The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Lane Kiffin Bolts For LSU, Cowboys Defense BETTER After Parsons Trade, Ben Johnson Best Young Coach Since McVay

Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd (w/ John Middlekauff)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd and guest John Middlekauff dive deep into the seismic shifts happening in both college football and the NFL. Lane Kiffin's controversial departure from Ole Miss to LSU is unpacked in the context of the wild state of college athletics. They also tackle the impact of the Micah Parsons trade on the Cowboys defense, debate the effectiveness of defensive vs. offensive coaches, and heap significant praise on Ben Johnson's emergence as the best young NFL coach since Sean McVay. The episode is loaded with candid observations, memorable one-liners, and strong opinions on coaching, roster moves, and the evolving landscape of football.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Lane Kiffin Leaves Ole Miss for LSU: The End of Innocence in College Football

[03:47–13:42]

• Cowherd Contextualizes the Chaos:

  • “If you really think about what happened, the NCAA four or five years ago was rigid. And you went from that…to pure, unadulterated, HGH-infused capitalism. There’s no boundaries. And it's the wild, wild West. Just like the wild, wild West in the 1800s.” (Colin Cowherd, 04:32)
  • Moving from rule-bound collegiate sports to a landscape with huge buyouts and programs poaching coaches with impunity.

• Middlekauff on the Cyclical Nature:

  • “These buyouts got so extreme…you and I kept saying, well, these guys are safe. Turns out they’re not. And they’re getting bought out left and right.” (John Middlekauff, 05:17)

• Kiffin’s Image Makeover & Fan Reactions:

  • Lane changed his lifestyle and image, but his departure still stings Ole Miss.
  • “Ole Miss was paying him $10 million. They were willing to pay him $14. It’s almost a revelation from Lane and his belief that your program simply isn’t as good as LSU. Right? And I think that hurts.” (John Middlekauff, 12:49)

• Structural Problems in College Football:

  • Lack of CEO/regulatory leadership encourages chaos and aggressive maneuvers.
  • “It’s an $8 billion sport with no CEO. It was boxing. ...every promoter ...Bob Ehrman, Don King, ran boxing. The SEC commissioner ran the sport.” (Colin Cowherd, 07:09)
  • Fans are left with a sense of betrayal, but the reality is, as Cowherd notes:
    • “If they knew Kiffin was going to burn him...they’d still take 55 and 19, relevance and the number one scoring offense in the country...They would have signed up for it today.” (Colin Cowherd, 11:26)

2. Defensive Coaches in Decline: The Cases of Tomlin & McDermott

[13:42–22:46]

• Underperformance in Pittsburgh and Buffalo:

  • Both franchises led by defensive head coaches who seem to have lost the room and failed to adapt offensively.
  • “Their message has sort of worn thin…you got a veteran staff, you got a veteran quarterback, [...] you can’t be making these mistakes.” (Colin Cowherd, 13:47)

• Middlekauff on Front Office Institutional Decay:

  • “Steelers…used to be...the most reliable franchise. ...I look now I see...something’s off kilter there.” (John Middlekauff, 17:53)
  • The value of a sharp GM, as with Green Bay, is highlighted: “Your GM is pretty important because...backup defensive lineman, who’s your slot receiver, who’s your slot corner...You can be aggressive now in this modern day NFL.” (John Middlekauff, 21:26)

• Offensive Coaches Solve Problems Fast:

  • “Offensive coaches do a very good job in the sport of solving problems in season...Defensive coaches need an off season to solve problems.” (Colin Cowherd, 19:18)

3. Why the Cowboys Defense Got Better Without Micah Parsons

[29:14–34:40]

• Off-the-Wall Roster Strategy Pays Off:

  • “…when they traded Micah. Jerry Jones is a deal maker. What deal makers need is flexibility. ...They are a much better defense without Micah.” (Colin Cowherd, 29:41)
  • Trade freed up resources for run-stoppers (Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams), fixing a glaring weakness.

• Validates Unorthodox Moves:

  • “The pressure’s excellent. You can’t run on them. They’re healthy, they’re athletic...” (Colin Cowherd, 31:32)
  • “Why can’t we just have a winner and a winner? ...Watching Micah Parsons fly around...he’s been awesome for the Packers and they do not regret doing that at all.” (John Middlekauff, 32:05)

• Recognition for Jerry Jones:

  • “I think Jerry, he puts himself out there a lot. ...He was right. And here’s the other thing you gotta say about Dallas. They’ve kind of been well run for a little while now.” (John Middlekauff, 33:40)

4. Coaching Trends & Detroit’s Ben Johnson Ascends

[34:40–43:21]

• The Dangers of Promoting from Within:

  • “When you lose an icon...you lose Ben Johnson, you don’t go in the building...You go on a domestic. If McVay retired tomorrow...you don’t give it to a coordinator.” (Colin Cowherd, 36:17)

