([39:10])

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5. Player Performances and Key Moments

The hosts analyze standout performances and critical moments that defined the game, shedding light on individual contributions and tactical executions.

• Key Points:
  • Notre Dame's Third Down Efficiency: Despite being behind, Notre Dame excelled on third downs, showcasing their strategic planning and execution.
  • Penn State’s Aggressive Playcalling: Penn State's late-game aggressiveness without achieving significant progress was highlighted as a tactical misstep.
  • Impact of Specific Players: Riley Leonard's performance was lauded for his resilience and leadership, while Penn State's quarterback Drew Aller faced criticism for his performance under pressure.

Notable Quote:

"We thought the quarterback was concussed. They fell behind, yet they were amazing on third down." – Colin Cowherd ([07:50])

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6. Implications for Future Matchups and Coaching Careers

The episode concludes with discussions on how the outcomes and performances might influence future games and coaching trajectories within college football.

• Key Points:
  • Coaching Careers: Freeman’s success at Notre Dame positions him as a hot commodity for future coaching opportunities, potentially at the NFL level.
  • Team Strategies Moving Forward: Both teams are expected to reassess their strategies, with Notre Dame leveraging their defensive strengths and Penn State needing to address decision-making inconsistencies.

Notable Quote:

"If I'm the Chicago Bears or some of these other teams in the NFL, I'm just waiting until Notre Dame's done the championship." – Colin Cowherd ([10:50])

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Conclusion

The "Best of The Herd" episode offers an in-depth analysis of one of college football's most intense rivalries, shedding light on the intricate dynamics between coaching decisions, player performances, and team resilience. Colin Cowherd and Urban Meyer provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the game's complexities, making it a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking comprehensive insights into college football's evolving landscape.

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Notable Quotes Summary

• "Their quarterback got hurt in the first half. People thought he was concussed. Their running backs planted about 50, 60%." – Colin Cowherd ([07:15])

• "Marcus Freeman, to me, feels like you're watching the college version of Sean McVay." – Colin Cowherd ([09:00])

• "If Notre Dame would have lost, you'd literally, as a Notre Dame fan, be like, man, we couldn't get a break." – Colin Cowherd ([10:45])

• "When talent becomes equated, it's not the pregame talk. It's simply the most prepared team will win this game." – Urban Meyer ([39:10])

• "We thought the quarterback was concussed. They fell behind, yet they were amazing on third down." – Colin Cowherd ([07:50])

• "If I'm the Chicago Bears or some of these other teams in the NFL, I'm just waiting until Notre Dame's done the championship." – Colin Cowherd ([10:50])

