Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Lane Kiffin to NFL? Kalen DeBoer-Alabama, Texas-Georgia

Episode Date: November 13, 2025
Featured Guest: Josh Pate (Sharpest Young Voice in College Football)
Host: Colin Cowherd
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode delves deep into the top storylines and existential questions in college football. Colin Cowherd welcomes respected college football analyst Josh Pate to discuss:

• Lane Kiffin’s prospects and mindset regarding a future move to the NFL
• The challenges and early returns of Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama tenure, replacing Nick Saban
• Breakdowns of marquee matchups (Oklahoma-Bama, Texas-Georgia, Iowa-USC)
• Broader takes on program identities, the transfer/NIL landscape, and coaching evolutions
• The rising profile of quarterbacks in the new Big Ten/Pac-12 alignment

Both Cowherd and Pate tackle not just individual games and performances, but the larger meta-narratives of what makes programs and coaches sustainable, elite, and adaptable.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Marquee Quarterback Moments & Evaluating Talent

[04:40–07:45]

• Colin starts by reflecting on how NFL scouts and GMs often identify prospects based on signature moments, not just stats or consistency. He focuses on Fernando Mendoza (Indiana QB), who engineered a clutch game-winning drive, comparing it to scouting moments for Josh Allen and Sam Darnold.
  • “That last drive on the road...the one in the back of the end zone, like, I'm like, okay, that's a Sunday player. That's not, that's not normal.” — Colin (05:01)
• Josh Pate responds that Mendoza’s moment showed his potential truly arriving; “You don’t get lucky three times like that on the same drive. It’s something that's in you.” (05:56)
• Discussion on how scouting is best done by focusing on the 'hundreds of plays' instead of just a highlight reel, but Mendoza’s moment “matters” for both Heisman talk and locker-room confidence.

Notable Quote:
“You see someone come of age… sometimes guys just hit. But it's rare. You don't get lucky three times like that on the same drive. It's something that's in you.”
— Josh Pate (05:56)

2. Kalen DeBoer & The Alabama Succession

[07:45–15:59]

• Colin calls Kaylen DeBoer’s hire after Nick Saban “the greatest handoff in the history of college football.”
  • But emphasizes this is “Bama NIL”—not the old Bama—and DeBoer inherited a “used Rolls Royce,” not the unbeatable machine.
• Josh Pate notes a lot of criticism of DeBoer was rooting for Alabama decline, or based on skepticism about an ‘outsider’ handling Alabama’s unique recruiting culture.
  • “There's some of it where people are kind of wishcasting… they're hoping that they're right about doubting Kaylin DeBoer.” — Josh (10:10)
• DeBoer’s resume at Washington (winning close games) was a rehearsal for Alabama’s new realities, where "Bama can't run and Ty Simpson still does it... that's all I would say about him if I were promoting him for the Heisman" (11:35).
• DeBoer inherited chaos: Saban retires, portal opens, key players leave, had to "kid glove" spring practice to patch together a roster.
  • “You’re trying to build the plane in the air… No one's going to accept turbulence up there.” — Josh (12:33)
• Both hosts expect Bama to beat Oklahoma ("I love Bama this week" —Josh, 13:47). Colin believes offensive-minded coaches (like DeBoer) are more adaptable/tinkerers, likening Bama’s staff to “getting two possessions better every week” (14:03).

Notable Quote:
“You're trying to build the plane in the air and it used to be a nice plane. So no one's going to accept any kind of turbulence up there.”
— Josh Pate (12:33)

3. Game Breakdowns & Picks: Oklahoma-Bama, Iowa-USC, Texas-Georgia

Oklahoma-Bama

[07:45-17:03]

• Both favor Bama due to their adaptability and offensive staff quality.
  • Colin: “I think Alabama is about a 7. I think they're going to get to about an 8 and a half.” (14:03)
• Oklahoma's run defense is potent, but Bama’s offense isn’t dependent on the ground game, so the matchup plays in their favor. Josh expects Alabama to win by double digits.

Iowa-USC

[22:50–25:59]

• USC’s run game remains potent despite injuries, and QB Jaden Maiava’s development is called “remarkable.”
• Weather (rain in LA) could favor Iowa’s style.
  • Josh: “The only thing that changes about the game… is the venue and about 25 degrees.” (24:00)
• Both suggest that turnovers can swing the contest, but lean toward USC squeezing out a close victory.

Texas-Georgia

[27:59–32:57]

• Colin and Josh agree: it “feels like Georgia” despite Texas’s improvement.
  • The battle will come down to QB play, particularly the emergence of Arch Manning, but both still see Georgia's staff/program identity as the tiebreaker.
  • Josh: “At some point, as staff, you gotta show me. I know what Georgia and Kirby is. I never have to question that.” (30:53)
  • Both note Texas under Steve Sarkisian is still searching for a clear identity.

