The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hosted by Rob Parker & Kerry Rhodes)

Hour 3: Oregon vs Texas Tech, Sam Darnold vs Kyle Shanahan, the Lamar Jackson Conundrum

Air Date: January 1, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host (This Hour): Rob Parker and Kerry Rhodes

Episode Overview

This energetic holiday episode features Rob Parker and former NFL All-Pro safety Kerry Rhodes as guest hosts, dissecting three major storylines: the Oregon vs. Texas Tech Orange Bowl playoff clash, the continuing enigma of Sam Darnold’s NFL career versus Kyle Shanahan’s playoff reputation, and the contentious quarterback decision facing the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson’s injury status. The duo bring unfiltered, opinionated commentary, frequent real-time game updates, and a few memorable debates about coaching, playoff formats, and the year’s biggest sports storylines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football Playoff: Oregon vs Texas Tech

• Live Game Updates: The hosts provide real-time reactions to a low-scoring, defensive struggle where Oregon leads 13–0 into the fourth (23:04–23:21, 47:34).
  • Despite dominating stats, Oregon fails to convert red zone chances, giving up potential field goals (07:02–07:23).
  • Texas Tech, coming off a first-round bye, looks sluggish and risks falling to a 0–6 record for teams with byes in the new playoff format.
• Playoff Format Debate: Rob and Kerry challenge the merit of expanded playoffs.
  • Rob critiques the diminished importance of the regular season due to expanded playoff spots (24:34–25:03).

    "In the old days, if you lost two football games in college football, your season was over. And now we're rewarding them by making the playoffs bigger." — Rob Parker (24:34)

  • Kerry acknowledges the underdog appeal but agrees the “bye” system appears flawed if top teams consistently lose (27:10–27:13).
  • Both float reseeding as a possible solution, noting that Miami was severely under-seeded as a #10 despite its talent and record (27:31).
• Notable Moment: The hosts bemoan modern coaching aggression and reliance on analytics ("arm punting," failed fourth downs) over traditional strategies—citing Brandon Staley as an example of negative influence (29:00–29:54).

2. NFL: The Lamar Jackson Conundrum in Baltimore

• Quarterback Controversy: With Lamar Jackson nursing a back injury, backup Snoop Huntley has delivered a strong must-win performance, leading to media debate (09:25–09:28).
  • Audio Insert: Rob G shares Shannon Sharpe's controversial call to stick with Huntley (09:47).

    "I'm starting Huntley." — (Shannon Sharpe via Rob G, 09:47)

  • Hosts React: Both Rob and Kerry vehemently disagree with sitting a 2-time MVP quarterback unless he’s truly unable to play.

    "If he's 70%, 65, 70%, I'm going to play him over Hunt[ley]. I am. ... my two time MVP quarterback to play him at 70% is still better than Huntley." — Rob Parker (11:06–11:52)

  • Kerry calls out player pundits pushing for benching Lamar, “Even coming from players, coming from Shannon Sharpe, man, please be quiet.” (12:15)
• Implications for Coaching: Both speculate that if the Ravens lose—regardless of who starts—John Harbaugh's tenure should end, comparing his stagnation to Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh (15:07–15:32).

  "If they don't win the game ... John Harbaugh has to be fired." — Rob Parker (15:07)

3. NFL: Sam Darnold vs. Kyle Shanahan — Legacies on the Line

• Seahawks (Darnold) vs. 49ers (Shanahan) Showdown Preview
  • Kerry and Rob set up the stakes for the divisional battle:
    • Darnold’s pattern: good stats, but questions linger after playoff disappointments — this game is "another big spot for him" (32:15–33:35).
    • The two question if Darnold ever truly wins people over, noting his contracts are more "prove-it" deals (34:04–34:20).
    • Darnold's path to redemption? "Win a division and then win a couple games, like get to the NFC Championship game…he turned his career around." — Rob Parker (36:11).
  • Kyle Shanahan’s Playoff Demons:
    • Rob presents Shanahan’s record: blown multi-score Super Bowl leads (28–3 in Atlanta, two 10-point 4Q leads in SF).

