The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast - INSTANT REACTION: Oregon Cruises To Win Over USC, Lane Kiffin To LSU?

Episode Date: November 23, 2025

Colin gives his instant reaction to Oregon beating USC. He argues that Oregon has officially become one of the best college football programs in the nation, despite their defense being “mid” at best. He explains why USC just doesn’t have enough good players to compete with top tier competition and that the criticisms of Lincoln Riley have been validated. Finally, he discusses Lane Kiffin’s future and predicts he’ll take the LSU job and discusses why he loves the new UFO documentary “The Age of Disclosure”. All lines provided by hardrock.bet (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates!  #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Call 1-800-9 with it. Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler. Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. Well, Oregon was a nine and a half point favorite. I think most of us felt it was a tough matchup for USC to go to Outson when in big games, especially on the road, USC gets pushed around. Their defense has major holes it did today.

And I think as Oregon cruises to a win, I think, There's two or three things big picture. Oregon now is a top six or seven program. Mario Cristobal, Dan Lannning, both elite recruiters, Phil Knight's NIL money. Oregon's been recruiting even before NIL for the last 10 years at a more consistently great level than USC, which is remarkable considering, you know, the state of Oregon has maybe three or four really good high school players annually and California has 100. You know, it blows the mind. But when I covered Oregon early, the great advantage Oregon had and took advantage of is they didn't have a lot of history. Rich Brooks did a good job, but, I mean, it wasn't a notable national program.

And then Mike Bloddy comes in and Chip Kelly becomes his coordinator and Chip Kelly. And then it became more of a national program. But it was really led by Phil Knight and the 100 uniforms and the 30 helmets. And the facilities during the facility wars, Oregon was top of the West Coast and USC at, you know, until about, I don't even know if Pete Carroll had great facilities. I think it was post-Pete. They started building good facilities down at USC. So Oregon's been a much more progressive forward-moving program. If it's NIL, they figure there's out very quickly.

If it's stadium upgrades, it's not as political as school. as political and environment as USC football. It's just really, really, you know, west of Denver, Oregon's been the best football program for a long time, and it was a really fun program to cover. I kind of caught it. It wasn't nearly as big a wave as it is now, but I followed it, you know, ever since I got into Portland and since I watch as many Oregon games as I can. They're an exceptional college football program.

USC is a good college team. And I think you have to ask yourself, when you watch today, it's a reoccurring theme, is that when Oregon plays a really good team, Penn State last year, they give up a boatload. Notre Dame, Oregon this year, they can't stop anybody. Four years in, the defense is still at best, mid, and against elite teams, less than mid. That's what it is. Special teams, come on, short kicks hitting. to upright, give me a break. It was an awful special teams day. And even the offense,

even in lean times, I mean, even Paul Hackett, you know, recruited Carson Palmer. I mean, even in lean times, USC's always had good backs and tight ends and multiple receivers. The entire offense is McClellan, who is a late first, early second receiver, good, good receiver, not blazing speed, not enormous size, but just a tremendously tough, smart, runs the whole route tree, gritty, really a great player. That's it. That's the offense. The running backs have been hurt for a month.

The tight ends are average. I do think Lincoln is a really smart offensive coach from play design to play calling and Jaden Maiava. I watched them at UNLV. I thought he was reckless and athletic. I never thought he'd be close to the. this good. He's a draftable player now, probably a second or a third. I texted a GM this week and asked him. He's probably a second or a third round quarterback, but his accuracy is improved, his decision-making's

better. It's not his fault. You know, I went into this game and my takeaway was the way to win on the road, you have to have, you have to generally make a play in special teams to your advantage. Well, USC gives up a punt return for a touchdown. You're not going to win a road game against an elite team like that. You also have to run the ball on the road. You have to control the clock. And Oregon did not play a clean game. It was, I mean, USC was really sloppy, but Oregon was sloppy. A lot of penalties. They gave USC multiple opportunities. It's not like the Trojans didn't have opportunities in this game. They were down a touchdown, had the ball, could never take advantage of it. But in the end, it came down to bad special teams and couldn't make any big stops. You know,

they had a big stop. Erlacker's interception was a great, kind of hits his arm, grabs it, goes, a great play by him. They didn't have their starting safety today, but the backups, Pierce and Erlacker, were, you know, really good, solid players. But USC just doesn't have enough good players. Right now, with Kamari Ramsey, the safety out, Bishop's also a draftable player at safety. He and Ramsey were not playing. So, I mean, Mackay Lemons, you're really high draft pick, one at USC. So it's a one-man offense. You know, I'd say two, Jane Maiava and Mackay Lemon, dependable, really high-end players. Offensive lines okay, tight-ins average. And this is year four. So, you know, USC now has attacked Southern California recruiting, but it's inexcusable.

For the first three years, they virtually ignored it. So it's just four years in, I mean, when Brett Venables took over Oklahoma, he'd never been a head coach. Lincoln Riley had been a head coach for several years. You thought he had a big advantage. Also, L.A. is a much better recruiting area than the state of Oklahoma. But Brett Venables has established an identity. He's got an NFL quarterback in Matere. They play top physical football. You kind of know what Oklahoma is. What is USC? Good quarterbacks, four years in. They have good quarterback play. That's, something, but they're not terribly talented or deep. They're not multi-dimensional.

They can't stop good teams. They're hitting miss on the road. Special teams are all over the map, usually poor in big games. So I think the critics on Lincoln Riley, four years in, have every right to say we were right. And I do think, you know, again, when he came out of Oklahoma, I thought he's got head coaching experience. USC's got a lot of money. LA is a fertile recruiting ground.

