The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 2 – “Kalen DeBoer is Feelin’ the Heat”
Date: September 1, 2025
Host: Jonas Knox (in for Colin Cowherd)

Episode Overview

This hour of The Herd dives into the mounting pressure on new Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer following a tough season-opening loss to Florida State, what it means to inherit a powerhouse program from a legend, and how different fan expectations are in southern college football. The show also tackles the hot-button topic of sports betting in the NFL—referencing Calvin Ridley’s suspension—and explores fan culture, fantasy football quirks, and NFL beer prices in a lively, conversational style.

1. Replacing Saban: The Impossible Job in Alabama

Main Theme

• Hot seat in Tuscaloosa: Kalen DeBoer, newly installed as Alabama’s football coach after Nick Saban’s legendary tenure, is already facing intense scrutiny following a lopsided loss to Florida State.
• Southern football’s pressure cooker: The show explores the unique, obsessive culture around southern college football and why expectations in Alabama are unlike anywhere else.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Alabama’s Shocking Loss – The Fallout

• Jonas Knox sets the stage, noting overreaction to early college football losses is common, but in Alabama, it’s different:

  “You can bounce back, much like Texas … but it’s Alabama. And that’s the problem. And that’s why there are differences here. It’s what makes college football great.” (07:44)

• Contrast between Kalen DeBoer and Nick Saban’s records:

  “DeBoer, already in his time at Alabama, has four losses vs. unranked teams. Nick Saban had four in 17 years.” (08:57)

Notable Quote – DeBoer’s Own Words

• After the loss, Kalen DeBoer addressed the press:

  “I choose to believe we got a good football team, but ... we can’t play on our heels ... Don’t just point the finger at the players ... we gotta play our style of ball … last year isn’t this year and it’s going to be an uphill climb for us.”
  (Kalen DeBoer, 06:55)

The Saban Shadow and Alabama Fan Culture

• Jonas reflects on the intense expectations in Tuscaloosa:

  “That fan base has a certain level of expectation. And that’s because of Nick Saban. He’s the greatest to ever do it. And Kaylin DeBoer has taken over a near impossible job… The guy after Saban is a real pain in the— it just is.” (08:29)

• Colorful fan anecdote:

  “Did anybody see the Alabama fan who went viral ... the guy just literally threw up a middle finger … He was your typical Alabama fan. Polo shirt, a slouch hat with the bill curved so much you could barely see his eyes. Camera pops up on him— just throws him the bird. That’s Alabama. That’s the way they operate.” (08:16)

• SEC football described as a near-religious experience:

  “I liked college football, but I didn’t totally get it until I started doing radio in the south and I realized, oh God, it’s just different here. … They live and breathe and die college football, that’s all they care about.” (09:37)

The “After the Legend” Curse

• Comparing Alabama’s expectations to other storied programs:

  “Nebraska — great program, right? They couldn’t wait to get rid of Bo Pelini ... Not good enough. How’s that going?” (10:53) “Whatever Kalen DeBoer does, short of Nick Saban, is not going to be good enough.” (11:30)

• Knox warns:

  “He’s going to feel the heat because he took on the impossible task of replacing the greatest ever do it. And more often than not, that never ends well.” (11:54)

2. NFL Gambling Culture & Calvin Ridley: ‘Ahead of His Time’

Context

Jonas pivots to recent comments by Calvin Ridley of the Titans, suspended for gambling on NFL games, and uses the moment for a broader discussion about the NFL’s evolving attitude toward betting.

Key Points & Analysis

• Ridley’s quote:

  “The suspension gave me time to rest, get physically better and mentally stronger. After that year, I was ready to come back.” (17:15)

• Jonas defends Ridley:

  “Maybe instead of making Calvin Ridley sit here and be criticized … maybe we could just give Calvin Ridley a round of applause and say, you know what? Guy was ahead of his time.” (17:41)

• Massive explosion in NFL betting:

  “NFL betters are expected to wager approximately $30 billion on the league this season. ... That’s an 8.5% increase from last year.” (18:07)

• The normalization of sports gambling:

  “Ten years ago, Tony Romo wanted to set up a fantasy football convention in Vegas. The NFL said, ‘No, no. You can’t’ ... Now, $30 billion.” (21:50)

• Candid personal admission:

  “You saw the numbers of the preseason ... like, you don’t think that there were some people gambling on the preseason? There were. Want to know how I know? Because I’m one of them.” (19:23)

Notable Analogies

• On personal responsibility and gambling:

  “I’m not gonna walk by a liquor store and say, you gotta shut down, sir or ma’am, because so and so has a drinking problem.” (19:45)

• Pete Rose and gambling on your own team:

