Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3: Urban Meyer

Release Date: March 11, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Title: Hour 3 - Urban Meyer
Description: The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.

1. Introduction and Sponsored Messages (00:00 – 02:27)

Note: This section contains advertisements and introductory content, which are skipped in this summary.

2. College Football Playoff (CFP) Format Proposals (02:27 – 07:09)

Discussion Points:

• Automatic Qualifiers: Colin Cowherd advocates for automatic qualifiers in college football, arguing that they simplify the system for fans and encourage top teams to participate in major games.

  Colin Cowherd [03:00]: "You want automatic qualifiers; every other sport in the world has them. It's easier for the fans to follow."

• Proposed CFP Structure: An unknown analyst introduces the 4-4-2-2-1-1 format, suggesting a 14-team playoff with automatic qualifiers from major conferences.

  Unknown Analyst [03:39]: "It's a 14 playoff... Big Ten, SEC have four qualifiers each, ACC and Big 12 have two each."

• Benefits of the Proposed System:

  • Reduces Selection Errors: Shifts focus from committee selections to conference-based access, minimizing potential biases.
  • Increases Competitive Games: Ensures more high-stakes matchups, enhancing fan engagement and team development.

  Unknown Analyst [04:14]: "It takes it out of selection and more into access... great for recruiting, it's great for our fans."

• Cowherd’s Alignment: Colin concurs with the proposed structure, emphasizing the dominance of premier conferences and the need to recognize their financial and competitive strengths.

  Colin Cowherd [05:05]: "Let’s stop arguing about it. Those are easily the best conferences."

Conclusion: The proposed 14-team CFP format with automatic qualifiers is deemed a practical solution to longstanding issues in college football, promoting fairness and enhancing the overall competitiveness of the sport.

3. Player Prospects and Draft Analysis (07:09 – 18:45)

Tight Ends:

• Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren: Both are highlighted as top tight end prospects from the Big Ten. Columbia Cowherd and Urban Meyer discuss their potential first-round impact.

  Unknown Analyst [07:48]: "Tyler Warren... he's maybe the best player in the last decade in college football."

  Colin Cowherd [08:21]: "Loveland is... a late first, early second round, I predict."

• Comparison with Brock Bowers: Colin emphasizes that while Loveland and Warren are excellent, they shouldn't be directly compared to exceptional talents like Brock Bowers.

  Colin Cowherd [08:18]: "Brock Bowers is the best tight end prospect I've ever seen... You don't compare anybody to Brock Bowers."

Running Backs:

• Ashton Genty vs. North Carolina Back: Colin posits Ashton Genty from Boise State as the top running back prospect, considering him potentially the best in the draft.

  Colin Cowherd [09:09]: "He will go somewhere and start now. I don't think Dallas, because Dallas sign the running back from Denver."

• Kyle McCord: Identified as the most underrated quarterback prospect, Colin predicts a second or third-round selection despite his strong performance at Ohio State.

  Colin Cowherd [10:15]: "I think he's in it for second, maybe third round. But I can see a guy playing in the NFL for eight, nine years."

• Shador Sanders and Cam: Discussed as promising quarterback talents with strengths and potential concerns regarding their transition to the NFL.

  Unknown Analyst [11:54]: "He can make the throw in tight windows... some question marks if he can do that."

Highlights:

• Tyler Warren's Versatility: Urban Meyer and Colin acknowledge Warren's unique skills, including his ability to throw and take direct snaps, making him NFL-ready.

  Unknown Analyst [07:48]: "Tyler Warren... he was a quarterback in high school."

• Resilience and Development: Colin praises Quinn Sean Judkin Judkins for his significant improvement in breaking tackles and becoming a more effective running back, attributing his growth to strength training and increased confidence.

  Unknown Analyst [15:15]: "He developed into a back that can make people miss and rip through tackles."

Conclusion: The discussion underscores the depth and talent in the upcoming draft class, particularly at tight end, running back, and quarterback positions. The panel emphasizes the potential for these prospects to make immediate impacts in the NFL.

4. Challenges of Returning as a National Champion (19:09 – 21:22)

Discussion Points:

• Mental and Emotional Toll: Urban Meyer shares insights into the difficulties of returning as a national champion, highlighting the increased pressure and the challenge of maintaining energy and passion.

  Unknown Analyst [19:42]: "Energy and passion versus taking arrows."

• Staff and Player Dynamics: The transition from peak performance to defending a title can strain relationships and team morale, as illustrated by the Chicago Cubs analogy.

  Unknown Analyst [19:56]: "There's always issues there. It just seems like when you're climbing the mountain, it takes energy and passion. When you're on top of the mountain, it's just, you're just taking arrows."

Conclusion: Successfully defending a national championship requires not only maintaining high performance levels but also managing team dynamics and the emotional strain that comes with the responsibility of being reigning champions.

5. NFL Free Agency and Team Strategies (21:22 – 34:33)

Chargers:

• Khalil Mack's Contract: The Chargers opt to extend Khalil Mack for an additional year, valuing his leadership and on-field performance despite previous uncertainties.