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Listen to More Episodes

For those who enjoyed this summary, be sure to listen to the full episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly. Traveling to see your fave sports team is cool, but traveling with Amex Platinum for the big game is even better. Right this way. With access to dedicated card member entrances at select events, you can skip the line and with access to the Centurion Lounge he shoots a three. You can catch the next game on the way home. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Learn more@american express.com with AmEx card Member entrance access not limited to AMEX Platinum Card Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Oh, we got a Friday. We got a Friday. All right. Live in Los Angeles, it's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now, Urban Meyer stops by Ohio State and Texas will not look like last night. It will be a fireworks show. Although I thought last night was exactly why college football is amazing. Bad officiating, nervous quarterbacks. Team that lost a Northern Illinois earlier now is rising. I thought last night was just a flawed, messy, fantastic Newt Rockne feeling moment for Notre Dame. J. Mack and I watched it together, knocked down some waters and great food. That was a wild one. Yeah, it was. I mean I lost the under which was feeling great for three quarters. Oh yeah, but you know when it's a great game like that, you can't me too upset. All right, so Notre Dame moves to the national championship. I think James Franklin is a good football coach, but he got out, coached his 12th straight loss to a top five team just at Penn State. And in big games, the little things matter. There was a million excuses for Notre Dame. First of all, they had two balls intercepted. Intercepted. They were both taken away on penalties. One of them the worst calls I've ever seen in a huge game. They called a pass interference on a wildly under thrown ball and again, both picks that I'm showing you here got called back. Their quarterback got hurt in the first half. People thought he was concussed. Their running backs planted about 50, 60%. They've got injuries all over their offensive line. They fell behind, yet they were amazing on third down. They had very few penalties. They had very specific plans on their final drive. And in every big third down or every big down defensively, they were completely buttoned up. Marcus Freeman, to me, feels like you're watching the college version of Sean McVay. The energy, the presence, the intensity, the way his team believes in him. He's like the classic player coach. Like, you almost wonder if they could use him at, like, safety. He's got that physical presence and the players love him. And this team lost in Northern Illinois at home. And you gotta remember about Marcus Freeman, I'll get to this in a bit, but this guy, his first home game when he got the job when he was 35, he lost a Marshall. What they have done at Notre Dame is a direct correlation and reflection on Marcus Freeman. This guy is a rock star. They're all banged up, and I thought it was fascinating at the end of the game. James Franklin's a good coach, but he can't learn from his mistakes. They make too many in big games. I mean, they had the eight guys on the field on that final Notre Dame field goal kick. Why are you throwing the ball with 33 seconds left in that game? What are you doing? I mean, you don't trust your quarterback. He didn't complete a ball to the receivers all night. You ran before that, so you kind of wanted to get to overtime. When I watched Notre Dame's final drive, I saw, you know, seven plays, 26 seconds using timeout, using Riley Leonard. There was a absolute plan on how to use this big. I like this kid way more than everybody else, apparently. I see a little bit of Josh Allen, maybe just a little bit. But they had a specific plan. It looked like Penn State decided, hey, let's go to overtime. Wait, What? We gained 12 yards. Hey, let's go for it. That's not a plan. That's just making crap up as you go. So I thought, and again, I'm not anti James Franklin, but what you saw was a specific, buttoned up, smart team. Injuries o line injuries, running back. We thought the quarterback was concussed. Two picks taken away, one in an egregious call. If Notre Dame would have lost, you'd literally, as a Notre Dame fan, be like, man, we couldn't get a break. We're falling apart here physically. And yet they won. So what I saw in this game was two young quarterbacks with talent, both a little nervous, two strong defenses, two huge brands, two limited passing attacks down the field, especially for Penn State. But one head coach that everybody in America with one five star recruit, one is playing in the national championship. You go to Georgia, Bama, these teams the last couple years, Ohio State, Notre Dame, it's different. The rosters are different. Texas, Notre Dame, the rosters are different. How is Notre Dame here? They're here because of the coach. And why did Penn State lose? Here's their coach. Everybody wants to pick out a specific play. There's probably eight to 12 plays in.

[Urban Meyer]

That game that if, if we could.

[Colin Cowherd]

Have found a way to make a few more plays in that game. And we're that close, right? It's a game inches now. It's a game of decisions. And there was one play. Go watch the final drives. Penn State should not have thrown that ball. They had not completed a pass to receivers. You could tell they really didn't trust their quarterback a lot. That's a long way to go against an excellent secondary and a very well coached team that was making it up as you go. And I want to talk about Marcus Freeman here because first of all, Notre Dame is doing it the right way. When he took over for Brian Kelly, I was like, he's a great recruiter, but he's 35, he's a defensive coach. I'm not sure if this is going to work. He went 9, 4, 10, 3, 141 and now he is 51 in bowl games. But what's more redeeming about it, in my opinion, he went 03 to start and he lost his first game at home at Notre Dame to Marshall. Right, right, right. Think about that. And this year they lost in Northern Illinois. And this is a great life lesson for young people and young coaches and young athletes. I've said this about Michael Jordan. I mean, Michael Jordan struggled with his owner, his gm, Dennis Rodman, his first couple of coaches, the Pistons, the Celtics. Life is hard. You gotta believe in yourself. And if you believe in yourself, young people around you will believe in you. We talk about this all the time, about players developing. What you have watched with Marcus Freeman is a young coach developing. He probably wasn't quite ready to be Notre Dame's coach the first two months he got the job. 35 year old coach, that is a, that's not just a job. Notre Dame's got academic umbrellas. It's a really tough job. I mean, Brian Kelly was successful into Notre Dame and Brian Kelly stumbled a lot in his first several years and he'd been a successful coach previously. Isn't Marcus Furman's first, Marcus Freeman's first job, your first head coaching job? Is Notre Dame you know how many guys have failed at Notre Dame that have previous winning experience? And I don't think he probably was quite ready in the first few weeks. But I'm watching a rock star here. I see Sean McVay. That's exactly what I see. Chest out, big energy, talking to the refs, motivating players. Notre Dame had every reason to lose last night, and I'm telling you that that pass interference call that took away the interception in the end zone was awful. You can't call PI if a ball is wildly overthrown or wildly underthrown. You can't call that. Here's Marcus after. But these guys are resilient and they found a way to make a play when it matters the most. And that's what again, is to me.

[Urban Meyer]

What great teams, great organizations, they're able.

