← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - Championship Previews, Jayden Daniels Making History, Ohio State Wins The Natty, Betting The AFC + NFC Championship!
01:05:48
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- [00:00]
Colin Cowherd
You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption. Acquired card has no cash access and expires in six months.
- [00:36]
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with a Star. So where else you can find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music. Music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:06]
Katie Couric
Hey everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch, right in time for a new season of my podcast Next Question. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out like Ezra Klein, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also gonna have some fun thanks to some of my friends like Samantha Bee and Charlamagne the God. We're gonna take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:44]
Jon Stewart
Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspond contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:19]
Bobby Bones
The volume.
- [02:22]
Colin Cowherd
Our divisional reaction is presented by Uber Eats. Get game day deals all season long on Uber Eats. All right, here we go. Let's chop it up. John Middelkoff, former NFL scout, has his own podcast, Three and Out. So I mean, listen, Kansas City Buffalo is, I think, what most of us. I mean, I, I, I do think Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, I think we can say this now. And I feel bad for Joe Burrow. They had to sell naming rights to pay him. It is an antiquated front office. I mean, it's really sad. And Tobin, the gm, is kind of a powerless guy. So the Chiefs are minus one and a half against the Bills. I'll take Buffalo plus one and a half. I took Buffalo plus one and a half today. I think Buffalo's going to go into Arrowhead and win. They're pretty healthy boy Milano again making nice plays. You know, that guy doesn't get a ton of credit. Football people know he made a couple of big plays near the goal line tonight. So I think, I think it's been established obviously where you land matters. And, you know, Brady got Belichick and Joe Montana got Bill Walsh, but that's just the way it works. I think Josh Allen and Mahomes, to me, John, have separated themselves as the best two quarterbacks in the league. I like Joe Burrow a lot, but he gets hurt. And that's, you know, genetics are what they are. You get hurt, it's, it's, it's part of your legacy. And then I think the next tier of quarterbacks after those two starts with Joe Burrow and Jaden Daniels may be right behind him. We'll get to that later in the podcast. But I, I kind of feel like I, I've watched these NFC teams, John. I do not believe. I think Kansas City and Buffalo are going to win the Super Bowl. One of those two. I just don't think Philadelphia is buttoned up. I think Washington season will end if it doesn't. They're just not talented enough. Agree or disagree?
- [04:24]
Adnan Virk
Totally agree. This game feels like 49ers Cowboys 1993 at Arrowhead. And listen, I, the Chiefs are my people. I probably wouldn't be sitting here with you if it wasn't for them. I do think this is the Bills year. I think the Bills are going to win next week, and I think they're going to win the Super Bowl. And you know, for one year when I was with Philadelphia, Sean was there and he's just, I mean, he's a really, really impressive guy. I think he's become a really good head coach and he hired the right coordinator. I mean, going from Dorsey to Joe Brady has changed their offense. But let's be real about this. The Bills, you know, if you look back when I was younger, Manning, Brady was a rivalry. But up until 0607 Manning could not beat him and Brady at three Super Bowls. That's kind of what this feels like. This. Lamar Mahomes is not a rivalry. This is the third time in recent memory and the Bills have lost these games like last year, the overtime game where they went three plays and 50 yards or whatever. But this is the game. It's Josh versus Mahomes. And listen, you could make the argument because of the last lack of playoff success, we got to reorder. This is. It goes Mahomes, Josh, then Joe Burrow and then Lamar Jackson. And the one thing and you just mentioned about Joe Burrow, he does not have the infrastructure that Lamar has. I mean, the team that he took to the super bowl and went toe to toe with Mahomes in the other playoff game that he lost in the AFC Championship game. Like, I'm sorry, like he's just accomplished way more now. I think, you know, I use the NBA comp sometimes, like James Harden or Joel Embiid in that individual sport. I would much rather have Lamar in football than if I was in basketball and have one of those guys. So I. And I think big picture, I still think the Ravens can win a Super Bowl. But as we sit here in 2025, like, it's been a pretty big letdown given a guy that. I mean, the guy could have like four MVPs and he easily could get his third. So it's. This is tough. But the Ravens put themselves in this position, having to go on the road. They lost a terrible game to Cleveland. The second did the Raiders. That first half against the Chiefs, they didn't play very well. I mean, that Raiders loss was really, really bad. So I mean, the Ravens and John Harbaugh put himself in this position.
- [06:35]
Colin Cowherd
Philadelphia going to the NFC championship against Washington again. We'll get the Jaden Daniels later. Philadelphia 28, Rams 22. It was 13 to 10. Philly at half closer than I thought. And I. I'll give the Rams credit. I still feel they're about four players away. I think again, like I felt last year, they' just incredibly coached, smartly quarterbacked a little Puka reliant. Kyron Williams again, a big fumble. He doesn't. He fumbles too much. Remember Cam Acres? They shipped him out of town. He fumbled too much. I feel like Kyron Williams is getting that point where he's fumbling in big games. But Philadelphia, Jalen Carter was spectacular. Saquon Barkley was spectacular. And when I watched Philadelphia, I mean they have the best interior D lineman in the league, along with Chris Jones, they have the best running back in the league, along with McCaffrey who's hurt. It just. This team is not led by Jalen Hurts. And it's not a knock. I just feel like it's their physicality on that defensive front. I feel like it's these young corners. You know, I was thinking about this with Saquon Barkley. I always root for great players to play with great teams. LeBron to Miami. Ohtani needed to be a Dodger or a Yankee, not an angel. And I look at Saquon Barkley and he was just too damn good to be stuck in a circus in New York. Now he. Maybe he doesn't rise to Ohtani or LeBron. But I will say this. I really believe this just in terms of jumping over people. Remember when he jumped over that player backwards. John, he is on a short list of the best running backs I've ever seen. Maybe he's not Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. Maybe he doesn't have the dexterity of Christian McCaffrey. John, he's one of the five or six Seminole running backs I've seen in my life. In terms of just talent, I think he's sensational.
- [08:25]
Adnan Virk
Yeah. I mean, I think in recent memory, just as a pure runner between the tackles, when you talk about vision, power and speed, I think he's got to be on the short list with Derrick Henry and Adrian Peterson, who are two lock hall of Famers.
- [08:36]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [08:37]
Adnan Virk
The difference is Adrian Peterson got to play on some pretty good teams in Minnesota. And obviously Derek Henry had brable the Titans and now he has the Ravens. I thought today, and I said this, I did a quick reaction after that game. I thought today was a pretty big Howie Roseman muscle flex because the quarterback. We watch four quarterbacks today, three of them all have something in common when they pass. And then there's Jalen Hurts, who just feels like everyone's so critical of Kellen Moore. It's like guys, you can call any play you want in the pocket. He's. He's a coin flip. You have no clue what's coming. And it usually is more tails than heads. Saquon Barkley, they got for under $30 million guaranteed. In a day and age when guards are getting $50 million, Jalen Carter is a good example of, let's face it, he was drafted ninth. He was the best player in that draft by a country mile. Pure talent. But like, from like 4 to 8, everyone was terrified and it took balls to draft them. But you not only needed Balls to take them. You needed the infrastructure then of high character leaders. An opera. They had Fletcher Cox, Jason Kelsey, they had a bunch of Georgia guys. So they took the risk, but they had the infrastructure there. I mean Saquon and Jalen Carter and Jared Verse were the two best players. But Jared Verse, you could argue relatively easy pick if you need a defensive lineman, high character guy, great player. I mean Jalen Carter was a. He had to leave the combine to go to the police station. I mean remember that story. What do you. This was a walking red flag. Who is an all time great talent. I mean honestly, one of the more talented guys in the last like five years of the NFL draft. I mean today it was just what is going on. Their talent with just those two guys and then on top of the rest of the talent that they have on the team, like how well they can play with their quarterback. They. I mean it is conceivable they could win a Super bowl and he could not throw 150 yards in any playoff game or the Super Bowl. Like that could be on the table because how good they are.
