Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3 featuring Phil Steele and Tony Grossi

Release Date: August 13, 2025
Hosts: Colin Cowherd (Host), Phil Steele (College Football Analyst), Tony Grossi (Cleveland Browns Journalist)
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

1. Introduction to the College Football Season

[00:00 – 02:02]
The episode opens with brief introductions and transitions from various promotional segments to the main content featuring host Colin Cowherd and guest Phil Steele. The focus quickly shifts to the upcoming college football season, with Colin setting the stage for an in-depth analysis of top teams and key players.

2. Team Predictions and Analysis

a. Texas Longhorns

[02:02 – 03:27]
Colin Cowherd initiates the discussion by highlighting Phil Steele's expertise in predicting college football outcomes, praising his "20 plus years at predicting this stuff." The conversation centers on the Texas Longhorns, examining their offensive line challenges and the impact of their schedule:

Colin Cowherd [02:17]: "Do you see a hole in that football operation?"

Phil Steele [03:27]: "The key for Texas is going to be the development of the offensive line... I love their defense though. I rated the best defense in the country led by Anthony Hill, a linebacker."

b. Penn State Nittany Lions

[03:27 – 05:13]
The dialogue shifts to Penn State, with Phil lauding their offensive line and running back core:

Phil Steele [04:27]: "They've got an outstanding defense. Give me a top notch offensive line, a top notch defense and then also the quarterback and I'll take that team any day of the week."

Colin expresses confidence in Penn State’s prospects, emphasizing their recruitment strength and the importance of their quarterback's performance.

c. Ohio State Buckeyes

[04:49 – 05:55]
Discussion moves to Ohio State, addressing concerns about their quarterback situation amid losing 16 starters:

Colin Cowherd [04:49]: "We know they're a recruiting factory, but how tough is it to make a decision when we really have nothing to work with at the most important position in the sport, which is obviously quarterback."

Phil acknowledges Ohio State's talent but raises concerns about experience:

Phil Steele [05:55]: "They're going to lean on the offensive line, which I rate number one in the country, and... I've got the Irish favorite in all 12 games this year."

d. USC Trojans

[06:31 – 08:19]
The conversation shifts to USC, evaluating their talent and potential improvements:

Phil Steele [07:41]: "I might say, if they get the play out of their quarterback this year. In my eva, then I think that USC could make some noise."

Colin expresses skepticism about USC’s overall talent but remains hopeful about their defense and coaching.

e. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

[08:19 – 09:22]
Focus turns to Notre Dame, highlighting their stable roster and strong defensive units:

Phil Steele [08:50]: "They've got a new quarterback this year in C.J. Carr, but he's surrounded by talent. I love the life Love Price combo at running back. It's my number two running back core in the country."

Colin is impressed by Notre Dame's consistency and potential as national title contenders.

f. Oklahoma Sooners

[09:22 – 11:53]
Phil identifies Oklahoma as a dark horse team with significant improvements from the previous season:

Phil Steele [10:58]: "They have the Texas game in a neutral site. Watch out for Oklahoma. They could be that fourth SEC team to make the playoffs."

Colin and Phil discuss Oklahoma’s revamped offensive line and strong defense as key factors for their success.

3. Key Player Highlights

a. Arch Manning (Clemson Tigers)

[05:13 – 07:08]
Arch Manning is spotlighted as a top quarterback prospect, with Phil predicting his Heisman win:

Phil Steele [06:31]: "I picked him to win the Heisman... He's operating behind my number two rated offensive line."

Arch’s improved performance and support from his team are emphasized as critical to his success.

b. Cade Klubnick (USC Trojans)

[06:31 – 07:41]
Cade Klubnick is discussed as potentially the best quarterback in the sport:

Phil Steele [07:08]: "He leads the nation in passing, leads a 12 and old team and I believe he's going to take home the Heisman this year."

Colin underscores Klubnick’s athleticism and NFL prospects.

4. Quarterback Recruitment and Transfer Impact

[08:50 – 10:46]
The hosts delve into the impact of transfer rules and the value of homegrown players versus transfers. Phil expresses concerns about teams relying heavily on transfers:

Phil Steele [10:46]: "The majority of the team is homegrown freshmen that turned into seniors... I'm concerned about the amount of transfers."

The discussion highlights benefits of teams with strong recruitment systems like Clemson, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.