[Colin Cowherd]

To at that moment that they need to do their job or make a play. They do it and the last play doesn't matter. There's unpredictable things that happen all the time and they find a way to make it work. Just to give you more context, it is harder to get into Notre Dame. And then once you're in Notre Dame, the workload for student athletes is as hard as maybe any place not called Stanford. I mean, it's hard. They can't take anybody. Think about this. Texas is going to play for the right to go to the national championship tonight. They have 11 five star athletes. Ohio State's playing Texas. They have 14. Georgia just got beat by Notre Dame. They had 14 five star recruits. Notre Dame's got one. It is virtually unheard of to be playing for a national championship with one elite five star recruit. And this program also in this world of the transfer portal and nil players don't transfer out of Notre Dame. They go in, they buy in, they stay in. That was a coaching masterpiece last night on a game where you got banged up players and bad calls and you're playing a good team. And I mean, I watched that game. I'm not so sure Penn State doesn't have more good players. I mean, I watched it last night. I'm like halfway through that game, I'm like, I think I picked the wrong team. I think Penn State's got better players. I mean, that Carter kid, you can't block him aller that tight end, that kid's insane. They got him throwing passes, coaching rock star Marcus Freeman. J. Mac. That is what college football is all about. It was flawed. It had warts, it had pimples, it had everything. It had emotion. I had Fun watching Marcus Freeman. You're right, man. He is the winner. If I'm the Chicago Bears or some of these other teams in the NFL, I'm just waiting until Notre Dame's done the championship. That was like LinkedIn on TV. That was a resume. Here's what you want as a coach. I can't believe there's no camera in the locker room to find out what the halftime speech was, because Notre Dame, after getting blitzed in the first half, they dominated. Well, they came out in the second half and run the ball. I mean, they just got very physical. Run the ball between the tackles. Use Riley Leonard. And they got a break. One of the breaks they got is Penn State had a couple of defensive backs fall down on a big play. I mean, you listen when you win games like that, you did get a break somewhere. Got a big break when a Penn State DB just fell down. And the James Franklin stuff, though, let's. I feel like people are crushing him for this loss. I don't know that it's on him. You got three timeouts.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

