The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Hour 2

Episode Date: September 3, 2025
Main Guests: Joel Klatt (FOX Sports, college football analyst)
Main Themes: Optimism of NFL fanbases, quarterback value, early-season college football reactions, and in-depth analysis of Ohio State vs. Texas.

Episode Overview

In this spirited mid-week episode, Colin Cowherd is joined by college football analyst Joel Klatt for a packed second hour. The conversation pivots from NFL optimism and quarterbacks’ point value, into a deep dive on college football’s most talked-about matchups and early narratives. Highlights include a thorough breakdown of the Ohio State–Texas showdown, quarterback performances, coaching critiques, and debates over program cultures and coaching fits. Sprinkled throughout are classic Cowherd quips, humorous banter with Joel Klatt, and predictions for the football weekend ahead.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Kickoff, Fanbase Optimism, and Quarterback Value

[02:15–06:27]

• NFL Season Hype:
  The episode sets the tone with excitement about five consecutive days of football, highlighting matchups like Eagles vs. Cowboys and Chargers vs. Chiefs.

  • “NFL opens tomorrow. Dallas will get clobbered by the Philadelphia Eagles. And then Friday, I think I like the Chargers in a mild upset over Andy Reid.” — Colin Cowherd [02:17]

• Fanbase Optimism Index:
  Discusses The Athletic’s “hopometer” which ranks fans’ optimism. Chicago Bears fans are highlighted as especially hopeful despite harsh winters.

  • “People in Chicago, they are fired up… When you have tough winters, you're grateful and appreciative of the good times.” — Colin [03:40]

• Ranking QB Value by Vegas:
  Vegas released a ranking of quarterbacks by the points they're “worth.” Josh Allen finishes #1, Mahomes #2, with interesting names like Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott higher than anticipated.

  • “Vegas is truth serum. Vegas cares about one thing, getting it right.” — Colin [04:19]
  • Key Insight: Josh Allen is singled out as the only elite QB who must “wear the cape” without a stacked supporting cast.
  • “The one guy on that list that kind of has to put a cape on is Josh Allen.” — Colin [06:15]

2. College Football’s New Era and Week 1 Reactions

[06:27–14:44]

• Expanding Playoff Brings Better Matchups:
  Cowherd argues that the expanded playoff motivates better schedules. Texas and Clemson have early stumbles, but both are still playoff threats.

• Deep Dive: Ohio State vs. Texas, Arch Manning’s Debut

  • High expectations and big stages: Hype for quarterbacks like Arch Manning and the difficulty of starting on the road is dissected.
  • “He did not play well. I was surprised at the inaccuracy… In hindsight, he had never thrown a college pass outside of Austin, you know, and so, like, starting on the road is hard, much less against Ohio State in that environment.” — Joel Klatt [08:11]

• Ohio State Defense & Matt Patricia's Impact:
  The strategic prowess of Matt Patricia (now OSU’s defensive coordinator) is praised for disguising coverages and stymieing Texas’s offense.

  • “Matt Patricia deserves a ton of credit for what happened in that game.” — Klatt [08:37]

• Young Stars and In-Game Adjustments:
  Ohio State’s new corners, especially Jermaine Matthews, are already outperforming expectations.

  • “Jermaine Matthews might be the best corner that I've seen on the practice field in a long time.” — Joel quoting Lathan Ransom [09:28]

  • Takeaway: Both Ohio State and Texas likely just faced the best defenses they'll see all year.

3. Quarterback Critiques and Program Outlooks

[12:03–14:44]

• Quarterback Comfort and Poise Over Stats:
  Julian Sayin’s calm demeanor is highlighted over raw statistics.

  • “As when I watch a guy like Julian saying, here's what I'm looking for. How long did it take him to deliver the ball? Was he holding it? No, he wasn't… The velocity was there, the accuracy was there.” — Klatt [14:00]

• Ohio State's Advantage:
  The combination of strong secondary, linebackers, and Patricia’s NFL-caliber schemes provides an unusual luxury to break in a young QB.

  • “[Ohio State’s] the only SEC team North… the fans, the talk, the relentlessness, the commitment. Ohio State, it's more than that.” — Colin [29:08]

4. Assessing Top Teams, Coaching Fits, and Weekend Previews

[14:44–25:41]

• Michigan Questions, Miami & ACC Hype:
  Colin is wary about Michigan’s performance, lauds Bryce Underwood’s talent, and is “rooting for Miami.”

  • “I like Miami. I like a little sizzle with my steak.” — Colin [15:18]

• Miami & Notre Dame’s Playoff Prospects:
  Miami’s development under Mario Cristobal and their offensive line’s dominance is highlighted. ACC's rise as a conference with legitimate playoff contenders is noted.

• Coaching Comfort vs. Growth (Belichick in Carolina):
  Cowherd raises the classic caution about hiring friends and family vs. seeking new ideas, using Belichick’s new Carolina staff as an example.

  • “If you want to grow, don't seek comfort. …But that's not what is working with Andy Reid… he can disagree with Spags.” — Colin [18:45]

• North Carolina’s Rocky Start:
  Klatt defends UNC, citing 70 new players and a daunting week-one opponent, noting their development arc will be gradual.

