Best of The Herd

Summary

Best of The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode Summary

Release Date: July 22, 2025

Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: Ryan Day, Ohio State Football Coach
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Overview

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd engages in an in-depth conversation with Ryan Day, the esteemed head coach of Ohio State University’s football team. The discussion delves into various aspects of college and professional sports, including player management, coaching strategies, recruitment challenges, and comparisons between legendary athletes like LeBron James and Michael Jordan. The episode offers insightful perspectives on the evolving landscape of sports management and the intricacies of building a successful team.

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Key Discussions

1. LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: A Comparative Analysis

The conversation kicks off with a debate on the enduring legacy of basketball icons LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Colin presents a critical view of LeBron’s impact compared to Michael Jordan's unparalleled influence.

• Colin Cowherd (02:15):
  “Michael Jordan’s legacy is untouchable. Six championships, unmatched brand value, and he still sells more shoes than LeBron.”

• Ryan Day (02:45):
  “While LeBron has impressive stats and versatility, Michael Jordan’s ability to generate emotion and a dedicated fanbase sets him apart.”

The discussion highlights Michael Jordan's emotional resonance with fans versus LeBron’s consistent performance and business acumen, emphasizing that while LeBron is a phenomenal athlete, Jordan’s cultural impact remains unparalleled.

2. Ohio State Football: Navigating Challenges and Building a Winning Team

Ryan Day provides insights into managing a top-tier college football program amidst challenges such as player turnover and the evolving NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) landscape.

• Colin Cowherd (08:58):
  “At Ohio State, you lose about 15 players to the pros each year. How do you maintain team chemistry with such turnover?”

• Ryan Day (09:05):
  “It’s about fostering a strong culture and quickly integrating new talent. Developing young players to step up is crucial.”

The conversation underscores the importance of cultivating a resilient team culture and the continuous development of players to sustain success despite losing key athletes annually.

3. Recruitment Strategies in the Age of NIL

The episode explores how NIL deals are reshaping recruitment strategies, with a focus on balancing high school recruiting with the new opportunities arising from NIL.

• Colin Cowherd (32:53):
  “How do you balance traditional recruiting with the new dynamics introduced by NIL deals?”

• Ryan Day (33:10):
  “We focus on recruiting the right individuals and ensuring they align with our program’s values. NIL is an additional tool, but the core remains strong recruitment and player development.”

Ryan emphasizes that while NIL provides additional incentives, the foundation of successful recruitment lies in identifying and nurturing talent that fits the program’s ethos.

4. Player Spotlight: J.J. McCarthy vs. Jaden Daniels

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the comparison between promising quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Jaden Daniels, analyzing their readiness and potential impact in the NFL.

• Colin Cowherd (34:03):
  “I believed Jaden Daniels was more NFL-ready than J.J. McCarthy due to his performance under pressure and athleticism.”

• Ryan Day (35:52):
  “Jaden has demonstrated remarkable discipline and resilience, traits that are vital for success at the professional level.”

The dialogue highlights Ryan’s support for Jaden Daniels, citing his superior performance in high-pressure situations and overall athletic prowess as key indicators of his potential success in the NFL compared to J.J. McCarthy.

5. Impact of Coaching Decisions on Team Performance

The episode touches upon the ramifications of coaching decisions, referencing how overstepping roles, as seen with Bill Belichick, can adversely affect team dynamics and performance.

• Colin Cowherd (08:56):
  “When coaches start handling multiple roles, it can lead to mismanagement and poor team performance.”

• Ryan Day (09:07):
  “Specialization in coaching roles is essential. Trying to do too much can dilute a coach’s effectiveness.”

This segment underscores the importance of defined roles within coaching staff to maintain focus and optimize team performance.

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Notable Quotes

• Colin Cowherd (02:15):
  “Michael Jordan’s legacy is untouchable. Six championships, unmatched brand value, and he still sells more shoes than LeBron.”

• Ryan Day (09:05):
  “It’s about fostering a strong culture and quickly integrating new talent. Developing young players to step up is crucial.”

• Colin Cowherd (34:03):
  “I believed Jaden Daniels was more NFL-ready than J.J. McCarthy due to his performance under pressure and athleticism.”

• Ryan Day (35:52):
  “Jaden has demonstrated remarkable discipline and resilience, traits that are vital for success at the professional level.”

