The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 3 - USC HC Lincoln Riley joins The Herd
Date: February 2, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts / The Volume

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Herd, Colin Cowherd is joined by USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley along with regular guest Albert Breer and show co-host J. Mac. The hour is packed with discussions on the evolving college football landscape—particularly USC’s strategic position in the new Big Ten, the impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) on recruiting and roster construction, the challenges of modern scheduling, player development, and the increasing 'professionalism' of college football. The show also features conversations on NFL coaching hires, the importance of getting the quarterback position right for NFL GMs, and Super Bowl storylines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Big Ten Football, NIL, and the New-Look USC

(31:34 – 37:54)

• USC’s Roster Construction:

  • Colin opens by highlighting a trend—successful teams in college football are increasingly built with older, more experienced players. He asks Lincoln Riley if USC will have enough of those to contend for a National Title.
  • Lincoln Riley: “We do, we do. We’ve got a good mix of, you know, the freshman class that you referenced... But honestly, most importantly, we return so many guys, especially at key positions... We’re going to be very experienced at O line, at quarterback, at running back, at linebacker, at defensive line.” (31:34)
  • Riley is optimistic about the blend of youth and returning experience, emphasizing critical returning contributors at core positions.

• The Makai Lemon Effect:

  • Colin singles out receiver Makai Lemon, drawing comparisons to JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) and Amon-Ra St. Brown, suggesting NFL evaluators see him as a possible mid-first-round pick.
  • Lincoln Riley: “He just got better and better as time went... he really established himself as the best receiver on our roster... He’s just such a consistent player. He was so easy to teach, so easy to coach because he was hungry and really understands the game on top of having some of the physical skills.” (33:00)
  • Riley notes Makai Lemon’s strong work ethic and football IQ, crediting his rise to development and confidence.

• Big Ten Schedule & the Notre Dame Rivalry:

  • Colin defends USC’s move away from playing Notre Dame annually, citing the toughness of the new Big Ten slate.
  • Lincoln Riley: “One, we tried to allow for the game to continue. The other side didn’t. And that therefore it’s not going to get played... our strength of schedule, the quality competition that we’re going to play... is as good as anybody in the country.” (34:32)
  • Riley emphasizes the breadth of USC’s new challenges and asserts the Notre Dame absence was not of USC’s doing.

• Jaden Mava’s Return & Quarterback Development:

  • Colin praises USC’s returning QB Jaden Mava, noting his leap in performance and pro potential.
  • Lincoln Riley: “The difference from two years ago to last year, how much he improved, his awareness, his confidence, his command of the offense was so much better... Those of us around him feel this kid still got a whole nother level to his game.” (35:37)
  • Riley describes Mava as “all in” and highlights the value of stability and experience at QB.

• NIL’s Parity & New Stories:

  • Colin and Riley agree that NIL has made stories like Indiana’s and Ole Miss’s recent rises possible and has injected new parity into the sport.
  • Lincoln Riley: “I think the parody, I think it’s what you said. It’s stories that wouldn’t have happened before that are happening now... Now there’s not just one part of the country paying players. Everybody’s able to do it... It’s created a much more level playing field.” (36:46)
  • Riley shares positives on NIL: broader competitive balance, more compelling player stories, and opportunity for schools to invest and contend.

• Gary Patterson’s “Mean Guitar” & Team-Building Culture:

  • Colin jokes with Riley about new DC Gary Patterson's guitar skills.
  • Lincoln Riley: “We do a coach’s charity golf tournament, Pebble Beach every year... every year he gets up on the guitar and entertains the crowd. He’s pretty good.” (37:43)

2. NFL Coaching and GM Talk: Quarterbacks & Franchise-Building

(02:35 – 17:47)

• Super Bowl Storylines: Pacific Northwest vs Patriots

  • Albert Breer details key Super Bowl subplots, focusing on the Seahawks’ youth movement reminiscent of the team’s previous era and Sam Darnold’s shot at redemption.
  • Albert Breer: “You have this team around him that looks like it could be another version of what John Schneider and Pete Carroll built 12 or 13 years ago.” (05:18)

• Power of Quarterbacks in GM Job Security

  • Colin argues that all a GM really needs is to “hit” on the QB, with plenty of room for other mistakes.
  • Colin Cowherd: “You can do a lot wrong as a GM... but Brandon Bean got Josh Allen right... If John Lynch doesn’t draft Brock Purdy, that Trey Lance draft pick, he could have lost his job.” (08:19)
  • Breer expands, outlining how missing on QBs shrinks a GM’s margin for error, referencing Minnesota’s failed pursuit of Drake May.
  • Albert Breer: “When you compound that with mistakes that are made in the draft... and then you do what you did at quarterback and it doesn’t work out, like, obviously then everybody’s going to point right back to the other stuff and say that was the problem.” (09:37)

• Coach and GM Hires: Positive Outlooks and Caution

  • Discussion of Clint Kubiak (Raiders), his strong reputation for discipline and self-awareness.