5. Controversial Stories and Player Incidents

a. Oklahoma Quarterback Venmo Incident

[12:12 – 13:52]
Colin addresses a viral story about Oklahoma’s quarterback涉嫌在Venmo交易历史记录中的$500转账，用于USC UCLA比赛，尽管他解释这是与朋友的玩笑：

Colin Cowherd [13:18]: "It's clearly a joke. The idea that the NCAA should investigate. This is laughable."

Both Colin and Phil dismiss the incident as harmless and question the appropriateness of investigating such matters.

6. NFL Team Valuations and Ownership Changes

a. NFL Valuations by Sportico

[22:34 – 25:21]
Colin and Phil discuss the latest NFL team valuations, highlighting the Dallas Cowboys as the most valuable:

Phil Steele [23:19]: "Dallas Cowboys remain 12.2. Sorry, $12.8 billion according to Sportico."

They debate the accuracy of these valuations, comparing them to the immense personal wealth of owners like Jeff Bezos and the potential for high-net-worth individuals to invest in NFL teams.

b. Portland Trailblazers Ownership

[25:15 – 25:43]
A brief mention is made of the Portland Trailblazers being sold for $4 billion, though details remain sparse.

7. Cleveland Browns Deep Dive with Tony Grossi

a. Ownership and Team Performance

[32:10 – 35:09]
Colin introduces Tony Grossi to discuss the Cleveland Browns, focusing on owner Jimmy Haslam’s tenure:

Tony Grossi [33:02]: "The record has been awful... but he still has that reputation. But I think he's maturing."

Grossi acknowledges the team's challenges but notes signs of growth under current management.

b. Quarterback Situation: Shador Sanders and Dylan Gabriel

[35:09 – 38:42]
The conversation explores the Browns' quarterback depth chart and the prospects for Shador Sanders and Dylan Gabriel:

Buzz Aldrin [36:14]: "They want to see Gabriel on the field before they make any adjustment to the depth chart."

Grossi discusses the strategic decisions behind maintaining multiple quarterbacks and the potential impact on the team's performance.

c. Team Prospects and Leadership

[38:42 – 41:35]
Tony Grossi provides insights into the Browns' leadership and future prospects, emphasizing the importance of trust in the coaching staff:

Buzz Aldrin [37:58]: "They have to find the guy this year, we'll keep looking for him."

He expresses cautious optimism about the team's direction and the roles of key figures like Stefanski and Berry.

8. NFL Player Analysis and Team Strategies

a. Justin Herbert and Chargers’ Quarterback Concerns

[19:15 – 21:28]
Colin and Phil discuss Justin Herbert's performance with the Los Angeles Chargers, addressing criticisms of his playing style:

Colin Cowherd [19:28]: "He's processing great. The problem is, of course, he just doesn't have enough around him."

They evaluate Herbert's strengths and the surrounding team's impact on his effectiveness.

b. Detroit Lions' Coaching and Player Dynamics

[21:28 – 24:43]
The focus shifts to the Detroit Lions, analyzing the impact of losing coordinators and the role of quarterback J.J. McCarthy:

Colin Cowherd [22:34]: "They're like a four win team. It's not an easy schedule."

They discuss the challenges and potential of the Lions within their division.

9. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Segments

[42:14 – 44:40]
The episode wraps up with closing thoughts on team dynamics and a brief mention of upcoming guests and topics, including the anticipated appearance of Tony Grossi to discuss further insights into the Cleveland Browns.

Notable Quotes

• Phil Steele [03:27]: "I rated the best defense in the country led by Anthony Hill."
• Colin Cowherd [04:49]: "How tough is it to make a decision when we really have nothing to work with at the most important position... quarterback."
• Phil Steele [07:08]: "Cade Klubnick leads the nation in passing... I believe he's going to take home the Heisman this year."
• Colin Cowherd [13:18]: "The idea that the NCAA should investigate. This is laughable."
• Phil Steele [10:46]: "I think teams like Clemson, Notre Dame, even Ohio State last year had some transfers, but the majority are homegrown."
• Tony Grossi [33:02]: "He still has that reputation. But I think he's maturing."
• Buzz Aldrin [37:58]: "They have to find the guy this year, we'll keep looking for him."

Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the discussion traverses the landscape of the upcoming college football season, providing in-depth analysis of key teams and players with insights from Phil Steele. The conversation seamlessly transitions to the NFL, particularly focusing on the Cleveland Browns with expert commentary from Tony Grossi. Critical issues such as quarterback recruitment, team dynamics, and ownership impact are thoroughly examined, offering listeners a comprehensive overview of the sports landscape for the 2025 season.