The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 3 - Josh Pate
Date: January 2, 2026

Overview

This episode is a lively deep-dive into the dramatic latest turns in both college and NFL football. Colin Cowherd brings on Josh Pate (host of the Josh College Football Show on YouTube), joined by RG3 and Jason McIntyre, for rapid-fire analysis of the College Football Playoff landscape—particularly the surprising dominance of Miami and Indiana—and a thoughtful look at the Big Ten vs. SEC power balance, coaching trends, and the portal era’s transfer frenzy. The episode closes with NFL headlines, notably quarterback controversies, playoff positioning, and hot takes for the final week of the regular season. The panel discusses coaching, player development, game predictions, and broader trends shaping college football's unpredictable present and future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Miami's Bullying of Ohio State – Shifting Power and Perceptions

• Analysis of Miami’s Physicality:
  • Colin notes last year's Ohio State championship team’s NFL-ready backfield and dominant line play, contrasting this year’s "mid" O-line performance against Miami’s unexpectedly tough front.
  • Josh Pate expresses little surprise at Miami’s edge, citing their OL/DL advantage and experienced QB play, even as near double-digit underdogs (04:26).

    “I took some knives to the chest for that last week... people had to see it, and then they finally saw it. It’s jarring… the one thing… I didn’t think anyone was going to do is just totally out physical Ohio State.” – Josh Pate (04:26)

2. Big Ten vs. SEC: Has the Power Shifted?

• Big Ten “Business Model” and Staff Quality:
  • Colin revisits his prior prediction that Big Ten schools would overtake the SEC by leveraging massive resources, endowments, and a strong alumni base (05:50).
  • Josh Pate explains how the SEC's historical "talent-is-currency" attitude bred complacency and led to less merit-based staffing compared to the Big Ten’s “businesslike” approach to staff assembly (06:39).

    “Because they out-talented people so thoroughly, they got loose with a lot of other practices in the SEC… you had folks who are ill-qualified in assistant coaching positions… You don’t have that big talent edge anymore.” – Josh Pate (06:39)

  • Big Ten’s staff hiring is framed as more meritocratic and less reliant on big names or agent connections, leading to tighter operations and on-field cohesion.

3. Oregon’s Ceiling: Are They in Miami/Indiana’s League?

• Panel agrees Miami and Indiana look like the "real" national championship-caliber teams.
• Colin sees Oregon as a tier below: “They played with their food. I just feel like we could have two lopsided games” (09:11), adding Dante Moore is likely a year away.
• Josh Pate agrees, noting that despite Oregon’s playoff shutout win, their glaring inefficiency and lack of sharpness exposes their divisional inferiority in a postseason context (09:49).
• RG3 clinches the point:

  “No one’s getting right against Indiana is the most glaring lesson... Indiana just exposes more of what already are your flaws. You don’t correct them.” – Josh Pate (10:44)

4. 2026 College Football Outlook & The Transfer Portal

• Arch Manning’s Timeline and Texas Hype:
  • Colin raises Arch Manning's athleticism and Texas's chances to be the #1 team next year (11:41).
  • Josh Pate stresses the transfer portal's impending impact on rosters but agrees Texas and Manning are a favorite, cautioning against premature expectations (“bag of popcorn” analogy re: NIL and development timeline) (12:18).
  • Quote:

    “They look at it like, if it's a bag of popcorn... they think, well, since there's higher expectations, we can just take it out after 42 seconds. It says a minute on the bag though…” – Josh Pate (12:18)

5. NFL Headlines and Analysis

• Lamar Jackson Controversies:
  • Jason McIntyre and Colin debate the significance of rumors around Lamar falling asleep during meetings (20:31).

