The Herd with Colin Cowherd — College Football Playoff Reaction: Indiana Rolls The Tide, Oregon Throttles Texas Tech, Miami Upsets Ohio State

Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd, with guests John Middlekauff & Mark Schlabach

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a dramatic set of College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals, analyzing Indiana’s stunning rout of Alabama (the “Tide”), Oregon’s domination of Texas Tech, and Miami’s upset of Ohio State. The hosts break down how these results reflect broader changes in college football—especially with the expanded playoffs, NIL, and transfer portal shifts—while also discussing coaching trends and NFL draft implications. The conversation blends tactical analysis, scouting talk, and broader reflections on the evolving landscape of the sport.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Indiana 38, Alabama 3: Hoosiers Dismantle the Tide

[03:09]–[12:30]

• Pre-Game Predictions:

  • Colin and guests anticipated Indiana’s success due to Alabama’s season-long struggles, notably with their running game and QB Ty Simpson’s performance under pressure.
  • “Even the games in which I love their game plan, John, they can’t run the football. And Ty Simpson to me if you pressure him…” (Colin, 04:44)

• Indiana’s Physical Dominance:

  • The Hoosiers, under coach Kurt Signetti, are described as the “best-coached team in the country,” drawing parallels to NFL operation levels and the Don James-era Washington Huskies.
  • “You might as well just take Indiana away and throw a blue blood brand on it... They're as good as any team we've seen the last several years. They just have a different brand.” (John, 06:22)
  • Mark highlights Indiana’s tackling and physical edge: “They’re the best tackling team I’ve seen in college football… Indiana runs the ball on everybody.” (Mark, 06:45)

• Scheme & Culture:

  • Indiana uses creative, physical run schemes (pulling linemen into the backfield), and has one of the Big Ten’s best linemen, despite not recruiting at a blue-chip level.

• Preparation and Coaching:

  • The Hoosiers showed NFL-level preparation, notably sniffing out Alabama’s fake punt without overcommitting.
  • “They were so prepared for it… This team is coached almost professionally at Indiana.” (Mark, 08:21)

• Indiana’s Talent vs. Recruiting Stereotypes:

  • Left tackle, the Big Ten’s best, isn’t even a high draft pick, reinforcing Signetti’s coaching chops.

QB Focus: Fernando Mendoza's Rise and Draft Stock

[11:12]–[19:11]

• Performance Against the Blitz:

  • Mendoza was “unbelievable” vs. the blitz, reminiscent of young Andrew Luck in size and poise.
  • “Mendoza, he’s a big… and when you’re six-five and you run… Mendoza has a way of running… suddenly you look up and he got seven yards running.” (Mark, 12:17)

• Reliability and Intelligence:

  • Excels at short throws and “doesn’t miss layups,” likened to Justin Herbert and Drake Maye for decision-making.
  • “He just hits all of that stuff… 68% career completion…” (Mark, 13:02)

• NFL Readiness:

  • “I haven’t talked to anyone with questions anymore. I think he’s cemented as the number one guy.” (John, 13:29)
  • Emphasized as an “easy QB to profile” due to Indiana’s NFL-style offense. “You can watch 25, 35 plays of Indiana and you know, what throws he can make and what he can and can’t do.” (Mark, 16:06)

• Character and Leadership:

  • Story of Mendoza’s organizational skills (“could be running JPMorgan Chase if he didn’t play football”), drawing direct parallels to Andrew Luck.
  • “He just happens to be six-five, athletic, big arm, likes football… could easily have just… run Stanford University.” (John, 13:58)

• Contrast with Alabama’s Ty Simpson:

  • “When you juxtapose him with Mendoza, it’s a different looking player… Mendoza looks physically different… much more poised under pressure.” (Mark, 16:29 / John, 16:52)

• Teammate Magnetism:

  • “The entire team… gravitated toward him… these guys love this guy.” (John, 19:11)

Oregon 23, Texas Tech 0: Ducks Crush in a Defensive Show

[19:43]–[22:07]

• Oregon’s Defensive Showcase:

  • Texas Tech limited to just 88 yards in the first half. Oregon “should have blown them out 35-0.”
  • Freshman DB Brandon Finney with three interceptions: “He’s going to be a star at Oregon.” (Mark, 19:49)

• Lessons for the Playoff Committee:

  • Automatic qualifiers like James Madison and Tulane, plus Texas Tech (the “weakest schedule of final eight”) all got “blown out”—fuel for reevaluating inclusion criteria.
  • “Let’s stop this nonsense that everybody, let’s be fair… football’s not inclusive… size, force, speed, raw talent wins.” (Mark, 20:24)

• Oregon’s Recruiting & Talent Pipeline:

  • Oregon’s booster-driven, star-powered West Coast pipeline and Dan Lanning’s ability to combine recruiting with physicality.

• Dante Moore vs. Mendoza:

  • Moore described as not ready for the NFL, should “absolutely” return to Oregon.
  • “Dante should… come back… he’s going to be 21 next year in college… still a lot to improve on.” (John, 22:07)

Miami 24, Ohio State 14: Canes Upset the Buckeyes

[29:11]–[40:33]

• Miami Bully-Balls Ohio State:

  • Miami’s physical style compared to Georgia; the hosts observe that tournament expansion has shaken up the predictability of the sport.
  • “Do you want Bama, Georgia, Clemson in three of the next four national champions? ... Is it Miami? Is it Indiana? Is it Georgia? We know it’s not Bama. That’s the NFL, John. You don’t know.” (Mark, 31:29)

• Tournament Parity and Unpredictability:

  • New playoff format brings NFL-style uncertainty, where best teams aren’t clear until late, enhancing fan intrigue and competition.

