The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hour 3)

Date: October 8, 2025
Main Guests: Geoff Schwartz, J. Mac
Theme: NFL and College Football Adjustments, Coach Credit, and Key NFL Storylines

Episode Overview

This hour centers on the evolving landscape of elite football teams—specifically the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions—amidst coaching staff changes, personnel challenges, and system tweaks. Colin Cowherd, joined by Fox Sports analyst and former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz, digs into why the Eagles are struggling to find their groove, why Dan Campbell deserves more love for Detroit’s upturn, and how coaching acumen is impacting NFL success. The discussion also explores quarterback surges, offensive trends, and a coming referendum for USC’s Lincoln Riley. The hour closes with rapid-fire analysis on NBA storylines, the Yankees, and a candid conversation about sports pressures and expectations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. USC vs. Michigan – A Referendum on Lincoln Riley

• [03:04-06:12]
  • Geoff Schwartz picks Michigan over USC, citing Michigan’s physical edge and questioning USC’s ability to overcome strong teams in the trenches.
    • "Colin, you gotta point me in the direction of when USC is beating a team under Lincoln Riley that could push them around in the trenches. The answer, I think, is never." — Geoff Schwartz [03:53]
  • Colin frames this as a career-defining game for Lincoln Riley, comparing him to James Franklin regarding struggles in big spots:
    • “This is going to be a signature game… If USC can't win at home and they're healthy up front, we have to come to terms with Lincoln Riley. He's not the culture builder...” — Colin [04:43]
• The group notes USC’s history of home advantage and the big-game stage, but agree that losing would force a new narrative on Riley’s legacy.

2. Oregon's Secret Sauce and Dan Lanning’s Fit

• [06:12-08:28]
  • Complete offensive overhaul: Oregon replaced all 11 offensive starters yet remains elite.
  • Lanning’s talent acquisition:
    • “Oregon buys the right players. Look at their hit rate in the portal. They hit home runs.” — Geoff Schwartz [07:03]
  • Lanning’s Georgia roots, staff synergy, cultural buy-in, toughness, and letting players' personalities shine are named as key advantages.

3. Eagles’ Struggles: Is It the Personnel or the Coordinators?

• [08:28-10:39]
  • Coordinator impact: The Eagles’ offensive regression is partially attributed to changing coordinators, not a lack of talent.
    • "I think Philadelphia didn't have a personnel issue. I think they have a coordinator issue. They're very coordinator dependent." — Colin [08:28]
  • Injuries and adaptation: Geoff points to injuries and slow system adaptation, reminding listeners that great teams sometimes need time to gel.
  • Detroit’s overlooked genius: Geoff argues Dan Campbell is not getting enough credit for offensive continuity despite a coordinator change:
    • “I think Dan Campbell’s not getting enough credit here… looks very similar to what they did with Ben Johnson—that correlation is Dan Campbell.” — Geoff Schwartz [10:13]

4. Quarterback Play and Offense—Modern Trends

• [10:39-14:32]
  • Baker Mayfield’s resurgence: Colin is surprised by Mayfield’s MVP-level play despite missing key weapons.
    • "He's not a perfect size. He's not quite as athletic as he thinks he is... and right now, would be MVP of the league." — Colin [10:39]
    • Geoff praises Baker's grit: "He’s the most fun to bet on... He just fights, man. Like he’s so much fun to watch because they’re never out of a game." [11:09]
  • Surge in QB passer ratings: 15 QBs have a passer rating over 100 (up from six just a couple years ago).
    • Colin credits smarter offensive coaches and early, extensive QB training.
    • Geoff highlights softer, zone-heavy defenses and immediate WR impact:
      • "You come in the NFL and you're good almost immediately at this position... just get the ball in their hands and let them run." — Geoff Schwartz [13:18]

5. Rapid-Fire Topics and NFL Odds & Ends

Coach and MVP Picks

• [18:31-20:45]
  • Colin: "If I had to vote coach of the year, Baker's my MVP... My coach is Kyle Shanahan. The fact that they're leading the division and 50% of their best players are not available—what he is doing in San Francisco, they may not win a division, but you can have a great year coaching and not end up winning playoff games because of what you do with what you have."
• Geoff applauds Shanahan’s system “plug and play” capability.
  • “Belief in the system… plug and play guys… that's why they’re staying on track with backups.”