- [10:26]
Colin Cowherd
Josh Harris in 2011 buys with a group the Sixers. He still hasn't gotten to an Eastern Conference championship. With Joel Embiid who's always hurt. He buys the commander's first year NFC championship. Which shows you why this league is so great. Houston was the embarrassment of the league playoffs. Washington had a 15 year smell with Dan Snyder, NFC Championship. One of the reasons I love this league. I mean a year ago we thought Denver was just, you know, they were a heap of tires on the freeway on fire. The Commanders for the next three years can just surround Jaden Daniels with talent. And I want to talk about him. He had a five game stretch middle of the season. He got banged up. Bo. Nick started to surge and you were like, okay, Jaden's. Jaden's more athletic maybe, but you know, but his last like eight games, his ability. I've never seen anything like this. His last 10 games, it says here 20 touchdowns, 7 picks, 98 passer ratings and they played some good teams. His ability to. He's not Lamar the runner. And I'll tell you why it's an advantage. Lamar is so gifted as a runner. So was Michael Vick. Steve Young was to a large degree too. And Josh Allen, that you're so great as a runner. It's always an easy out, especially in high school and college. It's just it easy. Jaden's fast, but he's not quite a Vic or a Josh Allen when he can roll over you. But what he is, he's evasive, more so than like Kyler Murray. So he's, he's fast enough to get out of trouble, but he's not as big and strong as Allen or as shifty or pure speed as Lamar. So he's never, he's always relied on the pocket, right? Like he sits in the pocket. He feels so advanced to me is a late game pocket passer. I thought Andrew Luck was the best rookie quarterback I ever saw. But you got downside with him. He was a risk taker. He had a little Sam Darnold and Carson Wentz. I get no downside with this kid. None.
- [12:47]
Adnan Virk
If you just look at the best players in the NFL at quarterback, there's like three or four guys and you know, I think Mahomes and Josh Allen are much more playmakers than true pocket quarterbacks. Obviously, Lamar is a hybrid. It would really be Burrow. And what do Burrow and Jaden have in common? They both had to transfer to lsu. Their first year at LSU did not go well. And their second year they kind of mastered it. Well, think about this. You know, Burrows, the talent he went against on defense every day in practice was better than Jaden's. But think about, you play every year, Alabama A. Nick Saban, Alabama. So with several NFL guys on the front, you play A and M, who's always loaded with talent and you just play an SEC schedule. So over the course of a couple years after you had already been in another school, got some reps. Jaden had played at asu, bro, hadn't. And you kind of get to master your craft because I watch Jaden Daniels and you go, he's pretty calm, like Joe Burrow in the pocket, you know, which. And he was considered this dual threat because last year was like, well, he's really good deep ball thrower. That was like his Russell Wilson thing. But over the middle of the field, blitzes can get him. He looks completely under control. That's the craziest part about his game, is how cool, calm and collected he is. To me, he's. He's the more athletic running version of Burrow because he really plays much more like a pocket quarterback. How good is he throwing over the middle of the field? I mean, that's the crazy part.
- [14:10]
Colin Cowherd
In congested areas, he's just incredible. It's just incredible. And you know, my favorite part of this is I love, I thought like Cam Ward was a winner this weekend. You know, you watching, you watching Jaden Daniels come out of that draft. And Tennessee's probably thinking, well, I mean, Cam Ward's like a thicker version of him, like Jaden Daniels ability to just improvise. I mean, Cliff Kingsbury, Steve Keim was texting me. He's like Cliff Kingsbury. You know, after that mess at USC in Arizona, he's like, he earned this and deserved it. But I just think sometimes people are special. And whereas Mahomes got a sit for his first year and Lamar didn't play until week 11, this kid was inserted onto a really, I would argue at best, second, probably third best roster in that division. And the other thing is, and Brian Kelly said this in college, he said he's just a great student of the game. He was good early, little turbulent. Middle of the season, got banged up. He's just gotten better. He's a better quarterback now than he was 10 weeks ago.
- [15:22]
Adnan Virk
He's just totally. I was thinking about this. Think about the first three quarterbacks. Caleb, him and Drake. You know, Caleb goes to a place where every coach got fired halfway through the season. Drake goes to a place where clearly the guy was in over his head. And this guy gets to go to Dan Quinn, who had taken a team to a Super bowl, had gone to Kingsbury, who had coached in the NFL, had been a head coach for a long, long time as the play caller head coach in college. And the pros of just a very stable place immediately because they don't have that much talent. McLaurin's a good player, but Zach Hurts is like my age. The Brown guy. Most people that follow the NFL don't know that much about defensively. Bobby Wagner's been in the league forever. I mean he's on hole 17 or 18 of his career.
- [16:10]
Colin Cowherd
It's best, John at best, it's the. It's the 12th to 15th best roster in the league at best.
- [16:16]
Adnan Virk
I think it's probably closer to low 20s and what he's doing and the coaching staff's doing. And there's something in football, right, more than these other sports, like in baseball, I can't Even if Bochy's my manager, if I don't have the talent, I can't overachieve against the Dodgers over six, seven games, right? If I'm playing the Katy warriors or the Shaq Kobe Lakers, I'm fucked. Phil Jackson and it doesn't. John Wooden could be the coach in football. Coaching staffs 1 Just a belief coming into a game. I think we saw it today with McDermott and the Bills. They believe they could win that game. That matters a lot. The Lions have had this for a couple of years with Dan Campbell and then the schematics of everything. But there is just an element of they just got this guy. I mean, they go for it a lot on these fourth and shorts because they got this guy.
- [16:59]
Colin Cowherd
That's right.
- [16:59]
Adnan Virk
Fourth, fourth and two with Jameis Winston or some random quarterback is not the same. Like, I think part of the reason he's going for it constantly is this guy. The Lions do it a lot. They got the best offensive line in the league. They got a star tight end. They got a star wide receiver. They got multiple backs. It's a high percentage play. It's not the same if you got Tommy DeVito in that offensive line.
- [17:21]
Justin Pennick
Right.
- [17:22]
Adnan Virk
So things aren't all equal. I don't think he's this crazy gunslinger. He's just going, we have one of the most dynamic players I've probably ever seen.
- [17:30]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. And I said this yesterday on my pod. You knew you had something special. When a veteran coach, Dan Quinn, and, you know, a guy who had been a head coach in two places. Cliff Kingsbury in camp were effusive with their praise. I mean, the rule with rookie quarterbacks is he'll get there. Let's lower expectations. And they kept talking to Dan Quinn. Zach Ertz told me this last week. He's like, yeah, this is different. This doesn't look like. This is way better than a rookie quarterback. And I remember people saying that about Andrew Luck, how he memorized the Colts playbook in like two and a half days. This, the instincts, the poise. To me, it's just unprecedented. I've never seen anything like it. And I. And again, I wouldn't have guessed he would be the greatest rookie quarterback of all time. In week eight, he was. He had played bad against Pittsburgh, couple of picks against the Cowboys. He was banged up his last, like, eight weeks. It's like, is he a top five quarterback in the league? He may be.
- [18:27]
Adnan Virk
I had a scouting buddy text me last night and said, you know, the Bears didn't even bring in Jaden Daniels for a visit. And listen, I'm not trying to write off Caleb's career. We've seen Peyton Manning was bad as a rookie. By all means, he can.
- [18:42]
Colin Cowherd
Caleb is not this accurate. No way.
