The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1, October 9, 2025

Episode Theme: Why the Yankees Aren't Good Enough, NLDS Intrigue, and the Case for Jared Goff as a Future Hall of Famer

Main Episode Overview

Colin Cowherd, with his signature blend of sharp analysis and opinionated takes, breaks down three key sports narratives:

• The New York Yankees’ latest playoff exit highlights fundamental franchise flaws.
• The NLDS heats up with exciting performances and shifting momentum.
• The overlooked brilliance of Jared Goff and why Cowherd believes he’s tracking as a future Hall of Famer.

Joined by co-host J. Mac and occasional insights from Greg Cosell, the episode blends baseball disappointment, football speculation, and big-picture quarterback debates, all delivered in Colin's candid, conversational style.

1. The Yankees’ Playoff Failures: Not Just a Bad Break (02:22 – 11:00)

Discussion Points and Insights

• Yankees Eliminated by Toronto

  • “A team from Canada… has eliminated your New York Yankees and it was in fairly dominating fashion.” (02:25 – Colin)
  • J. Mac plays therapist: “Let’s all sit down, take a deep breath and admit the Yankees just aren’t that good. They’re good. They’re not that good.” (03:32)

• Statistical Realities

  • Yankees are 3-10 against non-AL Central teams in the playoffs since 2009; 8-2 vs. AL Central.
  • "It’s just completely unbalanced," says Colin, noting that injuries to stars (Garrett Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge aging) make the team ever more home-run dependent.
  • “The Yankees feel like an unbalanced diet. Too much protein, not enough green. Like all those weirdos on TikTok selling you and lecturing you on the carnivore diet. Hey champ, mix in a carrot.” (04:25 – Colin)

• Team Culture and Imbalance

  • Too much reliance on stars; lacking youth, athleticism, and adaptability.
  • “They need to get younger, they need to get more athletic and they need to turn radio off. …It’s not a coincidence that Seattle and Milwaukee and a lot of these media markets are really good right now. They don’t react to the noise outside the building.” (05:22 – Colin)
  • Key comparison: "They’re a little bit like the Pittsburgh Steelers… The brand is big... But you know, when do they beat elite quarterbacks in the playoffs? They don’t.” (06:20 – Colin)

• Yankees Management and Blame

  • Derek Jeter defends Aaron Boone: “Aaron did a good job… he’s working with what he has to work with, and he sticks up for his players… I’m pretty sure Aaron’s not the one that’s calling every move that they make throughout the game.” (08:38 – Paraphrased from Jeter commentary via J. Mac)
  • Issue not just managerial but organizational: “Their stars are old… you got to start moving some pieces, do you not?” (07:20 – Colin)
  • Summing up: “The Toronto Blue Jays weren’t just better than the Yankees, they are a lot better… They don’t strike out as much, more contact guys, they get on base more, and their pitching was better.” (11:00 – J. Mac)

Notable Quotes

• Colin: “The Yankees feel like an unbalanced diet. Too much protein, not enough green.” (04:25)
• J. Mac: “They’re good. They’re not that good. …3 and 10 against every other division in the playoffs [except AL Central].” (03:32)

Key Segment

• Yankees’ playoff failures and cultural problems (02:22–11:00)

2. Bill Belichick in College Football? Culture Clash & Rumors (11:00 – 15:10)

Discussion Points

• Rumors Swirl: Speculation about North Carolina and Bill Belichick negotiating a buyout.
• Personality Mismatch: Colin doubts college football is the right fit for Belichick: “He’s a do your job, bottom line guy. And that’s what not college football is… sometimes you gotta dance with the players.” (12:30)
• Institutional Differences: Contrasts NFL and college expectations: NFL is “shield, corporate, professional, business, kind of cutthroat.” College is about “pageantry, bands, alumni, donors, fun.”
• Fit Matters: “I talk about this all the time: Fit happens, and fit matters… From the very beginning, I was suspicious about the buyout.” (13:45)
• First-Hand Reporting: Colin shares a Carolina supporter’s take after a Clemson game: “We were beat before that thing started. No energy, no juice.” (14:32)