  “I’m one of those people ... if he didn’t bet against his team, I do look at that different than betting on your team. ... There’s nothing wrong with supporting your team and betting on your team.” (23:40)

3. Herdline News: Fun with Football Culture & Beer Prices

(29:00 – 37:00)

Top Segments

• NFL Beer Prices Across Stadiums:

  • Highest: Commanders Field ($16.50 for a domestic beer)
  • Cheapest: Cincinnati ($6.80)
  • Notable commentary:

    “1650 for a beer to watch the Commanders. Good God. For like a Miller Light.” (33:08) “No wonder they drink so much. … Bengals fans drink more than anybody at games. Now I get it—six bucks for a beer, that’s a steal.” (32:28)

• Fantasy Football Shenanigans:

  • Lee Dalap, the show’s producer, admits to using fantasy dues from one league to pay for another:

    “I collect dues for my one league and then I use those dues to basically pay for my dues to the four other leagues. ... You’re doing a fantasy football pyramid scheme, basically.” (34:03)

  • Jonas quips:

    “He is the Bernie Madoff of fantasy football.” (34:52)

• NFL Captains & Team News:

  • Tyreek Hill not named a Dolphins captain, prompting Jonas’ skepticism about the team’s direction:

    “I just get this vibe that this is going to be a rough year for the Dolphins ... it’s just, it just feels like it’s only a matter of time before Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins have an issue again.” (36:09)

4. Jets, Quarterback Rehabs, and the Curse of Bad Franchises

(38:00 – 45:00)

• Jets GM Darren Mugie compared Justin Fields’ possible turnaround to Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold:

  “I do feel like Justin Fields can be one of those guys ... as they all come together. Obviously it’s his third stop in three years ... but I like where it’s at.” (39:59)

• Jonas calls out the irony:

  “The problem is, Sam Darnold was a Jet. ... Those guys leave those organizations because those organizations are ran poorly. ... Geno Smith—where’d Geno Smith come from? Oh, the Jets, too. You don’t say!” (41:19+)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (Chronological w/Timestamps)

• On Saban vs. DeBoer fan reactions

  “People are already calling for Kalen DeBoer's job. … Somebody’s gotta do something. This is unacceptable.” (08:57, Jonas Knox)

• Alabama fan culture

  “He just throws him the bird. … That’s Alabama. That’s the way they operate.” (08:16, Jonas)

• SEC vs. USC Football

  “At the height of USC and the dominant program that they had ... it’s not even close to what it is in the south during college football season. Not even a fraction.” (09:45, Jonas)

• On Calvin Ridley & gambling

  “He’s one of us ... The guy’s just like us. ... Calvin Ridley out there doing seven-leg parlays just like us.” (17:10, Jonas)

• NFL betting boom

  “$30 billion—up 8.5%. I got news for you, 8.5% of $30 billion is a lot. But ... it’s still not legal in over 10 states in the country. It’s only going to get bigger.” (20:27, Jonas)

• Fantasy football fraud

  “He is the Bernie Madoff of fantasy football. What is going on?” (34:52, Jonas)

Key Timestamps

• 03:44: Start of the main show discussion: Kalen DeBoer’s heat at Alabama
• 06:55: Kalen DeBoer’s post-loss press conference quote
• 08:16 – 11:54: Deep dive into Alabama fan culture and Saban’s shadow
• 17:08: Transition to Calvin Ridley & NFL betting
• 27:10: Gambling’s normalization in the NFL; preseason betting revelations
• 28:58: Lee Dalap joins for “The Herdline News”—NFL beer prices, fantasy football tales
• 38:00: Segment on Jets QB situation and franchise woes, reflections on Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith

In Summary

• Kalen DeBoer’s position at Alabama is as tough as it gets. He’s already feeling the pressure after one high-profile loss, and Jonas Knox articulates just how unrealistic the fan expectations are—thanks to the Saban era and the unparalleled culture of college football in the South.
• Knox argues that DeBoer’s measured leadership isn’t the problem; it’s the impossibility of following a legend and satisfying a fan base that expects perfection.
• The episode then tackles the growth of sports gambling in the NFL through the lens of Calvin Ridley’s return and suspension, providing both humorous and serious takes on how the NFL—and its fans—have gone all-in on betting.
• The Herdline News injects some fun with beer prices and fantasy football mishaps, setting a light counterbalance to the weight of Alabama’s struggles.
• A candid look at NFL quarterback career revivals leads to a critical take on the franchise dysfunction of the Jets and others—a warning for hopeful QBs and fans alike.

The tone throughout is lively and irreverent, packed with relatable analogies and Southern football war stories.