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Conclusions

The episode offers a comprehensive look into the complexities of sports management, highlighting the delicate balance between maintaining team culture, effective recruitment, and adapting to industry changes such as NIL. Colin Cowherd and Ryan Day provide thought-provoking insights into what drives success both on and off the field, emphasizing the importance of leadership, strategic decision-making, and the continual development of talent. The comparative analysis of sports legends serves to underline the multifaceted nature of athletic legacy and influence.

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For more in-depth discussions and expert insights, tune into The Herd with Colin Cowherd on iHeartPodcasts and The Volume.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast, okay? Have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back. And Degree listened. That doesn't happen often, they admitted. They effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant and it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself. The Herd is brought to you by Grainger. If you work as a maintenance manager, your facility is your home turf and your home field advantage is having a partner like Grainger. They offer trusted professional grade products for every industry from lighting and electrical to safety and everything in between, plus next day delivery. 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APU is designed for busy professionals who need education that fits their lives. And affordability matters too. APU offers the Opportunity grant, giving students 10% off undergraduate and master's level tuition, helping you reach your goals without breaking the bank. Plus, they provide career services and 247 mental health support at no extra cost. Visit Apu Apus Edu to learn more. That's Apu Apus Edu. Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at 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. Here we go. It is a Tuesday. We are really, really rolling today. Ryan Day. Ohio State football coach Nick Wright stops by today. It is a Tuesday. We're. It's the Herd. J Mac Interesting story. The Athletic kind of broken. Interesting story. John Hollinger, where there were whispers in league circles that LeBron James, and we talked about it on this show, was looking at Dallas as a landing spot. We've talked about this great front line. Here comes Cooper Flagg, better coach. And you know, let's be honest, if he went to Dallas, he would be the centerpiece, even though he's always older. LeBron in Dallas, every time he goes to a new team for two years, it's like, wow. Whereas in la, it's like Lucas team and everybody knows it. New owners. It kind of feels like nothing against LeBron, but he's not the future. But this is interesting. This is really interesting. So the athletic does report. We've been saying this now. I have been saying this for three to four weeks. Dallas is a better place to go. I mean, I get Cooper Flag or Austin reeves, I get AD or Deandre Ayton. But LeBron wasn't willing and this is what killed it. According to John Hollinger, he wasn't willing to leave 52 million on the table for a mid level exemption. So don't think about that. LeBron's a billionaire. He's a billionaire and my take is with LeBron. Rich Paul told us it was all about winning. It's not anymore. I think Michael Jordan's still in his head. He knows in the basketball community, with basketball fans, he's never going to catch MJ. MJ is six for six. MJ is more memorable. MJ's got the logo, the brand and sells more shoes. He's more romanticized. Michael Jordan. There are a dozen plays to this day that you close your eyes and think about and you can see Michael Jordan do it. Unless you're driving with LeBron. There's one, that chase down block against the warriors. That's it. And so I think it LeBron at this point, he's never going to catch him. He's never going to catch him. In net worth. MJ's net worth is $3.5 billion. LeBron, even with the massive money he's paid is 1 billion. That's why he wants to Own a basketball team. I think he's chasing Michael. And here's the difference. Michael Jordan makes you feel something and LeBron doesn't. MJ and I mean high level salespeople will tell you you want to trigger emotion in advertisers and consumers. You want to make people feel something about a product. Michael has that. You wear his shoes, you feel cool. You like being on that side of the argument. So Michael's richer, more memorable, bigger brand, and he makes you feel something and LeBron doesn't. LeBron has kind of bounced around to the best basketball opportunity every chance he gets. He's been the great basketball opportunist, and I've never criticized him for that. I understand it. His first stop, he got drafted to Cleveland. Seven years in, they couldn't get him another all Star. I was on the bandwagon, get to Miami. But my take is you probably should have stayed in Miami. In fact, I'd argue the only time LeBron has ever made us feel something was when he bent back to his hometown, when he went back to Akron and he won in Cleveland. Remember that letter? I'm going back home. Made you feel something. Then he won in Cleveland. Made you feel something. But he's sort of been the great basketball opportunist and he's got more points and more assists and he's been to more finals, but he's never made us feel anything. I said this the other day. Tiger woods made you feel something. Scotty Scheffler's just great. That's the difference. Arnold Palmer was more beloved than Jack Nicklaus. People loved Arnie. Why made you feel a certain way? Works in politics, works in sports. Michael Jordan still sells more shoes than LeBron. Just to give you the influence of Michael Jordan, he got Derek Jeter in his prime to wear his logo. Football jerseys all over this country, the Jordan logo. And I Look at this. LeBron not taking for one time in his career, giving up money. Mid level exception to play with Cooper Flag. Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Derek Lively. Better coach now. I'm not going to do it in 2016. LeBron said it, quote, my motivation is the ghost I'm chasing. He played in Chicago. Even with this, I think Michael's still in his head. So NFL camps are underway, including the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard. They've had a pretty rough 29 years, haven't been to a single NFC championship. So yesterday or the day before, Jerry Jones was asked, I think, a very reasonable and appropriate question about remaining as general manager.