All you need is to get in field goal range to have a shot. Okay. But that is. That is taking three knees there at the end. Timeout. That is a great secondary. They were great against Georgia. It is a great secondary. People aren't throwing the ball on Notre Dame. You don't trust your quarterback. You don't have a completion in the game to a wide receiver. Overtime is built for what Penn State does. Great tight end and I mean, Singletary, big time running back. Yeah. So if I'm Penn State and I look at my team, I don't have a pass completed to a receiver. I'm not trying to drive the ball 45 yards. By the way, kickers, when Jeter went up there to kick the winner, did you think he was going to make it? I was like, God, this is. I mean, this is. I. It. It just like football coaches want to try to win. We're out here. We got timeouts. We got the ball. Let's give it a shot. I personally would have gone to Warren and drawn another flag because that's all he's doing all night, is drawn flag. I said before, I think James Franklin is a good coach, but I didn't think they used their running back enough. I think the kid we. I think we talked about him earlier. It's a big. It's a bad. I was just talking to an NFL GM yesterday about Penn State's run game. They ran for like 200 yards. Like they. I thought they had a good and the game plan was good. I can't blame Frank. I thought they were making it up on the final drive fair. And that's been one of the knocks on him like hey, late game situations. He's just and I and I like James Franklin. This is not an indictment. He beats everybody except you know like Notre Dame and Ohio State and and Harbaughs Michigan. James Franklin is a very good football coach. No breakthrough. Remember Harbaugh? We said this about him for a few years when he was. That's fair. We got to run. You watched this game last night? I Does Penn State have better high end talent? It's at least equal. Maybe. Maybe. I mean Carter like you said. Well, the tight end and Carter are the two best players. Carter wasn't even 100% coming off an injury. Like he looks like. I mean he's wearing Micah Parsons number. He looks like Micah Parsons. He's everywhere. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hi, it's the Herd. NFL playoffs. We're talking about NFL playoffs. You bet we are. Get in on the action in DraftKings sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. Scoring touchdowns is the key to winning in the NFL playoffs. And the key to you scoring big is betting on them at DraftKings, the number one place to bet touchdowns. Just download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Super easy to do. 90 seconds and use the code herdherd. Here's another reason to watch your favorite players crush it in the playoffs. New customers bet five bucks to get 200 in bonus bets instantly. So score big during the NFL playoffs with DraftKings Sportsbook. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now. Use the code HERDHERD. New customers can bet 5 bucks. Get 200 instantly in bonus bets only on DraftKingsportsbook with code HERD. H E R D. The crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York. Call 8778-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort, Kansas 21. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario, new customers only. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources C D K N G Co Audio Omaha Steaks is America's original butcher and has been bringing people together with the world's best steak experience for more than 100 years of family owned experience. 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Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. The Daily Show Podcast has everything you need to stay on top of today's news and pop culture. You get hilarious satirical takes on entertainment, politics, sports and more from John and the team of correspondents and contributors. The podcast also has content you can't get anywhere else, like extended interviews and a roundup of the weekly headlines. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up everybody? 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Listen to NHL Unscripted with Vir and Demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here we go. It's hour two. We're live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. J. Mac. Got a blazing five here in a couple of minutes. You know, it's interesting. So my initial belief on games, there's about one a week I look at and I zero in on it. You had strong feelings about the Rams in this game, and I pushed back and I had strong feelings about the Ravens in this game. And then you start digging and digging and looking at these lines. Wait, you're taking the Steelers here? Ooh, bold. Going big dogs this weekend. Not saying that. Listen, you've had a better year than me picking games. Not by much. I mean, I've been. I've been good. Not great. I've been bad. College football's been really good. We got Ohio State tonight, right? We both have Ohio State tonight. Yeah, we've gone last two weeks. We both had Notre Dame over Georgia, Notre Dame over Penn State. We both liked Ohio State over Oregon. We. We've. I stayed away. Texas. ASU. You liked ASU. That was opening round. I think we went 4, 0 each of us, I'm pretty sure. Great. No, I. I bought into the underdogs in the opening round and then I learned my lesson. But here we go. Our blazing five bought you. Brought to you by DraftKings Sportsbook. That's a hot one. Let's blaze it up. Fire it up. It's Collins Blazin Five. Sponsored by DraftKings Steelers and Ravens. Listen, I'm gonna take the nine and a half. These are 38 times Tomlin and Harbaugh have met the Underdogs done very well in this series. 3 and 1 all time against Baltimore in the playoffs. And The Ravens, they're 2 and 6 over eight playoff games. And I love Lamar Jackson. He's not the same. He's been under 200 yards passing. They don't have Zay Flowers. They don't have another receiver. They have a good tight end, Lamar in the back. I mean as a starter against the Steelers in the playoffs, he has struggled. And let's be honest, the Ravens pass defense isn't great. You can move the ball, chop it up. Offensively, I think the Ravens win a nine and a half as Mike Tomlins, the best underdog coach in a decade. 27:23. Baltimore. Baltimore wins. I'm going to take the nine and a half points Broncos and Bills. Listen, a lot of the wise guys, yeah, they're going to like Denver. I'm going to take Buffalo 80 at home during the regular season and winning by an NFL best 17 point. Josh Allen playoff career, 26 touchdowns, four interceptions. What's not to like? He's not Lamar Jackson. He may not be hoisting trophies. He's not Lamar Jackson. James Cook led the NFL, 18 scrimmage touchdowns. Great at home. Broncos number seven seeds are one and seven all time in the wild card round since playoff expansion. They didn't play particularly well down the stretch. They lost two or three games. The only win over the Chiefs. And the Chiefs were resting starters. Josh Allen at home. Big spot. Rookie quarterbacks in the first round go 8 and 13. I like the bills. I like them to cover 30 to 20. Packers at Eagles. This is my favorite bet of the weekend. I like Philadelphia to win at home and Philadelphia to cover -4 and a half. They've won 12 of their last 13 games and they're only giving up about 15 points a game. Number two rushing offense, the highest rush percentage in the league. So Jalen hurts. Concussion protocol. They should be able to keep it on the ground. Jalen hurts, by the way. He gets a fresh Saquon Barkley. Okay, so a well rested Saquon Barkley. And the packers, they were not good against good teams. Owen 5 this year against the Vikings, Lions and Eagles. 2 and 5 against playoff teams this year. Green Bay is a bit of a front runner, a bit of a bully. I don't like him in this spot. They also were second in the NFL and drops. So they're a young team that can make mistakes. I like Philadelphia. Jalen hurts since week four has been great. 33 to 24 commanders at Buccaneers. I think Tampa is the better team here. I'm going to take a favorite minus three at home. Veteran quarterback with a real run game and a better defensive front. Do you know Tampa's the first NFL offense in league history with a 70 plus percent completion percentage through the air and 5 plus yards per carry. This is a daunting run attack. So Baker is going to be throwing on second and five and third and two. And Baker right now leads the NFL with 15 touchdown passes over the last four games. So Baker's hot, the run game is substantial. And listen, we like the commanders. They are down in the fourth quarter. It feels like even in the game. I mean, their most famous win this year was a Hail Mary. They've trailed in the fourth in three straight games. They don't have a run game. They're going to be totally Jaden Daniels dependent and he may pull it out. But they had the second easiest NFL schedule this year. This is a tough draw. I like Tampa to win and Tampa to cover. 33 to 24. Vikings at Rams. It's hard. The more I thought I listened to Greg Cosell yesterday. I'm going to take the Rams plus two and a half. Listen, they won five straight games before resting their starters in week 18 and they're six and one when they score over 21 points. And I think they will. Matt Stafford has been a very good playoff quarterback in LA. 69.9% completion percentage with a lot of touchdowns and only three picks. Their defense is on fire. It's young. It's totally healthy. Sam Darnold's making his playoff debut. It's a road game. I'm just worried I'm going to take, by the way, the highest passing yard per game playoff in NFL history for quarterbacks. Matt Stafford is number one over Kurt Warner and Dan Fouts. I'm going to take the Rams to win a close one, 27 to 24. So there you have it. By the way, DraftKings, this week's new custom. Bet five bucks, get 200 in bonus bets. The promo code is heard. I'm taking some favorites here. I'm taking Buffalo, I'm taking Philadelphia, I'm taking Tampa as favorites and I'll take the Steelers and the Rams getting points. I think J. Mac likes most of them except the Pittsburgh. Yeah, no, I think I'm in lockstep with you through all along the board. I just, I don't. I mean, I guess the Zay Flowers injury, he's been ruled out now. To me it's. They can be limited without him. No, I mean it's Mark Andrews in a backfield like they they don't have their next number two receiver has 15 catches. Yeah. In the NFL. This isn't Penn State, it's the NFL. I don't without Zay Flowers, they're not going to be explosive down the field at all. And I think that makes the game a 30 to 30 game in between the 30s. Probably a good bet by you. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Hey, it's Steve Cavino and I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino Enriched Live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Ko Vino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to 4 lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. The Daily show podcast has everything you need to stay on top of today's news and pop culture. You get hilarious satirical takes on entertainment, politics, sports and More from John and a team of correspondents and contributors. The podcast also has content you can't get anywhere else, like extended interviews and a roundup of the weekly headlines. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast in the National Hockey League week. It's NHL Unscripted with Virgin Demers. Hey, I'm Jason Demers, former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst, and boy, oh boy, does daddy have a lot to say. I love you, by the way. On NHL Network, we're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right? Yeah, I just met you today, but we're gonna have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture. And you know what, tons of back and forth on all things NHL. Yeah, you're soon going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We had all kinds of random stuff on this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling, even the stuff that you wear in NHL. Now you wish you could pull off my short shorts, Virky. That's sure to cause a ruckus. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Burke and Demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, Urban Meyer, the voice of college football here, is joining us now. Fox Sports big noon kickoff Saturdays in the fall. Okay, so I'm watching that game last night. So listen, I don't like the second guest coaches. I don't. I'm not a second guesser, Urban, because I don't know who's healthy and who's not. You looked at film and I didn't. But I gotta get to something. So Penn State hadn't completed a ball to receivers. There's very little time left. Notre Dame secondary is excellent. They're very disciplined and well coached. And let's be honest about Penn State's quarterback, he can make mistakes. I don't think with that time, 40 yards to go. I'm packing it in. We're built for overtime. I got great running backs. I didn't like Penn State getting aggressive down the stretch. Am I wrong? Tell me where you land on that.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I was in the suite at the Orange Ball watching it and I was with a group of people. And when they got the ball back, they're deep in their own territory. 47 seconds left. They did have all the timeouts, and they ran the ball. Nick Singleton, I believe, got like 12 yards, 10 yards.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

