The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2

Date: March 30, 2026
Main Theme:
A breakdown of where Colin Cowherd's sports opinions have proven right and wrong, analysis of the NCAA Tournament and Duke’s epic collapse, the evolution of college basketball, NFL draft insights, and notable developments in MLB and NFL.

Highlights & Structure

Where Colin Was Right and Wrong

[03:03 – 10:03]

• Michigan’s Dominance:

  • "I had Michigan getting to the final four and winning it and right now they look as good as anybody. ...the only team that checks every box." (Colin, 03:10)
  • Praises Michigan’s all-around skills: Defensive strength, NBA talent, elite passing, three-point shooting, and coaching.

• Old School Coaches:

  • "They got kicked to the curb in the elite eight... Now it's the young guys." (Colin, 03:32)
  • Admits mistake favoring experienced coaches; young recruiters like Dusty May and Tommy Lloyd are excelling.

• Big Ten & NIL Impact:

  • "When the NIL came out, the Big Ten's got more money and I think they've got better coaching... there is a new sheriff in town." (Colin, 04:01)
  • Notes the Big Ten’s success in football and basketball—better funding and coaching thanks to NIL.

• NBA’s Tanking Problem:

  • "Tanking is not the number one concern for the NBA but Commissioners freak out... NBA owners are billionaires. That is glove compartment money." (Colin, 04:14)
  • Asserts league anti-tanking measures won't stop the phenomenon; owners find ways to acquire top talent regardless.

• A.J. Brown Misread:

  • "I can't get A.J. Brown figured out. I would have traded him two years ago..." (Colin, 04:37)
  • Admits he misread Brown’s fit in Philadelphia—Eagles say he’s staying despite underuse.

• Critique of the Knicks:

  • "The Knicks are not a championship team. The Celtics are going to win the East..." (Colin, 04:53)
  • Points out defensive and toughness weaknesses, predicts offseason shakeup for Knicks.

• Rob Manfred & MLB’s ABS System:

  • "He nailed it with the new ABS system. It has created a game show feel with the reveal. It's fun to watch." (Colin, 05:15)
  • Praises baseball’s embracing of tech and innovation, says the new system adds to strategy and drama.

• NFL Coaching Philosophy:

  • "Aaron Glenn said Geno Smith is our guy... But man, they can be tone deaf to offense." (Colin, 05:45)
  • Reiterates preference for offensive head coaches, with exceptions.

UConn’s Miraculous Win and Duke's Collapse

[06:07 – 16:51]

UConn’s Upset of Duke – Radio Call

[06:20 – 06:50]

• Plays out the last-second steal and logo three-pointer: "Long three. Oh, he got it. He hit it... Yukon has taken the lead. Oh, man." (Radio call, 06:33)

Ryan Rosillo (Barstool Sports) Joins to Analyze UConn & Tournament

[07:00 – 12:57]

• UConn’s Culture and Hurley’s Edge:

  • "With Hurley... part of that crazy, that good crazy is being so delusional and getting every single kid to believe you." (Rosillo, 11:46)
  • UConn’s long-term program culture starts with Calhoun; Hurley’s belief instills resilience and intensity.

• On Duke & John Shire’s Coaching:

  • "The downside to being a great brand like Duke... your teams get young... You can't just let 18 year olds play through it." (Colin, 12:37)

  • Critical of Shire’s handling of young stars, compares to seasoned teams like Michigan and UConn.

  • "Shire is not a good coach. He is a great coach... Just to have these two losses on this stage..." (Rosillo, 13:15)

  • Defends Shire’s skills, but notes public's relish in Duke's postseason failures.

Michigan & Arizona – Elite College Teams

[14:23 – 16:51]

• Michigan’s High-Level Offense:

  • "Michigan passes the ball like an NBA team and I'm not joking. Their half court ball movement... shooting over 40% on threes." (Colin, 14:43)
  • Argues NIL has enabled power teams to become even stronger; Michigan’s experience and skill set them apart.

• Arizona’s Depth and Versatility:

  • "Arizona has seven guys that every single game you watch... it can be any of the seven guys having a 6–7 minute stretch where it feels like they're taking over the game." (Rosillo, 15:56)
  • Emphasizes Arizona’s unpredictable threats and ability to close out games with different players.

NBA Draft, Player Prospects, and Playoff Contenders

[16:51 – 21:18]

• Potential Top NBA Picks:

  • Discussion around Darius Acuff, Peterson, and the challenges with projecting young stars.
  • "Peterson... if you watch that game, you wouldn't even be talking about this kind of stuff..." (Rosillo, 18:11)
  • Debate on Peterson’s durability vs. star potential.

