The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 2 – College QBs in the Playoffs, Ty Simpson Declares, Todd McShay
Date: January 7, 2026

Overview

This episode of The Herd is a deep dive into the ongoing shakeups in the NFL coaching landscape, college quarterbacks entering the draft, and a preview of the College Football Playoff. Colin Cowherd is joined by guest Todd McShay for an in-depth discussion about prospects like Ty Simpson, Dante Moore, and Fernando Mendoza, as well as head coaching vacancies and the NFL readiness of college systems. The show also touches on the legacy of Nick Saban through the coaches in the college semifinals.

Key Topics & Insights

1. NFL Coaching Carousel: Ranking Job Openings (01:01–05:20)

• Coaching Tiers Breakdown:

  • Tier 1 (Almost Perfect): Baltimore Ravens
    • “These jobs like a Packer job almost never become available. Excellent ownership, well capitalized. Star quarterback … excellent leadership in the building. Tier one best job easily.” (Colin, 02:32)
  • Tier 2 (Promising): New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons
    • “New York Giants have a lot of good young players on offense...I think John Harbaugh here would be interesting... Vegas is interesting. Brock Bowers, Aston Jenny, Fernando Mendoza. It's an offensive league...” (Colin, 03:00)
    • “Arthur Blank, solid ownership, weak division, really good offensive pieces in Atlanta. Bijan Robinson's probably first or second best running back in the league.” (Colin, 03:45)
  • Tier 3 (Punt): Titans, Cardinals, Browns
    • “Tennessee is the Jets in better weather...Arizona has some cap space, but you got to play McVeigh twice a year...Cleveland...low self esteem sports franchise...” (Colin, 04:20)

• Organizational Needs vs. Coach Profiles:

  • Baltimore doesn’t need a “culture creator,” but an offensive mind to optimize Lamar Jackson.
  • John Harbaugh better suited for teams that require culture change (e.g., Giants, Atlanta).

2. Evaluating Ty Simpson as a Draft Prospect (05:49–11:43)

• Prospect Evaluation – Ty Simpson:

  • “If you're going to be a first round quarterback, you got to have a trait that I go, wow…” (Colin, 05:49)
  • Todd McShay: “He was by far the best quarterback in the country [early season]… He beat you with his eyes and anticipation...” (Colin relaying McShay, 06:25)
  • Strengths: Processing, tempo, anticipation, better arm and mobility than credited.
  • Weaknesses: Only 15 starts, affected by lack of run support and protection breakdowns.
  • “I don't like drafting outliers, man. … I have more Trubiskies and Anthony Richardsons…” (Colin, 08:32)

• The Importance of Supporting Cast and Landing Spot:

  • “I think Simpson...his outcome depends on the landing spot... If he sat for a year behind Stafford with McVeigh, I'm like, oh, that'll work. … Jets reach for him at 2, it's a disaster.” (Domonique, 09:35)
  • “They got ruined by organizations right before they got with coaches that knew how to prop them back up…” (Colin, 10:09)

Notable Quotes:

• On the impact of coaching environment:
  • “There's a small...like, you can count on one hand of guys in the NFL that they were just going to succeed anywhere they went.” (Colin, 10:32)
  • “I would rather be Ty Simpson, though, and fall late into the first round and go to a place where they can develop me…” (Colin, 11:17)

3. John Harbaugh, Lamar Jackson, and the Ravens’ Dilemma (11:43–15:12)

• Tension between Loyalty and Performance:

  • “I can see John Harbaugh at some point saying, okay, I was 8 and 4 in the playoffs pre-Lamar. I'm 3 and 6 with him...” (Domonique, 11:43)

• McShay on Harbaugh’s Adaptability:

  • “He has done...a top three, four examples of a coach kind of changing everything to fit one special talent…” (Colin quoting McShay, 13:51)

Notable Quotes:

• “Best opening available of all the head coaching opportunities by far.” (Colin, 13:41)

4. College Playoff Preview: Miami’s NFL Roster & NIL Transformation (15:12–18:54)

• NFL Talent Pipeline: Miami Hurricanes

  • “You can argue [Miami has the best NFL talent left]. ... Messador will get drafted later in the first round after Bain gets drafted. ... Malachi Tony is going to be a first round draft pick in a couple years.” (Colin, 16:19)

• NIL and Alumni Money Impact

  • “I didn't know Miami had this much alumni money and this much passion to just back up the Brinks truck in the NIL era.” (Domonique, 15:18)

• Keys in College Playoff:

  • “Great defense and experienced quarterbacks.” (Colin, 17:04)

