The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hour 3): Urban Meyer on the Power Shift in College Football

December 31, 2025

Episode Overview

In this compelling episode of The Herd, Colin Cowherd is joined by former college football coach and Fox Sports analyst Urban Meyer to break down looming College Football Playoff matchups and discuss the notable shift in conference power from the SEC to the Big Ten. They analyze coaching legacies, game strategies, and why certain powerhouse programs are underachieving. The episode also features playful moments involving bowl game trivia and closes with Cowherd and Jason McIntyre talking NFL coaches and playoff races.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Urban Meyer on Coaching Longevity and Kyle Whittingham

[03:27-05:23]

• Colin asks if Urban could see himself coaching at 66, in the style of Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, who just accepted the Michigan job.
• Urban Meyer:
  • “Personally, no, I would not just because the way I did it, it was all in... No chance that to go back to working the hours and the, and the, the grind? No.” (04:17)
  • Praises Whittingham as “a unique breed” and highlights his deep football knowledge, toughness, and close relationship with players.

“Kyle is a guy that is 66 going on 56... his football acumen, I would say, is as good as anyone I’ve ever been around.”
—Urban Meyer (04:49)

2. Ohio State vs. Miami: Game Preview and Approach

[05:23-08:28]

• Defenses expected to dominate; both agree it’ll be a low-scoring, field-position battle.
• Urban credits Miami’s defense but is skeptical they can move the ball on Ohio State.
  • “I just don’t see Miami scoring... If Ohio State scores two touchdowns, they win that game.” (05:52, 05:23)
• On Ryan Day’s strategy as a coach:
  • “I would be very conservative... your job as an offense is to get two first downs and then see what happens. That flips the field.” (07:14)

3. Indiana vs. Alabama & Predicting a Big Ten Power Surge

[08:34-13:29]

• Colin predicts Indiana will beat Alabama, calling Indiana “the second best team in the country.”

• Urban emphasizes Indiana’s unprecedented talent and QB Mendoza as the X-factor:

  • "Mendoza has one of his days, Indiana wins. If he doesn’t, I don’t know if they can beat Alabama." (09:04)

• Big Ten vs. SEC:

  • If Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana win, Colin asks: Has the power shifted north?
  • Urban: “Last two years, the top of the Big Ten was better than the top of the SEC... If those things happen… top to bottom, Big Ten, the power has shifted up north.” (12:30)

“It’s an amazing thing to say.”
—Urban Meyer (13:20)

4. Lincoln Riley’s Struggles at USC

[09:54-12:10]

• Both perplexed by USC’s underperformance given Riley’s offensive reputation and rich program resources.
• Urban: “That’s the one job… I do not understand it… there’s been a flaw that’s followed him from Oklahoma to USC. And that’s defense, that’s tackling, and it doesn’t seem to be going away.” (10:57)

“USC shouldn’t lose.”
—Urban Meyer (11:52)

5. Kyle Whittingham Heads to Michigan: Emotional Response and Career Impact

[13:37-15:05]

• Urban is candid about rooting for Whittingham—his friend—as Whittingham takes the Michigan job after a long Utah tenure.
• “There's no better football coach out there in the country… I am pulling for him in every game.” (14:05)

6. Oregon’s Schedule, Injuries, and Dan Lanning’s Success

[15:05-18:27]

• Colin and Urban debate the impact of Oregon’s tough schedule and injuries, and if it better prepares them for playoffs.
• High praise for Dan Lanning:
  • “He’s tough as heck on the players, but he also loves those players, and they love him back. …It’s the way college football is supposed to look.” (17:27)

7. Ohio State vs. Miami: Score Predictions & QB X-Factors

[18:27-19:39]

• Both expect a low-scoring, defensive game:
  • Urban: “If the Buckeyes score three touchdowns, they win the game.” (18:27)
  • Colin: “Ohio State 24, Miami 13. …We both don’t think Miami is going to score two touchdowns.” (18:32-18:50)

8. Fun Segment: Bowl or Baloney

[33:47-40:32]

• Colin and Jason McIntyre play a quiz game naming outlandishly named “bowl games,” and Colin defends the reduction of bowl games:
  • “There were 47 last year. At least we’re going in the right direction. There’s only 41 bowl games this year…” (33:47)

9. NFL Coaching and Playoff Outlooks

[24:15-30:20; brief highlights]

• NFC and AFC coaching candidates debated.
• Colin and J-Mac discuss Mike Vrabel, Kyle Shanahan, and the unpredictability of the NFC South.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Whittingham as a coach:
  • “His football acumen, I would say, is as good as anyone I’ve ever been around.” —Urban Meyer (04:49)
• On USC’s struggles:
  • “That’s the one job. I do not understand it… the flaw that’s followed him is defense, that’s tackling, and it doesn’t seem to be going away.” —Urban Meyer (10:57)
• On the Big Ten surge:
  • “When Illinois goes and beats Tennessee... and Iowa can beat Vanderbilt, then you're going to say top to bottom, Big Ten, the power has shifted up north, which is, is an amazing thing to say.” —Urban Meyer (13:20)
• On game management in defensive battles:
  • “Your job as an offense is to get two first downs and then see what happens. Because Colin that flips the field.” —Urban Meyer (07:14)
• Score prediction for Ohio State vs. Miami:
  • “If the Buckeyes score three touchdowns, they win the game.” —Urban Meyer (18:27)
  • “Ohio State 24, Miami 13. …We both don’t think Miami is going to score two touchdowns.” —Colin Cowherd (18:32, 18:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:27 — Urban Meyer joins, discussion on coaching energy and longevity
• 04:49 — Meyer on Whittingham’s best assets
• 05:23 — Ohio State-Miami defensive matchup analysis
• 07:14 — Strategy and play-calling for low-scoring games
• 09:04 — Indiana-Alabama breakdown
• 10:57 — Critique of Lincoln Riley and USC
• 12:30 — Is the Big Ten overtaking the SEC?
• 14:05 — Whittingham’s move to Michigan, Urban’s emotional response
• 15:44 — Does facing a tough schedule help Oregon?
• 17:27 — Why Dan Lanning is working at Oregon
• 18:27–19:39 — Final Ohio State-Miami score predictions
• 33:47–40:30 — “Bowl or Baloney” trivia game – lighthearted segment

Episode Takeaways

• The College Football Playoff is not just about matchups, but about deeper shifts in power, coaching culture, and long-term trends in recruiting and player development.
• Urban Meyer is skeptical about prolonging high-intensity coaching careers and forecasts a significant Big Ten era if current trends continue.
• Programs with every advantage—like USC—can still underperform if fundamental football traits like defense are neglected, no matter the coach's offensive genius.
• The best teams and coaches maintain a ruthless focus on both toughness and relationships with their players.
• The bowl season’s excesses are a running joke for Colin, but the top-tier games still ignite genuine excitement.

Listen for:

• Urban Meyer’s insider reflections on career burnout and coaching bonds.
• Clear-eyed breakdowns of College Football Playoff strategies and conference power dynamics.
• Playful, on-brand segments like “Bowl or Baloney” that mix sports insight with personality.