  Unknown Analyst [30:01]: "He helps young players. He kind of galvanizes the room."

• Positional Needs: The Chargers continue to address gaps in their roster, particularly at wide receiver and running back, with Colin speculating on potential draft moves, including selecting tight end Loveland.

  Colin Cowherd [31:05]: "They're going to take a tight end Loveland from Michigan with their first pick."

Cowboys:

• Javonte Williams Acquisition: The Cowboys clear cap space to acquire Javonte Williams, aiming to strengthen their struggling running back unit.

  Urban Meyer [32:18]: "They have the worst running back room in the league. So I like Javonte Williams."

• Draft Strategy: Anticipation of the Cowboys drafting additional running backs to solidify their backfield, given their current deficiencies.

Patriots:

• Draft Predictions: Colin predicts the Patriots will prioritize speed and skill in their draft, potentially selecting players like Travis Hunter to complement their physical roster.

  Colin Cowherd [39:17]: "Patriots should go heavy skill in this draft because you can't beat them at some point."

General Free Agency Insights:

• Running Back Market: The resurgence of running backs' value in the NFL, influenced by standout performances like Saquon Barkley, is reshaping team strategies and contract negotiations.

  Colin Cowherd [28:08]: "Running backs have a huge value this year... it's going to be a really good draft."

Conclusion: NFL teams are actively maneuvering in free agency and the draft to address positional needs, with a notable emphasis on bolstering running back units. Leaders like Khalil Mack and rising talents like Javonte Williams are pivotal in shaping team dynamics and future performance.

6. Offensive Line Importance and Team Performance (34:33 – 38:52)

Discussion Points:

• Undervalued Role: Colin emphasizes the critical but often underappreciated role of the offensive line in football, highlighting how a strong O-line contributes to both offensive success and defensive relief.

  Colin Cowherd [35:28]: "The most unheralded unit in pro football my entire life is offensive line."

• Impact on Team Success: Great offensive lines correlate with higher team performance, enabling better running games, protecting quarterbacks, and controlling the game's tempo.

  Colin Cowherd [35:26]: "You could have a great defensive line. It doesn't necessarily help the offense if you don't have a good quarterback."

Conclusion: A robust offensive line is fundamental to a successful football team, facilitating efficient play execution and providing a foundation for both offensive and defensive units to thrive.

7. Draft Insights and Mock Draft Analysis (38:52 – 41:11)

Discussion Points:

• Will Johnson's Draft Position: Colin expresses surprise at the potential drop of Michigan’s cornerback Will Johnson in mock drafts, considering him a first-round talent despite current mock scenarios placing him around the 11th to 14th pick.

  Colin Cowherd [38:52]: "If a team gets Will Johnson outside of the top 10, you crushed it."

• Team Needs vs. Best Available: The balance between drafting for team-specific needs versus selecting the best available talent is explored, with Colin advocating for prioritizing high-caliber players like Johnson even if they fall in the draft.

  Urban Meyer [39:08]: "Probably not taking Campbell, the offensive lineman, the big kid."

Conclusion: Mock drafts suggest variability in player selections, but top-tier talents like Will Johnson are expected to secure high draft positions despite current projections. Teams must strategically navigate their needs versus the available talent pool to optimize their draft outcomes.

8. Final Thoughts and Conclusion (41:11 – End)

Closing Remarks:

• Future Episodes: Colin Cowherd hints at upcoming episode plans, including division predictions post-free agency and coaching hires, as well as insights into the NFL Draft.

  Colin Cowherd [35:15]: "Thursday I may do my first... we nailed the AFC."

• Audience Engagement: Encouragement for listeners to stay tuned for more in-depth analyses and discussions on future episodes of The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

Conclusion: The episode concludes with promises of continued coverage on free agency, draft strategies, and team analyses, reinforcing The Herd's commitment to delivering comprehensive sports commentary and insights.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Automatic Qualifiers Advocacy:

  Colin Cowherd [03:00]: "You want automatic qualifiers; every other sport in the world has them. It's easier for the fans to follow."

• Ultimate Tight End Prospects:

  Unknown Analyst [07:48]: "Tyler Warren... he was a quarterback in high school."

• Running Back Value:

  Colin Cowherd [28:08]: "Running backs have a huge value this year... it's going to be a really good draft."

• Offensive Line Importance:

  Colin Cowherd [35:28]: "The most unheralded unit in pro football my entire life is offensive line."

• Draft Position Confidence:

  Colin Cowherd [38:52]: "If a team gets Will Johnson outside of the top 10, you crushed it."

Final Thoughts

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd featuring Urban Meyer delves deep into the intricacies of the college football playoff system, the rising prominence of running backs in the NFL, and the strategic maneuvers of NFL teams in free agency and the upcoming draft. The conversation underscores the evolving landscape of football, emphasizing the importance of structural changes, player development, and tactical decision-making in shaping the future of the sport.