The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 3 – Featuring FOX Sports CFB Reporter Bruce Feldman
Date: December 4, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd is joined by college football insider Bruce Feldman to react to the chaos of the College Football Playoff selection process, the latest coaching carousel moves, impact of NIL and recruiting, and the most compelling storylines entering the stretch of the season. The discussion is energetic, opinionated, and dives into the major debates and controversies affecting college football today, including playoff fairness, program leadership, and the cultural changes shaping the sport.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. College Football Playoff Committee Controversy

• Miami vs. Notre Dame Inclusion Debate (03:39–08:56)
  • Colin argues Miami has the "biggest argument" to be in the playoff over Notre Dame.
  • Bruce Feldman:
    • Emphasizes head-to-head matters: “If you just completely dismiss head-to-head results of what happened on the field, then what are we doing?... It’s just. It is ridiculous that it's gotten to this point.” (04:27)
    • Critiques the playoff committee, especially chair Hunter Yurachek: “He gets himself twisted in knots with all this like, double talk and... steps on a rake every time he gets asked a question.” (04:27)
    • Warns of shifting goalposts and apparent ESPN/ratings-driven priorities: “You can clearly see they're moving the goalposts and they're making it up as they go along. It's an embarrassment for the sport.” (05:57)
  • Colin: “If you create clarity, like head to head is the most important, common opponents is the second... it's easier for me to explain blockchain than it is what matters [to the committee].” (06:42)
  • Bruce’s Solution: “If the teams have the same record and they’re playing the same level of competition... then the games have to matter. I don’t care if your kicker had a bad day that day. I don’t care. The game happened, right?” (07:17)

2. College Football’s Leadership Crisis (08:56–09:56)

• Colin: “It reminds me of boxing. It’s every man for themselves... We need a CEO and we don’t have it.” (08:56)

3. NIL, Recruiting, and New Power Structure (09:56–11:33)

• NIL Impact & USC’s Recruiting Surge
  • Colin: “I don't think NIL is going to crush the little guy... Indiana, Vandy, buying five-star quarterbacks... USC number one in recruiting, Oregon number two — not a surprise.” (08:56)
  • Bruce:
    • On USC: “It feels like they’re more organized and better alignment than they did at any point... since Lincoln’s there.” (09:56)
    • Points out transfer challenges: “Those recruits back then, they weren’t transferring left and right... now you gotta stack [classes].” (09:56)
    • Adds tempered optimism: “If you’re a USC fan, it’s great [for recruiting], but it doesn’t guarantee you anything. You got to build off it.” (09:56)

4. Coaching Carousel & Lane Kiffin Drama (11:33–14:22)

• Colin: “Lane Kiffin got a better job offer... I don't love it. The college football Playoff leaving, that feels gross. Leaving a random bowl game when you can't compete for the Natty doesn't feel as gross.” (11:33)
• Bruce:
  • On Lane’s exit: “Nothing should surprise us anymore, Colin... If any coach would bail on a team in the middle of a playoff run, it'd probably be Lane Kiffin.” (12:09)
  • Addresses fallout and Kiffin’s prospects: “LSU fans are going to love him as long as he wins... I would not be surprised if Lane did [win a title] too.” (12:09)
  • Advice for Ole Miss fans: “Enjoy the ride and... hopefully Pete Golding can sustain it.” (12:09)

5. Penn State’s Coaching Search (18:44–20:41)

• Colin: “Penn State's a top 15 program... This recruiting class is a disaster with NIL... Who's going to be Penn State's coach?” (18:44)
• Bruce details a swirling, uncertain search:
  • “About a week ago we thought it was going to be Kalani Satake from BYU... then it didn't end up going in that direction. Now it’s like [Brian] Daboll’s been around it.” (19:05)
  • Points out high bar and need for staff: “He’d have to surround himself with a really, really good staff... This is a big job.” (19:05)
  • Lays out the stakes: “The question is: can he overtake Ohio State and Oregon and everyone else at the top of the Big Ten?” (19:05)