- [18:44]
Adnan Virk
But. But your job as a gm, Adam Peters took a lot of crap because, remember, he had, like, all five quarterbacks not named Caleb Williams. He took them to topgolf. That's kind of his job to evaluate everybody who's going to be available So I think you look back at Ryan polls, it would have taken a lot of balls to not take Caleb Williams. It was the easy pick, but his job isn't to placate to the media. His job is to get it right and get the right player. And they didn't even look at this guy and listen, Caleb can become a good player. This guy is. It's mind blowing because his team's not that talented. It'd be one thing. It's like, well, he inherited this great roster. They actually traded up from pick 20 to pick two to get him. No, like, this team was terrible. It's essentially the same roster that we all made fun of last year with Ron Rivera that ended up at number two. And it's actually not because, remember, they traded sweat midseason. They traded sweat. Chase Young, they don't even have a great defensive line. I mean, they don't have many defensive line beside the tackles. It's crazy what he's doing. The running backs are Echler, who's a good little scat back.
- [19:41]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [19:42]
Adnan Virk
Mick Nichols, who Adam Peters likes, and Brian Robinson, who couple, you know, midseason, started fumbling. So they kind of kick to the curve. It's not like they're handing the ball to Saquon.
- [19:51]
Chad Millman
Right.
- [19:51]
Adnan Virk
I mean, that's, that's not what's going on here. Crazy.
- [19:57]
Colin Cowherd
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- [21:17]
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I. I texted you and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but, like, all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like, it's all colored. They changed it and the. The heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm gonna be honest. It was a little pink.
- [22:00]
Colin Cowherd
There was something sentimental when you, like when, when you send it, it's like.
- [22:04]
Adnan Virk
Do I send the heart? Now?
- [22:07]
Bobby Bones
I don't like the color edition.
- [22:08]
Colin Cowherd
It's extremely pink.
- [22:09]
Bobby Bones
Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [22:16]
Katie Couric
Hey, everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch, and I'm exhausted, but turns out the end is near, right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next Question. This podcast is for people like me who need a little perspective and insight. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out, like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun, even though these days fun and politics seems like an oxymoron. But we'll do that thanks to some of my friends like Samantha bee, Roy Wood Jr. And Charlemagne the God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Power to the podcast for the people. So whether you're obsessed with the news or just trying to figure out what's going on, this season of Next Question is for you. Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie couric. On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [23:22]
Chris Rose
What's going on, everybody? This is Justin Pennik from John Boy Media, the host of the Football Today podcast alongside Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We're rolling three times a week on Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays. Breaking down everything you need to know about NFL. We're talking about the MVP race. Is Josh Allen going to pull it out? Lamar Jackson? Can Saquon Barkley even break the rushing record? Can the Steelers keep up their momentum? We talk about everything. We break it down. Stats, analytics. And of course, Chris Rose is bringing his perspective on being a pro in the media world as well. Listen to Football Today on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you you get your podcast and you will be glad you did. Hope you could join us for the postseason run.
- [24:12]
Justin Pennick
What's up, everybody? Adnan Vir here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast and the National Hockey League. It's NHL unscripted with Virk and Demers.
- [24:20]
Jason Demers
Hey, I'm Jason Demers, former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst. And boy, oh boy, does daddy have a lot to say.
- [24:29]
Justin Pennick
I love you, by the way, on NHL Network. We're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right?
- [24:37]
Jason Demers
Yeah, I just met you today, but we're going to have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture and you know what, tons of back and forth on all things NHL.
- [24:48]
Justin Pennick
Yeah, you're going to soon going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We get all kinds of random stuff on this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling, even the stuff that you wear on NHL.
- [24:57]
Jason Demers
Now you wish you could pull off my short shorts, Ferkie.
- [25:00]
Justin Pennick
That's short of Kazarakis. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Burke and demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [25:18]
Colin Cowherd
Big favorites generally in these national championship games. Roll. And after a great opening drive by Notre Dame, they could never duplicate it. And Ohio State Nil should stand for not in our league. You can just, you know, listen. The number that matters now is 66,000. That's how many kids go to Ohio State. What does that matter? Because Big Ten graduates don't stay. Lots of them don't stay in the Midwest. Not enough jobs. They go to the coast, they go make money and they pour it back into the school. And so these gigantic Big Ten schools, they're not holding bake sales like Alabama and car washes like Auburn to afford the nil. I mean, their fan bases, they got a lot of Ohio State grads. I know two of them that are big funders of the NIL collective. And you watch that offense, Sean. That offense is, I mean, and their offensive line's dinged up. They just got pros everywhere. I mean, it's just, it just. I mean, Notre Dame is well coached, good defensively, cannot compete.
- [26:26]
Adnan Virk
Well, think about this. We got back to back years now. Michigan, Ohio State dominate and win the national championship. Just full of NFL guys. When you look this year, Penn State is in the Final Four. Texas is now an SEC team. But come on, I mean, they've been there for 10 minutes. Last year, Washington's in the Final Four. We know Oregon's not going away. I think when you look at the sec, Alabama got there last year and Saban's like two days later, I'm out. So I think the enlist, all these rulings are constantly coming out. It's a fluid situation. But one thing we know not is ever going to go back to the way it was. More money, more funding, more cutting checks for these players. And not just Ohio State. I would say the Big Ten in general. Michigan. When I lived in Philadelphia and worked for the Eagles, you know, usually local radio in a pro city, they talked a lot of Penn State. Why? A lot of graduates live in that area. A lot of people went there and a lot of people watched the game. So I'm with you. I think the Big Ten have a huge advantage moving forward.
- [27:29]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, I have a place in Naples, Florida. It's a beautiful beach community. Very, very high end Sarasota, Naples area. My wife introduced me to it. It's all Big Ten fans and I mean, believe me, it is Badger, Buckeye, Wolverine, Spartan, flags all over town. And let me just tell you, there is a lot of money in the Big Ten. Those graduates make a lot of money. Because I've been in Naples for about a decade now and I'm always amazed by it. I mean, it looks like Rodeo Drive downtown. And that is absolutely. You know, SEC fans go to what they call, I think they call it the Riviera, the Redneck Riviera or something. I never been there. But then you go down to Sarasota and Naples and that's a different level of money and that is Big Ten money. And I'll say this, a lot of people are pushing back and saying this is a one off. No, it's not. You and I talked about this. Penn State. Look at the size of these schools. Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan. Washington's a huge school. They're not. And those graduates, they leave a lot of times their area and they're loyal. And the SEC schools like when Alabama is. Think about this. Nick Saban is one of the smartest coaches ever. Look how great of a coach he was. NFL teams would fly down and look at how Alabama ran their program, including Belichick. Look how good of a broadcaster he is. Saban is. He's literally made game day feel huge. And everybody on that's talented. Reese, Pat, Herb, Street, Howard. I mean, those guys are all talented. Nick is just makes it feel huge. Car dealerships, the way he has leveraged his career, just how smart this guy is. The first year the NIL opened up, Nick Saban saw it and he got very nervous. I was told about Texas. He told his guys, we can't compete with Texas. That is oil money. It's tech money. Alabama cannot compete with Texas. He knew it. He sounded the alarms the first year. And if Saban, who's the smartest coach arguably in college football, he's certainly on a short list, saw it coming and he got the hell out. Nick could coach today if he wanted to. God the guy, come on, look at him on tv. He's just so magnetic and dynamic. Nick's a sharp dude. He knows the truth is that Georgia's got some money. Tennessee's got some money. I think the Tide, remember Washington's in Seattle. They don't have a huge collective, but Jed Fish can recruit. Last year was a rebuilding year. They're going to be closer to Oregon than Iowa going forward. USC's can listen to this. USC's collective now is over 20 million. They've already spent 30 million over the next. For the next 18 months. They have to figure out how to pay all these bills. I think the SEC knows it. I think the smart people in that conference can see it before it's happened. But this year and last year, watch the games. There is a gap. Notre Dame beat Georgia and controlled Georgia. They got one off the field tonight.