And I even said to myself, don't do it. Don't just. Just play this thing out. Run the ball one more time. If you get near the midfield, then go ahead. But, you know, Drew Aller is going to have to live with that one for a long time. But I saw the same thing the country saw, that Penn State's receivers just had a hard time getting open. And you can put this all on the quarterback. It's not. It's. Their best player is Tyler Warren. And then the two tailbacks. And after that, there's a significant drop off. And so that'll be questioned for a long time. But you also, you know, you kick yourself in the teeth if you don't at least take a shot. But I would have. I would have handed that thing off one or two more times. If they would have busted it, I would have thrown it down the field. Never throw that ball across the middle in that kind of situation. And that one. That was tough. And I'm with you, Colin. I. Exactly. And I said that to a group of people. They're looking at me, and I said, no, no, no, don't. No. Two minute here. It's only 47 seconds left. You're facing a secondary that's better than your receivers. Don't do it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I was talking about Mark Marcus Freeman. You know, he started 03. He lost his first home game to Marshall, and he was 35 years old. And I'm like, oh, boy. And he had good players. I'm like, I don't know if this thing's gonna work. So when, you know you were the turnaround specialist, that's what you. You and Bill Parcells like. You're in a very short class. So when he starts 0 and 3 and he's 35 and he, unlike you, he didn't, you know, your first job, you were kind of hidden over there in Bowling Green. We didn't know who Urban Meyer was. His first job is Notre Dame. How do you think he turned it around? Go back to the first year. What's his secret sauce here?