• Playoff Teams and Lakers’ Ceiling:

  • "Three teams can win the title. I think it's the Celtics, OKC, and the Lakers..." (Colin, 19:54)
  • Lakers’ flaws: lack of defensive versatility, heavy reliance on offense, vulnerability in playoff settings.
  • "If they play Houston, I'm picking the Lakers. Or they're playing Denver or Minnesota, I'm picking the other teams. It's that simple." (Rosillo, 21:18)

Lighter Moments: Injuries, Jokes, and Banter

[23:34 – 25:18]

• Ryan Rosillo jokes about hurting his shoulder during weighted pull-ups; panel banter about fitness and injuries.
• Running joke about Greg Rosenthal being the “Brock Purdy of talk show hosts.” (25:13)

College Sports and the NIL Era

[30:34 – 32:56]

• Transformation of College Basketball:
  • "It's not my job to cover your team or your sport. It's your job to be interesting..." (Colin, 30:34)
  • Notes the NIL’s impact on strengthening elite programs, greater parity for recruiting experienced NBA-caliber players.
  • Highlights improved play quality—passing, shooting, and pace have reached new levels, boosting ratings and engagement.

NFL Draft Insights & Quarterback Discussion

[33:02 – 36:10]

• Fernando Mendoza as No. 1 Pick:

  • "Not some young kid who's inexperienced; three-year college starter. Let's go get him Under Center Week 1." (Rosenthal, 33:38)
  • Mendoza praised for preparation, maturity, and “Brady-like” obsession.

• Lamar Jackson & Josh Allen:

  • "Lamar Jackson's not winning playoff games... Josh Allen never been to a Super Bowl... You can talk about all the physical gifts. Are you obsessed by football? Do you have the right offensive coach?" (Colin, 35:21)
  • Emphasis on “above the shoulders” quarterback play and organizational structure, not just athleticism.

Stafford vs. Rodgers: Legacy in Focus

[36:10 – 39:56]

• Matthew Stafford’s Career Arc:
  • "No great quarterback in my lifetime can literally flip the narrative and go from the 20th best ever to like top 10 with the Super Bowl." (Colin, 38:25)
  • Hypothetical debate about whose career—Stafford or Rodgers—will rank higher with another Super Bowl run.
  • "Stafford is beloved everywhere he goes. People like him, he's a nice guy. Rodgers is a little less of that." (Rosenthal, 39:13)

Rule Changes: MLB’s ABS System & UFL Four-Point Field Goals

[39:56 – 48:17]

• UFL Four-Point Field Goal Debuts:

  • "60 yard field goal for four points. The defenders take a four nothing lead on the league's first 60 yard field goal for four points." (Commentary, 40:00)
  • Discusses strategy and novelty, compares to potential NFL changes.

• MLB’s Embrace of Technology:

  • "Baseball has made about six changes... and the NBA, which is viewed as the progressive league, won't make... really strong changes..." (Colin, 44:35)
  • Walks through ABS system, pitch clock, and rule tweaks credited for speeding up and revitalizing baseball, while calling for similar innovation in other sports.

• ABS System’s Impact:

  • "First of all, they're right half the time on the challenges, half the time they're right... One of the things legalized gambling has done... anytime somebody loses a game now it's the officials." (Colin, 46:10)
  • Explains how tech reduces complaints and places responsibility more squarely on players, umpire accuracy validated.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with timestamps)

• "I had Michigan getting to the final four and winning it and right now they look as good as anybody."
  — Colin Cowherd [03:10]

• "Part of that crazy, that good crazy [with Dan Hurley] is being so delusional and getting every single kid to believe you."
  — Ryan Rosillo [11:46]

• "Shire is not a good coach. He is a great coach. He's got to win a national championship at Duke."
  — Ryan Rosillo [13:15]

• "Michigan passes the ball like an NBA team..."
  — Colin Cowherd [14:43]

• "Arizona has seven guys... feels like they're taking over the game."
  — Ryan Rosillo [15:56]

• "If they play Houston, I'm picking the Lakers. Or they're playing Denver or Minnesota, I'm picking the other teams."
  — Ryan Rosillo [21:18]

• "No great quarterback in my lifetime can literally flip the narrative and go from the 20th best ever to like top 10 with the Super Bowl."
  — Colin Cowherd [38:25]

• "Baseball has made about six changes. And yet the NBA, which is viewed as the progressive league, won't make... really strong changes..."
  — Colin Cowherd [44:35]

Segment Timestamps

• [03:03] - Where Colin was right/wrong
• [06:20] - UConn-Duke radio call
• [07:00] - Ryan Rosillo joins: UConn, Hurley, coaching culture
• [12:03] - Daniel Jeremiah on Duke’s challenges
• [14:23] - Michigan/Arizona analysis
• [16:51] - NBA draft prospects discussion
• [19:54] - NBA playoff contenders conversation
• [23:34] - Injury banter and show humor
• [30:34] - College basketball/NIL impact
• [33:02] - NFL draft & QB valuation (Mendoza)
• [36:10] - Matthew Stafford vs. Rodgers career
• [39:56] - UFL field goal rule change, MLB ABS system
• [44:35] - Embracing technology in sports

Tone & Takeaways

• Opinionated, fast-paced, and analytical.
• Heavy emphasis on big-picture changes—NIL, tech in sports, playoff narratives.
• Blends data-driven takes with classic Cowherd wit and banter.

Summary:
This episode of The Herd dives deep into the evolution of college basketball and football in the NIL era, analyzes key March Madness moments—especially UConn’s stunner over Duke, and offers candid assessments of where Colin’s sports projections have landed. The show also highlights major changes reshaping MLB and the NFL, with panel discussion, humor, and insightful guest commentary from Ryan Rosillo rounding out the hour.