The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode Summary — Hour 2 (October 13, 2025)

Main Theme:
A classic “Where Colin Was Right and Wrong” Monday, with Colin Cowherd and guests breaking down his predictions and takes on current NFL and college football stories. The hour features deep dives into the Chiefs’ resurgence, Miami Dolphins’ locker room leadership struggles, Justin Herbert’s elite traits, Baker Mayfield’s stunning MVP-caliber run, and the volatility in big-name college football programs.

Key Segments & Insights

1. College Football Chaos & Coaching Volatility

Timestamps: 02:06–03:30, 29:31–33:39

• Early Conversation: Colin and David Pollack react to the wild week in college football, highlighting Indiana’s shock rise, Penn State firing a coach after three close losses despite past success, and the increasing “pro” nature of the college game due to NIL and the transfer portal.
• Colin’s Take: “It would have been… you would have never considered firing a coach a year after he won 13 games. But that’s the world we live in now.” (02:24)
• Indiana’s Meteoric Rise: Praise for Coach Kurt Signetti. Speculation on his future, with Colin and David debating whether he’d leave Indiana for Penn State or get NFL interest.
• David Pollack: “He’s killed it… In two years he’s made Indiana football relevant. I couldn’t tell you one Indiana player five, 10 years ago.” (32:07)
• The market for elite coaches is more ruthless and dynamic than ever.

2. Where Colin Was Right & Wrong — Week in Review

Timestamps: 03:42–09:12

Colin's Right:

• Eagles’ Coaching Issues:
  “Even when they were winning, I said this isn’t gonna last… and last week we saw the faucet burst.” (03:47)
• Baker Mayfield as MVP:
  “Let’s not kid ourselves… Baker’s the MVP of this league.” (04:38)
• Doubts on Miami Dolphins’ Culture:
  Reinforced by Tua’s comments after a loss, exposing accountability issues and missed player meetings.
  • Matt Hasselbeck adds: “That was as bad as it gets at the podium… That’s a team that needs some leadership to step up.” (10:34–11:03)
• Seattle Mariners’ Playoff Surge:
  “Despite having the #15 payroll, they’re a more balanced, even team than the Yankees… They can do whatever you want.” (09:27)

Colin's Wrong:

• Penn State Firing James Franklin:
  “I just don’t like the way it looks. I was wrong. I would have never guessed this.” (04:17)
• Dante Moore as Top Draft Prospect:
  “He got outplayed by Fernando Mendoza and it wasn’t particularly close. …It was a really, really bad game.” (06:30)
• Aaron Rodgers & Steelers Offense:
  Acknowledges Steelers’ offense is succeeding with Rodgers getting rid of the ball quicker than ever.

3. NFL Deep Dives & Discussion with Matt Hasselbeck

Timestamps: 10:30–25:37

• Dolphins’ Locker Room Turmoil:
  Tua’s leadership in question. Hasselbeck highlights the void:
  • “If you’re not an alpha personality as a quarterback, you need an alpha head coach. That was just a bad look.” (10:34)
• Chiefs’ Unstoppable Form:
  Colin observes: “No penalties, no turnovers, and one punt… felt like a veteran team saying, we gotta play our cleanest game.” (11:33)
  • Hasselbeck: “You have alphas at head coach, quarterback, tight end, D line… good team, good franchise, top to bottom.” (12:13)
• Baker Mayfield’s Renaissance:
  • Colin: “Some QBs get coordinators fired. He’s getting them hired.” (13:26)
  • Hasselbeck: “He has exceeded everyone’s expectations… he puts this team on his back. That’s contagious.” (13:56)
  • Deep ball improvement: “His eyes are way downfield… I don’t care if it’s a little bit late, I’m throwing it deep.” (14:56)
• Sam Darnold & JSN in Seattle:
  Rapid chemistry stems from system continuity, leadership, and Seattle’s young, rapidly developing team.
  • Hasselbeck: “JSN… is the most underrated wide receiver in the NFL.” (15:52)
• Drake May in New England:
  • Hasselbeck commends May and Josh McDaniels for an advanced option-route system, and warns not to crown him yet:
    “The excitement is super real… Don’t be surprised if the Patriots are a playoff team this year. Great call by you, Colin.” (17:48)
• Justin Herbert’s Innate Talent:
  • Colin: “Sometimes he makes throws… some of this is innate. I don’t think you can coach some of this quarterback stuff.” (19:20)
  • Hasselbeck: “He looks like Drew Bledsoe, he moves like Brett Favre… at clutch moments.” (20:01)
• Aaron Rodgers’ Evolution with the Steelers:
  Quick release as adaptation for age, risk aversion, and making use of unique oversized receivers.
  • Hasselbeck: “This is a really intentional game plan by Arthur Smith… notice where that launch point is.” (21:47)