- [30:50]
Adnan Virk
Totally. I think. Listen, you and I and I turned into an SEC fan during the Saban era. Why was the best players. It was the best games. They still have the best talent. The reality now is when Kirby, back in the day, Bobby Bowden, Dabo Sweeney, all the Southern coaches knocked on your door, you were going to go to one of those schools. Now they just Call your agent and say, hey, they're offering you 500 grand. We'll offer you 850 and some side cash that you want it to pay taxes on. It's not a fair fight. And that's what this has turned into. It is strictly pay to play. It's why I laugh, like forever a great recruiter. Obviously, to become a great recruiter, you had to have a personality, but you also had to be at a program that offered you a lot, right, that might even could pay you a little under the table. Now there's. We don't even, you know, beat around the bush on that. It's like, no, a great recruiter is someone that can offer me $800,000. I mean, the guy was the quarterback that was going to play for Brian Kelly Underwood. He was going to lsu and then he ended up at Michigan. Not because he loved Sharon Moore and Tom Brady and Dave Portnoy, because they paid him like 12 to 15 million dollars. Even Brian Kelly's like, yeah, we can't pay him that much. We don't have the money. Look at Nebraska last year.
- [32:02]
Colin Cowherd
Now, Michigan State's boosters, one of them is the guy that owns the Cavs. The other one's the guy that owns the Suns.
- [32:12]
Adnan Virk
It is going to be. They got the talent, but these Big Ten urban started it years ago, right when he went from Florida to Ohio State. We got to get in the south and recruit the players. Well, now everyone knows that, but they can just cut the check. So I, I'm going to be, I think Texas, like you mentioned, Saban, I didn't know that he said that, but I mean, he's got ears, eyes and a brain. I mean, it's not hard to figure out. I think A and M as well. I think the two Texas schools that are in the SEC have a massive advantage financially because that's the world we're in. Can you pay the players or not? The most. That's where they're going to go.
- [32:45]
Colin Cowherd
Look at this. I was talking to, during the course of the season, I was talking to, to a general manager and he said, let me tell you who's going to be number one next year. Take quarterbacks out. He goes, caleb Downs is going to be number one next year. He goes, that kid would start for every single NFL team as a sophomore in college. He goes, there's not an NFL team he wouldn't start for. And then, and then I texted him. That was mid season. I texted him before this game and he said, if, because it's A very weak draft. He said if Jeremiah Smith, the receiver for Ohio State, and Caleb Downs were available, he's like, these quarterbacks are not good enough. He goes, cam would probably go over those players because Tennessee needs a quarterback. He said, would they go two and three? He's like, these kids are. I mean, when you watch Jeremiah Smith and, and Caleb, they don't even look like college players. It reminds me when, when, when Jamar Chase was at lsu, like his sophomore year, you're like, okay, this is a pro receiver. Who would, who would start. He would make. He would start for every team in the NFL. The year before he went and left.
- [33:52]
Adnan Virk
Lsu, you could argue, I mean, what's really going to separate are the top five or six programs because of the money. And obviously Ohio State and Oregon are in clearly the top tier. Texas and I would throw Texas A and M in there. I mean, they got a little taste of being back this year, of being good and being right there. They have unlimited money. That's. That's the sport now. What happened to Michigan this year? They finally won a national championship. Then they started getting embarrassed and they said, what do you need? What do we need? We don't want to do this ever again. So that's what. And listen, I started at Fresno State. That program wouldn't have existed. I don't know how they maintain it. The Logan Mankins, the Ryan Matthews, Washington State. How are they going to function moving forward? The moment you get a guy, yeah, that guy might be a third rounder. Oh, he's a sophomore. Every school worth their salt in his DM saying, hey, how much you want? And they leave. They just automatically leave. What we saw last year with Austin Genti, I don't think we'll ever see again. Even the head coach this year said it. He's like, he turned down seven figures to stay here, and all we could offer him was $300,000. I mean, that's, that's the world. One day I was at the gym probably a couple months ago, and I look up and his first take is just on one of the big TVs. And it's a kid and I'm like, what's going on? I think Shannon and Stephen A. Were talking to him, and it's the number one basketball recruit. When I got home, I googled him. He's going to BYU next year. It's like, it's not hard to figure out the Mormons cut that kid a massive check and that. Listen, I have no problem with that. I mean, that's In a weird way, that's what I would say. The sport has always been basketball and football. You know, financing these, I got no problem with it. But that, that is 100% the world we're living in now. And it's really separating at the top. I mean, think about your guy Lane, Ole Miss this year. They break the bank and then they don't even make the playoffs. Are they less likely to keep breaking the bank when you don't have results?
- [35:44]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, and I, and I also think this is. Coaches will get poached. You know, a prime example is John. It's harder to fire a college basketball coach because he can go to his boosters, his donors and his ad and go, I've made the tournament 12 straight years, okay? You can't get rid of Sark. If Sark makes the playoff, and he will, 10 of the next 11 years, you're not going to get rid of him if he can win a game or two here and there. And my point being is, so these coaches now are going to make enormous money, like better than NFL money for a lot of these guys. Can the SEC schools pay for that? I mean, let's just say tomorrow, let's say one of the coaches in the Big Ten doesn't work. Ryan Day's fine. Ryan Franklin's got. I mean, most of the guys are fine. But let's say, for instance, a school goes and offers Lane Kiffin a job. And in the Big Ten, they say, Here's $12 million. Can an SEC school fund their collective and pay the football head coach, not the staff, $20 million? This is gonna funnel down to the coaches. Now, a lot of these guys are.
- [36:55]
Adnan Virk
Somewhere, they've been giving up their money. Colin, Brian Kelly gave a million dollars collective. Did you see that story a couple, like a month ago, he gave a million dollars of his own salary to the collective. Why? Because, Ellis, do you think you have to do that? Ohio State. But no, it's hard for him to say, I'm making nine and a half million dollars in the collective. We're a little short. And then you start getting heat when Underwood goes to Michigan. It's like, well, I got to give in a little bit. That's. That, to me, was a pretty big red flag for lsu. He had to give a million dollars of a salary.
- [37:25]
Colin Cowherd
Well, if. So, if you telling me that I didn't hear that story. So Saban saying, get me out of here. Brian Kelly giving up a million. Listen, for years and years, the sec, and it was just, it was just on Everybody knew it. They were paying kids through the churches. But I'm talking paying a kid 100,000 buck 50 that is doesn't even, I mean it just doesn't even compete. And I think I'll just say it now, the SEC may never get worse than the second best conference. But if the Big Ten truly cares going forward, they will control college football going forward. And you know, for the record, Michigan won last year, Ohio State won this year. You see Penn State outside of Carter and that tight end returns everybody Penn State and they're going to bring back Drew Allergies. Penn State next year loses a great tight end and a great. And these are first round players. But Michigan next year, Washington, Ohio State, Oregon, Oregon still really good, like the Big Ten. This was a little bit of a down year, let's be honest. Michigan in a rebuild, Washington in a rebuild. Caleb William leaves USC in a rebuild. All those teams should be better next year.