[Urban Meyer]

I think it goes back to the way he was a player at Ohio State. You know, he's always had that reputation of doing things the right way, of being unselfish and extremely hard work, and I think that's what he is as a position coach for Luke Fickle. Luke Fickle is one of my guys, so I know Marcus Freeman very well. I followed him. I actually called him. I saw his press conference after they lost to Marshall, and he looked exactly like he thought he would look. He looked like, what in the world just happened? Where am I and what am I doing? And. And I remember Mack Brown reached out to me when I was in Florida, was in a similar situation. I was a little bit over my skis, and you just. You become overwhelmed. And I talked to him quite a bit. I've stayed in touch with him. His maturity of a coach is. I don't want to say it's unprecedented, but it's phenomenal what he's done. He's got a good roster, not a great roster. He does not have. You know, the two rosters playing tonight are better than Notre Dame.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

But they got something. They got something very special in that locker room. Their leadership, their toughness to refuse to lose that game was almost out of hand in that first half against Penn State. And they. You got to give Marcus Freeman as coaching staff credit. But also those damn players, man, I was there. I watched them. They were. They refused to lose and just toughed it out, man. That was a great win for them.

[Colin Cowherd]

So one more question on this. Riley Leonard is. It's fascinating because everybody's talking about Drew Aller and, And Shadour and all this stuff. And I said, there's something about Riley Leonard. He's got a little. Just a little Josh Allen. Just to 8% Josh Allen. But you know what I like about Riley Leonard is, you know, there were a lot of reasons he could have had his head down, his defense, got a couple of picks, one terrible call, took one on, two away. They trailed running backs, banged up his own line. I like Riley Leonard. He's a kind of kid that has a short memory. I mean, if you watch his body language, Urban. He's smiling, he's in a good mood, he's big, he's physical. What do you see when you see him? Because I'm trying to tell everybody on this set, I'm like, I like that kid. That's a Sunday player. To me, everybody's like, he never completes passes. What do you see with Riley Leonard?

[Urban Meyer]

I see what. I see what his record is. I see a guy that's a good passer. I see a guy that's has so much of the intangibles that you see his leadership is walking around the sideline, his energy. Like you said, he's always a positive person. A person is what their record is. That's what Riley Leonard is He's a winner. He's going to win. You know, Is he good enough to be a starter in the National Football League? No, he's not physically. But there's other guys in the NFL I've seen have great careers that weren't good enough physically. They just had the other stuff. And he has the other stuff. Remember, a man is what his record is. That's. I say Raleigh Redder, what is he? He's playing for the national championship. His career running percentage is extremely high for a quarterback. His completion percentage in yards per game is average. That's what I see. I see a winner that has all the values and, and I'm speaking. I had a guy like that called J.T. barrett.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

J.T. barrett is what his record is. He's a winner.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Yeah. So let's talk Ohio State and Texas. So I told everybody, get your, get your welders mask on. This is going to be Fourth of July. It's going to be fireworks and splash plays. So when you go into a game like this, you're the Ohio State coach and you know Texas has nothing but talent and you, they're going to make you look bad, you may fall behind. There's going to be. This is a game that resilience matters because it's not going to be. I mean, I think last night's game looked like you think it would look. I think tonight's could be the opposite. When you go into a game and this may be the only time this year Ohio State has met their match physically, what is the messaging? Because Texas played Georgia twice, they've met their match physically. Ohio State I don't think has. And this is the first one. What's the messaging?