Notable Quotes

• Colin: “Sometimes you gotta dance with the players. …That’s part of college football. College football is more fun than the NFL. The NFL is just better.” (13:05)
• Colin: “Do those two words [joyful and fun] sound like Bill Belichick?” (13:07)

Key Segment

• The improbable marriage of Belichick and college football (11:00–15:10)

3. MLB Postseason: NLDS Becomes a Real Series (15:25 – 18:54)

Discussion Points

• Phillies Bounce Back at Dodger Stadium

  • Colin details Philadelphia’s dominant 96-win season and postseason prowess: “Bryce Harper, he’s going to be a Hall of Famer. Kyle Schwarber… always good in the playoffs. …Trea Turner, batting champ, excellent starting staff, top 10 team ERA.” (17:00)
  • On Schwaber’s home run: “It is long gone. It’s off the roof of the pavilion in right field… that ball is reportedly somewhere in Pasadena.” (17:34)
  • Dodgers’ struggles at the top of the lineup: Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, DE Oscar Hernandez go 0-for-12.

• Series Now a Toss-Up

  • “Philadelphia can punish you in a lot of ways. And they get good starting pitching. …I think we have a series.” (18:33)

Notable Quotes

• Colin: “That ball is reportedly somewhere in Pasadena.” (17:34)
• Colin: “I thought Philadelphia would win this series because… a little bit of batting practice, the elite hitting, especially at the top of the order against the Dodger bullpen.” (18:11)

Key Segment

• NLDS drama and Kyle Schwarber’s explosive night (15:25–18:54)

4. Cubs-Brewers: NLDS Extends, But the Analytics Favor Milwaukee (18:54 – 20:34)

Discussion Points

• Cubs Survive, Brewers Still Favored

  • Cubs snap 13-game playoff streak of scoring three or fewer runs; “That’s futility,” Colin notes. (19:17)
  • J. Mac sees Milwaukee as the more complete team: “They get on base, they can hit for average contact. …So Milwaukee puts a ton of pressure on Chicago.” (19:30)
  • Despite Chicago’s win, both agree Milwaukee is likely to advance.

• Series Parallels: Comparison to Toronto–Yankees series: teams with constant runners on base have an advantage.

Notable Quotes

• J. Mac: “Milwaukee is one of those teams… they just, they put so much pressure on your pitching staff and your manager that eventually the dyke breaks.” (19:45)

Key Segment

• Cubs win but Brewers look stronger (18:54–20:34)

5. NFL Rundown: Eagles’ Offense, Packers’ Jordan Love, and NFC Contenders (20:34 – 26:26)

Discussion Points

• Eagles vs. Giants Preview

  • Philadelphia “off to a slow start”; concern over consistency from Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown.
  • Saquon: “There’s been halves where we look untouchable, there’s been halves where we look really bad. So we just gotta find a way to be more consistent…” (20:51)
  • Colin expects “an ugly, low scoring game and the Eagles will win.” (21:23)
  • A.J. Brown expected to have a big game vs. Giants’ man defense: “I would not be surprised if he had like 8 for a buck 15 tonight.” (22:20)

• Packers and Jordan Love

  • Green Bay’s offense leads the league in third down efficiency, averaging 26ppg—but there’s media skepticism.
  • “If you go back to week 10 of last year to today, his numbers are unbelievable. Why is everybody doubting? It works. He’s good. He’s very good.” (23:17–J. Mac)
  • Colin on the NFC playoff race: “If Green Bay gets [home field advantage], then the 49ers have to go to Lambeau, possibly. That’s huge.” (26:09)
  • Remaining schedule appears favorable; both hosts see Green Bay as a real NFC contender.

Notable Quotes

• Saquon Barkley: “We just gotta find a way to be more consistent in that area.” (20:51)
• J. Mac: “If I had to bet somebody in the NFC championship today… Green Bay’s as good as bet as that conference has.” (25:01)

Key Segment

• Eagles, Packers, and NFC playoff outlook (20:34–26:26)

6. The Baker Mayfield Evolution & The Importance of Fit (26:26 – 30:52)

Discussion Points

• Baker’s Growth and Narrative Change

  • Baker Mayfield reflects on being called “cocky, immature” early, now “moxie… a dog.”
  • Colin: “He’s a wiser version of Baker. Now, I do think Baker’s mostly still Baker. …We all grow and get smarter.”