- [38:44]
Adnan Virk
Well the other thing is, and you mentioned Michigan State with their big boosters. I mean I'm sure you agree. I think Jonathan Smith's a stud and this is the worst team he's going to have coaching there. So they will be better. I mean he's a high level coach. Nebraska funneling in a bunch of money. I think the problem for the SEC is for about 15 years in the Saban era and when other teams would kind of match them like LSU on a given year, obviously Georgia at the end, Clemson was basically as my buddy Phil Savage used to tell me, they were an SEC in their heyday, an SEC school playing an ACC schedule. But they had SEC players, well, their backups. Right when you start training camp and you don't know who like at the time, a freshman or sophomore who's going to kind of separate. You just let them battle it out and then the one guy that wins the job ends up being the first round pick. Well, his backup is still a fourth rounder. And if that guy gets injured, you know, in the seventh game of the season, your backup still a fourth rounder, well now that guy goes I'm out. And all these other programs are lined up to take them and he's like, well I might as well make the same amount of money and go start than be a backup. That was their biggest advantage I always thought is they, they're too deep. Was the last like right at the beginning of the nil, right before the nil when Kirby was basically turned Georgia into Alabama. He went too deep with like my first rounder is my starter and my backup Is a second rounder. Good luck. Touching me and you didn't. Well, we saw this year they were a shell of themselves and it's going to be difficult to just maintain that dominance because they do have the talent in the region. But these other schools just. We got technology now. Can just send you the offer contract on DocuSign. I was like, here's the money, buddy. You want to come and what do you think? Their parents and agents are clearly saying Ohio State's been doing it since Urban got there. But then Harbaugh started getting involved. We know Oregon's going to keep funneling out of the SEC in the South. Really? Mario started that. Penn State. Like the one thing you say, all those guys going back to Penn State, one thing James Franklin is, is a great recruiter. If you give him money, his energy and his effort. I do think Texas is going to run the SEC moving forward.
- [40:51]
Colin Cowherd
So do I. Yeah. SEC fans can say what they want. They can say Oak Bama is in big trouble. LSU is in big trouble. Big trouble. Georgia because they're close to Atlanta. There's some big boosters there. But remember, Atlanta's got the Braves, the Falcons. I mean they've got, you know that they've got a lot of things happening in Atlanta. It's a very splintered market. Yeah.
- [41:18]
Adnan Virk
I think we're talking when we say trouble, right. The day of going 12 and oh and winning natties, you still might win eight, nine games, but you're never going to be what probably we've seen in the past.
- [41:28]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, yeah. I don't even think. I mean, that's not even a take. That's not a hot take. I mean, the sec, the days of running it are over. Back to back years. And again, I'll say it again, Ohio State next year. Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs, the two best players in the college football next year are both back. And you know, I mean, and now you're going to. How you think the recruiting is going to go, Transfer portal is going to go off this win. I mean, the players, listen, man, those star players, they watch what Ohio State is tonight. It's a factory up there. They're rolling. It looks like Ryan Day and Chip Kelly. I mean, I thought the game plan tonight for Ohio State looked like a pro game plan. I mean, the way if you watch the game plan tonight for Ohio State those first two drives, it was so Chip Kelly. Let's build up Will Howard's confidence. Easy completions get the ball to the playmaker. It was just, I mean, I watched I watched enough Chip Kelly games and I'm like, oh, this is a clinic. This is Chip Kelly. Who doesn't, probably doesn't think Will Howard's an elite player, but within the system he can get those 12 yard incompletions. He's accurate. Notre Dame never made Will Howard uncomfortable. I mean he just, and this is a beat up old line. I mean he was, Will Howard was sitting back there at one point, I don't know what he was 6 for 6, 7 for 7 on third down. Notre Dame just couldn't make him uncomfortable.
- [42:48]
Adnan Virk
I would say this, if you've watched Chip Kelly since Oregon, if he's busting explosive runs, you got no shot. And the moment they start hitting big runs, you're in trouble. Especially with the firepower they have to throw the ball because then you, what are you going to do? Stack the box and let them exploit you and say what you want about Will Howard, I, I questioned it coming into this playoff run. Colin in the first half he was 14 of 15 for two touchdowns. And he's just, you remove the Texas game, which was a difficult just endeavor for him given how good Texas is on defense. He was dominant in the three matches against Tennessee which has NFL personnel on defense. Obviously Oregon is loaded with NFL players and tonight just national championship Notre Dame to come out. He's played really, he's made himself some money. I'm not saying he's going to get drafted in the second day, but I think he's getting to get it drafted in the, somewhere between the fourth to the sixth round.
- [43:40]
Colin Cowherd
Versatile, throws a good ball. I think the kid at Syracuse, Kyle McCord and Will Howard are going to get drafted late third, fourth, early fifth round. Both big, strong, sturdy kids who throw a nice ball with velocity. They'll be fine.
- [43:56]
Adnan Virk
I think, I think McCord, if he has a good, you know, this post season before the draft process could go on the second day of the draft where I think Will Howard, just because he throws more of a pure ball.
- [44:09]
Colin Cowherd
Just I looked at him on YouTube today, he throws a really nice.
- [44:13]
Adnan Virk
Yeah and you know how these quarterback coaches are, these offensive coordinators, are they when you're just sitting out there, I think there's just an element to Will Howard and I would say the same about Riley Leonard. They're just kind of good football players. I don't know how good they would look just in a, just shorts, T shirts, throwing routes on air in front of the head coach. I mean they're not exactly throwing it like Josh Allen out there and they they're good runners, but they're not running. You know what Riley Leonard does, and it's fun to watch, is that, does that translate to the NFL just running over guys? That's. That's hard. And that's.
- [44:46]
Colin Cowherd
That's.
- [44:46]
Adnan Virk
But he. Listen, he. He grew on me over this run. He's clearly a high level guy, and I think both of them are going to be loved by once the coaches get into the draft process because they're clearly like just high level kids.
- [45:03]
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I. I texted you and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but like, all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like it's all colored. They changed it and the whole the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm gonna be honest, it was a little pink.
- [45:46]
Adnan Virk
There was something sentimental when you, like.
- [45:48]
Colin Cowherd
When you send it. It was like, do I send the heart?
- [45:52]
Bobby Bones
Now I don't like the color edition.
- [45:53]
Colin Cowherd
It's extremely pink.
- [45:55]
Bobby Bones
Let's have lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [46:02]
Katie Couric
Hey, everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch and I'm exhausted, but turns out the end is near. Right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next question. This podcast is for people like me who need a little perspective and insight. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out, like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also gonna have some fun, even though these days fun and politics seems like an oxymoron. But we'll do that thanks to some of my friends like Samantha bee, Roy Wood Jr. And Charlemagne tha God. We're gonna take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Power to the podcast for the people. So whether you're obsessed with the news or just trying to figure out what's going on, this season of Next Question is for you. Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [47:07]
Chris Rose
What's going on, everybody? This is Justin Penick from John Boy Media, the host of the Football Today podcast alongside Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We're rolling three times a week on Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays, breaking down everything you need to know about the NFL. We're talking about the MVP races, Josh Allen. Allen going to pull it out. Lamar Jackson. Can Saquon Barkley even break the rushing record? Can the Steelers keep up their momentum? We talk about everything. We break it down. Stats, analytics. And of course, Chris Rose is bringing his perspective on being a pro in the media world as well. Listen to Football Today on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and you will be glad you did. Hope you could join us for the postseason run.
- [47:58]
Justin Pennick
What's up, everybody? Ad Nan Verk here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast in the National Hockey League. It's NHL Unscripted with Virkin Demers.
- [48:06]
Jason Demers
Hey, I'm Jason Demers, former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst. And boy, oh boy, does daddy have a lot to say.
- [48:14]
Justin Pennick
I love you, by the way, on NHL Network, we're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right?
- [48:23]
Jason Demers
Yeah, I just met you today, but we're going to have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture and you know what, tons of back and forth on all things NHL.
- [48:33]
Justin Pennick
Yeah, you're soon going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We get all kinds of random stuff on this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling, even the stuff that you wear on NHL.
- [48:42]
Jason Demers
Now you wish you could pull off my shirt, short shorts, Ferkie.