[Ryan Day]

Stepping away as general Manager ever been even a momentary consideration for you gritty eggs? Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

Momentary.

[Ryan Day]

How long a moment?

[Colin Cowherd]

Now we're getting down to it. Small fractions of seconds.

[Ryan Day]

I promise you that.

[Colin Cowherd]

As you know, you see it, I'm in senior bowls combines all of that, all of that melds into a real good feeling about where we are so that I'm not sitting up there throwing darts about a player. The downside to wealth is that it starts to make you feel you're great at everything. The Cowboys had a great draft in 2020. That's their last great one. The Eagles last great draft was the last four. Their first two picks last year. Home run, home run, position of need, corner. They nailed both. I think the minute you start thinking you can do two to three things exceptionally well, you get into trouble. Bill Belichick six years ago was the greatest coach in the world. But then he started taking over the draft and personnel and New England became the slowest team in the league offensively. He was tone deaf to offense as the league pivoted and he got rushed out of town and couldn't get another job. Bill o', Brien, I think a good coach. Houston Texans made him GM and coach. Bad drafts trades were worse. Remember they gave D Hop away for like, you know, a bag of Doritos. Like, it was brutal. And I think, I think the way to do it is the way Brad Stevens did with the Celtics. Very, very good coach. But he's like, you know, this coaching thing is hard and a lot of travel and I love basketball. I'm just going to move upstairs, be a gm, eventually a great one, and give it to the new guy. That's the way to do it. You're seeing it in college football. The smart coaches, they don't want to be gm. They make their school hire one. Elon Musk, brilliant, dabbled in politics. Tesla stock still down 15%. It's hard to just do a bunch of stuff really well unless you're Shohei Ohtani. The Cowboys don't draft well. The Cowboys overpay for good players and they're non existent last couple of years in free agency. I said this a couple years ago. How in the hell could they not pay $8 million for Derrick Henry? And the Eagles with a stacked, often veteran, expensive roster. Pay for Saquon Barkley. How is that possible? Philadelphia is paying their quarterback, a receiver, tight ends, three offensive linemen, everybody but Jalen Carter, linebackers, safeties, and they still have room. Dallas is like, I don't know if we can afford. I'm not sure if we can afford 8 million to improve the worst running back room in the league and they couldn't and Baltimore could. Another well run team. So. But you know, sometimes with Dallas it feel. It feels like nobody's clapped in Dallas since Jason Garrett. I was looking this morning. NFC Championship games, most recent appearances. The Bears, Giants, Panthers, Cardinals, Falcons, Saints, Bucks have all been to a conference championship game and the Cowboys haven't since 1995. And Jerry will never give up control. If you don't believe me, believe him. Listen, I gave every friggin thing in my life and then exposed probably two or three times that to get to set up here. And I danced with that devil and I've danced with it a few other times along the way. So if you think a little bit of what you write is going to deter me from sitting up here doing what I want to do, you're wrong. It's just not going to do it because I've danced with the devil, the financial devil, and lived to tell about it. That's the downside to wealth. You convince yourself you're great at everything. And I mean, think about this just in coaching, forget personnel. They let Dan Quinn walk to retain Mike McCarthy. A year later, McCarthy walks off out of Dallas and Quinn becomes the coach of the rival and the next superstar quarterback in the nfc. Coaching, free agency, drafting, developing the cap. He's convinced he knows how to do all of it. J. Mac, I am so fired up. I saw a quote today. Somebody recently got an extension, a contract extension in the NFL. I don't know. I, you know, you and I, I think, are both really fascinated to watch JJ McCarthy. We just don't know. It feels a little like Jordan Love in Green Bay, where for two or three years we're like, we're just not getting video. Everybody said it's great and then we saw him and it wasn't great. And then it was briefly great and then at the end of the last year it wasn't great again. And you're like, I don't know what Jordan Love is. Well, I feel like in the same division, J.J. mcCarthy, we saw him in college and then he got hurt and then we hear stuff and everybody said it's great. But then there's other reports that are like, yeah, this thing may not work out. J.J. mcCarthy almost ended up on another team in his division. Yeah. That's coming up next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartradio app. Hey, we're Covino and Rich, Fox Sports radio every day, 5 to 7pm Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two hour show. We never get to everything honestly, because this guy is over promising things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubber lips blaming me. Well, you know what? It's called Over Promise. You should be good at it because you've been over promising women for years. Well, it's a Covino and Rich after show and we want you to be a part of it. We're going to be talking sports, of course, but we're also going to talk life and relationships and and if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Over Promised. Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make sure you check out Over Promised and also uncensored, by the way, so maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's going to be the best after show podcast of all time. There you go. Over Promising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely. Join us. Listen to Over Promised with Covino and rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[J Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart Target and try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself. Introducing the new Dell AI PC powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor. It's not just an AI computer, it's a computer built for AI. That means it's built to help do your busy work for you so you can fast forward through editing images, designing presentations, generating code, debugging code, running lots of apps without lag, summarizing, meeting notes, extending battery life, finding that file you were looking for, managing your schedule, meeting your deadlines, responding to Jim's long emails, leaving all the time in the world for more you time and for the things you actually want to do. No offense Jim. Get a new Dell AI PC starting at [e-mail] aipc how those ahead Stay ahead American Public University where service members like you can access high quality, affordable education and built for your lifestyle. With online programs that fit around deployments, training and unpredictable schedules, APU makes it possible to earn your degree no matter where duty takes you. Their preferred military rate keeps tuition at just $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and master's tuition. And with 24. 