THE HERD - Hour 1 - Thoughts on the Seahawks win over the Rams, Sam Darnold is underrated

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 1
Date: December 19, 2025
Main Topics: Thoughts on the Seahawks’ win over the Rams, Sam Darnold’s performance and underrated value, NFC West dynamics, special teams impact, and playoff implications.

---

Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd delves into the Seattle Seahawks' dramatic victory over the Los Angeles Rams, with a particular focus on Sam Darnold’s historic and headline-grabbing performance. Colin makes the case that Darnold is one of the NFL's most underrated quarterbacks, dissecting his stats, intangibles, and unique record-breaking night. The episode also breaks down the NFC West playoff picture, analyzes the stubborn weaknesses plaguing the Rams (especially on special teams), and touches on the larger impact of roster management, coaching, and football’s ever-evolving rulebook. Additionally, the conversation briefly pivots to NBA headlines and college football playoff predictions.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sam Darnold: “Slingin’ Sammy D.” Makes NFL History

• Darnold’s Journey and Performance
  • Colin opens by highlighting Sam Darnold’s remarkable record:
    “The last four teams Sam Darnold has played for, his last 39 starts, he's 30 and 9.” (03:28)
  • Darnold became the first QB in NFL history to win 12+ games in back-to-back seasons on different teams—a feat neither Tom Brady, Joe Montana, nor Brett Favre achieved.
• Resilience and Playing Style
  • Despite some bad interceptions and early Rams dominance, Darnold remained poised:
    “He’s relentless, doesn’t pout, doesn’t sulk, has a short memory.” (04:16)
• Fourth-Quarter Superiority
  • Broke another record: first QB on a winning team to convert three different 2-point conversions in the fourth quarter and overtime.
  • “Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter and overtime... 105 passer rating, big play after big play.” (05:24)
  • Darnold’s only real Achilles’ heel has been the Rams defense under Chris Shula.
    • “Last four years, Darnold’s 1–3 against the Rams. He’s 29–6 against everybody else.” (06:15)
• Coach’s Testimony
  • Darnold’s coach praises his consistency and leadership:
    “He's the same guy every day, no matter the circumstance. He's an ultimate competitor, a phenomenal leader, keeps fighting.” (07:00)

Notable Quote:

“To deny his talent is being stubborn. Sam Darnold... they’re not always pretty, but this is what he’s been doing for years.”
—Colin Cowherd (06:43)

---

2. The Rams’ Shortcomings: Special Teams and Secondary

• No Perfect Teams in the Modern NFL
  • “Salary caps mean there are no perfect teams... you try to hide the holes.” (08:04)
• Special Teams as a Repeated Weak Point
  • Special teams miscues have cost the Rams three out of their four losses this season, highlighted by allowing a key punt return touchdown to Rasheed Shahid that swung momentum.
  • “Their special teams unit and that secondary has been costing them games all year.” (09:04)
• Rams Still Super Bowl Favorites (in Colin’s Mind)
  • “The Rams are still my pick to win the Super Bowl... but Stafford’s not mobile, and that can catch up in the second half.” (10:27)

Notable Moment:

“Rasheed Shahid comes back, takes the punt return in, and I’m like, oh, it’s the special teams. Here we go.”
—Colin Cowherd (11:42)

---

3. Comparing the Rams and Seahawks: Who’s Stronger Entering Playoffs?

• J Mac poses the big question:
  “Who do you feel is the better team going into the playoffs, Rams or Seahawks?” (14:17)
• Colin’s Breakdown:
  • Rams have advantages at coach, quarterback, O-line, receiving targets, and defensive front.
  • “The Rams outplayed them for three quarters, but their hole with special teams is glaring.” (14:31)
• On Remarkable Offensive Production:
  • “Puka Stafford combination last night’s crazy because that Seahawks secondary is super talented.” (15:00)

---

4. Key Game-Changing Plays & Decisions

• Wild Two-Point Conversion Ruling (Rams-Seahawks)
  • Confusion over a fumble/backwards pass on a two-point try; McVay was baffled by the ruling. (25:06)
  • “I’ve never quite seen anything like what happened on the two-point conversion. Didn’t get a clear explanation... They were trying to be able to do that.” —Sean McVay (as played by Colin) (25:06)
• Officials’ Calls and Replay:
  • Colin: “This is why you have replay. Give Charbonnet credit for... I don’t even — it’s not like he was being alert, he was just going to pick the ball up.” (25:36)

Notable Debate:

J Mac: “What do you think they do with this rule in the offseason? What if the ball had kept rolling out of the end zone?”
Colin: “NFL tweaks all the time... They have a point of emphasis in the preseason and they'll like overcall something, you know, to stimulate conversation.”
(27:16–27:41)

---

5. NFC West Playoff Dynamics

• Seahawks Surging
  • “Seahawks are now number one in the division... keep an eye on the 49ers.” (28:00)
  • If Niners beat Colts and Bears, Week 18 vs. Seahawks could be for the NFC’s #1 seed—even though they’ve lost several star defensive players.
  • “It’s been an incredible coaching performance by Shanahan and Salah.” (28:30)
• A Loaded Division
  • “You could argue the three best teams in the NFC are all from the NFC West… Sorry, Bears.” (29:27)

---

6. Matt Stafford: Last of the Great Pure Pocket Passers

• Highlighting Stafford’s Skills and Limitations
  • “Stafford is the last great pure pocket passer in the NFL... He is not just... he is athletically the opposite of Josh Allen.” (31:27, 33:42)
  • “He’s got to make hay from the pocket.” (33:50)
• O-line & Draft Brilliance
  • Rams’ offense features late-round picks and undrafted players who step up:
    “Puka is a fifth rounder... most of the tight ends are mid-round guys... they're not doing it with these glossy, you know, [players].” (34:11)
• Disadvantage Without Mobility
  • “Everybody knows where [Stafford] is going to be one second after the snap. The whole league knows.” (33:55)
  • Stats: “Matt Stafford has zero rushing first downs this season.” (34:56)

Notable Quote:

“God reached down at some point and he blessed Nolan Ryan, Justin Verlander, and Matt Stafford’s arm.”
—Colin Cowherd (34:33)