[Urban Meyer]

Well, the message is, and I actually sent this to a friend of mine, when talent becomes equated, it's not the pregame talk. It's not the. It's simply the most prepared team will win this game. And the team that practiced the best had the best preparation. I'm not just talking about practice, but their bodies are in great shape and that, that takes so many hours of prep for a player, especially this late in the season. The guy that spends them so much time in the training room getting dry needle getting up, the cupping, all the different prehab things that get your body at the point to be at its best tonight. So the most prepared team will win. And I also believe that Texas or Ohio State, how Ryan Day manages the game and Sark will be how their defense is playing. If their defense is playing well, I would always have two different game plans. In my mind as a game manager. If my defense is going out like it did against Oklahoma in the Orange bowl in 2008 and we held Sam Bradford and that offense to seven points at halftime, it was a whole different animal. If it was 21 to. Yeah, whatever it was. So I think the first half. And I think this is really cool for the viewer to watch this. The defense is going to set. It has to. Because you go out there and do something stupid early in that first quarter. This is not Tennessee, all due respect. And it's not Oregon. You're right. This Texas team is toe for toe. The only team in the country that can line up against Ohio State.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

And they can.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

So how your defense plays is going to how you manage that game.

[Colin Cowherd]

So listen, Saban did this where he pulled a quarterback and inserted a quarterback in a national championship game. So let's just. And I know that's guts. That is. That is hard to do. So would there be a point tonight if you're Sark, Would it be a score thing? Would it be a confidence thing? Because I saw Ryan Day when Will Howard struggled. I watched him change his game plan against Michigan. Like I saw him play as Jane. You can't do that tonight. You can't just say we're not going to throw as much. What would. What would you have to see with Sark that you would be concerned about the quarterback situation which has been inconsistent for Texas this year.

[Urban Meyer]

Year. Yeah. Here. Here's the thing about Arch. I think he's going to be a great player. I'm not. I'm about to say something that I. I don't want to offend anybody. That he's not a great player. He's going to be a great player. When I watched and I did, I went back and watched a bunch of his tape. It's not like he's overwhelming yet. It's not like he comes in the game and it's just it. It. He blows the doors off of everybody else. So I don't see that drastic. You know, I do believe Arch Banning at some point will be a high draft pick and all that. That time is not now.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay.

[Urban Meyer]

And so I think he's doing the right thing with. Can you. Quinn, Yours has won the big games. Do you make it? Do you do the Nick Saban, which is one of the gutsiest move I've ever seen in that kind of scenario. Only Sark knows that because we're not privy to being in practice. And what Arch is really capable of doing what I've seen. He's got a great future. But right now, one years is the best opportunity to win.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Okay, so years ago, I don't know if I told you this years and years ago, I think you were coaching at Florida and the other place, the other big sports network had Ohio State played lsu. And I saw you in the hallway, I said, hey, I was doing a commercial break. I said, hey, coach, get over here. What's this game going to look like? And you told me off the air, you said, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and it looked exactly like you told me it was going to look like. And then I went on the air and I pretended that I knew that. And I didn't give you any credit. I just said, you know, here's what the game's going to look like, I guarantee you. So anyway, now everybody knows that. So tonight I'm not asking for a score. What do you think the game looks like tonight? What should I, what, what kind of tempo, pace? What does it look like?

[Urban Meyer]

So Ohio State 2024 was a slow starting team, and the Wolverine game was really bad as far as a slow start. They actually fell behind. Marshall seven, nothing. I remember, you know, we had, we were there. And I've, obviously, I watch other games against Tennessee, something happened. And I think all the criticism about Chip Kelly and Ryan Day not being creative enough, not being explosive enough, not getting the best players of all, they went after him like, I mean, I mean, it was, we saw the scores, the score, the game was over in the first quarter. Yeah, I, I'm more, I hope they don't do that. I hope they're conscientious about how aggressive they are because I went back and watched Texas, Texas has. This will be the best secondary. This will be the best defensive line. And Ohio State still has three offense linemen down up front. I think you see how that defense plays. The fans don't want to hear that, but you got to go win this game. How do you go in the game, see how your defense plays, manage the game. I would not be reckless in that first quarter. I think against Tennessee, and I mean, I loved it, it was fantastic. But you overmatched Oregon. You had better players in Oregon. You had much better players in Tennessee tonight. I think they, I think they have the better roster, but I think it's fairly close.

[Colin Cowherd]

Very excited. Urban Meyer, Fox Sports college football. He's on the big noon kickoff. And you were inducted into the Orange bowl hall of Fame last night. How about that? And Then. And so you. You drove.

[Urban Meyer]

Penn State fans were. The Penn State fans didn't like that, and the Notre Dame fans were getting after Brady or Matt Leiner. So it was. Well, I looked at the Orange bowl gal and I says, holy cow. That ever happened? She was. Happens every year.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

I mean, if there's fans at the other school, yeah, you get hammered pretty good. So it's fun, though.

