Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd" (Released March 24, 2025)

The Herd with Colin Cowherd, produced by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of today's top sports stories. In the "Best of The Herd" episode, released on March 24, 2025, host Colin Cowherd, alongside co-host Jonas Knox, delves deep into the current landscape of college basketball, the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, NFL draft dynamics, and exclusive interviews with prominent sports figures like Bill Simmons and Rick Pitino. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, enriched with notable quotes and accurate timestamps.

1. College Basketball and March Madness Predictions

The episode opens with a heated discussion on the ongoing college basketball tournament. Colin Cowherd and Jonas Knox compare their bracket predictions, highlighting the unpredictability and excitement that March Madness brings each year.

• Bracket Analysis: Colin remarks, "I got 15 of them. I don't know what happened to J. Mac's bracket, but Captain Chalk is coming, baby." ([29:27])
• Sweet 16 Dominance: Jonas emphasizes the strength of power conference teams, stating, "There are no have nots. It's all power conference teams in the sweet 16." ([06:16])

Jonas critiques the current tournament, suggesting a lack of genuine upsets due to the dominance of established programs:

• Impact of NIL: "Nil is actually, actually great for college basketball because it keeps some of the better players in college for another year like a Zach Edie." ([10:50])

However, he also notes a downside, where wealthy programs continue to overshadow mid-major teams:

• Wealth Disparity: "Made the rich richer. Yes. America likes to watch Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State, Arizona, more than Drexel, Lipscomb and Woford." ([13:07])

2. The Impact of NIL on College Basketball

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing how NIL regulations have transformed college sports, particularly basketball.

• Jonas on NIL: "Everybody thought the NIL going to help the little guy maybe no. Made the rich richer." ([10:50])
• Bill Simmons’ Counterpoint: Bill challenges the prevailing narrative, asking, "Don't you think it's kind of killed Cinderella?" referring to underdog stories in the tournament. ([11:45])

3. NFL Draft and Aaron Rodgers' Situation

Transitioning to football, the hosts discuss the upcoming NFL draft and the intriguing situation surrounding veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

• Rodgers’ Potential Move: "Aaron Rodgers is right. I looked it up this morning... he wanted Minnesota, knew the division, closer to Malibu, closer to home." ([26:47])
• Steeler’s Quarterback Crisis: Jonas critiques the Pittsburgh Steelers' management, stating, "It's their offensive lines of mess. And they may have just lost their best offensive lineman and their best running back." ([27:16])

4. Exclusive Interview with Bill Simmons

Bill Simmons joins the conversation to provide his insights on the state of college basketball post-NIL.

• Simmons on Cinderella: "But I would argue when I say Cinderella, it's a myth. It never existed." ([12:12])
• Skepticism on Mid-Majors: "But there have never been as many [upsets]." ([13:13])

Simmons underscores the challenges mid-major teams face in the current environment, questioning the longevity of Cinderella runs.

5. Exclusive Interview with Rick Pitino and Bruce Pearl

A standout feature of the episode is the extended interview with Rick Pitino, alongside Auburn's head coach Bruce Pearl, offering profound insights into college basketball and its intersection with the NBA.

• Pitino on NBA vs. College Basketball: "The NCAA basketball world and the NBA basketball world at the highest levels have worked that well together... they're competing." ([25:31])
• Bruce Pearl on NIL and Team Building: "If you could add the right pieces at the right time, you can be competitive every year." ([20:31])

Discussion Topics:

• Transitioning Players Post-NIL: Pearl highlights how NIL allows players to develop within college systems longer, benefiting their professional prospects.
• Basketball Analytics vs. Team Identity: Both Pitino and Pearl debate the role of analytics in shaping team strategies versus maintaining a distinct team identity.
  • Pitino on Analytics: "I think the analytics are more about identity than player to player. It's like, what are you trying to be." ([50:34])
  • Pearl’s Take on Team Culture: "We are still a football school. But I also like to say that we're at everything school." ([22:03])

6. Larry Bird Documentary Discussion

The conversation shifts to the cultural and historical impact of basketball legends, particularly Larry Bird.

• Pitino on Bird's Legacy: "There's going to be an episode about how do you stay great when your body's starting to break down... Larry Bird was fighting through injuries and still performing at a high level." ([54:00])
• Jonas' Anticipation: "It's called Celtic City. Episode four tonight. Great hope. The Larry Bird issue. It airs tonight." ([53:54])

The hosts express enthusiasm for the documentary's portrayal of Bird, emphasizing his resilience and influence on the game.

7. Final Thoughts and Predictions

Wrapping up, the hosts reflect on various sports narratives and future outlooks.

• Broadcasting and Media Evolution: Pitino reminisces about the past's limited media exposure versus today's omnipresent social media, influencing how fans engage with sports.
• Athlete Longevity and Expectations: Pitino comments on the unrealistic expectations set by athletes like LeBron James and Tom Brady, highlighting their status as anomalies rather than benchmarks for all athletes.
  • Pitino on Athlete Careers: "LeBron and Brady are generational anomalies. What's supposed to happen is you're supposed to hit your late 30s as a quarterback... athletic decline is natural." ([57:04])

8. Notable Quotes

• Jonas Knox on NIL: "It's not Copenhagen. People don't ride around on bikes all day. Have a second lunch, a siesta. We're busy. We're distracted. You gotta give us familiar laundry." ([13:07])
• Bill Simmons on College Upsets: "You say a lot of things. I love upsets. And people do predictable things. They don't watch the next game after an upset." ([15:17])
• Bruce Pearl on SEC Depth: "The SEC has got seven teams in the Sweet 16... We've got to take it one game at a time, but we definitely feel like the SEC prepared us to make a run." ([22:55])

9. Conclusion

The "Best of The Herd" episode presents an in-depth analysis of the evolving dynamics in college basketball, the profound effects of NIL regulations, and the intricate decisions surrounding NFL quarterbacks. Through candid conversations and expert interviews, Colin Cowherd and Jonas Knox offer listeners a nuanced perspective on contemporary sports challenges and triumphs. The episode not only highlights the shifting power structures within college athletics but also underscores the perennial allure of sports narratives that captivate audiences nationwide.

For those who haven't tuned into the episode, this summary provides a comprehensive overview of the discussions and insights shared by Colin Cowherd, Jonas Knox, and their esteemed guests.