---

7. Roster Depth, Front Offices, and Trade Deadline Savvy

• Rasheed Shahid Acquisition
  • “That punt return last night by Rasheed Shahid, that changed the momentum of the game. This is what a Cincinnati doesn’t do. A clever, savvy trade deadline move.” (49:22)
• Front Office Impact
  • Colin lauds Seattle and the Rams’ GMs vs. more passive teams like the Bears or Bengals.
  • “Front offices and general managers matter a lot.” (52:38)
• Contrast with Lower-Resource Franchises
  • Bears stadium news: “The Bears owners are barely billionaires, a bunch of kids, McCaskeys, you know, bad timing, just so clumsy… That announcement yesterday was so weak.” (52:58)

---

8. Brief Coverage: NBA & College Football Playoff

• NBA Moment:
  • Luka Doncic’s 45-point triple-double against Utah receives a brief praise segment:
    “He’s the world’s best offensive basketball player. No question.” (30:32)
• College Football Playoff Preamble
  • Colin lays out his upcoming picks, calling the Alabama-Oklahoma game the hardest to call and highlighting which teams he expects to advance.
  • J Mac and Colin reflect on NIL’s (Name, Image, Likeness) impact on college football parity and the increasing financial might of Big Ten teams relative to the SEC. (46:54–49:13)

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Darnold’s Grit:

  “He threw four picks against the Rams last time in LA... He just doesn’t get down, he doesn’t pout, he doesn’t shrug his shoulders. His body language isn’t terrible. He is a Fox Hole guy.”
  —Colin Cowherd (07:18)

• On NFC West’s Craziness:

  “The NFC west is crazy town. Seattle now leads 12 and 3. The Rams are 11 and 4. San Francisco’s 10 and 4. Watch out for the Niners.”
  —Colin Cowherd (07:43)

• On NFL’s Reality:

  “The NFL has always been about attrition, right?... There’s too many elite players [injured]. That’s just the reality of who the Packers are.”
  —Colin Cowherd (22:12–23:45)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:28: Darnold’s win record and historic feat
• 06:15: Darnold’s struggles against the Rams under Chris Shula
• 07:00: Darnold’s coach on his leadership
• 08:04–09:33: Rams’ special teams and losses
• 11:42: Shahid’s punt return as momentum swing
• 14:17–15:07: Rams vs. Seahawks playoff comparison
• 25:06–27:16: Wild two-point ruling and McVay’s confusion
• 28:00–29:27: NFC West playoff scenarios and coaching kudos
• 31:27–34:56: Matt Stafford as the last pocket passer; arm talent discussion
• 49:22–52:38: Front office trades and their impact; Bears’ off-field troubles

---

Tone & Style

As always, Colin’s analysis is direct, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, full of long-view historical context, and unapologetically opinionated. The banter with J Mac adds a lighter, conversational note, especially in reactions to dramatic on-field moments, perplexing rules, and the never-ending NFL playoff shuffle.

---

Summary Takeaways

• Sam Darnold is making NFL history with unique records and underrated resilience, even as critics focus on his missteps.
• The Rams, despite star power, have glaring special teams problems that could derail a Super Bowl run.
• The NFC West is the most competitive division in the league, with every team showing both high ceilings and nagging errors.
• Matt Stafford remains an anomaly in today’s NFL as a pure pocket passer with unmatched arm talent but limited mobility, raising questions about long-term success for traditional QBs.
• The best teams make smart, under-the-radar moves at the trade deadline; their front offices are often as important as their star players.
• Rules and officiating can still flip games in ways that leave even veteran coaches baffled, and the NFL will keep adjusting.
• College football and the NBA each get driven, insightful nods, further framing football’s position in the changing sports landscape.

---

This recap provides a thorough and engaging snapshot of the episode, preserving the hosts' spirited analysis and offering the essential takeaways for fans and NFL observers alike.

Transcript

[eBay Advertiser]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Unrivaled Basketball Announcer]

Guaranteed Human.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

What a matchup we got, y'.

[Unrivaled Basketball Announcer]

All.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rockin and the crowd lit. Chance, echo drum beatin. Everybody showing that school pride. Game like this, yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere. And in ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Colin Cowherd]

With no fees or minimums on checking accounts, it's no wonder the Capital One bank guy is so passionate about banking with cash. Capital One. If he were here, he wouldn't just tell you about no fees or minimums. He'd also talk about how most Capital One cafes are open seven days a week to assist with your banking needs. Yep, even on weekends, it's pretty much all he talks about. In a good way. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capital1.com bank capital1NA member FDIC.

[eBay Advertiser]

