The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Show Me Something – The Sophie Cunningham Classic Kicks Off & West Wilson’s Montana State Crowned FCS Champs
Date: January 9, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Overview of Episode Theme

In this lively, candid episode of the Show Me Something segment on The Herd, co-hosts Sophie Cunningham and West Wilson dive into the joyous high of Montana State’s FCS national football championship win, take listeners behind the scenes of organizing a marquee girls' basketball tournament (the Sophie Cunningham Classic), and vent passionately about the Kansas City Chiefs’ upcoming move from Arrowhead Stadium. The duo, joined by guest Kev, keep it real, mixing sports analysis with personal stories and sharp humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Montana State’s FCS Championship High

• West is still elated from Montana State’s thriller win for the FCS National Championship—a first since 1984 ([02:00–06:02]).
• The game went into overtime, featured blocked kicks, wild snaps, and a dramatic game-winning TD.
• West reflects on what it means for players, alums, and the community ("They get to have that forever is so sick" [04:06]).
• Alumni and community pride: The 1984 championship team members are local legends, and now the current team joins them as icons.

2. Holiday and Family Talk

• Sophie and West discuss their low-key holidays—family Secret Santas, no-gift traditions, and time with younger relatives ([06:13–12:05]).
• Kev adds perspective as a parent, talking about the cost and challenges of daycare in New York, and how grandparents help raise kids ("My wife's mother...lives with us...she's raised five kids. So by the time Journey comes around and he's like whining...she's like, 'it's cool, dude.'" [11:43]).
• They riff on the joys (and exhaustion) of being around kids, from gift giving to the benefits of grandparent involvement.

3. Fashion—Cowboy Hats, Fur Coats, and Advice

• West brags about his "Montana State fit": a fur coat, navy-and-gold tie, and hat, embodying cowboy chic at the championship in Nashville ([12:13–13:49]).
• Sophie faces the aftermath of dropping $1,080 on a cowboy hat to support women’s rodeo and tries to justify wearing it as much as possible ([48:41–49:23]).
• The two debate hat fashion for Sophie’s impending appearance before the Missouri legislature, weighing "cowboy hat at the Capitol" versus a dressy suit ([44:09–51:32]).

4. New Year’s and Gross Bar Stories

• The trio swap stories of wild New Year’s Eves: unexpected kisses, sick flights after food poisoning, and jaw-dropping barf incidents at fancy bars ([14:05–22:51]).
• All these tales are shared with lighthearted self-mockery. Kev describes a desperate search for a bathroom in St. Croix, creating a "trail to the kitchen" ([21:29–22:13]).

5. The Kansas City Chiefs Stadium Move—Passionate Debate

• Sophie and West vent at length over the announcement that the Chiefs will leave Arrowhead for a new dome in Kansas ([24:30–37:06]).
• West laments the loss of Arrowhead’s tradition: "Arrowhead stadium is actively cool. It is actively the loudest stadium in the world…that was set like 10 years ago. It’s not some historic thing that needs to be moved or changed." ([27:05])
• They dissect the business side—owner Clark Hunt's money moves, taxpayer politics, and the loss of authentic fan experience.
• Both agree the move prioritizes profit over tradition: "He’s a businessman. Probably very smart, but I don’t think he actually gives a fuck about tradition, history, any football shit at all. It’s all business." (West [35:48])
• The duo argue that Arrowhead is a cultural and personal touchstone—important for fans, families, and upholding Midwest sports culture.

6. Big Weekend: The Sophie Cunningham Classic

• Sophie details her girls’ high school basketball showcase, the Sophie Cunningham Classic: "We’re having…so many top 25 girls…top 25 teams…It’s kind of a big deal…" ([37:43–38:15])
• The event (at Columbia College) draws elite national prep teams, local sponsors, and is part of the growing movement for women’s sports.
• Sophie’s hands-on involvement: "A lot of pro athletes…just their name, but they’re never there…I make sure I’m there 24/7…it’s just really cool to kind of help mentor." ([40:59–41:53])

7. Hot Girls of the Week—Positive Shoutouts

• Sophie and West give their “Arby’s Hot Girls of the Week” to everyone involved in the Classic and the influential women behind Montana State football ([37:14–43:18]).
• West salutes Heather Costello and Molly Vegan for being welcoming, positive forces at Montana State: "They act like my mom when I see them, and I love them so much…" ([43:18]).

8. Miscellaneous & Fun Personal News

• Sophie will be recognized as a “Famous Missourian” at the state capitol, quipping about the company ("It’s like Walt Disney, Brad Pitt, and now…yeah, yeah." [45:27])
• The gang ends by picking Super Bowl matchups. West roots for Seattle (out of Bobcat loyalty); Sophie reluctantly tips the Broncos or 49ers due to personal connections ([55:12–57:08]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Arrowhead stadium is actively cool. It is actively the loudest stadium in the world…It’s a bucket list for NFL fans…So the idea that you would fucking leave that behind in the dust is wild to me.”
— West ([27:05])

“Honestly, yeah. [The Chiefs moving]…there’s something inside me that…pierces me a little bit just because, like, it’s always been Missouri.”
— Sophie ([25:48])

“Now that this group of dudes gets to, like, have that forever is so sick.”
— West on Montana State winning FCS ([04:06])

“We just host it. But…if we’re gonna do this, let’s do it right. And so I make sure…I’m there 24/7, so it’s fun…just really cool to help mentor.”
— Sophie on the Classic ([41:00])

“My wife’s mother…lives with us…she’s raised like five kids…so by the time Journey comes around and he’s like whining about everything, she’s like, 'it’s cool, dude.’ She’s done everything before.”
— Kev ([11:43])

"I got a free hat case for my cowboy hat—after spending freaking $1,000!"
— Sophie ([49:16])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Montana State Championship Recap: [01:49–06:13]
• Family Holidays & Kids: [06:13–12:05]
• Parenting, Daycare, Grandparents: [10:49–12:13]
• Montana State Game Fashion & Cowboy Hat Story: [12:13–13:49]; revisit at [48:41–51:32]
• New Year’s/Holiday Antics & Mishaps: [14:05–22:51]
• Chiefs Stadium Move—Rant & Analysis: [24:30–37:06]
• Sophie Cunningham Classic Details: [37:26–43:11]
• Famous Missourian Announcement & Wardrobe Debate: [44:09–51:32]
• Hot Girls of the Week: [37:14–43:18]
• Super Bowl Rooting Picks: [55:12–57:08]

Finale & Tone

In signature “Show Me Something” style, the episode is frank, opinionated, and playful—mixing deep sports nostalgia, fan emotion, and inside peeks at both the business and personality of athletic culture. The hosts’ chemistry and willingness to riff on everything from fashion to sports politics keeps the episode engaging for sports nuts and newcomers alike.

For listeners who missed out:
This episode delivers a rowdy celebration of sports community, the inside drama of stadium politics, and the infectious energy behind women’s sports. From wild nights to heartfelt tradition, the conversation has both depth and heaps of personality.