[Colin Cowherd]

Notre Dame fans. Notre Dame fans are. I don't know. I've told you this before. You had. You had an opportunity to take a Notre Dame job, and you didn't. I know that you don't want to say that. You're a humble guy, but Notre Dame, you. You were. You were an assistant there for years. And I'm watching them last night. I love when Notre Dame's good. There's just. I mean, when you were on that campus, you had a Florida job, you had an Ohio State job, you did smaller colleges. Did Notre Dame feel a little different, all things considered?

[Urban Meyer]

Well, it's fun. It's. There's no place like it. I made the comment that I got a little choked up the first time when I saw them win a couple weeks ago against Georgia. You know, who'd have thought in this day and age that they would basically control a game against the University of Georgia and SEC powerhouse. I know I recruited there. I made the comment that I remember. When you hear those words, Lake effect coming off of Lake Michigan, there's only a certain type of player that you can recruit to Notre Dame. December, January, it's changed a little bit. But, I mean, academics are real. You know, I was. There's 7. 7,500 students there. How many students go the game? Call it 7500. It's. It's, it's. It's incredible place. It's the purity of college football. I love their coach. I love that place. And I, I was the same as you. When Notre Dame's great, it's good for. Great for college football.

[Colin Cowherd]

Good seeing you, coach.

[Urban Meyer]

Good seeing you. Call.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right. Great. Urban Meyer. Yeah. It's. If you love college football and the traditions and the stadiums and I, I thought last night was just so rich. The. It's. The fabric of college football starts with. To me, it doesn't start with the sec. When I was a kid growing up, Washington was great, Ohio State was great. Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan. It was cold weather, teams that were grimy. USC always had a bunch of players. Texas was hit and miss, but Nebraska was great. SEC wasn't as dominant like Georgia, you know, the Herschel Walker Georgia team with Buck Blue at quarterback one and Natty didn't. I don't know if they completed more than one or two passes. But I mean, when I, when I kind of think of college football, football in its history, it was a lot of these northern powers. And then over the last 20 years, it's kind of veered down into sunshine states. But I, I just think there's something pretty cool about Penn State, Michigan. I mean, I was thinking this last night, watching it with JMac, I'm thinking, are we going to get a Big Ten final off Michigan's win? I mean, what, What? Because right now, I mean, SEC fans, the new guy in the neighborhood, Texas is their last shot. It's either going to be northern power Ohio State or northern power Notre Dame. I'll tell you, I'll just tell you this right now. Ohio State, Notre Dame television rating may beat usc. Texas, what's your line for that? Who, who, who? How much is Ohio State favored by over at Notre Dame? Yeah, I mean, because Texas is power rated Notre Dame, so it's got to be bigger than six, six and a half. Yeah. I think Ohio State would win. I think it might be seven and a half. Maybe. Maybe higher. I don't even know if I'd want to. I wouldn't. You've watched this Notre Dame offense now closely the last couple games. They don't have much going. Yeah, but I've watched this coaching staff in this secondary. Yeah, no, definitely. And they came out of it pretty healthy last night, didn't they? Offensive linemen went down. Yeah, I, I don't know if it's serious or long term, but, but I think if you're a Notre Dame fan, you're probably rooting Texas here, right? Oh, I think Notre Dame could beat Texas. Rooting for Texas. You want to, you want to see them? Yeah, I think they could beat Texas. I'm not saying they would. They'd be an underdog. But I could see Notre Dame getting into Texas's head. Yeah. Penn State receivers had zero catches. Jeremiah Smith will have three on the first drive. Maybe. I mean, come on. Yeah. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day. Food, no matter what I'm craving from two for one pizza. To buy one, get one wings. Uber Eats. We'll be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details. This message brought to you by the official Whiskey of the Herd with Colin Coward Green River Whiskey Green River Whiskey is the 10th oldest distillery in Kentucky and was once the most expensive Whiskey purchased when 20 barrels were traded for shares in a gold mine. From single barrel bourbons to straight rye, Green River's the perfect combo of rich flavor and richer history. Visit greenriverwhiskey.com to discover a legend in a bottle. A product of Green River Distilling Co. Owensboro, KY. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com Please drink responsibly. Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports, and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers. Jason Demers here, And after playing 700 NHL games, I got a lot of dirty laundry to air out. Hey, I got a lot to say here too, okay? Each week we'll get together to chat about the sport that we love. Tons of guests are going to join in too, but we're not just going to be talking hockey, folks. We're talking movies, we're talking tv, food, and Adnan's favorite wrestling. It's all on Le Table. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Virk and demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.