On eBay, every find has a story. Like if you're looking for a vintage band tee. Not just a tee, the band tee. You wore it everywhere until your BFF stole it. Now you're on ebay and there it is. Same tee from the same tour. The things you love have a way of finding their way back to you. Especially on ebay. Where else can you find that mint trading card you searched everywhere for? Or your first car, the one you wished you never sold? It has to be ebay. Shop ebay for millions of finds, each with a story. EBay, things people love.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wasabi is purpose built to free your business from skyrocketing storage costs and fees from the big guys. Wasabi is the go to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams around the world. Check out Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage. Wasabi air to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cybercriminals. Was Wasabi driving innovation in data storage for up to 80% less than the other guys? Try for [e-mail], wasabi Hot Cloud Storage. Proud partner of the Volume Podcast Network. Hi, it's Colin. I've been around long enough to know quality when I see it, or in this case, when I taste it. Tito's handmade Vodka. Good stuff. No flash no gimmick. Smooth, clean, tasting, made the right way. Tito's made in Austin, Texas. Real attention to detail. I like to keep it simple. Tito's soda, one lime, lot of ice. Refreshing, easy. Summer, winter, spring. Totally versatile. Always works. Listen. Baseball season's here. The perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour you should too. Distilled and bottled by 5th Generation Inc. Austin, Texas. 40% alcohol by volume. Savor responsibly. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon PAC. Find your local station for the herd at foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, what a beautiful day. Wonderful day. Couldn't be better. Today it is Friday. Blazing five in one hour. We are live. It is the Herd. Wherever you may be in however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. You know, I'm not really into stats or anything, but here's a couple of interesting ones. The last four teams Sam Darnold has played for started a game for because he started one game for the Niners. His last 39 starts, he's 30 and nine. Here's another random stat that just like fell into my hands last night. Sam Darnold became the first quarterback in NFL history to win 12 games back to back season on different teams. Brady didn't do it. Joe Montana didn't do it. Favre didn't do it. Slinging Sammy D. Did. Yeah, the Rams dominated the first three quarters and Sammy had a couple of bad picks. But the Rams settled for field goals in the red zone. Their special teams are shaky. Four punts by the Rams in the fourth quarter. Three straight three and outs. I see Darnold as relentless, doesn't pout, doesn't sulk, has a short memory. And he took advantage of opportunities. Games aren't linear. Great first half for certain quarterbacks. Bad second half. I've been saying that about Bo Nixon, Caleb Williams all year. I know this. They win a lot. They're great in the fourth. And Sam Darnold has always had a little Andrew Luck and maybe a little less Brett Favre. Big arm, big mobility, big playmaker. Wins a lot. And some. Sometimes he'll throw an ugly one or two. But I thought Seattle also overreacted. Came in with a ridiculously Conservative game plan based on Sam's last game against the Rams. Sam Darnold has way too much raw talent to coach him like he's Jimmy Garoppolo. You gotta live with the mistakes. You had to live with the Andrew Luck mistakes. Darnold also did this. More history. Last night, Darnold converted three two point conversions in the fourth quarter in overtime. No quarterback on a winning team had done that in league history. Slinging Sammy D. Was breaking records last night. He gets credit for that too. Not, not just criticism for the picks. Again, never pouts, doesn't sulk. Pumping his fist takes accountability. He may not win a Super Bowl. I mean, Farv only got one and Andrew Luck never got to one. He may never win a Super bowl, but to deny his talent is being stubborn. Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter in overtime. Forget the conversions. 105 passer rating, big play after big play. And for the record, Darnold has really struggled against Chris Shula and the Rams specifically. And Chris Shula, the defensive coordinator. Many are saying he's going to get a head coaching job. In fact, he will get a head coaching job. He's been there a while. Last four years, Darnold's 1 and 3 against the Rams. He's 29 and 6 against everybody else. So the Rams have given him trouble. Well, guess what? Belichick gave Darnold trouble. Trouble too. When he was 21 and 22 and 23 years old with the New York jets, he came into this league very raw. Not well coached in college, not great on the whiteboard. But by the time he got to Carolina, that San Francisco, then Minnesota and the Rams, to deny what he can do. You're just being stubborn right now. The number one seed in the NFC this year, the better conference, Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold, who's won 30 of his last 39 starts, they're not always pretty, especially when he faces McVeigh, Shula and the Rams. But this is what he's been doing for years. Here's his coach after our story, has stayed the same since day one with Sam. You know, everybody else has different stories, but this is the guy that we watch every day. It's the same guy every day, no matter the circumstance. He's an ultimate competitor. He's a phenomenal leader and just keeps fighting, keeps plugging away. I wasn't worried about. We weren't worried about one bit. So that's Sam. That's Sam. First quarterback ever. 12 wins, back to back seasons with two different teams. I'm always impressed with people who overcome struggles. I've said this for years. The most important thing to success kind of in life is how you react to failure. Because everybody who takes a swing in life fails all the time. Darnold just doesn't get down. He threw four picks against the Rams last time in LA and they were driving for the winning field goal. He just doesn't get down, he doesn't pout, he doesn't shrug his shoulders. His body language isn't terrible. He is a Fox Hole guy. My guy slinging Sammy D. So first of all, the NFC west is crazy town. Seattle now leads 12 and 3. The Rams are 11 and 4. San Francisco's 10 and 4. Watch out for the Niners. And here's the thing about the Rams. Salary caps mean there are no perfect teams. Everybody's got holes. You try to hide the holes. But the LA Rams special teams have been an issue all season long. And their secondary on the back end. We watched Bryce Young torch it. So when they don't get a great pass rush, and the Rams usually do, but not always, they are very vulnerable. So if and and last night and the Rams are so good in so many areas. They're good in the O line, number two. Pff, they're Noah's Ark. They got two of everything, tight ends. But earlier this year they lost to the Niners. Why? Special teams missed a field goal and an extra point. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Why? Remember this block kick? The Niners last night? The Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles. Those are three of the four losses for the LA Rams. And special teams was a huge factor in three of the four losses. In the other one, Bryce Young Stafford had coming off game and Bryce Young tore them apart. So they're so good. I mean they've got three to four different tight ends. They can all play Corum and Kyron Williams. Devonte Adams was in there last night. That a seventh round receiver was taken up the slack. So they draft well, they don't miss everything works for them offensively. But that special teams unit and that secondary has been costing them games all year. And the last several super bowl champs have not been perfect teams. The Rams are still my pick doing the Super Bowl. But I will say this. Stafford's not mobile. So when they go three and out, three and out, three and out in the second half, that's where Josh Allen can pick up first downs with his legs. You know, that's where Mahomes would win Super Bowls in the second half. When you're off script. And the defense has seen all your tricks and all your formations and all your motions. With Stafford, he can have these, you know, kind of rough second half. He kind of gets into a rut and he's not getting you any first downs with his legs. And so I thought, you know, and I'm not blaming him, I'm just saying is sometimes a Josh Allen or a Mahomes or a Herbert's done it the last couple of weeks, they'll move the chains with their legs. You're not getting that with Matt Stafford. So the special teams in the secondary are a real issue. Matt Stafford, though, 450 yards when he is humming, I mean, there's, there's nothing quite like to go to Seattle. That defensive coach, that secondary, 457 yards, three TDs, no picks. Here's Stafford after. Anytime you come in here, play that, that defense, you know, one of the best, if not the best in the league and you know, do we were able to do on offense, control the game, you know, and you know, score whatever we score 37, feel good about it. Obviously there's, you know, a couple of plays we want back to maybe score in the red zone earlier in the game or continue a drive. We got off the field early in the game, but I was proud of our effort. A lot of people, myself included, a little surprised the Rams didn't draft a corner last year. Their special teams has lost them three games. That Carolina game, Bryce Young at his higher highest career passer rating game against the Rams. His entire career against the Rams. That's with a good pass rush. So the special teams, last night, the, the game changed. Rams leading 30, 14. Rasheed Saheed comes back, takes the punt return in, and I'm like, oh, it's the special teams. Here we go. I saw it against the Niners, saw it against the Eagles. Saw it last night. It opened the door. And then a couple of three and outs in a row and slinging Sammy D. Doing what he does. J. Mac, I know you were happy for him. I mean, it's hard not to have a soul if you don't root for Sammy D. After that jets debacle.