- [48:46]
Justin Pennick
That's sure to cause a ruckus. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Burke and Demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [49:02]
Colin Cowherd
Chad Millman, co host of the favorites Sharper Square, all odds provided by DraftKings. So I had a rare, I don't think I had an undefeated week this year, 3 and O last week. And I think it's actually easier in the playoffs. I've had back to back weeks because the quarterbacks are all, you know, it's sudden death it's the best quarterbacks. You know, it's, it's, it's long to start with this before we start with anything. You know, there's this sense that, you know, Kansas City, Jason McIntyre's on this thing about the calls going a certain way. And I always point back, Kansas City's gotten the benefit of the calls. Well, my argument is we all know coaching matters more in football than managing in baseball or coaching in basketball. We know coaching college or pro. We've seen Jim Harbaugh take over the worst defense, make it the best. Coaching matters in football more than other sports. You have like a phone book that offensive players have to memorize and system scheme culture building. And I remember when I lived in Connecticut watching all the Patriot games and I can remember watching for years and it just popping into my head when they were playing a team and a team fumbled. I'm like, God, I don't think the Patriots have fumbled since Thanksgiving. And you went back and looked and they literally were the team in the league that didn't fumble. And I had asked Patriot players about this, they're like, oh yeah, Bill would not let you stretch for extra yards. That was a fine, that was a suspension. You could only do it if it was fourth down in the end zone, otherwise you were not allowed to stretch. And I look at the Chiefs and I say to myself, really good coaches are really good teachers and you can teach your way out of penalties with good communication, thorough repetition. Damian Woody always told me Patriot practice was different than every other practice. His Detroit, his Jets practices. So what your take on that? The Chiefs get all the calls because if you go back and look at the penalties during the New England era, they were less penalized as well.
- [51:06]
Chad Millman
I think it's bullshit. I think it's a media constructed argument because people are looking for reasons as to why the Chiefs keep winning other than they have a generationally great quarterback, a generationally if not historically great coach. Our mutual friend Ryan Rossillo had a great stat on his podcast the other day. The past two years Kansas City opponents have been flagged for 48 penalties in the fourth quarter in ot of one score games. Colin, how many have the Chiefs had in the same period? 1247. So let's knock it off, okay? What you have in the Chiefs are a coach who has found the perfect cheat code for his scheme. He's got a guy who is ultra competitive, who can make magical plays, who by the way, as Tom Brady pointed out on your show, having to defend Patrick Mahomes for four Downs in the playoffs is just so freaking hard. You don't get to seven conference championship games because people are calling penalties against the opponents more often. Ask Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson has two MVPs. He might get a third. He should get a third. How many AFC title games has he played in? How many Super Bowls has he played? And he is as brilliant an athlete and as brilliant a quarterback as there is in the NFL. He's not getting there. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs do something different and I think it, I think it's in the head of every single team they play.
- [53:04]
Colin Cowherd
Well, let's start off with the commanders and the Eagles. I'm going to take Philadelphia -6. I'm also going to take the over. I do think they've played twice. Philadelphia should have won twice but Jalen got hurt. Kenny Pickett came in. So I think the number I look at over two games is average yards per carry and it's five and a half yards for Philadelphia. Well, that's just, that's a physical mismatch. The O line for Philadelphia is almost better to a man than the D line for Washington. That's not going to change. That's not scheme. The guards for Philadelphia are like six, seven and a half. It's like the biggest guards in league history. There are four of their offensive linemen are like arguably the best in the NFL at their position. So they will run the ball and they will move the ball. But I do think the commanders will have to score and know it going in. So they'll take chances. They'll do some four down stuff. So my take, my take is it's a fairly high scoring game which makes me more comfortable laying the six with Philadelphia sharper score.
- [54:09]
Chad Millman
So it was sharp at four and a half. It's gotten to six. It actually got up to six and a half and wise guys have been buying back and in a lot of the conversations I've had this week and Simon Hunter and I talked about this on the favorites today when we sort of bring in the feedback from professional betters, they were liking Washington and it honestly doesn't make sense to me or to Simon and apparently to you either. Last week people were coming in and they were hammering the Rams. I loved the Eagles all week and if not for Jake Elliott missing a couple extra points, that game is not a push. It's a cover for the Eagles. Same thing this week. I don't get it. I feel like there's so much recency bias in relation to Jaden Daniels and both of These games, weirdly, there is so much public support for the road underdogs against the higher seeds because of the status of the quarterbacks and the seasons they're having. Josh Allen is having a better year than Patrick Mahomes. Jaden Daniels having a better year than Jalen. Hurts. But people are forgetting that this Eagles team is not built around Jalen Hurts. Right. It's built around Saquon Barkley. And one of the things that I tried to unpack this week when I was thinking about this game is the Eagles win so often with explosive plays. We saw it this past weekend. Two huge runs from Barkley, a great run from Hertz. That's how they're scoring touchdowns. Right. Earlier in the season in November in Philadelphia against the Commanders. The Eagles were losing most of that game. I was at that game. They won that game because Saquon Bartley had two long touchdown runs. So you think about explosive play as well. Is that random? Can you predict it? I think it's more random when it's quarterbacks throwing long touchdown passes where the circumstances have to be perfect. It's less random when it's your running back who has an offensive line that is as dominant as you just talked about. Who's, by the way, his rushing prop is 100 north of 130 yards, which DraftKings has announced is the highest total they've ever had for a rushing prop in the years that they've been doing business. So I'm with you, man. I like the Eagles. I think it's the right spot. I think they're the better team. I tend to favor the dominant physical team. So, yeah.
- [56:34]
Colin Cowherd
Is there a prop you could give our audience that you like? I like the over in this game.
- [56:38]
Chad Millman
But a prop you like, Zachary, is over three and a half receptions. I think that the Eagles, defensively on the edges at cornerback. Quinlan Mitchell is supposed to play. We already know about Cooper DeJean in the slot. Darius Slay, obviously on the other side. That's where Jaden Daniels, who was already predisposed to wanting to go to Zach ertz if Terry McLaurin isn't available, isn't open. I think that that's where the offensive opportunities are going to be. So, Zachary, it's over three and a half.
- [57:07]
Colin Cowherd
You know, it's interesting, I was talking on the show today, 10 years ago, Peyton Manning, Big Ben and Brady were these iconic legends past their prime. In fact, Peyton was in Denver. But you, I remember thinking at the time, jesus, what is the league going to do? What is the league going to do. And now we've got Lamar Mahomes, Allen and throw in Burrow and But in the NFC, 10 quarterbacks in the last 10 Super bowl appearances for NFC teams, it's a lot of rotational quarterbacks. That's why it almost feels like Jaden Daniels has a shot. Hertz would be the second time for him. So I do I said this today is I watch Jaden Daniels and I feel like the NFC got their Mahomes that everybody will they'll be tailing Washington going forward. I don't think it's a particularly warm take. I feel like he is either Lamar or Mahomes. But the NFC has had this sort of golf, an older Stafford, a prickly Aaron, Russell Wilson, aging Kyler Murray's talented but there's just been a lot of these qualifiers and they haven't had their no issues. Low maintenance, high thrower, good mover. I think he's the Mahomes of the nfc.