4. Program Identity: “What Are You?”

[31:14–33:48]

• Colin and Josh discuss how some schools (Notre Dame under Marcus Freeman, Georgia under Kirby) have strong, obvious identities, but Texas and USC, despite high-end coaching talent on offense, still lack a ‘signature culture’ under Lincoln Riley or Sark.
  • “Maybe it's because LA's a pretty town and Austin is music and food, but... I'm not sure exactly what [Texas] are.” — Colin (32:25)
  • “There's a big difference... he's a clinician as a playcaller... but he's not the offensive coordinator alone, he's the head coach.” — Josh (32:57)

5. Lane Kiffin: Ready for the NFL? Coaching and Recruiting Limitations

[33:48–47:11]

• Colin on Kiffin: Ole Miss offers job security and less pressure versus a bigger SEC school, but Kiffin could excel in the NFL, particularly with his experience recruiting/coaching elite QB talent.
• Josh thinks many college coaches quietly consider the NFL. Kiffin’s Raiders stint left business unfinished, and the NFL provides relief from recruiting.
  • “I think several of them are. I think there's names... that would totally and completely put jaws on the ground if they ever got public.” — Josh (35:49)
  • “Some guys hate recruiting. They're looking at the first exit door to get to the NFL… Others, they think it's their wheelhouse.” — Josh (36:29)
• On Ole Miss’s limits: Defensive recruits prefer powerhouse brands, making it hard for Ole Miss to build dominant defenses—something Lane knows, per Colin’s coaching sources (43:02).
  • “Offensive recruits will follow the coach... Great defensive players, they want to go to Georgia, Texas, LSU. That's the limitation of Ole Miss.” — Colin (43:38)
• Nick Saban credited with helping redeem Kiffin and Sark; both hosts praise Kiffin for personal evolution and Saban for staff management.

Notable Quote:
“Everyone watched them and they're this machine and they're winning. And so you think, oh, they're free of all the crap… And then you find out there's tons of infighting there. All of these coaches are alphas... and he's just—it's like herding cats. And he somehow did it.”
— Josh (46:43)

6. Ohio State, Big Ten Dominance, and New Quarterback Landscape

[47:55–51:57]

• If Ohio State wins the national title, “existential crisis” in the South?
  • Josh says people will overreact, but the top teams (OSU, Michigan) are what matter—not entire league strength.
  • Praises Ryan Day's coaching job amid massive staff turnover.
  • The Big Ten’s addition of Pac-12 teams has elevated the conference’s quarterback play.
    • “The one thing the Pac-12 brought to the Big Ten was quarterback play. Like, it's just better.” — Colin (50:23)
• Julian Sayin (OSU): Steady development, authentic QB battles, he’s “something else.”
  • “He’s sitting there in the most fertile developmental soil in college football.” — Josh (51:01)
• Ohio State’s WRs called an NFL pipeline.
  • “If you're an NFL GM, just draft a wide receiver from Ohio State every year... just take only Buckeyes.” — Colin (51:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On critical QB moments:
  “You don't get lucky three times like that on the same drive. It's something that's in you.” — Josh (05:56)
• On DeBoer’s Bama takeover:
  “No one's going to accept any kind of turbulence up there.” — Josh (12:33)
• On evolving coaches:
  “If I were promoting him for the Heisman... Bama can't run and Ty Simpson still does it. That's all I would say about him.” — Josh (11:33)
• On Kiffin and NFL:
  “I think he is considering it. I think they actively consider it all the time... some guys hate recruiting. They're looking at the first exit door.” — Josh (35:48)
• On defensive recruiting:
  “He’s never going to have Georgia's defensive personnel. He's never going to have Bama, he's never going to have Ohio State's defensive guys.” — Colin (43:38)
• On program identity:
  “I don't know what Texas is. Good, talented. I don't know what they are.” — Colin (32:50)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [04:40] — Mendoza’s clutch performance and quarterback scouting
• [07:46] — Penn State-Indiana, impressions on game-changing moments
• [10:04] — Kalen DeBoer at Alabama: skepticism, recruiting culture
• [12:06] — DeBoer’s first year: portal chaos and building culture
• [14:03] — Why Colin and Josh favor Alabama over Oklahoma
• [22:50] — Iowa vs. USC: run game, weather, and program stakes
• [27:59] — Texas vs. Georgia: quarterback battle, conference expansion context
• [31:14] — Program identity: Texas/USC vs. Notre Dame/Georgia
• [33:48] — Lane Kiffin’s career arc, NFL fit, coaching carousel
• [43:02] — Structural limits at Ole Miss, recruiting realities
• [47:55] — Ohio State/B1G dominance, QB landscape post-Pac-12 merger
• [51:57] — Ohio State's NFL-ready receivers

Episode Takeaways

• DeBoer at Bama: Inherits a shifting powerhouse, earns high praise for adapting and navigating the NIL/post-Saban world.
• Program Identity Matters: Schools with clear, consistent identities (Georgia, Notre Dame) tend to weather adversity better than “pretty” but undefined programs (Texas, USC).
• Coaching Carousel: Lane Kiffin's name will always be linked to the NFL, especially as recruiting demands in college intensify.
• Recruiting & NIL: Defensive blue-chippers prioritize traditional powers; a major ceiling for programs like Ole Miss.
• The Big Ten’s Leap: Competing at the highest level now depends even more on quarterback play—and the B1G is raising the bar thanks to its Pac-12 arrivals.

Final Consensus Picks (Rapid Recap):

• Alabama over Oklahoma
• USC (narrowly) over Iowa
• Georgia over Texas

For regular listeners and new fans alike, this episode offers both granular analysis and “30,000 foot” perspective on the forces shaping modern college football.