[J Mac]

Well, I'm happy that you're happy for him. I just can't believe. Remember, Rashid Shahid was picked up at the deadline. You know, every year at the deadline, there's a huge move that somebody makes that kind of swings the balance. I didn't think Shahid had been particularly great with the Seahawks the first few games. Remember, there was A struggle. They had the kid Horton.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[J Mac]

Who was showing, and then he had to go to the bench. But that, that punt return was everything. And special teams, as you noted going into the game, Colin, the Rams had the fewest made field goals in the league. We're talking about a league where Brandon Aubrey and Cameron Dicker, these guys are automatic.

[Colin Cowherd]

Did you notice McVay early on, deep in his own territory? We're going for it. I mean, the Rams came in. Their takeaway is they're trying to mitigate how bad their special teams are. So they're, they're. They're being hyper aggressive, which, by the way, analytically is the right thing to do because they're so stacked on offense. But, I mean, they go for it. A lot of it's just. They just don't trust their special teams.

[J Mac]

Let me just ask you, this is a tough question and I don't want people to freak out, but Colin, after that game in Seattle, rams led by 16 with 8 minutes left. Seattle wins. Who do you feel is the better team going into the playoffs, Rams or Seahawks?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think the Rams high end is better.

[J Mac]

They didn't have devonte Adams, remember? No devonte Adams.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so the coach, I'd go, and I love Seattle. I'd go Rams. The quarterback, I'd go Rams offensive line, I'd go Rams receiving targets, total, Rams defensive front, Slight. Rams. The Rams outplayed them for three quarters. But again, the Rams have a hole with special teams that the Seahawks don't have. And the Seahawks secondary, I think is really good. That's why the Puka Stafford combination last night's crazy because that Seahawks secondary is super talented.

[J Mac]

Guys, McDonald is a sharp guy. Why did he keep job? I sowed up against Puka. He like he had no chance all game. They're highlighting it. You could hear the announcer, Herb Streets, like, I mean, I'm stunned that they just kept doing the same damn thing. And Puka, of course, I'm facing him in fantasy. Last night, that did not go well. Greatest game ever.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, we got a lot of stuff blazing 5. Top of next hour. Robert Mays from the Athletic is so good. He'll join us on a variety of topics. We'll go a mile deep on some stuff. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, it's Cavino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio. Now, in addition to hearing us live weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

To 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio.

[Colin Cowherd]

We're excited to announce a brand new YouTube channel for the show. Yup, that's right. You can now watch Covino enrich live on YouTube every day. All you gotta do search Covino Enrich FSR on YouTube again. Go to YouTube.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

Search Covino Enrich FSR.

[Colin Cowherd]

Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe hit that thumbs up icon and comment away.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

What a matchup we got y'.

[Colin Cowherd]

All.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat everybody showing that school pride game like this. Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. M. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and in ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo no matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures on.

[eBay Advertiser]

Ebay every find has a story. Like if you're looking for a vintage band tee. Not just a tee, the band tee. You wore it everywhere until your BFF stole it. Now you're on ebay and there it is. Same tee from the same tour. The things you love have a way of finding their way back to you. Especially on ebay. Where else can you find that mint trading card you searched everywhere for? Or your first car, the one you wished you never sold? It has to be ebay. Shop ebay for millions of finds, each with a story. Ebay Things people love Chapter 10 Ronan's.

[Nexplanon Advertiser]

Eyes widened as the moon enveloped their secret sanctuary. Go, he warned. I'm losing control. Luna defiantly stepped forward, tracing the scar across his jaw. Then lose it, she whispered. She was ready. She has Nexplanon etinogestrel implant 68mg radiopaque to prevent pregnancy. A non daily prescription birth control for women that goes in your arm and not in your uterus. Don't use nexplanon if you're pregnant or may be pregnant, have or had blood clots or or certain cancers, have liver disease, liver tumor or unexplained vaginal bleeding. Once the implant is placed, you and your doctor should feel for it. If at any time you can't feel the implant, contact your doctor right away and use a non hormonal birth control method such as condoms. Removal of the implant may be difficult or impossible if it isn't where it should be. While uncommon ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy that occurs outside the womb can occur, which can cause serious internal bleeding, infertility and even death. You are likely to experience changes to your period. Ovarian cysts may occur and usually disappear. Nexplanon may raise the chance of serious blood clots, which can cause heart attack, stroke or death, especially if you smoke or have other risk factors. Nexplanon doesn't protect against HIV or STDs. With less than one pregnancy per 100 women who use Nexplanon for one year, Nexplanon is over 99% effective. No matter the fantasy, talk to your doctor. Call 1-877-467-5266 or visit nexplanon.com for more information. Ask your doctor about Nexplanon.

[Unrivaled Basketball Announcer]

Season 2 of unrivaled basketball is here and the talent is unreal. The best women's players on the planet are running it back with even bigger moments and bigger stakes. Don't miss as Paige Becker, Snafeeza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more take the court and redefine the game. This isn't your regular season. This is unrivaled, where the pace is faster, the energy is higher and every athlete shines. Unrivaled basketball. Season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5th on TNT TruTV and HBO Max.

[Colin Cowherd]

Chris Peterson. Later in the show, I'll make my predictions for the College Football Playoff. First game to last, Blazing five, top of next hour. The big game tomorrow. Packers are at Chicago Fox. It's going to be unbelievable. Scene in Chicago. Best biggest regular season game in Chicago. Long, long time. I think it's 8 Eastern on Fox. So Jeff Halfley was hired from a college position. He was a head coach at bc. Green Bay hires him as the dc. He's been great. He'll probably get a head job. He and the DC for the Rams have done an amazing job and the team is falling apart. Sometimes in life it's bad luck. Green Bay offensively is missing six players and now Micah Parsons is gone and Kenny Clark was traded. So now you lose your best run stopper arguably and your best athlete on defense. And here's Jeff Halfley.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

