The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 3 – Miami Hurricanes HC Mario Cristobal Stops by The Herd
Date: December 5, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd welcomes Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mario Cristobal for a deep dive into college football’s playoff debates, head-to-head matchups, and the evolution of Miami’s 2025 season. The central discussion revolves around Miami and Notre Dame's playoff résumés and the broader question of how the sport should assess teams’ rankings—especially around head-to-head victories and strength of schedule. The episode is lively and insightful, with Cowherd pressing Cristobal for candid insights on improvement, key players, and the chaos of the current college football structure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Head-to-Head vs. Resume: Miami vs. Notre Dame (03:57–11:19)

• Cowherd strongly contends Miami should be chosen over Notre Dame for playoff selection, leaning on Miami's head-to-head win and tougher strength of schedule.
• Cristobal details how Miami’s defense, especially against star Notre Dame runner Jeremiah Love, dominated the line of scrimmage:

  “Our defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage...I think he had 33 yards against us.” (05:06)

• Both highlight Notre Dame's weaker schedule, emphasizing the statistical gap in opponent defenses.
• Cristobal shares: Miami’s defensive front received its highest grading ever on PFF in the Notre Dame game.
• The coach asserts Miami is playing its best ball now, recovering from mid-season injuries and improving statistically in both defense and passing over the last few weeks:

  "We're a better team now than we were when we were ranked number two in the country." (07:53)

2. Addressing the SMU Loss & Resume Context (08:16–09:40)

• Cristobal is candid about the overtime SMU loss:

  “We turned the ball over and we lost in overtime. ... We had to overcome a good amount of starters out and you have to overcome that.” (08:23)

• He stresses the significance of head-to-head wins in playoff history:

  "Never in history, never in history of the CFP has...the loser advanced and the winner of that game been held back." (09:08)

• Cristobal clarifies he’s not “campaigning,” just stating the facts:

  “Honestly, I’ll be honest with you...I wouldn’t even come on your show if we had lost that game.” (09:23)

3. Fixing College Football Playoff Debate (10:11–11:19)

• Cowherd pushes for solutions, referencing Urban Meyer's stance that the playoff committee should be eliminated.
• Cristobal believes the sport should prioritize head-to-head outcomes and not lose sight of the importance of winning amid chaos:

  "Let's not ever, ever compromise the value and the importance of winning...if they're not rewarded for winning, then the sport itself...is in a real bad place." (10:53)

4. Spotlight: Key Miami Players (15:29–19:40)

A. Carson Beck/NIL Impact (16:15–17:27)

• Cowherd probes on quarterback Carson Beck's maturity amid the NIL era.
• Cristobal praises Beck’s work ethic and leadership, downplaying any negative impact of NIL riches:

  “He could give a rat’s you know what about that stuff, brother. He wants to win, he wants to see his teammates do well.” (16:39) “There's no one playing at the level that he's playing at right now.” (17:20)

B. Malachi Toney: Freshman Phenom (18:39–19:40)

• Cowherd is effusive about Toney, calling him potentially the best freshman in the country.
• Cristobal recounts first hearing of Toney (“Baby Jesus” per his son), then raves about Toney’s leadership, energy, and unselfishness:

  “He is unselfish. Watch the guy when his teammates score, like he is going bananas. Energy, flipping out, high fiving. ... He's an old school Miami Hurricane.” (19:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Cowherd on Miami’s Defensive Dominance:

  “They faced Miami, whose defense is great, and they literally couldn't move the chains with their run game, which is viewed as their strength.” (17:27)

• Cristobal on Miami's Growth:

  “Our team right now is playing better football than we did when we were ranked number two in the country.” (06:55)

• Cristobal on Head-to-Head Importance:

  “Never in history of the CFP has the loser advanced and the winner of that game been held back.” (09:08)

• Cowherd on Fixing College Football:

  “Urban Meyer says get rid of the committee. Just get, get rid of it. Do you have a belief on how you solve it, how you fix it?” (10:11)

• Cristobal’s Take on NIL and Carson Beck:

  “He’s invested in his teammates and winning…He could give a rat’s you know what about that stuff, brother. He wants to win.” (16:39)

• Cristobal’s Son on Malachi Toney:

  “You're recruiting Baby Jesus. ... Malachi Toney. He is baby Jesus.” (18:48)

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 03:57 | Miami vs. Notre Dame / Head-to-Head Debate | | 05:06 | Miami’s Defense Against Notre Dame (Jeremiah Love)| | 06:55 | Miami’s Growth (now vs. earlier in season) | | 08:23 | SMU Loss Explained & Scheduling Context | | 09:08 | CFP History & Head-to-Head Precedent | | 10:11 | Playoff Process Debate: Fixing the System | | 16:15 | NIL Era: Carson Beck’s Maturity | | 18:39 | Malachi Toney Freshman Phenomenon Story |

Episode Tone and Vibe

• Spirited, passionate, and occasionally playful, especially around Miami’s resurgence and locker room culture.
• Warm rapport between Cowherd and Cristobal, allowing for candid moments and a few light jokes (Cristobal’s weight loss, son’s “Baby Jesus” quip).
• Focused on fairness, rewarding teams for on-field results, and concern for the future of college football’s structure.
• Heavy on statistical comparisons and in-the-weeds football analysis, but accessible for general sports fans.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode provides a sharp, passionate window into the chaos and controversy of college football playoff selection. Cowherd and Cristobal dissect Notre Dame vs. Miami, focusing on what should matter most: head-to-head results, quality of opponents, and the momentum of teams as the season winds down. Coach Cristobal gives rare behind-the-scenes perspective on player development, how injuries and adversity spurred improvement, and highlights the emergence of young stars like Malachi Toney and the leadership of QB Carson Beck in a new era dominated by NIL.

Listeners walk away with a deeper understanding of:

• The measured and data-driven argument for Miami's playoff spot
• Why head-to-head victories need to remain paramount in college football
• How standout players shape not just games, but the culture and chemistry of winning teams
• The evolving landscape of college football and what’s at stake if on-field performance is no longer the ultimate metric