• Lions Losing Their Edge:

  • “They’re now...17th best in the league on third down. That’s coaching, that’s not personnel...I think Detroit, it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” (Colin Cowherd, 36:47–37:18)

• Praise for Ben Johnson:

  • “Ben Johnson’s the best young head coaching hire since McVay, that’s what it feels like.” (Colin Cowherd, 42:27)
  • “What Ben Johnson is doing in Chicago is...remarkable. That game. That felt like he’s the Midwest Kyle Shanahan.” (John Middlekauff, 41:34)

5. The NFL’s Topsyturvy Landscape & Quarterback Economics

[64:20–70:25]

• Surprise Teams & Shifting Quarterback Power:

  • “Eight teams had plus 1100 odds or better to win the Super Bowl. The number one seeds this year are the Patriots and the Bears. They won nine games combined last year.” (Colin Cowherd, 64:20)
  • On expensive quarterbacks: “Lamar, Burrow, Mahomes, and Allen, you’re paying 3 and $400 million...you have to have sacrifices on the rest of the roster.”
  • On Mahomes, Burrow, and the unpredictability: “If I would have said, Patriots and Bears are going to be the number one seeds...that’s the craziest hot take I’ve ever heard.” (Colin Cowherd, 65:21)

• Problems for the Vikings, QB Market, and Future Moves:

  • “If I’m Minnesota, you can’t go through this again. ...I would go get Mac Jones. I really would. ...I think Minnesota’s in a bind and I don’t know what you do.” (Colin Cowherd, 69:21–73:53)

6. College Football Musings: Ohio State’s Defensive Turnaround & Arch Manning

[80:32–87:59]

• Julian Sayin and Ohio State’s Program Strength:

  • “Julian Sayin looks like a guidebook on how to set, throw and deliver the ball. ...I think Julian Sayin, dude...That kid blows me away.” (Colin Cowherd, 81:51)
  • “In pass coverage, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a secondary that good. There’s no windows, nobody’s open.” (Colin Cowherd, 84:05)

• Arch Manning’s Resilience:

  • “I think Arch Manning’s got really smart parents and he’s a really good kid. ...He sees it as folly.” (Colin Cowherd, 86:12)
  • “These guys are kind of used to the way they’ve grown up...There’s a lot going on and these guys that are able to kind of battle through it...Dante Moore is a good example.” (John Middlekauff, 87:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NCAA Leadership:

  • “It’s an $8 billion sport with no CEO...It was boxing.” (Colin Cowherd, 07:09)

• On Ole Miss Fans’ Pain:

  • “It’s almost a revelation from Lane and his belief that your program simply isn’t as good as LSU. Right? And I think that hurts.” (John Middlekauff, 12:49)

• On Defensive Coaches Stagnating:

  • “I feel like defensive coaches need an off season to solve problems...offensive coaches do a very good job in season.” (Colin Cowherd, 19:18)

• On Cowboys Post-Micah:

  • “They are a much better defense without Micah. ...Now... you can’t run on them.” (Colin Cowherd, 31:32)

• On Ben Johnson:

  • “Ben Johnson’s the best young coaching hire since McVay, that’s what it feels like.” (Colin Cowherd, 42:27)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 03:47: Start of Lane Kiffin to LSU conversation
• 13:42: Transition to NFL, Tomlin/McDermott struggles
• 29:14: Cowboys’ defense and Parsons trade
• 34:40: Coaching impact and Detroit’s slippage
• 42:27: Ben Johnson’s emergence
• 64:20: NFL parity and quarterback money
• 69:21: QB dilemmas and trade speculation for Minnesota
• 80:32: College football wrap-up, Ohio State, Julian Sayin, Arch Manning

Tone & Style

Colin and John keep their discussion punchy, humorous, and honest, mixing sharp critique (“You were an irrelevant program...You would have signed up for 55 and 19...if you knew he was gonna bail.” — Cowherd, 11:26) with moments of enthusiasm and respect (“What Ben Johnson is doing...feels like he’s the Midwest Kyle Shanahan.” — Middlekauff, 41:34).

Takeaways for Listeners

• College football’s wild west era has turned coaching stability upside down, and programs have to accept both the glory and the risk of high-profile coaches.
• The NFL’s power centers are shifting, often based on front office acumen and coaching adaptability (with offensive minds winning out).
• The Cowboys’ defense is Exhibit A in addition by subtraction.
• Ben Johnson is THE young coach to watch, likened repeatedly to McVay and Shanahan.
• Rosters, coaching moves, and even “sure thing” quarterbacks are more volatile than ever—in both college and the pros.

This jam-packed episode is a must-listen for fans invested in the intersection of coaching, roster construction, and the business realities now dominating both college football and the NFL.