      "Kyle Shanahan’s teams have been outscored a combined 58 to 12 in the fourth quarter [of Super Bowls]. 58 to 12." — Rob G (39:11)

    • They criticize his game management, e.g., not running clock or running plays at the end of Super Bowl LI (39:50–40:53).
    • "There's winning football and there's football. It's winning time." — Rob Parker (40:53)
  • Can both Darnold and Shanahan be "Super Bowl or Bust"? The hosts spar over which storyline matters more.

4. Debate: College Football’s New Normal

• Miami Upsetting Ohio State: Good or Bad for CFB?
  • Kerry embraces upsets (“great for football”), Rob worries about the value of regular season and traditional blue bloods being ousted (24:34–25:03).
  • Discussion underscores uncertainty surrounding playoff expansion, with top seeds underperforming after byes.

5. 2025’s Biggest Sports Storylines (49:00)

• Rob Parker: Miguel Rojas’ clutch World Series homer that “bailed out” Ohtani and utterly changed Dodgers’ fortunes (49:41–51:00).

  • "That was one out, nobody on in the ninth inning in Toronto. Right? Toronto winning by one run. Miguel Rojas, of all people, to hit a home run in that spot with Ohtani on deck." — Rob Parker (49:41)

• Kerry Rhodes: Luka Doncic’s blockbuster trade to the Lakers—a huge story, but underwhelming in results because of lingering defense concerns (51:14–51:33).
• Rob G: Shedeur Sanders shockingly falling in the NFL draft—a “media-defining” and cross-cultural moment (51:49).

  • "There were people who don't even watch football who knew about that story…they're breaking through on ABC local television… and we're at pick 127." — Rob G (52:26)

• Chris (producer): The NBA betting scandal involving Chauncey Billups and the fallout for sports and gambling relationships (52:45–53:21).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Darnold Narrative:

  “He’s got that with him. ... if he stinks in this one, people are going to be like, 'Well, he won the Rams game, so he's good.' No, no, no, no, no.” — Rob Parker (36:06)

• On Coaching Stagnation:

  "Everything has an expiration date. ... I was drinking the milk and then I realized it was a little lumpy. And then I looked on the date, and I realized it had expired." — Rob Parker (15:49)

• On Analytics Overload:

  “Brandon Staley did more damage to football than I ever thought.” — Rob Parker (29:00)

• On College Football Parity:

  "Miami isn't a slouch of a team...but 0–5 going to be 0–6 is worrisome." — Rob Parker (27:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |---------------------|---------------------------------------------| | Show/Hosts intro | 03:06 | | College Football – Oregon vs Texas Tech, playoff flaws | 06:52 – 07:52, 22:32 – 27:37 | | Ravens Lamar Jackson debate (Shannon Sharpe clip & discussion) | 09:25 – 13:49 | | Harbaugh/Tomlin on the hot seat | 15:07 – 16:33 | | CFB Playoff Format debate | 24:34 – 27:37 | | Live game coaching/analytics rant | 29:00 – 30:05 | | Sam Darnold “prove it” for Seattle, contract breakdown | 32:00 – 36:11 | | Shanahan’s Super Bowl failures & legacy debate | 38:00 – 41:16 | | 2025’s Biggest Sports Stories | 49:00 – 53:21 |

Tone & Style

The episode is lively, candid, and tinged with Rob Parker’s trademark snark. Banter between Rob and Kerry is quick-witted, with a blend of nostalgia, frustration, and hope for sports' future. The style is conversational yet knowledgeable, with no hesitation to call out bad coaching, “analytics madness,” or media narratives. The tone is informal, open, and at times, humorously exasperated.

Summary

Hour 3 of The Herd (Jan 1, 2026) is a fast-paced roundtable on the flaws of CFB’s new playoff system, tough coaching and roster decisions in the NFL, and the defining sports narratives of 2025. Real-time game analysis, sharp debate about quarterbacks and coaches under pressure, and reflections on a tumultuous sports year make it engaging listening for serious sports fans.