- [58:22]
Chad Millman
What's really going to be interesting I agree with everything you said. What's going to be interesting is next year. Next year the Commanders are already 16 to 1 to win the Super Bowl. That feels very aggressive. Weren't we saying the same things about CJ Stroud exactly a year ago? And did CJ Stroud not come back down to earth? Did defenses not spend an off season figuring out that he's not great against certain defenses, that it's going to be challenging for him to succeed at the level that he did in his rookie year? And he didn't. Not saying he's not great, not saying he's going to be great. But of all the great quarterbacks you just mentioned, when the season began, CJ Stroud was on that list. Now he's not. So next year is there going to be an opportunity to fade the Commanders? In reality, the commander should probably be seven, seven and a half point underdogs in this game. The Eagles are dominant physically on the defensive side of the ball and on the offensive side of the ball. The Commanders are not going to have their right guard, Sam Cosby, who's their best offensive lineman. The Eagles best defensive lineman is Jalen Carter. And normally you're not going to worry about a right guard being out as being a challenge for your pass protection. But when Jalen Carter is rushing up the middle, your right guard might be the guy who needs to grab a piece of him every once in a while. You're now not going to have a guy. And so all of a sudden these things change. You're already Getting the benefit, I think, of Jaden Daniels being someone who people believe is a cheat code, and they're overvaluing that in the scope of the entire game.
- [60:06]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Yeah. I will say, though, that C.J. stroud didn't have the mobility edge, which I've always thought mobility's best for a quarterback in the first two years, because as you're learning NFL coverages and waiting for the light to go on, you can just pick up first downs moving, whereas CJ Stroud is going to pick up first downs throwing. And so he is much more susceptible. As coverages get more sophisticated, you face better teams. He had injuries on the O line. They didn't have protection. I think running quarterbacks, Lamar, he never really dipped. Mahomes, Allen, they just kept getting better. Goff was. Com. Was beholden to how good his O line was. You know, bad. Whitworth good. Whitworth leaves not as good. Or around that time when Whitworth was aging. And then he goes to Detroit. Not good. Early line got better. He's better. So I think. I think jaden. I think C.J. stroud's NFL comp was golf. And like Goff, he deteriorates with really bad line play significantly, whereas I think Jaden is Lamar and Mahomes where it's just ascension because he moves the chains while he's figuring out defenses, and it takes about even. Mahomes said it was the beginning of year three when everything just sort of slowed down. So I. I don't think. I think he's. I think we're really looking at something special.
- [61:39]
Chad Millman
I don't disagree.
- [61:40]
Colin Cowherd
It's pretty.
- [61:40]
Chad Millman
I think the guy is a brilliant player, and I think it' more evidence that you want to get quarterbacks who have a lot of experience playing in college, who've taken a lot of snaps, who've played a lot of games. That's always been a threshold for GMs and coaches who are looking to draft quarterbacks. I remember when Philip Rivers came out, he had played so many games in college, people didn't really know who he was at NC State. I know I'm throwing a name out there from like 25 years ago, but I remember this so clearly. I was at ESPN the Magazine and we were doing a draft issue, and it was the first time I ever heard a scout talk about the importance of seeing quarterbacks on tape with a lot of games as they get older. And we're seeing that with Jaden Daniels. Like, his experience level keeps him from being really frightened in these experiences because he's so much older than the average quarterback coming out and he's had so many more snaps and he understands the rhythm of the game and understands the moment a little bit better in addition to his unbelievable talent. But I can guarantee right now we can set a number on it. The number of times. We'll set it at seven and a half at this time next year. How many times over the course of Sharper Square have I said to you, well, commanders are overvalued here because Jaden Daniels is getting too much credit and too much attention. I guarantee I'm going to say that on an every other week basis to you on this show.
- [63:12]
Colin Cowherd
Let's go, afc. I'm riding with the Bills. I have for the last month. I feel they're the best team in football. The Rams had to play a perfect game at home to slip by and the Rams, I think were a very good team at the end. I'll take the one and a half again. I think there's going to be points scored. I think there's limitations on stopping Allen and Mahomes. I think you get into these games, coaches are more willing. Brady and Andy Reid are more willing to take risks. It's sudden death. You empty the playbook because you have two weeks to prepare for the Super Bowl. So just empty the playbook. I take the over 47 and a half bills plus one and a half. I can absolutely see Kansas City winning. I think this is the best version of Buffalo for two reasons. One, they do not turn it over. They're not heavily penalized. And you can't get the Josh Allen. They're the mature version, which Baltimore hasn't become yet with Lamar. They're still, like I said this before, Buffalo's always been a Ferrari with Josh Allen. They just no longer get speeding tickets. They don't make the mistakes. They don't get caught. Like they slow down in front of the cops. So they don't. They. They have all the talent, but they don't have that sort of. And Baltimore's trying to work their self out of this. That's sort of like we can't slow down. We just. We go 100 miles an hour. So I think they've become. They've become the Chiefs and I think eventually they're going to beat the Chiefs, which they have in the regular season. Sharper Square Bills plus the points.
- [64:38]
Chad Millman
Sharp. Ish. It's been an interesting number. It opened at one and a half and even though the majority of the money, which indicates professional betters like the Bills and the majority of the tickets, which also indicates the public likes the Bills. It's kind of stuck at one and a half. In fact, there's been a little bit of sort of juice movement, meaning they're making it more expensive to bet the one and a half on the Chiefs because they want you to take that one and a half because pretty soon they're going to go to two. I think that you're on the professional side, not in a dominant way. I'm going to play devil's advocate. Everything you're saying is right. Josh Allen gets out of the pocket. To me, he's as frightening as and frustrating as Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. And their running game this year has been so freaking good. They played the number one team in defensive rush success rate in the Broncos and crush them on the ground. They played the number two team in defensive rush success rate in the Ravens and crush them on the ground. The Chiefs are not nearly as good at defending the run as either the Ravens or the Broncos. And they're going to have to figure out how to manage Josh Allen when it's third and one or fourth and one, who's clearly unstoppable, how they're going to have to manage James Cook. All that is true. There is zero evidence, Colin, that Patrick Mahomes is going to lose this game. Zero. Like in November, on. In games where the weather is 40 degrees or less, 23 and 2. In his career. The last loss was to Tom Brady in 2019. He's won 20 in a row. Andy Reid with Mahomes with an extra day of rest. Just one extra day of rest, which he has 20 and 3, 14 and one at home. Like, it's just, why would I want to do this? I've been given every opportunity to bet the Chiefs as a short home dog. Patrick Mahomes. Seven straight AFC title games, three Super Bowls in the past five years, going for third in a row. He is going to challenge Tom Brady as the greatest quarterback who's ever played. And he might do it before he's 32 years old. Like, what am I doing here? Why would I bet against Patrick Mahomes? I had a buddy call me the other day and tell me I'm all over the Bills. I'm like, why? And why would you do that with confidence? Like, you just can't. It's. It's hard. I get it. I'm afraid of it. But there's no way I'm betting against Patrick Mahomes. There is no way. But, yeah, I like the overture.
- [67:52]
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else are you gonna find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say day. I. I texted you and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but, like, all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like, it's all colored.
- [68:30]
Colin Cowherd
They changed it.
- [68:31]
Bobby Bones
And the. The heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm gonna be honest. It was a little pink.
- [68:35]
Adnan Virk
There was something sentimental when you. Like when.
- [68:37]
Colin Cowherd
When you send it, it's like, do.
- [68:40]
Adnan Virk
I send the heart now?
- [68:41]
Bobby Bones
I don't like the color edition.
- [68:43]
Colin Cowherd
It's extremely pink.
- [68:44]
Bobby Bones
Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [68:51]
Katie Couric
Hey, everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch, and I'm exhausted, but turns out the end is near. Right in time for a new season of my podcast, Next Question. This podcast is for people like me who need a little perspective and insight. I'm bringing in some fok's friends of Katie's to help me out, like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun, even though these days fun and politics seems like an oxymoron. But we'll do that thanks to some of my friends like Samantha bee, Roy Wood Jr. And Charlemagne the God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Power to the podcast for the people. So whether you're obsessed with the news or just trying to figure out what's going on, this season of Next Question is for you. Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [69:57]
Justin Pennick
What's up, everybody? Adnan Virk here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast and the National Hockey League. It's NHL unscripted with Virk and Demers.
