The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2 – NBA Chemistry, College Football Rankings, Joel Klatt, and Draft Talk

Date: November 12, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Hour 2 Theme: A deep dive into the fragile chemistry in NBA teams, evolving college football rankings, NFL and college quarterback prospects, and an extended dialogue with analyst Joel Klatt.

Episode Overview

This hour centers on:

• Why NBA team chemistry can unravel so easily and what’s happening with the Warriors.
• The shifting landscape of college football rankings and play-off selection strategies.
• NFL potential in standout college quarterbacks, specifically Fernando Mendoza.
• A lively and insightful segment with Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt covering quarterbacks, Big Ten “weather myths,” play-off scheduling, and coaching changes.
• Analyst banter on NFL coaching seats, the rise of Nick Sirianni, and patience with young NFL QBs.

The conversation is fast-paced, opinionated, and features memorable quotes and head-to-head moments, particularly between Colin and Joel.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA Team Chemistry & the Warriors’ Dilemma

Timestamp: 03:00 – 08:30

• Golden State Warriors' sixth consecutive road loss highlights how quickly locker room dynamics can unravel in the NBA.
  • Colin notes, “It’s the smallest locker room. So one bad relationship can screw up [chemistry]. Remember the Jordan Poole thing, just screwed up the whole team… It just doesn't make sense. It's not a unified team.”
• Veterans like Steph and Draymond are on a different timeline than younger players like Kaminga and Pods.
• Draymond Green’s postgame comments on “agendas” versus “ambition”:

  “You kind of gotta get rid of your agenda. Or eventually, the agenda is the cause of someone getting rid of you.” – Draymond Green (06:10)

• Colin’s take: It’s easier to integrate older players (Iguodala, KD, Bogut) than to merge ambitious young prospects with a championship core.

2. Joel Klatt Joins: QB Assessments, College Playoff Structure, and Program Parity

Timestamp: 08:30 – 49:30

Assessing Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and Dante Moore (Oregon)

• Colin asks if Mendoza has the look of an NFL quarterback.

  “Hard for me not to look at him and go, that’s a Sunday player.” – Colin Cowherd (09:30)

• Joel Klatt praises Mendoza’s poise:

  “He goes right down the field, big throw after big throw. Every one leveraged properly. Mendoza is a pro. There’s no doubt.” – Joel Klatt (11:20)

• Joel emphasizes experience over flash:

  “NFL teams that are smart really value guys with a deep body of work.” (13:40)

• Dante Moore's Iowa performance is dissected; both agree he needs more development and should probably return to college unless ready to start early at the next level.

Climate Myths in the Big Ten: Do West Coast Teams Travel Poorly in the Cold?

• Colin questions if “West Coast-can’t-handle-cold” is overblown:

  “I’ve seen USC beat Nebraska… Oregon beat Ohio State… Is that whole ‘west coast can’t compete in the snow’ thing over?” (20:00)

• Joel replies:

  “It’s about matchups. Illinois was a bad matchup for USC… I think Iowa wins this one outright. Because of matchup.” – Joel Klatt (22:05)

On College Football Scheduling and Fairness

• Colin highlights Texas A&M’s odd path through the SEC.
• Joel calls for NFL-style strength-of-schedule logic in college:

  “The better teams in the conference…should play tougher schedules the next year. That’s what the NFL does, and that’s what we should do.” – Joel Klatt (27:45)

• Colin and Joel agree: current scheduling can lead to playoff mismatches and should reward tougher non-conference play.

College Football Playoff Selection & Incentivizing Strong Schedules

• Joel describes a proposed point system to reward teams for scheduling and beating top competition, versus wins over weaker opponents.

  “In a point-structure system, you’d get five points for playing a top opponent and nothing for scheduling a cupcake.” – Joel Klatt (36:30)

• Both call for mechanisms to keep teams from “ducking” tough non-conference games.

Michigan’s Outlook Post-Harbaugh

• Colin wonders if promoting from within works after a legendary coach moves on, citing examples and “stinkers” from Michigan this season.
• Joel disputes the narrative:

  “You've got the guys that were promoted from within—Dabo Sweeney, Lincoln Riley, Ryan Day…that works.” – Joel Klatt (42:10) “They're the youngest team in the Big Ten…if they beat Ohio State for the fifth straight time, they’re in the playoff. They’re really good.” (43:20)

• Conclusion: Michigan may be inconsistent, but future growth looks strong with a young roster and a capable, if inexperienced, coach.