7 mental health support plus career coaching and other services, APU is committed to your success during and after your service. Learn more at APU Apus Edumilitary. That's APU Apus Edu Military. So one of the things if you're a sportscaster and live in Chicago, people talk Cubs and Bears. And I get this all the time. Like hey, what do you think the Bears are going to do? And I keep saying the same thing. I like the roster, mostly love the coach, really think the quarterback is talented. I think the family makes it hard sometimes to operate. It's One of the poorer families, the oldest family that owns an NFL team. And I've said I don't really know if Ryan polls who just got an extension is a great GM. And I think GMs increasingly in the NBA and the NFL really matter. There's been just too many misses for my taste. But this bothered me this morning. So according to the Athletic, which we lean on a lot of Ryan polls apparently told people that he was very close to drafting J.J. mcCarthy over Caleb Williams. No mention of Jaden Daniels. Okay, so the two quarterbacks everybody's unsure of from that class, Caleb Williams and J.J. mcCarthy, he loved both. And it's weird because I said, I mean we could go find it in our archive. It's somewhere out there. I said before the draft I was not a fan of J.J. mcCarthy. He never played from behind. I saw him late in close games. I didn't think he was great. Can you play from behind? Can you play without a lead? Can you play without great protection? Can you play with the second best coach in a game? Jaden Daniels did his entire career at Arizona State and LSU. J.J. mcCarthy never proved that at Michigan he had hardball that that Michigan team that won the national title is one of the best college football teams top to bottom, talent wise in the last 10 years. So Jaden Daniels was more productive in college. He's a much better athlete. He threw two times as many touchdown passes in the same number of picks. In fact, J.J. mcCarthy is the first first round quarterback taken since Christian Ponder that never had a 3,000 yard passing season in college and no 500 yard rushing seasons. But I also said that, and I said this before the draft, I said Jaden Daniels is going to go to Washington number two. I was told that we beat everybody on that by about two weeks. And I said he's going to be, he's going to look like Lamar Jackson. He'll be better in the pocket as a rookie than Lamar Jackson, but he won't be quite as electric as a runner. Check, check. I didn't think it was a hard comp, I thought it was an easy one. But all you had to do was minimal homework to figure out he was much more NFL ready than JJ McCarthy. And here's two stats in fourth quarter in their college career. Jaden Daniels was unbelievable, arguably in A better conference. 65% completion percentage to 56 for J.J. mcCarthy. 3 times as many yards, 3 times as many total touchdowns in the fourth quarter in his college career. Oh, by the way, that's what Jaden was as a rookie in the NFL. A great, bizarrely accomplished fourth quarter quarterback. Okay, how about trailing in the fourth row overtime? That's the NFL. No blowout wins. That's the NFL. Jaden Daniels was a significantly better quarterback, trailing in College. Total touchdowns 19 to 3, doubles him in everything. Just minimal homework. You knew he was a better athlete by watching. You didn't have to go scout him at the games. You knew he was better in terms of production. But if you just looked at the stuff that matters for a college quarterback, how are you when you trail? Because like that's the NFL. John Elway and Brady trailed a lot. Dan Marino trailed a lot. Peyton Manning and Mahomes. Many of his great early wins. He trailed a lot. Are you good trailing and are you good late in games? Jaden Daniels was a plus plus in both. JJ McCarthy was C to C minus in both. So when I read that ryan polls love JJ McCarthy and love Caleb and there's no mention of Jaden Daniels. I didn't have a single source of the at least five GMs that I talked to that thought JJ McCarthy was as good a prospect as Jaden Daniels. Not one. It was five for five Jaden Daniels and his comp was an easy computer. He's not quite as twitchy as Lamar Jackson, the fastest quarterback in league history, but he's got about 75, 85% of that. But he'll be better than Lamar first couple of years from the pocket. It was an easy one. I knew it. Every GM I talked to knew it in Chicago. Like the two quarterbacks, we're still not sure they're any good. It worries me. It does. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[J Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart Target and try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself. Introducing the new Dell AI PC powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor. It's not just an AI computer, it's a computer built for AI. That means it's built to help do your busy work for you so you can fast forward through editing images, designing presentations, generating code, debugging code, running lots of apps without lag, summarizing meeting notes, extending battery life, finding that file you were looking for, managing your schedule, meeting your deadlines, responding to Jim's long emails, leaving all the time in the world for more you time and for the things you actually want to do. No offense Jim. Get a new Dell AI PC starting at [e-mail] aipc how those ahead? Stay Ahead. American Public University is the number one provider of education to our military and veterans in this country. They offer something truly unique. Special rates and grants for the entire family, making education affordable not just for those who serve, but also for their loved ones. If you have a military or veteran family member and are looking for affordable, high quality education, Apu is the place for you. Visit Apu APIs Eduardo/military to learn more. That's Apu Apus Edu Military well, he's entering his seventh season at Ohio State. He's coached 80 games and won 70 of them in the national championship. Last year, they won four playoff games by an average of 10 points.