5. Dante Moore, NFL Draft Decisions & the Importance of Experience (18:37–20:59)

• Dante Moore Decision:

  • “Do you think Dante Moore comes out?” (Domonique, 18:37)
  • “I do think he's going to come out.” (Colin, 18:54)

• Experience Correlates to Success:

  • “The greatest correlation to success in the NFL for quarterbacks is experience in college…” (Colin, 18:56)

Notable Quotes:

• “His ceiling might be a little bit higher if he's in the right situation than even Fernando Mendoza.” (Colin, 18:56)
• “What another year could provide for Dante Moore. But with all that said, I still think he's going to leave after this playoff.” (Colin, 20:48)

6. Job Matching: Harbaugh and Stefanski Fit (21:05–23:24)

• Speculation on Coaches & Openings:

  • “If Baltimore calls, take it, sit out for a year because Aaron Glenn is not lasting a second year. And you'll get Mendoza on the rookie quarterback.” (Domonique, 21:20)

• On Harbaugh vs. Stefanski for Jets/Baltimore:

  • “John Harbaugh...could be a better fit in New York than Stefanski, because New York needs culture, Baltimore doesn't. Baltimore needs a guy to make Lamar happy.” (Domonique, 21:45)

7. More NFL Job Rumors & the Saban Coaching Tree (27:18–34:16)

• Possible Harbaugh Destinations:

  • Reportedly, teams without openings are feeling out Harbaugh, including potential fits with Cowboys, Bills, Dolphins, Jets (Rob/Colin/Dominique, 27:18–29:42)

• Dolphins vs. Jets Coaching Attraction:

  • “I think the Miami job is...interesting more than the Jets’ job.” (Domonique, 29:02)

• Cleveland: QB Conundrums:

  • “The Browns are not interested in Mendoza and they're preparing to start Shadour Sanders...That is a horrible mistake.” (Rob, 30:06)

• Saban’s Coaching Tree in the CFB Playoff:

  • “All four coaches in the semifinal were working under Saban at Alabama at some point… I said I'm going to get my doctorate in football.” (Dan Lanning on Saban, 32:31)

  • Colin summarizes: “Not only is he the greatest college football coach of all time, look at the impact ... Kiffin ... Sark ... Kirby Smart … Saban really had an impact on a lot of lives.” (Domonique, 32:59)

Notable Quotes:

• “Anybody can dominate. Can you dominate and elevate others?” (Rob, 33:48)

8. Legacy & Memories: Miami’s “Pro” Vibe (25:00–27:16)

• Miami’s Brand and Swagger:
  • “Miami was USC on the west coast was cool when the Pete Carroll stuff went, but Miami was cool for like four coaches.” (Domonique, 25:40)
  • “Miami was just neck. But Miami was 50% pro, 50% college…” (Domonique, 25:53)

9. NFL Playoff Picks & Ty Simpson’s Stock (35:17–37:54)

• Colin’s Playoff Observations:

  • Picks and insights for wildcard weekend (Panthers/Rams, Bears/Packers, Bills/Jags, etc.)
  • “Rams are the play… Packers vs. Bears is the toughest pick for me...” (Colin, 37:15–41:15)

• Ty Simpson’s Final Evaluation:

  • “His dad’s a football coach at UT Martin… His son received first round grades from every NFL general manager… He holds the ball a long time… I don’t see that wow trait, but I also believe outcomes change with young people based on the support system.” (Colin, 35:56)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Supporting Young QBs:
  • “Your career is going to be where you land... I don't think Simpson is a wow athlete or a wow size or arm, but I think if he goes again … Under McVeigh, the outcome's different than if he gets drafted by the New York Jets and has to play as a rookie.” (Domonique, 37:54)
• On Saban’s Legacy:
  • “Nick Saban's career...you look at McVay's or you look at Andy Reid's, you know, all of a sudden you're like, oh, there's some stuff here. Saban really had an impact on a lot of lives.” (Domonique, 32:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NFL Job Openings Breakdown – 01:01–05:20
• Ty Simpson Draft Analysis – 05:49–11:43
• Harbaugh-Lamar/Baltimore Situation – 11:43–15:12
• Miami Hurricanes NFL Talent/NIL – 15:12–18:54
• Dante Moore Decision – 18:37–20:59
• Coaching Fits Speculation – 21:05–23:24
• Saban Tree & College Impact – 32:08–34:16
• NFL Playoff Matchups/Predictions – 35:17–43:20

For listeners seeking insight into the intersection of college and NFL football, this episode is an invaluable resource—sharp, fast-paced, and packed with informed opinion and real front-office perspective.