  • Albert Breer: “He was genuinely uncomfortable pursuing the opportunities that were in front of him because he really was truly committed to the Seahawks playoff run... Clint was very disciplined about that.” (11:38)

  • Breer notes Kubiak’s ability to learn from setbacks.

  • Quick takes on other coaching hires:

    • Jeff Hafley praised as a “logical” hire for Miami because of his track record developing young talent at Boston College and Green Bay.
    • Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy viewed as a sign they want to stay competitive rather than rebuild.
    • Green Bay’s hiring of Jonathan Gannon as DC receives positive notes for personnel fit.

3. Super Bowl MVP Odds & NFL News

(23:14 – 27:00)

• Super Bowl MVP Favorites:

  • J. Mac runs through odds: Sam Darnold is the favorite, followed by Drake May and JSN.
  • J. Mac: “Darnold going from cast off by the jets and the Panthers, bench warmer on the Niners to MVP... You’re going to be more insufferable than normal [Colin].” (24:12)

• Other NFL News:

  • Rams extend Sean McVay and Les Snead (25:53), praised for roster construction and player development.
  • Packers hire Jonathan Gannon as DC to replace Jeff Hafley; expectations are high, especially with a healthy Micah Parsons returning.

4. Notable Quotes & Exchanges

• On NIL Leveling the Playing Field:

  • Lincoln Riley (36:46):
    “Now, you know, now there’s not just one part of the country paying players. Everybody’s able to do it... and it’s a great thing because I do think it’s created a much more level playing field.”

• On USC’s Strength and Schedule:

  • Lincoln Riley (34:32):
    “We tried to allow for the [Notre Dame] game to continue. The other side didn’t... our strength of schedule, the quality competition... is as good as anybody in the country.”

• On Makai Lemon’s Potential:

  • Lincoln Riley (33:00):
    “He really started playing well, really established himself as the best receiver on our roster... so easy to teach, so easy to coach because he was hungry and really understands the game... I think this is a guy... that could fit in at any offense at the next level.”

• On Jaden Mava:

  • Lincoln Riley (35:37): “The difference from two years ago to last year, how much he improved, his awareness, his confidence, his command of the offense was so much better... this kid still got a whole nother level to his game.”

• On Parity in College Football:

  • Colin Cowherd (38:40):
    “That’s why. What does that help the fan? Well, you watched Indiana, Miami. It felt a little bit like a pro game... the quality of the games and quarterback play, I think college football with older players has just gotten smarter.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Big Ten, NIL, & USC Roster Talk (Lincoln Riley): 31:34 – 37:54

• Makai Lemon’s NFL Potential: 32:13 – 33:57

• Notre Dame Rivalry/Scheduling: 33:57 – 35:03

• Jaden Mava and QB Development: 35:03 – 36:20

• NIL Creating Parity: 36:20 – 37:31

• Gary Patterson Guitar Anecdote: 37:31 – 37:54

• NFL QB/GM Dynamics (Albert Breer): 02:35 – 10:47

• Coaching Hires Analysis: 10:47 – 14:29

• Super Bowl MVP/NFL News: 23:14 – 27:00

Memorable Moments

• Lincoln Riley’s “Five-Star Jab” on NIL:

  • J. Mac (38:40): “I like his little dig there. More than one part of the country paying players. Very nicely done, Lincoln. That was a five star jab.”
  • Colin Cowherd: “Just slid it in.”

• On College Football’s New Professionalism:

  • Colin Cowherd: “You want mustaches and beards on your football team.”

• On the Absence of Notre Dame in USC’s Schedule:

  • Colin responds humorously to fan gripes and Notre Dame’s softer scheduling compared to Big Ten.

Conclusion

This episode delivers an insightful look at how college football is rapidly professionalizing—on the back of older, more mature rosters, NIL-driven parity, and intensified schedules. Lincoln Riley reveals confidence in USC’s blend of veteran experience and top-end youth, while also defending the school’s controversial scheduling decisions. Additional segments—anchored by Albert Breer—highlight the existential importance of the quarterback position for NFL decision-makers and dissect high-leverage coaching hires around the league. The overall tone is candid, insider-driven, and laced with spirited banter that enhances both clarity and engagement for listeners at every level of football knowledge.

For more detail on any segment, see the timestamps above for direct navigation.