[Ryan Day]

Look at that.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's got a herd. Microphone boy, you are part of the team here, coach. I love seeing that. Let's. Let's start with this. That your schedule. Texas to start. It's rough. Three weeks later at Seattle, at Illinois. Best Illinois team in years. Penn State at Michigan. You got a quarterback who's really good. Julian saying, you got to get him ready to roll really early in that season. How big of a. What do you do as a staff to get that kid ready? Week one is arguably the toughest game he will play in his career. How do you get him ready to roll?

[Ryan Day]

Well, it starts early. When you. When you start off with a game like this, first game of the season, you know, it's. It just has your attention, even in July. And then, you know, we got to have a great August. You know, I think in the spring, we made a lot of progress. We try to put him in as many game situations as possible and then go from there. But, you know, he's got a really good supporting group around him. You know, Lincoln Keenoltz is right there with him, too. He's had a great summer. So the two of these guys are going to compete, you know, all summer, and we'll kind of see how that all shakes out. But put them in as many competitive situations as possible and see how they react to it. But ultimately, they got really good guys around them. They need to make routine plays, take care of the football, and then, you know, when it's fourth and two, find a way to get three yards.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, people would look at this and say, boy, Ryan Day, he's got the national championship. I would argue this is a tough year to be a coach. At Ohio state, you lost 16 starters. You got to navigate through this nil, which is hard for everybody, including Ohio State. You could draw up plays in front of me for five hours, but creating chemistry is hard. You got a lot of new faces. Let's take us through that. Like, the downside to being Ohio State is you lose 15 guys to the pros every year. You've got a lot of new faces. How do you build that culture quickly?