5. SEC Intensity, Saban/DeBoer Comparison, and Alabama’s Woes

[25:13–29:40]

• SEC vs. Big Ten Intensity:
  Discussion on the relentless pressure, especially in the SEC compared to the Midwest.

  • “There is one topic in the south for 12 months, it's SEC football.” — Colin [24:15]

• Is DeBoer a Fit at Alabama?

  • Klatt speculates about coaching “fit” and the massive shoes DeBoer must fill post-Saban.
    • “This is a no win for Kaylin DeBoer.” — Klatt [25:13]
  • The discussion moves to Alabama’s lack of effort and physicality in defeat, suggesting cultural/lifestyle misalignment.

• Game Plan Flaws:

  • “Where was the effort?” — Klatt [25:59]
  • They question receiver usage, offensive line play, and overall lack of urgency compared with the Saban era.

• Michigan/Ohio State’s Future:
  Both hosts agree: Ohio State has the trajectory and the program culture edge, with Colin predicting OSU dominance in the rivalry over the next decade.

  • “Ohio State is going to run that series for a decade.” — Colin [29:35]

6. Impact of NIL and Scrutiny on College QBs

[38:09–41:49]

• Arch Manning’s Marketing vs. Production:
  Cowherd is skeptical of Manning’s multiple ad campaigns before on-field dominance, but admits NIL changes the scrutiny landscape.

  • “I always thought Brady did it right. I want to see production and trophies before I get a bunch of ads.” — Colin [39:18]

• NIL is “Pro Free Agency”:

  • Lane Kiffin’s take gets a nod — college QBs are essentially pros now and are fair game for criticism.
    • “Nil is free agency. That's what nil is. It's professional free agency.” — Colin [41:40]

7. Notable NFL & CFB Weekend Picks/News

[46:08–51:18]

• Rising College Football TV Ratings:
  The Texas–Ohio State game sets an all-time week-one viewership record.

  • “It's the most watched week 1 game in the history of college football.” — Colin [36:34]

• NFL Notes:

  • Colin likes the Jets vs. Seahawks, and is bullish on the Packers at home vs. the Lions.
  • Discussion of key injuries and concerns for teams like the Jets and Lions.
  • Packers' Jordan Love is described as “more Favre than Rodgers”.

• Clemson–LSU Breakdown:

  • Brian Kelly and Dabo Swinney trade barbs post-game; LSU praised for assertive second-half adjustments.
    • “I thought LSU was clearly the better team… Garrett Nussmeier may have had the best weekend of every quarterback to go on the road.” — Colin [50:41]

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• “The one guy on that list that kind of has to put a cape on is Josh Allen.” — Colin Cowherd [06:15]
• "Matt Patricia deserves a ton of credit for what happened in that game." — Joel Klatt [08:37]
• “Vegas is truth serum. Vegas cares about one thing, getting it right.” — Colin [04:19]
• "I always thought Brady did it right. I want to see production and trophies before I get a bunch of ads." — Colin [39:18]
• “Ohio State is going to run that series for a decade.” — Colin Cowherd [29:35]
• “Nil is free agency. That's what nil is. It's professional free agency.” — Colin [41:40]
• “Where was the effort?” — Joel Klatt on Alabama post-Saban [25:59]
• “SEC intensity is different… In the South, there’s one topic for 12 months.” — Colin [24:15]

Notable Segments and Timestamps

| Segment Description | Start Time | |--------------------------------------------------|------------| | NFL Optimism/Fanbase rankings | 02:15 | | Vegas ranks QBs by point value | 04:19 | | CFB Playoff expansion & better games | 06:27 | | OSU-Texas/Quarterback breakdown with Klatt | 07:35 | | In-depth on Matt Patricia at OSU | 10:21 | | Miami & ACC surge | 15:14 | | Belichick/Carolina “comfort vs. discomfort” | 18:41 | | North Carolina’s week one struggles | 19:38 | | Alabama, DeBoer, SEC comparisons | 24:45 | | Ohio State vs. Michigan future | 29:08 | | The NIL effect on player criticism | 39:13 | | Ohio State–Texas sets viewership record | 36:34 | | Latest CFB (Clemson/LSU), NFL news, picks | 46:51 |

Tone and Style

• Characteristically direct, witty, and at times sardonic (Cowherd).
• Informative and conversational, with a blend of stats and eye tests (Cowherd & Klatt).
• Discussions often include lighthearted barbs and good natured arguments, especially on analytics vs. "feel."
• High-level football analysis mingled with accessible pop-culture and relatable analogies.

Summary Takeaways

• NFL: Excitement is at a fever pitch for week one. QB value isn’t just about highlights — Vegas’s numbers reward overall franchise impact, with Josh Allen leading the field.
• CFB: The expanded playoff is paying immediate dividends for fans; Week 1 was landmark both in viewership and drama. Ohio State and Texas are at the center, with young QBs, elite defenses, and coaching schemes drawing most scrutiny.
• Culture & Coaching: SEC intensity and program fits matter — DeBoer struggles to instill Saban’s urgency.
• Player Marketing/NIL: College athletes, especially QBs, are now subject to professional-level critique and must balance fame, money, and on-field results.
• Looking Ahead: Both NFL and college football have more questions than answers, but the energy, optimism, and unpredictability are at all-time highs.

This episode is ideal for any football fan eager for context, expert breakdowns, and the kinds of debates that shape a full weekend of gridiron action.