Chiefs Check-In

• [20:45-22:11]
  • Colin remains bullish on Kansas City, citing play improvements and personnel health.
  • Geoff warns of ongoing pass rush issues; suggests a trade may be needed.

6. NBA, College Football, and More: Hot Takes and Banter

Luka Doncic’s Dramatic Weight Loss

• [23:12-24:53]
  • LeBron praises Luka’s offseason work:
    • “He just looks... a little bit quicker, more functional. But more importantly, what people will not see is the recovery. Super duper proud.” — LeBron (quoted by panel) [23:28]
  • Colin and J. Mac debate Luka’s new play, projected dunk count, and how staggering minutes could help the new Lakers dynamic.

Michigan-USC Anticipation Continues

• [24:53-27:20]
  • Discussion of Michigan fans flocking to LA, weather’s impact on crowd mix.
  • Colin: "USC will move the ball... Michigan may win through physicality, but USC will have a few more dynamic plays over the top." [26:28]

Eagles’ Locker Room Jabs and Brian Daboll’s Comments

• [28:32-29:53]
  • Brian Daboll subtly stirs the pot:
    • “AJ's open a lot... There's a lot of weapons, I would say, on that offense, and whatever they choose to do is what they do.” — Brian Daboll (clip, commented upon by hosts) [28:48]
  • Colin: “He wants AJ Brown to read that and get a little testy. He’s playing gamesmanship. This is like Phil Jackson... just planting seeds.” [29:12]

7. Notable Quotes

• On USC and Lincoln Riley:
  "If they lose this game, you have to kind of acknowledge what Lincoln is." — Colin [04:43]
• On Baker Mayfield:
  "He’s the quarterback thing a lot of us want to guide our teams, right? Just the guy that we want to root for and we see the battle from him each and every week." — Geoff [11:09]
• On Modern QB Success:
  "Quarterback play is better than ever in NFL history." — Geoff [14:32]
• On Shanahan’s Coaching:
  "I played on one team that was really beat up like this... and we sucked. I mean, we were terrible after everyone got hurt... I give [the Niners] a lot of credit." — Geoff [19:29]

8. Fun and Memorable Banter

• Colin and J. Mac riff on LA’s status as a destination for traveling football fans in winter, reminiscing about the days of NFL games in San Diego.
• They muse about the Yankees’ “action movie” roster and postseason hopes, with jokes about Hollywood classics like Die Hard and Predator.
• J. Mac jokes about Scatter Boo, "reminds me of myself, tough, physical, not backing down from anybody." — [30:27]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• USC vs Michigan/ Lincoln Riley Legacy: [03:53]-[06:12]
• Oregon’s rise under Dan Lanning: [06:12]-[08:28]
• Eagles and Lions coordinator/coach debate: [08:28]-[10:39]
• Baker Mayfield MVP talk: [10:39]-[11:09]
• QB Rating Boom/Modern trends: [12:13]-[14:32]
• Shanahan and the Niners’ resilience: [18:31]-[20:45]
• Chiefs' defensive dilemma: [20:45]-[22:11]
• Luka/Lakers NBA banter: [23:12]-[24:53]
• Brian Daboll gamesmanship: [28:32]-[29:53]

Tone and Style

• Direct, witty, analytic—classic Cowherd, with Schwartz playing the candid, stats-savvy counterpoint.
• Spotlights both Xs-and-Os football talk and locker room psychology.
• Playful yet insightful, especially during rapid-fire sequences and post-interview segments.

Conclusion

Hour 3 of The Herd delivers a blend of pointed football analysis, coach appreciation, and topical debates about the state of the game—from the trenches of the NFL to the hype of college football's top programs. Colin, Geoff, and guests balance deep dives with relatable humor, serving both serious sports fans and casual listeners with a dynamic, content-rich hour.