[Ryan Day]

Well, I think going back to last year, we had so many guys decide to come back, and then we brought in a few older guys in the portal, and then. So what happened was, you know, like you said, you had a mass exodus this year, but that's part of the culture, is bringing those young guys along and they were able to not only be a part of the run, but they played. They just. They didn't carry the water, and so now they have to do that. And so one of the biggest challenges this off season was our team has to grow up. And the faster we grow up, the faster we're going to be able to, you know, reach our maximum capacity. And so, you know, the goal was for that to be in the first game and then, you know, we come up for air and figure out where we're at. But, you know, guys are going to be a little experienced going into the season, but. But that's college football. You're constantly going to have turnover like this. And so this isn't the first time we've gone through it before, but. But having a game like this certainly has everybody's attention in the summer.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I said yesterday I picked Penn State to play for the national championship. And I said the fact that Ohio State is as good as they are and the Big Ten media took Penn State, I said, I think Penn State's backfield's about as good as a college backfield can get. Their O lines, excellent. I think it's going to be a real challenge. The good thing, you get them, you get them at home, and that is a big advantage. You beat them last year there. Now you get them at home, and that's worth a field goal or more in college football. Let's talk the Penn State game, because everybody's going to talk about Texas, but it looks like to me, over the last three, I said this yesterday, I think the Big Ten at the top is better than the sec. I think the NIL is more powerful. You've got more big markets. You go back three years. When you look at film on Sunday, preparing for the next team, do you notice a significant improvement in your conference personnel wise, not just from Penn State, but Illinois and Minnesota and Iowa? Do you notice it on film?

[Ryan Day]

Yes. Yes. I think that we have tremendous coaches. I think James does a great job. Brett does a great job. You know, you see the different coaches throughout the league. So I think the Big Ten is attracting the best coaches in the country, not to say anyone, you know, other conferences don't have great coaches, but I think we have really good coaches. But I also think that, you know, with the, you know, the age of the nil, we're able to tap into the resources that, you know, some of the Big Ten areas are able to grab onto. And certainly, you know, Columbus is one of those that not only has a great infrastructure in the city, but also the fan base that we have. And I think that's been powerful along the way to continue to build and we're positioned really good moving forward like you said. But the other part of it is, you know, when you bring in some of the strongest teams, you know, four of them from the PAC 12 to make an 18 team conference, now you're talking about a national conference that's strong from coast to coast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Your schedule is rough. The what is the balance? Because I still think I said this before, usc, LSU and Colorado went heavy portal and I don't feel like their chemistry's ever been as solvent, as stable as yours. And my take is there is a balance. I mean, when you can get a Caleb Downs, go get him. The kid's just absolutely incredible. But do you go back and forth on this? Is it a little bit of an emotional balance of how much is high school and how much is nil? I still think high school football, you know, the odometer, you've been recruiting them since they were 14. Sometimes you get an nil guy, Ryan, and you just, there's stuff you don't know. What is the perfect balance to you on that?

[Ryan Day]

I think it's a great point. I think we could talk about it for a long time, but I think now more than ever we have to recruit the right people and then retain them and then develop them and then keep, keep them in your program, which is kind of what you saw last year. We did add a couple pieces, but the majority of that team was guys that had been here for four and five years. And not only are they older, but, you know, they had a lot of experience and they really wanted to leave a legacy behind at Ohio State. And to your point, I think we're, you know, we're all trying to figure that part of it out. And I think at Ohio State, you know, we want to make sure as the rules continue to evolve and really change, like the new format of the salary cap. And we're all trying to identify how this third party nil is actually going to be figured out and really managed, you know, and the structure that's going to be in place enforcement wise, you know, we're all trying to figure that part of it out. And I think some programs, you know, their decision is to be really super aggressive and there's other programs that are going to try to be in the middle and then some others that are conservative. And I think understanding that the culture is the number one most important thing along the way we got to make sure the culture is right. And so that's the focus for me, that's the focus for us. We got to make sure we still have the right people, recruit the right people in high school and then retain them.

[Colin Cowherd]

A couple years ago, I had said on this show, I said Jamar Chase was a pro when he was a sophomore at lsu. I said, he's playing on Saturdays. That guy would be a number one on Sundays as a sophomore. He's the best young receiver I think I've ever seen. And then I watched Jeremiah Smith and I'm like, oh, no, he's better. How do you keep somebody that gifted who's going to win all one on one matchups? How do you keep him focused? How do you keep him centered? How do you keep him energized? How do you keep him, I mean, listen, he's going to beat. There's nobody like him in college football that can be a challenge for a coach. How do you keep him centered and focused and energized when you, when he is that gifted and can beat singular coverage so easily and consistently?