4. NFL “Herdline” News Breakdown (with David Pollack)

Timestamps: 29:31–37:36

• Indiana’s Football Ascendancy:
  Further praise for Signetti, caution on future moves amid the coaching carousel.
• Baker Mayfield MVP Buzz:
  • Colin: “I’m not betting against Baker right now. He is on a Cal Raleigh streak.” (35:21)
  • Mayfield’s humility surfaces postgame:
    “We’re just getting started—a mature Baker Mayfield.” (34:31)
• Seattle Seahawks’ Ferocious Defense:
  • “Seahawks had 17 quarterback hits… If Seattle’s D-line plays like that… they’re winning the division.” (36:49)
  • Pollack: “All I know, Kansas City looks fast. Seattle looks too good not to be a playoff team.” (37:36)

5. NFL Coaching Searches & Organizational Dysfunction

Timestamps: 42:03–49:44

• Jets’ Woes:
  “This is an organizational hazmat spill. This is the worst team. …Tennessee, I think, has a worse roster. The Jets are the worst team.” (43:54)
  • Blames repeated QB failures not on players, but systemic dysfunction.
• On Justin Fields:
  “I would have kicked a field goal to win it. But Justin Fields last year did not look like that.”
• Tennessee Titans Fire Ryan Callahan:
  • “If you’re the Titans, you’re getting ahead of the Jets… You’ve got a young quarterback, you don’t want to go hire a defensive guy.” (48:55)
  • Possibility raised of Kirk Signetti making NFL jump, though met with skepticism.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Colin, on NFL & College Job Security:
  “Get rid of the coach if there’s any questions, and I just don’t like the way it looks.” (03:55)

• Matt Hasselbeck on Baker Mayfield:
  “He has exceeded everyone’s expectations… The best thing you can say about a quarterback is he makes the guys around him better.” (13:56)

• Colin, on Herbert's Elite Nature:
  “Sometimes he makes throws and I… it’s just, I don’t know. Is it coaching? Is it scheme? …Some of this is innate.” (19:20)

• Hasselbeck, on Dolphins’ Problems:
  “If you’re not like an alpha personality as a quarterback, you kind of need an alpha head coach. That to me was as bad as it gets at the podium.” (10:34)

• Colin, the perils of dysfunctional franchises:
  “Some of these organizations, they’re just not equipped to handle a quarterback. They don’t know what they’re doing.” (44:30)

Structure & Flow

• Rapid-fire “Right & Wrong” review sets the table for in-depth guest analysis.
• Matt Hasselbeck’s guest spot blends film study, player psychology, and on-field realities.
• David Pollack and Colin dive into newsier elements, moving from college to the pros.
• The hour builds toward the underlying theme: Teams and QBs thrive or flounder based on systemic structure, leadership, and willingness to adapt—from the Chiefs’ alpha-fueled excellence to the Jets’ cycle of futility, and the magnetic rise of new contenders in both college and pro football.

Useful Timestamps (HH:MM)

• 02:06 – Start of Hour 2, weekend recap, “right and wrong” setup
• 03:42 – Where Colin was right/wrong (Eagles, Mayfield, Rodgers, Miami, etc.)
• 08:46 – Tua’s comments on Miami’s culture/leadership
• 10:30 – Matt Hasselbeck joins, Dolphins’ leadership issues
• 11:33 – Hasselbeck breaks down Chiefs’ dominance
• 13:26 – Baker Mayfield MVP & growth discussion
• 15:18 – Sam Darnold & Seahawks’ rapid chemistry
• 17:48 – Drake May’s impact in New England
• 19:20 – Justin Herbert’s innate talent
• 21:47 – Aaron Rodgers’ evolution with Steelers
• 29:31 – David Pollack with Herdline College Football News (Indiana)
• 34:06 – Baker Mayfield postgame MVP moment
• 36:49 – Seattle’s defense; NFC West race
• 43:54 – Jets’ organizational dysfunction, Justin Fields discussion
• 48:28 – Titans fire Ryan Callahan; coaching carousel

Tone & Style

Colin is characteristically sharp, conversational, and self-aware, seamlessly mixing bold takes with humility when wrong. Hasselbeck and Pollack add professional inside-baseball, player-first perspectives, often anecdotal and grounded in experience. Jokes, jabs, and quotable lines abound—making for an engaging, fast-paced listen, especially for fans focused on the “why” behind wins and losses.

For listeners who missed this hour:
Expect a rapid-fire blend of strong opinions, big-picture analysis, and inside football talk, centered around how culture, coaching, and leadership define success or doom franchises—whether you’re an NFL power like the Chiefs, or an upstart like Indiana. Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert get their laurels, while the Jets’ dysfunction and wild college football coaching churn are held up as cautionary tales.