3. NFL & College Quarterback Draft Discussion

Timestamp: 49:30 – 56:00

• Colin analyzes the NFL draft landscape for QBs, expressing skepticism about depth after Mendoza and Moore.

  “If Dante Moore doesn’t come out, none of these guys—Nussmeier, Simpson—are ready to come into the NFL and start. No way.” (51:30)

• Big praise for Mac Jones:

  “I think he’s a franchise guy. When he had Josh McDaniels, Pro Bowler. Now Shanahan, good, B-plus guy, can spin it.” (54:00)

• Quarterback market notes: more teams are turning to proven starters (Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold) rather than rookie gambles unless a true first-rounder is available.

  “The only three to me are first rounders: Mendoza, Dante Moore, and the kid at South Carolina. Everybody else feels second, third round.” (58:40)

4. NFL Coaching Hot Seats & Patience with Young Quarterbacks

Timestamp: 56:00 – 66:20

Green Bay Packers & Matt LaFleur

• Colin lays out injury-driven context for the Packers’ struggles and argues against firing Coach LaFleur.

  “All this talk of firing Matt LaFleur…Who are you getting if you fire LaFleur?” (57:50)

• Comparison: “Matt LaFleur and Lincoln Riley: you know they’re smart, great play designers, on the right side of the ball, elevating talent.”

Minnesota Vikings & Patience with JJ McCarthy

• Colin and J. Mac discuss the criticism of second-year QB McCarthy.

  “The man is the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL. He’s about to have his fifth NFL start…Can we see a season or two?” – J. Mac (64:20) “My initial belief is he looks like Michigan JJ McCarthy, that he’s kind of being carried. He’s not carrying.” – Colin (65:30)

• J. Mac is bullish: “I believe this is a potential Pro Bowl quarterback…in a year or two. Give it to me. I’m buying JJ McCarthy stock.” (65:55)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Draymond Green on Team Agendas: “You have to make those personal agendas work in the team confines. And if it doesn't work, then you kind of got to get rid of your agenda. Or eventually the agenda is the cause of someone getting rid of you.” (06:10)
• Joel Klatt on College QBs: “Mendoza is a pro, there’s no doubt. And for me, it’s not even about where is your stock this year—it’s about, are you ready?” (11:20)
• Colin on Big Ten Weather Myths: “Is that the whole West Coast team can’t compete in the snow? When I watch these games, I think that’s overstated.” (20:00)
• Joel Klatt on Internal Promotion: “You’ve got the guys—Dabo Sweeney, Lincoln Riley, Ryan Day—promoted from within; that works.” (42:10)
• Colin on College QB Prospects: “We went into the year thinking there were like eight guys to draft. I think there are two guys I draft early in the first, one late; everybody else feels second, third round.” (58:40)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• NBA Chemistry & Warriors Discussion: 03:00 – 08:30
• Joel Klatt Interview Begins: 08:30
  • Mendoza & Moore Deep Dive: 09:30 – 15:20
  • Big Ten “Cold Weather” Myth: 20:00 – 23:30
  • SEC Schedules/Scheduling Fairness: 25:00 – 32:00
  • Point System for Playoff Selection: 36:00 – 39:00
  • Michigan Coaching Debate: 41:30 – 47:00
• NFL Draft & QB Market: 49:30 – 56:00
• Packers/LaFleur & Vikings/McCarthy: 56:00 – 66:20

Tone & Language

• Candid, opinionated, and conversational—Colin frequently challenges traditional narratives while Joel provides measured counterpoints.
• Light banter interwoven with detailed sports analysis.
• Memorable for pointed quotes, like Draymond Green on team dynamics and Colin’s dry humor regarding management decisions.

Summary for New Listeners

Hour 2 is a high-energy, insight-rich hour full of lively debate and in-depth analysis:

• The delicate nature of NBA team chemistry, with Draymond Green’s take on “personal agendas.”
• How college football playoff selection and scheduling could evolve—potentially encouraging tougher non-conference games.
• A thorough assessment of top college quarterbacks’ NFL readiness and the impact of NIL on draft decisions.
• Sharp debates about “best practices” for college coaching hires and fairer conference scheduling.
• Clear-eyed perspectives on reactionary coaching criticism in the NFL, especially regarding the Packers and Vikings.

If you want a fresh perspective on team-building, college football’s future, and how today’s quarterbacks stack up, this episode is essential listening.