The Herd with Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts

Episode: Bench Caleb Williams? Best College Football Programs, Chiefs Start 0-2
Date: September 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd is joined by John Middelkoff and other guests to break down some of the most pressing NFL and college football storylines. They dive deep into the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs’ 0-2 start, assess the bleak situation in Chicago with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and have a wide-ranging discussion on what actually makes a college football program "elite," including a candid critique of the UCLA coaching job. The show features Cowherd’s signature blend of sharp analysis, relatable analogies, and provocative opinions, all while maintaining a conversational, unscripted tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eagles vs. Chiefs & The Chiefs’ 0-2 Start

Timestamps: 02:15 – 09:00

• Philly's Clutch Roster & Style:
  Colin praises the Eagles for their reliability in short-yardage situations, especially late in games:

  "If they need a yard, two yards or three yards...it's just automatic." (03:18, Cowherd)

• Jalen Hurts’ Poise & Philly’s Confidence:
  Cowherd notes Hurts isn’t the league’s best pocket passer, but credits his decision-making and Sirianni’s strong coaching presence. The Eagles methodically wore down the Chiefs.
• Chiefs’ Offensive Woes:
  John Middelkoff points out Kansas City's limited offensive weapons, especially with Travis Kelce “getting old,” and receivers out or underperforming:

  "This is not the 2019, 2020, 2021 version—they cannot score against...Vic Fangio, who's one of the best DCs in the league." (07:05, Middelkoff)

• Defensive Hope:
  Cowherd observes the Chiefs' defensive resilience might be their saving grace, suggesting Kansas City will “be a wild card team...They’ll be fine.” (09:03, Cowherd)

2. The Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams Dilemma

Timestamps: 09:04 – 22:35

• Offensive Dysfunction & Ad-Libbing:
  Colin expresses grave doubt about Caleb Williams' fit in Chicago, criticizing the offense for devolving into “backyard football”:

  “It’s the second week in a row...they go off script and clearly Caleb doesn’t see the field particularly well...” (10:13, Cowherd)

• Lack of Chemistry with Coaching:
  Middelkoff wonders if the Williams–Ben Johnson “marriage” is doomed, arguing historical evidence shows QBs need buy-in from coaching staff:

  “Their styles do not mesh up...when I do not pick you...that is not...that power of 'When I draft you'...is powerful.” (12:38, Middelkoff)

• Caleb’s Emotional Style:
  Cowherd questions Williams' “amped up” and “emotional” approach:

  “Quarterback’s one of those positions where you really need somebody who’s even keel and puts out fires...Caleb loses confidence..." (13:39, Cowherd)

• Technical Flaws:
  Both hosts dissect Williams’ tendency to break down under pressure:

  "His head goes down and then he moves all the time...that is quarterback one on one that the coaches hate..." (15:06, Middelkoff)

• Possible Benching & Next Steps:
  Cowherd considers that “Caleb gets one more start” before a possible benching for Tyson Bagent:

  “If it’s ugly, can Ben come out and go, ‘Caleb needs a week off’...I could see one more start. I really could.” (16:57, Cowherd)

• Historic Draft Miss?
  The hosts entertain the idea that Williams could become the lone bust in a loaded quarterback draft class:

  “It’s very possible...we’re going to have five hits and one miss. And the number one guy is going to be the worst quarterback in the class.” (18:39, Cowherd)

• Lack of Touch and Support:
  Williams’ inability to throw with touch is highlighted, and both hosts bemoan the lack of production from Bears' skill players.

3. QB Landscape & Value of Coaching Fits

Timestamps: 25:01 – 30:00

• Parity and Fine Margins in the NFL:
  Cowherd recounts lessons from close games, including the Bucs' win with Baker Mayfield:

  “It shows you...a lot of this stuff is coin flip. I mean, think about tonight...” (25:05, Cowherd)

• Coaching Renaissance for QBs:
  He argues the current NFL has unprecedented offensive coaching, reviving careers for talent like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold:

  “The offensive coaching in this league is really spectacular right now. And what it allows is for quarterbacks who may fail in their first organization...eventually he finds his way.” (29:18, Cowherd)

• Durability is a Skill:
  Noting frequent QB injuries, Cowherd explains why players like Eli Manning succeeded with longevity:

  "Some of this is just, you’ve got to know your body...There is a skill in this league to staying on the field." (34:50, Cowherd)