- [70:05]
Jason Demers
Hey, I'm Jason Imers. Former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst, and boy, oh, boy, does daddy have a lot to say.
- [70:14]
Justin Pennick
I love you. By the way. On NHL Network, we're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right?
- [70:22]
Jason Demers
Yeah, I just met you today, but we're going to have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture. And you know what, tons of back and forth and all things NHL.
- [70:33]
Justin Pennick
Yeah, you're soon going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We get all kinds of random stuff on this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling, even the stuff that you wear in NHL.
- [70:42]
Jason Demers
Now you wish you could pull off my short shorts, Ferky.
- [70:45]
Justin Pennick
That's short of Casa ruckus. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Burke and Demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [70:58]
Chris Rose
What's going on, everybody? This is Justin Penick from John Boy Media, the host of the Football Today podcast alongside Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We're rolling three times a week on Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays, breaking down everything you need to know about the NFL. We're talking about the MVP race. Is Josh Allen going to pull it out? Lamar Jackson? Can Saquon Barkley even break the rushing river record? Can the Steelers keep up their momentum? We talk about everything. We break it down. Stats, analytics. And of course, Chris Rose is bringing his perspective on being a pro in the media world as well. Listen to Football Today on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast and you will be glad you did. Hope you could join us for the postseason run.
- [71:51]
Colin Cowherd
So I saw a story this week, and apparently sometimes in the media, I think media people like to be viewed as smart and they, they try to figure stuff out. I'm, I, I'm guilty of this. I'm always trying to figure out theories or why, and sometimes this. The answer is always the simple answer. So I saw a story this week, and it just made me laugh where the college football game was down 3 million viewers and everybody was flummoxed. And I'm like, guys, men like Trump, statistically in this election, young men love Trump. Young men love football. Inauguration Day was Monday. That's the day of the national championship. And so the number was down about 3 million viewers, especially when Notre Dame fell behind 31 to 7. That's the answer, right? Like, it wasn't that we hate Ohio State and Notre Dame. It was Every four years an inauguration with a polarizing Trump, who for the record does very well in this election with young men.
- [72:58]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I saw the numbers too. It's so funny you say that, cuz I saw the numbers this morning and I saw a story, just a headline, you know, down whatever percent it was, 10% or whatever it was, right, 12%. And as soon as I click that and I'm like, someone's going to try to explain why this is, this isn't rocket science trying to find patterns. When you do year over year comps, you can do year over comps year over year comps with every podcast in the volume network. You can do it with your show. The circumstances are always different. We do this in action all the time too. How come this Monday night game is down from the year before? Well, who was the matchup? Was it a game where you had, was it a night where you had two Monday night games being played instead of one? Because when you have two Monday night games, traffic sometimes dips a little bit because attention is diverted and games start a little bit earlier so people aren't online as early. Like there's so many easy to unpack answers to so many of the questions that are asked in sports. It's phenomenal that we try to make it as complicated as we do. And to your point about politics mixing with sports and impacting sports, two years ago, 93 of the top 100 broadcasts in the United States were sports. This past year, in 2024, 81 of the top 100. Do you know why? Because there were so many debates and so many political events that we're leading the coverage that we're getting so many more viewers. So of course there's going to be changes on a year to year basis because of the overall world and what's happening, not because of anything about myopically what we think of Ohio State or Notre Dame.
- [74:51]
Colin Cowherd
Well, I worked in local TV for over a decade and so I still, you know, I still have friends in local tv. Not as many, many have retired or done other things or moved on. But you know, it's like you're gonna notice over the next 10 years there'll be a little bit of renaissance in local TV ratings. Why? Because of climate change. And whenever you have severe weather or disasters, local reporters are better than national reporters. They've built trust with the audience and they know the terrain. A Dallas reporter, a Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, New York reporter. If something happened to the Brooklyn Bridge, forget CNN. I'm watching the local guys. Right? So LA local news ratings went up 400% over the last two weeks. And I watched the coverage. It was significantly better than cnn. And it's not a political. It was significantly better than all national coverage because the local reporters, they all live in these towns and they just know the topography and the canyons and the history. And so you're gonna watch local TV ratings and you can call it whatever you want, but we're just getting more severe weather. It's snowed in Pensacola, a foot, whatever. Louisiana had a blizzard two years ago, whatever. So, yeah, I think most of the stuff is fairly explainable. So when local TV ratings have a renaissance here in the next decade, that's mostly what it's gonna be.
- [76:22]
Chad Millman
I love that you talk about the weather component of it, because those are the only people I remember growing up when I watched local tv. And even here in West Hartford, where you used to live, like Stacey and I, my wife and I, we love the local weather guy. And I love the local weather guy because he knows our town and he knows all the towns around us, and he knows the difference between. Here, we're in a valley here, you're a little bit on a hill, so it's going to be a little bit colder here in the morning. You might have a little more frost. I live by what this guy says, and I completely connect with what you're saying. What's actually frightening. I don't know if you saw it this week, but there is one broadcaster that owns a lot of local stations that is letting go of all their local weather people and having a singular sort of source of weather information and segments that is then being distributed out to the local channels is sort of like the single service provider within an organization, which is idiotic.
- [77:33]
Colin Cowherd
That is the opposite of what I would do over the next 10 years. Get rid of the local sports guys. Love them to death, but everybody's watching some other platform. I want massive weather people locally for the next decade, whatever you want to call it. We're just getting more combustible weather. Hot, cold, wind, rain, whatever ever.
- [77:52]
Chad Millman
It makes no sense. I saw it. I'm like, the one thing people care about is weather. It's the only thing people are checking for in the morning. That is what can save local television. And you're going out there, you're firing all the weather people. It made zero sense to me.
- [78:09]
Colin Cowherd
Zero. Sometimes I wish. Sometimes I wish I was a billionaire. Not because I'd buy a bunch of stuff because I've never had a second car. I'm not a Boat guy. I'm not a jewelry guy or a watch guy. I'm not a collector. I'm really not. I don't care. But there are things I would like, things I would like to do in society they can't afford to do. Like, I'll be honest with you, when Fox created a weather Channel, I wish I could have been the CEO of Fox's Weather Channel. I would have loved that job. And if it paid what I make, and I could still make my mortgage, I've always wanted, like Byron Allen, the former comedian who became a wildly successful entrepreneur, bought the Weather Channel. And I think it's the only time I've ever been jealous of another member of the American media was Byron Allen bought the Weather Channel. And I'm like, damn it.
- [79:06]
Chad Millman
By the way, it might be Byron Allen who fired all the local weather people because all the weather to come from the Weather Channel.
- [79:18]
Colin Cowherd
That all I know that is, forget Oprah. That's the most successful local media person in the history of our business. He's the one guy I'm jealous of.
- [79:31]
Chad Millman
I'm just checking right now. Yeah. Allen Media Group replaces meteorologists, dozens of meteorologists with prerecorded feeds. So I don't know, I think we gotta call Byron and we gotta tell him we think this is a bad idea. And we are very respected and admired members of the media.
- [79:51]
Bobby Bones
The Volume. Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,000 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with a Star. So where else you can find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [80:25]
Katie Couric
Hey, everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch right in time for a new season of my podcast, Next Question. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out, like Ezra Klein, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun thanks to some of my friends like Samantha Bee and Charlamagne the God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.
- [81:02]
Adnan Virk
Get your podcasts Jon Stewart is back.
- [81:05]
Jon Stewart
At the Daily show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [81:41]
Chris Rose
What's up everyone? It's Justin Penick from John Boy Media, the host of the Football Today podcast with Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We roll three times a week. On Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays, breaking down everything you need to know about the NFL. We're gearing up for the NFL playoffs. I hope you can join us. Join in with us three times a week. Listen to Football Today on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast and you will be glad you did.