[Ryan Day]

I think the thing that's remarkable about Jeremiah is you don't have to. He does it on his own. He's self motivated. He brings it every day. Our strength coach, Mick Moratti was talking about the other day when we do warm up sprints before every workout. He wins every one of them. He says that the other day he goes, he wins every single sprint. He just. For somebody as talented as he is, he has a tremendous amount of discipline and skill in his life. And I think that's what's making, you know, he's already special, but it's continuing to make him special. I mean, you should see him now. He's bigger, he's faster, he's stronger, he's extremely motivated. He wants to win every game. When he loses a game, I mean, he can't eat solid food for a long time. I mean, he really cares about his teammates. He sets an amazing example and he doesn't need to be motivated. I think that's what makes him special. And I think a lot of guys are seeing that. In his own way, you know, he's not a real, you know, verbal guy. He doesn't, you know, really, you know, get out, get out in front of things in terms of that. But he leads the way in terms of his work ethic and obviously he has so much respect for what he does on the field. But, you know, when you talk to people who play up against him, I Think his size and his power and his strength and what really separates him as a player.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, it just, I mean, he just comes out of the uniform like it just is there, there. You don't have to be a football expert to watch him come out of the tunnel and go, wow. Ryan Day, the national championship. Buckeye coach. They open on Fox with Texas. That, folks, is one for the ages. Get in front of a TV and enjoy that. It's in Columbus and that is an edge. Ryan, we appreciate you stopping by.

[Ryan Day]

Thanks, Colin. Appreciate you, man.

[Colin Cowherd]

You bet. That's going to be. When's the last time an opening game in the college football weekend was that good? That I couldn't. You could argue, well, that the two best players in the country are Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs. Those are the two best players in the country. I had somebody tell me that Caleb Downs would have gone number one. You got to almost take out quarterback. He would have got number one last year's draft. That's how good he is. Then you got Arch Manning, which is an unbelievable store. You have two huge brands that I bet you that sets a record for a Labor Day weekend college football game. I bet you that sets and that set. Everybody tell. No, nobody's watching tv. That will set a record. I can't wait for that thing. Fox gave me my college football preview book this weekend. I'm sitting there watching the British Open. The open with Rory McElroy and Scotty Scheffler and reading that. I'm not going to be. I'm not going to lie. 11:30 in the morning. I poured a cold one. I was totally committed to that. Beer and Texas, Ohio State and the Open, live in Chicago. It's third. Okay. Have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back. And Degree listened. That doesn't happen often. They admitted they effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason. Reason? It's the number one men's antiperspirant. And it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG degree Cool Rush for yourself. Balancing work, family and education isn't easy, but American Public University makes it possible with online courses, monthly start dates and flexible schedules. APU is designed for busy professionals who need education that fits their lives. And Affordability matters, too. APU offers the Opportunity Grant, giving students 10% off undergraduate and master's level tuition, helping you reach your goals without breaking the bank. Plus, they provide career services and 24. 7 mental health support at no extra cost. Visit Apu Apus Edu to learn more. That's Apu Apus Edu. Hi, it's Colin. I've been around long enough to know quality when I see it. Or in this case, when I taste it. Tito's handmade vodka. Good stuff. No flash, no gimmick. Smooth, clean tasting. Made the right way. Tito's made in Austin, Texas. Real attention to detail. I like to keep it simple. Tito soda, one lime. Lot of ice. Refreshing, easy. Summer, winter, spring. Totally versatile. Always works. Listen. Baseball season's here. The perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour. You should too. Distilled and bottled by 5th Generation Inc. Austin, Texas. 40% alcohol by volume. Savor responsibly. The following heartwarming yet informative scene is brought to you by Trust and Will. Son, your grandpa and I used to work on this car together. And when I'm gone, I want you to have it. Wow. Thanks, dad. Doesn't count. What you need is a will. Luckily, Trust and Will makes it easy. Designed by attorneys but customized by you, you can easily create a state specific, legally valid document that actually counts. Now let's let the engine do the talking. Am I right? Start your [e-mail] use offer code. Count for 20 off and make it count. Trust and Will is an online estate planning service. For details, see trustandwill.com this is an Iheart podcast.