You can't let circumstance dictate behavior. You know, it's just a week ago we're in here after we beat the Bears and we're all walking in here all upbeat and, and ready to roll. And I said, shame on you if you walk in here any different today. It's not who we are. Right. And that's our job as leaders and as coaches to make sure that we don't do that. We got really good players. We've played good defense and we're going to continue to play good defense. And our guys understand that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, it may not dictate behavior, but it will dictate outcomes. I like the Bears tomorrow and I do not believe Green Bay now is a Super bowl team. If you watched last night, who were the stars in last night's game? Second half, jsn Great player. Puka Stafford. First half. Kobe Turner's third round at a Wake Forest years ago. He is a Pro bowl player. Last night, a pick, two sacks. He was unbelievable. It was the best players. JSN Darnold Stafford, Puka, Kobe Turner. You need these great players. The NFL has always been about attrition, right? Last year, at the end of the year, Philly's healthy. Kansas City in the Super Bowl's not. And that's the reality of it. You can't lose your best athlete defensively, your best pass rusher, your best tackle, your best volume receiver. Tucker Kraft, your deep threat. You're really your best deep threat, Christian Watson. I mean, I'll put it up on the board here. There's too many elite players. I mean, Tucker Kraft made you less of a team. And now you take out Christian Watson, your Best deep threat, Josh Jacobs. They're in trouble. I mean, they weren't running the ball very effectively sometimes this year with Josh Jacobs. So I. It's bad luck. I just don't think you can lose the best deep threat, the best volume receiver, the best offensive tackle. And they lost key positions. And because Kenny Clark's in the Cowboy trade. So now I lose my best run stopper and my best athlete up front. That's why they went and got Micah Parsons. They lacked an elite athlete to close games. Okay, so it just. This is the reality of who the packers are. Some teams fall apart, some get healthy. Last night those two teams were mostly healthy. You know, the Seahawks were missing a left tackle. He'll be back. And the Rams were missing a star receiver. And Puka made up for it. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

[J Mac]

This is the Herdline news. All right, Colin, we gotta talk about that wacky, crazy, unbelievable two point conversion.

[Colin Cowherd]

Good Lord.

[J Mac]

In Ram Seahawks last night. So if you somehow missed the game, you missed the game of the year. But Colin, none of this made sense until they showed that overhead cam view.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, yeah.

[J Mac]

Which was clear that it was a backwards pass. Now I know everybody's been online and they've heard the whistle blew before Zach Charbonnet picked it up in the end zone. That is 1,000% clear. I mean, McVay is going to demand clarity on this because it's very shaky. Here's McVay after the game talking about the two pointer.

[Colin Cowherd]

I've never quite seen anything like what happened on the two point conversion where you're lined up to kickoff. Then they say it's a fumble because they had the clear and obvious recovery. Now you tack it on, you make it a 30, 30 game. Very interesting. Didn't get a clear explanation of everything that went on just because of some of the timing of it. They were trying to be able to do that. But that's the thing that I've said. I've never seen anything or never been a part of anything like that. And I've grown up around this game. Yeah, it was. I listen, it's. This is why you have replay. Give Charbonnet credit for. I don't even. It's not like he was being alert. He was just going to pick the ball up.

[J Mac]

No, was next to him. That's the only reason he picked it up.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right. Listen, when you win a game like this, when you may have the two best teams in league, those could. I'm serious. That could be the two best teams in the league. That game was wild. Seattle gets dominated for three quarters and then the Seahawks dominate in fourth quarter and overtime. Sometimes it's. This is the decision. Right. Like you can, the Rams can complain, but let's be fair. The Rams had three straight three and outs in the fourth quarter. Yeah, this and the other thing is when you go on the road to face an elite team, and if I would have told you before the game, the Rams get dominated in the fourth quarter and they also give up a punt return for a touchdown, you would not have thought it would have been this close. When you give up a punt return on the road for a touchdown against an elite team, what's the winning percentage? 10 to 15%. So it's like you can blame the officials all you want, but with all the Rams talent in the fourth quarter, they had four punts in the fourth quarter.

[J Mac]

Yeah, I don't think anybody's blaming the officials.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[J Mac]

Obviously this call is unfortunate, but there was still six minutes left. You're right, though. The Rams, zero turnovers, 500 yards of offense, 6.6 yards per play, didn't punt through the first three quarters. You got to win that game, guys. I, I, you know, it's just fluky stuff, but I don't know, what do you think they do with this rule in the off season? Because, Colin, what if the ball had kept rolling out of the end zone and Charbonnet picked it up? Like then what? No, no two pointer because he picked it up. It just feels like there needs some clarity.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, the NFL to its credit, and most leagues do this. Baseball's done it. They go to the offseason, the rules committee and the NFL tweaks all the time. And then they have a point of emphasis in the preseason and they'll like over call something, you know, to kind of stimulate conversation, stimulate talk within locker rooms. So it's just, it's a weird break. It went their way, you know, in the game.

[J Mac]

I see this in the super bowl, though. End of a game, two point like that would be one of these.

[Colin Cowherd]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[J Mac]

You know, kind of, kind of rough. All right, let's go to the next layer of this NFC west story. And that's the Seahawks are now number one in the division number crazy in the conference, but keep an eye. We talked about this yesterday.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[J Mac]

Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers. Colin, if they beat the Colts, I think they will, and they host the Bears, they'll be favored. They will play Seattle in week 18 for the number one seed. Is that all the time?

[Colin Cowherd]

Breakers nuts.

[J Mac]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is that insane that the Niners can be. Forget a playoff team? The number one seed with the most. Bosa. Gone. Fred Warner, gone. Traded Hufanga, Greenlawn, their four best players from last year, gone. And Salah is doing it with smoke and mirrors. I bet people in San Francisco can't name half of their defensive players. And it's. It's been an incredible coaching performance by Shanahan and Salah.

[J Mac]

Yeah, I'm on record. I think the Niners will. Assuming they beat the Colts and Bears. I think they will. I think they'll win that Week 18 game against Seattle. And it's at home, remember, because they already beat him in Seattle in week one. I mean, Colin, if the. Can you imagine if the Niners get the one seed, would that then drop the Rams to the seven and they. They're the super bowl favorites. Seahawks would have the tiebreaker, right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Or. Or Rams, I think this morning are still the super bowl favorites.

[J Mac]

Yes. As well they should be. Yeah, yeah, they're. I mean, but this NFC west is absolutely stacked. I mean, that division is. You know, I. What was it last year? Was it the AFC west that was loaded? Remember the good coaches? Maybe.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[J Mac]

I mean, I don't remember which one, but this has got to be one of the better divisions we've seen in recent memory. Just three awesome teams. You could argue the three best teams in the nfc. Sorry, Bears.

[Colin Cowherd]

Final story.

[J Mac]

Colin. Let's go to the NBA. Yes, the basketball happened last night. The Lakers didn't play much defense against Utah, found themselves trailing for much of the game. And then guess what happened in the fourth. Luca Legend took over 45 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds and oh, by the way, he had five steals. Colin. I mean, listen, that guy is unbelievable.