• Ohio State’s Offensive Struggles:

  • Three straight poor offensive games, with youth and OL exposure a factor. “Julian Saiyan is a kid... needs two more years in college and he’s not hyper athletic.” (Mark, 29:30)

• Miami and Indiana: The New Powers:

  • Miami’s bullying style, huge linemen, and NFL-bound defenders set the tone.
  • “When you have bad tackles… Indiana, same thing… it’s about line of scrimmage.” (John, 32:54)

Broader Takeaways: College Football's New Era

[40:33]–[43:41]

• Expanded Playoffs = More Teams, More Drama:

  • “Four weeks ago we both thought the Rams were the most complete team... Now? You have to watch all the games.” (Mark, 38:38)
  • No more “blue blood” guarantee—schools like Miami & Indiana now thrive through physicality and depth, not just talent.

• Change in What Wins:

  • “If you aren’t a physical team on the line of scrimmage, you’re not… Alabama can’t run the ball.” (John, 39:16)
  • “I would say Oregon has really turned into a physical [team]—that’s the Dan Lanning mindset brought from Saban and Kirby Smart. It’s going to translate…” (John, 39:36)

• Recruiting is Changing:

  • The transfer portal and NIL are now more impactful than traditional high school recruiting.
  • “The transfer portal which opens tomorrow… has clearly proven to be much more impact. Look at Fernando Mendoza. On a year-to-year basis, the transfer portal has changed the playoffs.” (John, 49:52)

The Lincoln Riley (USC) Coaching Conundrum

[40:57]–[50:35]

• Success Masking Structural Issues:

  • Lincoln Riley hailed as an offensive genius but criticized for neglecting defense, both at Oklahoma and USC.
  • “He has yet to develop a defense at Oklahoma or at USC... 16 missed tackles against TCU ... He develops quarterbacks, but what he doesn’t do...” (Mark, 41:01)

• Next Year Is Make or Break:

  • “Next year should be the year. They had a number one recruiting class… they’re spending... If they don’t become a playoff team, it’s reasonable to say it didn’t work out.” (Mark, 42:55)

• Transfer Portal > High School Class:

  • Even with top classes, player movement and immediate impact are now controlled by portal signings. “The transfer portal is actually much more impactful for next year than the class, right?” (John, 45:48)

• Scheduling Hurdles:

  • USC’s 2026 schedule includes “Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, at Indiana.” Prone to road losses in adverse conditions, which has plagued USC teams in recent years.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Indiana’s Coaching:

  • “It’s like Saban without the yelling, without the volume… almost a mad scientist. He’s always got a scowl.” (Mark, 07:53)

• On Mendoza’s Leadership:

  • “The entire team on that stage gravitated toward him… These guys love this guy.” (John, 19:11)

• On Playoff Parity:

  • “That’s the NFL, John. You don't know [the best team] until usually late third quarter Super Bowl. And that’s why ... Now, the attendance is up, the ratings are up. This is why it’s great.” (Mark, 31:43)

• On Oklahoma’s Downfall:

  • “Oklahoma, the quarterback, I don’t know what happened to him, but he fell off a cliff.” (John, 38:30)

• On USC’s Defensive Recruiting:

  • “They better get… whoever Texas Tech’s on for the defensive line. I would just call those guys.” (John, 50:11)
  • “David Bailey was from Stanford. USC passed on him. He goes to Texas Tech. You can't block him. So there you go.” (Mark, 50:35)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:09] Indiana’s domination of Alabama begins
• [06:45] Indiana’s physicality and coaching analysis
• [12:17] Mendoza compared to Andrew Luck, breakdown of his strengths
• [16:06] NFL evaluation of Mendoza; QB juxtaposition with Simpson
• [19:43] Oregon-Texas Tech game recap, playoff selection debate
• [22:07] Dante Moore’s future analyzed
• [29:11] Miami upsets Ohio State, offensive woes for Buckeyes
• [31:29] Playoff expansion discussion and impact on sport
• [38:38] Modern parity in college football, shift in power
• [40:57] USC and Lincoln Riley’s struggles, future outlook
• [49:52] The transfer portal’s influence on immediate team building

Conclusion

The 2026 College Football Playoff semifinals mark a potential sea change in the sport, with traditional powers upended by more physical, expertly-coached teams like Indiana and Miami. The episode underscores how coaching, player development, and new transfer/NIL dynamics have overturned old hierarchies. Meanwhile, perennial discussions about coaching (Lincoln Riley, Dan Lanning, Mario Cristobal) and the future of programs like USC hint at even more shakeups to come.

If you missed the games:

• Indiana is being described as the “new Georgia”—brutally physical, NFL-style, out-coaching blue bloods.
• Miami and Oregon are also lauded for their physical dominance, indicative of where the power in college football is shifting.
• The playoff format has created true parity, meaning compelling, unpredictable football is now the norm rather than the exception.

Final Thought:
As Mark says, “I just love… God, it’s 38 to 3 now Indiana.” ([51:23]) College football may never be the same.