6. Texas and Playoff Resumes (20:41–23:06)

• Colin: “I would like to see Texas in because I like big brands and I like their quality wins... but they also struggled with average teams and had a bad loss to Florida.” (20:41)
• Bruce:
  • “There’s too many teams that have a better case than [Texas]... They have good wins. They also got blown out by Georgia and have a really bad loss against Florida.” (21:27)
  • “They really struggled... this team was a year away from being a national title contender.” (22:22)

7. Feldman on the Tuesday Night Show & Media’s Role (23:06–24:06)

• Colin teases Bruce for tweeting with a swear word about the sport.
• Bruce:
  • “That Tuesday night show is the worst thing related to college football because it just mucks up the process and the whole ‘embrace debate’... not helping the sport.” (23:49)

8. Broader Reflections on Playoff Debates & Fairness (24:06–26:33)

• Colin: “I love the circus of it. I don't like this because I love the sport. It's got a ridiculous ending. So it does bother me.” (24:16)
• Bruce:
  • “Two years ago I was lobbying just as hard... I always thought Florida State got screwed by the committee. They were 13–0... But you can't just do that... projecting everything because that's not the business this sport is in.” (25:02)
  • “The actual games when they're head to head, they have to be significant. You can't just dismiss them with a formula that has a plus sign after it.” (25:02)

9. NFL & NBA News Quick Hits (31:07–38:23)

Texans vs. Chiefs Preview

• Examining matchups, concerns over KC’s O-line injuries, and weather factors.

Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame Candidacy

• Discussion on his legacy and the challenges post-Brady.

Clippers’ Chris Paul Exit

• Clippers’ turmoil and need for a franchise reboot.

10. NFL Weekend & Betting Talk (38:23–44:30)

• Picks and upsets in the NFL slate, including Dallas/Detroit, Cincinnati/Buffalo, and Falcons/Seahawks.
• Dallas Cowboys rebuilding strategy and Micah Parsons trade impact.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bruce Feldman:

  • "If you just completely dismiss head-to-head results... then what are we doing? Why not just let computers play out this season?" (04:27)
  • “You can clearly see they're moving the goalposts and they're making it up as they go along. It's an embarrassment for the sport." (05:57)
  • "If you devalue the head to head, then it just doesn't make sense... the games have to matter." (07:17)
  • On Lane Kiffin: “…he’s still, largely, the Lane Kiffin we knew a long time ago. He's just skinnier.” (12:09)
  • “That Tuesday night show is the worst thing related to college football because it just mucks up the process…” (23:49)

• Colin Cowherd:

  • “If you create clarity, like head to head is the most important, common opponents is the second... It's easier for me to explain blockchain than it is what matters [in the playoff].” (06:42)
  • “It reminds me of boxing. It’s every man for themselves... We need a CEO and we don’t have it.” (08:56)
  • "The circus... I like the circus of it. I don't like this because I love the sport." (24:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:39 – Start of Bruce Feldman/College Football Playoff committee conversation
• 04:27 – Bruce Feldman criticizes committee double-talk and emphasizes head-to-head importance
• 05:57 – Feldman on ratings-driven logic and committee inconsistency
• 07:17 – Solutions for playoff selection: head-to-head and clarity; why games have to matter
• 08:56 – College football’s leadership vacuum compared to boxing
• 09:56 – NIL impact and USC’s recruiting resurgence
• 11:33 – Lane Kiffin’s exit and coaching carousel
• 18:44 – Penn State coaching search analysis
• 20:41 – Texas playoff resume debate
• 23:49 – Feldman on ESPN’s Tuesday night rankings show
• 24:16 – Colin reflects on playoff circus versus love for the sport

Tone and Style

• Colin Cowherd: Wry, analytical, frank, mixes humor and skepticism, but clearly passionate about the sport’s integrity.
• Bruce Feldman: Informed, unsparing, at times exasperated with the sport’s leadership, but always rooted in policy and process.

Conclusion

This episode offers a candid and sometimes blistering analysis of the current college football landscape. Feldman and Cowherd’s conversation spotlights both the chaos and opportunity in the playoff system, the evolving power of NIL, and the emotional highs and lows for fans and programs alike. Their back-and-forth is full of insights for both casual and diehard college football followers.