[Colin Cowherd]

LeBron's plus minus.

[J Mac]

I did not look at LeBron's plus minus.

[Colin Cowherd]

Lowest on the team. Interesting, no?

[J Mac]

Austin Reeves last night to win a game without your second best player. Pretty impressive, Luca, by the way. 40 point triple doubles.

[Colin Cowherd]

Are you gonna mention. I got to mention they played Utah three times and Utah is easily the worst defensive team in the league. Are you going to mention that?

[J Mac]

I mean, you just did, so no need for me to pile on. A win is a win, baby. Yeah. So listen, I just wanted to give you an opportunity to say nice stuff about Luka Doncic.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's a. He's the. I've said he is the world's best offensive basketball player. No question. He is. He is a combination of. He's for the record Skinny Luka is also getting to the basket more as you know so he last year he settled for a lot of stuff leaning away. He's getting to the basket. He's finishing at the rim. So this version of Luka which is what we saw the first three years before he got banged up a little bit, put on some weight. It's he's an all time great offensive player. I've said before I think he's, he's a way better version of Carmelo Anthony but for Carmelo Anthony I didn't think was a winning player but Carmelo was going to get his 27 a night like some guys can just get a bucket and Luke is the best in the world at that right now I.

[J Mac]

Think Christmas night I believe it's Lakers Rockets so Amen Thompson one of the best defenders in the league against Luka that should be really fun. Obviously Kevin Durant, LeBron yeah J. Mac with the news.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd lie news so you know it is I could make an argument Matt Stafford is the last great pure pocket passer in the NFL. Yes, he has a lot of support. I mean three different tight ends for the Rams three had multiple catches. They are again Noah's Ark. Two backs, two receivers. The Rams don't miss on draft picks. They had a seventh round rookie last night, Kanata Mumfield. He was outstanding. Three big catches. So I mean it's Blake Corum, it's Kyron Williams. They don't Jordan Whittingham's a six round wide receiver. They don't miss on draft picks. And but I'll tell you this, nine different guys caught a pass is they always use that term arm talent. It was on display last night in high leverage situations. The sidearm stuff, great touch down the sideline. No look stuff deep ball ease. Oh by the way there's another receiver, may have been an undrafted one. Yes, Puka is great but he's a fifth rounder so there are just Matt Stafford does stuff arm wise that other people just can't and don't do. And I and I do think it's fair to say this this is not a criticism, it's a reality. He is the last great pocket passer. It is sometimes a reality that in a second half where Josh Allen has been so great, you know Josh can just say I'm going to pick up first downs. Herbert's done that. Jalen hurts can do that. You know Sam Darnold can do that Stafford's got to make hay from the pocket. And, and, and I've thrown this out there and I said this three or four years ago. What happens off this MVP level season if he wins a second super bowl? You start looking at that resume with he and Aaron Rodgers. I mean but to be in your late 30s, not be mobile in the game today and to be putting up the numbers. Last Night was the eighth game this season. Three touchdowns, no picks against Mike McDonald. That defense, that rush on the road, what is he right now? 40 touchdowns, five picks. That is insane. And arguably the best division in football. So he is not just to remind you of. He is athletically the opposite of Josh Allen. We looked it up. He is not rushed for a single first down this season. I mean and to be. And everybody knows it. The whole league knows where he's going to be one second after the snap. The whole league knows where he's going to be standing. Yes, he's got McVeigh and Puka and the tight ends. The PFF loves their O line, I'm not denying that. And the Rams don't miss a lot of picks. But God reached down at some point and he blessed Nolan Ryan, Justin Verlander and Matt Stafford's arm. Here was Stafford on the loss in the playoff picture. Go play. Where are we playing? Who we playing? Put the ball down, prepare, go play. That's the attitude this team's had since day one. This attitude we're going to have till the last game we play this year. Listen, respect everybody, fear nobody. Go play. Josh Allen has 41 first downs from rushing. Matt Stafford has zero and it is a disadvantage. I mean it's always been the knock on golf. You know where he's going to be one second after the snap. Go pursue that area. We same thing with stafford and it's 40 touchdowns, five picks. The guy is just an all. He is arm talent when people use that term. And these receivers, Puka's fifth. I'm not sure if that guy was drafted. Whittingham is sixth. Most of the tight ends are mid round guys. Even Kyron Williams, the running back. I think he's a fourth rounder. They're not doing it with these glossy. You know Calvin Johnson, that was with him in Detroit. What a show by Matt Stafford. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd. Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

What a matchup we got y'.

[Unrivaled Basketball Announcer]

All.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat. Everybody showing that School Pride game like this. Yeah, it calls for an ice ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and an ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo no matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan word is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member finra SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures on eBay.

[eBay Advertiser]

Every find has a story. Like if you're looking for a vintage band tee. Not just a tee, the band tee from the last show your favorite band ever played. You wore it everywhere. Then your BFF started glaring it, which is cute. Until they unfriended you and took it with them. Which was not so cute. Anyway, now you're on ebay. And there it is. Same tea from the same tour, still living in your memory. Rent free forever. See, the things you love have a way of finding their way back to you. But ebay isn't just for getting whatever your ex BFF stole back. It's also for that rare championship foul ball you caught, then heroically gave to the kid next to you. And where else are you going to find your first car, the one you wish you never sold? But now you finally get the chance to take back home for good this time. Shop ebay for millions of finds, each with a story eBay Things People Love.

[Nexplanon Advertiser]

Chapter 10 Ronan's eyes widened as the moon enveloped their secret sanctuary. Go, he warned. I'm losing control. Luna defiantly stepped forward, tracing the scar across his jaw. Then lose it, she whispered. She was ready. She has Nexplanon etinogestrel implant 68mg radiopaque to prevent pregnancy. A non daily prescription birth control for women that goes in your arm and not in your uterus. Don't use nexplanon if you're pregnant or may be pregnant, have or had blood clots, clots or certain cancers, have liver disease, liver tumor or unexplained vaginal bleeding. Once the implant is placed, you and your doctor should feel for it. If at any time you can't feel the implant, contact your doctor right away and use a non hormonal birth control method such as condoms. Removal of the implant may be difficult or impossible if it isn't where it should be. While uncommon ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy that occurs outside the womb can occur, which can cause serious internal bleeding, infertility and even death. You are likely to experience changes to your period. Ovarian cysts may occur and usually disappear. Nexplanon may raise the chance of serious blood clots, which can cause heart attack, stroke or death, especially if you smoke or have other risk factors. Nexplanon doesn't protect against HIV or STDs. With less than one pregnancy per 100 women who use Nexplanon for one year, Nexplanon is over 99% effective. No matter the fantasy, talk to your doctor. Call 1-877-467-5266 or visit nexplanon.com for more information. Ask your doctor about Nexplanon.