    “Do you think Harbaugh would let me fall asleep in his meeting? That’s crazy… I’m right in the front.” – Lamar Jackson (20:58)

  • The outcome of Baltimore’s next game seen as pivotal for both player perception and franchise trajectory.
• Niners vs. Seahawks & McCaffrey Factor:
  • The panel sees San Francisco as a juggernaut if healthy; discussion centers on McCaffrey’s uniqueness and the challenge Seattle’s defense presents, but consensus is advantage-Niners if key pieces play (22:00–24:29).
• Impact of Bye Weeks and Playoff Seeding:
  • Jason highlights teams with early byes (Green Bay, Chicago, Pittsburgh), noting stamina and rest will impact betting and playoff outcomes (27:12).

6. College Football’s New Normal—Parity Arrives

• Colin summarizes the ongoing transformation:

  “For about a 15-year period, all we got was Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama... Now we get Oregon and we get Ole Miss and we get Indiana and we get Miami. That’s the new reality.” (27:56)

• The increased unpredictability, transfer market effects, NIL, and new pathways to success for programs outside the traditional elite.

7. Quarterback Prospects & Coaching Carousel

• Fernando Mendoza Hype:
  • Both Colin and RG3 rave about Indiana’s Mendoza as a no-doubt top draft pick, commending his poise, fit for pro-style offense, and intangible strengths (39:49).

    “I think he’s a first round pick, I think he’s a top-10 pick... coaches are gonna love him. He’s a big kid... can make every throw.” – RG3 (39:49)

• Coaching Trends:
  • The possibility of Indiana’s Kurt Signetti getting NFL calls is entertained; Colin prefers Signetti as a college coach, reflecting on how NIL and institutional support are reshaping not just rosters but job markets (40:38–41:09).
  • Praise for programs like Indiana and Miami, showing the system doesn’t guarantee only the “rich” (aka SEC powerhouses) will thrive under NIL.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Josh Pate (on Miami’s O-line and D-line edges):

  “I don't remember a double digit dog ever… having an O line, D line edge. Oh, by the way, they've got the QB experience edge.” (04:26)

• Colin Cowherd (on Big Ten resources):

  “These large Big Ten schools flush 40,000 kids… They love their schools. The endowments at Michigan—they’re massive.” (05:50)

• Josh Pate (on coaching staff differences):

  “The Big Ten for a long time has just gone about their business a different way… you get really, really good staffs.” (06:39)

• On Texas and Arch Manning:

  “It may have just been a year early last year... He’s in a situation where he doesn’t need to go chase NFL money immediately...” – Josh Pate (12:18)

• Colin Cowherd (parity in CFB):

  "Now we get Oregon... Indiana... Miami. That's the new reality in the sport." (27:56)

• RG3 (on Mendoza):

  “I love Fernando Mendoza because Mendoza knows who he is… He’s going to process, he’s going to do it well and he’s going to do what his team needs him to do.” (39:49)

Segment Timestamps

• [03:03] Beginning of substantive content: Ohio State vs. Miami recap and discussion.
• [04:26] Josh Pate on Miami's physicality and perception.
• [05:50] Big Ten vs. SEC: Resource and staffing discussion.
• [06:39] SEC complacency vs. Big Ten meritocracy.
• [09:11] Oregon vs. rest of field.
• [11:41] Arch Manning/Texas future outlook.
• [14:13] NFL talk: Portal/Transfer Season begins.
• [20:31] Lamar Jackson rumor address and Baltimore’s outlook.
• [22:00] San Francisco vs. Seattle—McCaffrey’s role, team health.
• [27:56] CFB parity, transformation in national contenders.
• [39:49] Mendoza as QB prospect, coaching carousel speculation.

Summary of Tone & Style

• Engaged, insightful, often playful but always anchored with facts and historical perspective.
• Hauntingly clear about shifting fault-lines in both college and pro football; mixes sharp criticism (of SEC laziness) with excitement at fresh storylines and genuine appreciation for player/coach development.
• The panel leverages personal anecdotes, betting angles, and behind-the-scenes context, making the breakdown accessible and entertaining for avid and casual fans alike.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the tectonic shifts in college football and how those ripples are influencing everything from game results to hiring practices and the transfer portal frenzy. The mix of future-casting for the NFL playoffs and draft, nostalgia for tradition, and the thrill of the new all come together for a signature, high-energy "Herd" hour.