• Team Context Determines Perception

  • Cleveland was a poor environment; “Tampa empowers his personality. It felt like Cleveland was intimidated by it and poked at it.” (29:30)
  • Fit matters: “Michael Jordan’s fire didn’t work early or late… It wasn’t until he got the right supporting cast…” (29:54)

• Core Argument: Personalities like Baker’s can succeed or stumble depending on environment.

Notable Quotes

• Colin: “Baker’s smart. …Cleveland felt like they were poking him in the ribs. Tampa feels like they open every door for him. …That’s who Baker is. That’s his personality. He’s an ass talker, and that’s great.” (28:10–29:40)

Key Segment

• Baker Mayfield’s personality and the impact of fit (26:26–30:52)

7. Jared Goff is a Future Hall of Famer? Cowherd’s Bold Case (30:52 – 42:01)

Discussion Points

• Cowherd’s Argument for Goff

  • “Jared Goff’s gonna be a Hall of Famer. Buy your tickets to Canton.” (30:52)
  • Stats since 2017 (with 7 coordinators!): “Number one in the league in completions, passing yards and big pass plays. Number two in passing touchdowns. And wins. Five playoff appearances, two conference championships.” (32:30)
  • Longevity and health: “Jared Goff does not get hurt… Goff’s a thrower… quarterbacks can throw the football late in careers.”

• First Impressions & Aesthetics

  • Goff’s rookie year and being traded by McVay influences how fans see him.
  • Goff’s low-sizzle style: “He’s kinda boring. …If Jared Goff had a little wiggle in his step… everybody would be like, oh yeah, it’s a Hall of Famer.” (34:13)
  • Contrasts Goff’s post-trade success in Detroit with Matthew Stafford’s in LA; Goff has better stats despite inheriting a rebuilding team.

• Debate with J. Mac

  • J. Mac notes Philip Rivers as a comparison—great numbers, but no deep playoff runs or MVPs.
  • Debate if Goff is “that much better than Rivers” and if just numbers will get him in.
  • Colin’s retort: “If Detroit gets to a Super Bowl, Jared Goff with still five years of prime, will be to two Super Bowls.” (41:15)
  • Emphasis on multi-system success: “Part of what makes Goff great is seven coordinators and six he’s crushed with.” (41:44)

Notable Quotes

• Colin: “He’s a thrower. He’s like Steph Curry. Steph will be able to shoot when he’s 50, he’ll just lose his legs. Goff’s a thrower.” (32:55)
• Colin: “The best case for Goff is, man, he got kicked to the curb by McVay… he went to a Super bowl and he didn’t give up or throw in the towel or stink. He kind of thrived. And I think that’s great.” (40:46)

Key Segment

• Is Jared Goff a Hall of Famer? (30:52–42:01)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Yankees’ Unbalanced Approach:
  • “The Yankees feel like an unbalanced diet. Too much protein, not enough green.” (04:25 – Colin)
• On NLDS:
  • “That ball is reportedly somewhere in Pasadena.” (17:34 – on Schwarber’s HR)
• On Belichick:
  • “College football is more fun than the NFL. The NFL is just better.” (13:05 – Colin)
• On Goff’s Growth:
  • “Jared Goff does not get hurt… he’s got at least… four to five years of prime left…” (32:27 – Colin)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Yankees Failures & Future: 02:22–11:00
• Belichick & College Football Culture: 11:00–15:10
• NLDS: Phillies-Dodgers: 15:25–18:54
• Cubs-Brewers, NLDS Extension: 18:54–20:34
• NFL: Eagles-Giants/Packers-Jordan Love: 20:34–26:26
• Baker Mayfield’s Fit: 26:26–30:52
• Jared Goff Hall of Fame Argument: 30:52–42:01

Final Thoughts

This episode is a vintage Colin Cowherd showcase: heavy on stats, culture, and big-picture perspective—with a healthy dose of playful sparring and hot takes. Whether breaking down the Yankee dynasty’s malaise, making the case for Jared Goff as a Canton-bound quarterback, or poking at the NFL’s fit in the college football world, the show entertains as much as it informs. If you missed it, this summary will keep you in the loop on the major conversations in October sports.