[Unrivaled Basketball Announcer]

Season 2 of unrivaled basketball is here and the talent is unreal. Paige Beckers, Nafiza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more are back to redefine the game. Unrivaled basketball season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5th on TNT. True to you and HBO Max, what's.

[J Mac]

Better than a Saturday? How about a Super Saturday with an NFL doubleheader? First it's Eagles versus Commanders, then the packers take on the Bears for control of the NFC North. Pregame coverage begins at 4pm Eastern tomorrow on Fox.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'll tell you, the Eagles Commanders is interesting because, as you noted and Greg Cosell noted, it looks like Philadelphia. They may run the ball more. Is Philadelphia going to get it right? They Play the Commanders twice. So both those games are interesting. So the College Football Playoff starts tonight and I thought I'd just lay out my picks that the hardest pick for me is the game tonight. Alabama, Oklahoma. That's a tough one. But just let me lay out how I think it works out. So in the first round, I think Oregon beats James Madison handily. The group of five teams are.02 in the playoffs. Both losses 17 plus points. I mean, the only loss for Oregon this year was to Indiana who may be the best team in the country. So Dante Moore, they're healthier now at wide receiver. I don't think this one's terribly close. I like Oregon winning easily. I'm going to take Oklahoma close over Alabama. They have the better defense. They're at home. They can run the ball a little. They've won four straight game. The Sooners have won four straight, including three against ranked teams again at home. Better defense, little better running game. Alabama in back to back games. It kind of feels like we've seen Alabama what they can do and it's basically pass. The good news is if Alabama's down in the second half, they're built to come from behind because of their quarterback and their three really good receivers. I'm going to take Ole Miss over Tulane. Not difficult. Tulane's got the worst point differential, yardage differential of anybody in the playoff. Now I. Ole Miss. No Lane Kiffin. Are they going to be distracted? I don't think Ole Miss will be great. I think Ole Miss could lose this game against a lot of teams. They're not losing it against Tulane. I'm going to take the upset here. Miami defeats Texas A and M. I know, I know it's a home game for the Aggies, but Miami had the best practice point differential in the acc. They were on a heater. At the end of the year, Miami's a young team, getting better. They have a very good O line, D line combination. I trust their quarterback here, Carson, Beck, Malachi, Tony. That freshman is maybe the best player on the field at different times. Miami with an upset over A and M quarterfinals. Another upset. Texas Tech over Oregon. I think everybody's sleeping on Texas Tech. They had the number one scoring offense. Yes, they played in a weaker conference, but all 12 of their wins this season came by 22 plus points. So they dragged the teams they played. They'll come in an underdog. Everybody's going to be sleeping on them. I'm going to take Texas Tech upset against Oregon. I think Indiana is just a better team than Oklahoma, much better offense. Kurt Signetti is 24, 4 and 2. I mean that's pretty amazing for Indiana. And let's be honest about Oklahoma. Their offense is a struggle and they're doing it with defense and they're doing it with toughness. I think they'll meet their match in Indiana. I like Georgia to defeat Ole Miss. Georgia has a nine game winning streak and coming off a 21 point win over Alabama. I think they have better personnel. I think they're better up front defensively. I think Ole Miss, if Lane Kiffin was there, would play a really loose style game with a lot of tricks. I don't know what I'm going to get from Ole Miss. I think their season ends here. I'm going to take Ohio State over Miami. You're not going to run the ball much on Ohio State. So number one scoring defense. I think Carson Beck's going to have to have one of his great games, probably his best game as a collegian, to win that game. But I mean let's, let's be fair about Ohio State. They've won 16 of their last 17 games and had a chance to beat Indiana. Who could be the best team in the country? We don't know. We go to the semifinals. I think Indiana defeats Texas Tech. Texas Tech did not have a terribly difficult schedule. Indiana's was much tougher. They won at Oregon. They beat Ohio State. So I think Indiana is more battle tested. And then I think Ohio State will beat Georgia. Georgia had a lot of close wins. Tennessee was a close win. Florida, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss. So this is a very good Georgia team. It's not Georgia three years ago. Four years ago, Georgia. And then I think Ohio State and Indiana, two Big Ten teams meet again. I think it's close again. One of the star pass rushers for the Hoosiers is. We know that out. I think it's really, really hard to be the great staff, Ryan Day and Matt Patricia and a loaded roster two times we said this last year. Oregon beat Ohio State last year and then Ohio State thumped him the second time. I don't think Ohio State's gonna thump Indiana, but my guess, this is where it lands again. I think the Alabama Oklahoma game is the toughest one to call. Alabama's got no run game. Oklahoma's offense is limited. It could be very, very low scoring. My guess it is. It's a field goal game. J Mac, your thoughts on this?

[J Mac]

Yeah, it's pretty clear cut that there's a top four teams and then Oregon right after that. It's, you know, kind of a crapshoot. If Notre Dame were here, they'd be a threat. I just, it's tough for me to go against much of this. I did bet Miami, I did take two points with jmu, but they're winning in Oregon is going to be impossible. I guess the only quibble I would have is I would keep an eye on Texas Tech. Maybe you sold me on them earlier. And I do wonder if Indiana peaked early with the Big Ten championship. That felt like they won the Super Bowl.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[J Mac]

The reaction on the field. I know they've had some time. We'll see how they react. But yeah, Ohio State going back to back. Colin, that would be three straight Big Ten champs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, well, not only that, but what if the Hoosiers and the Buckeyes end up in the championship three straight and you're getting two Big Ten teams vying for it? Listen, we said this when NIL hit. This was my big prediction. I said it's the wild, wild West. Eventually they'll put guardrails on the nil. I said, but there's just more money. The Big Ten schools now with Oregon and Phil Knight, Seattle, big money. Usc, big money. The Big Ten's got more money. Nick Saban has referenced this. A lot of the SEC schools are smaller schools and often a very, a very well to do car dealer is your second biggest booster. It's more car makers in the Big Ten. You've got so much money at Michigan, Ohio State, usc, for the record, Mark Cuban and I think it's the Ross family at Indiana. So the Big Ten schools are massive. They pour out all sorts of graduates to the coast and they give back to their schools. So Nick Saban's pointed this out. Now that everybody can pay, the Big Ten schools have more money.