4. What Makes a Great College Football Program (ft. Josh Pate)

Timestamps: 36:40 – 47:25

• UCLA Job: Overhyped, Underresourced:
  Cowherd and guest analyst (Josh Pate) both criticize UCLA as a bottom-half or even outside top-45 football job in the country:

  “I would go further. I don’t think it’s top 45… there are coordinators out there…that would not leave where they are right now for the UCLA job.” (38:55, Pate)
  “You’re asking me to be distant second in my own town. You’re asking me to be second on my own campus.” (39:38, Pate)

• Top College Jobs Analysis:
  Cowherd ranks Texas, Ohio State, and Georgia as the top blue bloods, while Pate humorously plugs Kentucky as the “best job if you don’t want to win a national title” due to low expectations and high compensation.

  “Mark Stoops makes close to $10 million a year. The goal there is to win seven games.” (43:19, Pate) “If you do want to compete for a national championship, the answer is The University of Georgia.” (44:23, Pate)

5. Brian Kelly & LSU: Grading the Fit

Timestamps: 49:31 – 58:11

• Brian Kelly’s Southern Transition:
  Cowherd asks if LSU's fan base truly buys in to Kelly, acknowledging his early missteps and cultural clashes:

  "You can kind of get into your ego, and Brian was…got very tribal and protective…” (49:31, Cowherd)

• Cultural and Organizational Shifts:
  Pate explains Kelly's “flushing” of local ties may have hurt internally, but course corrections followed with key hires.

  “He flushed that place of Louisiana...and because they didn’t [win immediately]...that’s been held over his head.” (53:59, Pate)

• LSU’s Defensive Rebirth:
  Both agree the defense now “looks like big boy defense” (54:31, Cowherd) and that if Kelly wins a championship, he’ll be fully accepted.
• Kelly vs. Orgeron Comparison:

  “If Ed can do it...I think Brian's too good of a coach. It took a while...But eventually, I think three years in, like, I feel like they've got figured it out.” (57:16, Cowherd)

Notable Quotes by Segment & Timestamp

• On Caleb Williams’ struggles:
  “They go off script and clearly Caleb doesn’t see the field particularly well...It just becomes ad libbing. It's backyard football.” (10:13, Cowherd)
• On how coaching fit matters for quarterbacks:
  “That power of when I draft you, when I believed in you from before you become an NFL player is powerful. That is not...Ben Johnson took this job. Maybe intrigued by Caleb, but you see through two weeks his mannerisms on the sideline...this was an Eberflus game. I mean, this was pretty embarrassing.” (12:38, Middelkoff)
• On the difference between good and great college jobs:
  “You’re asking me to take a bottom half job...to be distant second in my own town...NIL infrastructure is really discombobulated...” (39:38, Pate)
• On Brian Kelly at LSU:
  “He flushed that place of Louisiana. Now, it wouldn’t have mattered if they won immediately, but they didn’t...that’s been held over his head.” (53:59, Pate)
• On the unpredictability of NFL outcomes:
  “It shows you, you know, that’s why when fans get worked up and this coach is a bum and this player’s a bum, a lot of this stuff is coin flip.” (25:05, Cowherd)

Memorable Moments

• Colin’s analogy comparing firing a rookie QB to a high-profile celebrity marriage where “you could see the divorce coming” (11:13, Middelkoff).
• Heated assessment that the Bears’ “marriage” with Caleb Williams is “not meant to be” (12:38, Middelkoff).
• Josh Pate’s tongue-in-cheek declaration of Kentucky as the most desirable job for job security and pay with low expectations (43:19).
• Repeated, almost cathartic, teardown of the real-life perks vs. headaches of the UCLA job in the Big Ten era.

Detailed Timestamps for Major Topics

• Eagles-Chiefs Breakdown: 02:15 – 09:00
• Bears/Caleb Williams Discussion: 09:04 – 22:35
• QB/Coaching Parity in NFL: 25:01 – 30:00
• College CFB Job Rankings & UCLA: 36:40 – 47:25
• Brian Kelly & LSU Deep Dive: 49:31 – 58:11

Conclusion

This episode delivers a quintessential “Herd” experience—fiery opinions, deep football insight, and candid conversations about coaching, quarterbacking, and program building on both the NFL and college level. With frank assessments of Caleb Williams’ struggles, a pessimistic outlook for the Bears, strategic notes on coaching buy-in, and myth-busting about what makes a “great” program, it’s a must-listen for football fans who crave honest, unfiltered talk about the state of the sport.