[J Mac]

So let me ask you, let's spin this forward. I was talking with a, with a college football gambler, a big one about this. Let's say Alabama loses to Oklahoma and they say Michigan says we're going after Kaylin DeBoer and they get Kaylin DeBore.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[J Mac]

What does Alabama do, Colin? Because I know for a long time Dabo Sweeney at Clemson has been the guy allegedly. Is Alabama an upgrade from Clemson right now? I don't know the answer to that. Well, because like you said, the NIL has changed so much. I don't know that Alabama is just going to be able to go.

[Colin Cowherd]

Alabama is still a very good job and Greg Burns a great ad and they'll find somebody. There's always A coach out there. I mean, the transfer portal doesn't even open up till I think it's January now. So you've got time. The NIL has changed it. You don't have to necessarily hire a coach immediately after the season. You take a deep breath, let the playoff play out. But I mean, listen, Penn State found Matt Campbell late. That is a huge hit.

[J Mac]

Yeah, this would be on late. This is, you know, it would be not a death knell to Alabama, but it would be devastating.

[Colin Cowherd]

Alabama will always be good. I think going forward. They got the right AD and the right.

[J Mac]

They're going to be good. But they also have the kind of crazy fan base, you know, like, you know, that's the thing. Michigan's fans are passionate, intense. It's different in the SEC.

[Colin Cowherd]

Michigan has a top 10 endowment in the country. So does Notre Dame. I'll say this, if Texas and Texas A and M were not in the sec because that's Texas money, that's a different economy. Nick Saban pointed this out years ago when he was at Alabama still and he faced Texas and Sark. He started complaining. This NIL thing, it's just why we better get guardrails on. Nick knew. Nick called Jimmy Sexton, get me on tv. He knew that Alabama couldn't go toe to toe with Texas and Texas A and M. And they can't. And they're not going to go toe to toe with Ohio State money or Michigan money or USC money or Oregon money. They can't. Consistently, they can't. So there you go. I want to talk. We say this all the time. One of the advantages the Philadelphia Eagles have and the Rams have, they have very wealthy owners and they're very aggressive. I talked about this yesterday. Seattle GM John Snyder, he's a friend of mine, was with him last night. He's a sharp dude. That punt return last night by Rasheed Shahid, that changed the momentum of the game. You're like, wow, if they can get one stop and get the ball back. He also had a very key end, around 31 yard, pure speed. Two huge plays by this former New Orleans Saints. And again, this is what a Cincinnati doesn't do. A clever, savvy trade deadline move. They came up a couple of mid late round picks. So many GMs either sit on their hands or wildly over swing. This was a great pickup, a home run hitter, you know, jet sweeps end around punt return and a deep threat, so. And they didn't give up a ton for it. The other move that happened at the trade deadline Jacoby Myers for the Jags. I think I just read this morning they're signing him to a three year deal that has turned around the Jag season. That Jacoby Meyer remember when Bill Belichick let him go, me, you and everybody in the world went why he's your best receiver. What are you doing? You can barely draft offensive players. Once you get one, don't let him go. Raiders let him go. Jacoby Meyer has been outstanding. So Jacoby Myers, afc, nfc. Rashid Shahid. That's what savvy general managers do. And you know, we all know there's gaps, some crazy owners and great ones gaps and head coaches and quarterbacks. Everybody knows that there's a can Grand Canyon gap in what the Cincinnati's of the world do and what Seattle and Philly in the Rams do in the front office. Seattle's got a great gm, Philadelphia's got a great gm, Rams do. We've said Rams went and got the Bonnie Adams. What other teams could have had him? Nate Landman, he's been unbelievable for them. Here's Rashid Shahid on the punt return for a touchdown. Based on the field position, we knew we were going to be able to get a return. We've been focused on that left return, field return all week. We knew that they had kind of a weak point with their special teams and you know, we were able to circle the team and make a big play. Yeah, no, and referencing again, we knew the Rams were not good on special teams. So when I was watching that game last night, the first three quarters, my opinion was, you know, the Rams are better, they just have more depth. And then I watched this and went, oh, you got to be kidding me. Niners game, Eagle game, Seahawk game. And then the end around and you could just feel the momentum changing. And you know, this is why we talk about it all the time. Front offices and general managers matter a lot. I saw a story yesterday here, here you go. You got the Bears today, like on the eve of playing the Packers. And yesterday the story breaks. You know the Bears may build a new stadium in Indiana. Well, the Bears owners are barely billionaires, a bunch of kids, McCaskeys, you know, bad timing, just so clumsy. Ben Johnson, to me, there's your MVP of the league. Don't forget what we thought of upstairs and the ownership of the Bears. But that announcement yesterday was so weak.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index, and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosure is available at public.com disclosures.

[eBay Advertiser]

On eBay every find has a story. Like if you're looking for a vintage band tee. Not just a tee, the band tee from the last show your favorite band ever played. You wore it everywhere. Then your BFF started glaring it, which is cute. Until they unfriended you and took it with them, which was not so cute. Anyway, now you're on ebay. And there it is. Same tea from the same tour, still living in your memory. Rent free forever. See, the things you love have a way of finding their way back to you. But ebay isn't just for getting whatever your ex BFF stole back. It's also for that rare championship foul ball you caught, then heroically gave to the kid next to you. And where else are you going to find your first car? The one you wish you never sold, but now you finally get the chance to take back home. For good this time. Shop ebay for millions of finds, each with a story. Ebay Things People Love.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

What a matchup we got y'.

[Nexplanon Advertiser]

All.

[Coca Cola Advertiser]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat everybody showing that school pride Game like this. Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere adding ice cold Coca Cola. Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work so grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Unrivaled Basketball Announcer]

Season two of Unrivaled Basketball is here and the talent is unreal. Paige Beckers, Nafiza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more are back to redefine the game. Unrivaled basketball season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5th on the TNT, TruTV and HBO Max at CVS, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit [e-mail] or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.

[eBay Advertiser]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Unrivaled Basketball Announcer]

Guaranteed Human.