He's going to get Caleb Williams. That looks like it's going to work. Four years in? I mean, his first year, he had Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison. I mean, those guys, I mean, that's four years later. That's what the team is. I mean, the first year, it was Caleb Williams, Jordan Addison, and a really bad defense. Special teams are all over the map.

It's kind of what you are your first. right? So I, you know, I, I just kind of look at USC right now and, and they're not close to Oregon. They're really not. Oregon recruits better. They have a better brand, more identity. The money's rolling in. Yes, it helps to have Phil Knight. So what? Come on. The Los Angeles economy is a monster. I mean, the California economy, I think, is fifth biggest in the world. Jen Cohen, the athletic director that came down from Washington, has raised a lot of money for new facilities in NIL. USC's NIL is not Oregon, maybe not Ohio State or Texas, but it's very good. It's very strong.

It's top seven or eight in the country. But they haven't spent the money wisely. You know, I hear how great their 2026 class is, but none of those players are on the field today. So, I mean, again, I think Oregon is just a tip-top. program. Dante Moore is such a good quarterback. By the time I came up here to record this, he was 22, a 30, 257 yards and a couple touchdowns. I really think he's exceptional. He is really a good player. And Oregon was missing their top three receivers. And that's really, that really shows you what Oregon is. They were missing their top three receivers and scored in

the 40s. They could run the ball. They've got so much depth. I mean, they're tight end. the one guy looks like a professional bodybuilder. They just looked the part. Oregon's got, I mean, Oregon has, if Dante Moore came out, I think they have five players in the top 36. I believe they do. Five players in the top 36. USC's got one.

And USC's based in Los Angeles. So, and USC has more than enough money. So, Oregon. is a really good program, and I don't think anything stopping it. I heard Dan Lannning today on Game Day said, you know, I'm here forever. And I actually think Oregon's a really good job as long as you have, I mean, the facilities are remarkable. The fan loyalty is remarkable.

They travel to road games. Oregon fans are just fantastic. And it's not a distracted like Seattle or L.A. or the Bay Area. You know, in the West Coast, unlike some of the southern towns, there's a lot of pro sports. It's easy to get distracted. I mean, UCLA football is invisible in L.A. But Oregon football in the Pacific Northwest, it's a big deal. It's the coolest brand in the Pacific Northwest, including the Seahawks, including the Mariners.

Oregon football has got the coolest brand. Just everything about it reeks of cool and smart and thoughtful. And Dan Lannning's exceptional. He's just, you know, he's got that ability that he's got the alpha. He's got that certain fortitude that, I mean, I would want to play for Dan Lannning. Like he is just, he's like a player's guy, that he is optimistic and tough, but supportive. I mean, he's just everything you want. And the fact that a Southern guy has embraced the Pacific Northwest, good for Oregon, great choice.

I didn't know if he'd make it. I thought, well, he's got no tie to the West Coast. And I made a couple calls, and they're like, you know, he's a go-getter. He was a defensive guy on the Georgia staff. And I'm like, well, that's Kirby's. Are we sure? I mean, and Oregon's like, yeah, three thousand miles away. He's our guy.

And Oregon, to their credit, I mean, they've made a couple of mistakes, but by and large, they hire good head coaches. Mario Cristobal, people could have their pushback on Mario, but he's a great recruiter. And I've always said, if you're going to make a mistake, and I'm not saying Mario Cristobal is, if you're going to make a mistake hiring a coach, hire a great recruiter. When Florida hired Ron Zook, it was a mistake. But Zook was an amazing recruiter, and he handed all those players to Urban Meyer. Oklahoma years ago had a coach they hired that flamed out, but he handed all the players to Bob Stoops, who in year two won a national championship.

So what you don't want to hire is some scheme expert who doesn't like recruiting. If he doesn't work, it's a three-year rebuild. So Oregon's had great rosters and Sunday players for over a decade. And I just admire the program. But I think when you, if you're a critic of Lincoln Riley, I think you can raise your hand and say, I told you so, and you're right. I think he's a really good play designer and play caller. And he did a remarkable job with Jaden Mayava deserves all the credit.

And their offense is clever and it's creative and they hung around in this game today. But man, it's a pattern. Big games against good teams. Defense just isn't close. to making enough plays, just not enough talent. And their special teams continue to be woeful in big spots. And it's year four. So all the critics, today's their day.

And you have to respect that. There are a lot of people from the beginning that didn't think he had the, the, whatever it is, whatever those skills are, it's hard, man, to be a head coach. I mean, Mike McDaniel in Miami, I think is a brilliant young coach. I don't think he's a great head coach. And I've said this. I really think Lincoln Riley is smart. Is he a great culture builder?

Because I talk to NFL executives, and they always say, we don't need a scheme guy. That's what coordinators are for. I need a culture builder. I need Mike Vrable. I need a Harbaugh, a Sean Payton, a Mike McDonald, a Sean McVeigh. I don't need scheme guy as a head coach. Lincoln, Riley, at this point, is a great scheme guy.

He hasn't proven he is a great head coach. All right, some thoughts on Lane Kiffin. I've been talking to some people today about Lane Kiffin. Listen, the SEC is a different ballgame, is nobody loses any sleep taking somebody else's head coach. I've said I think Lane Kiffin should probably stay at Old Miss or go pro. Go coach on Sundays. I think bouncing around, I mean, he was at Tennessee for one year and bolted.

Now he's going to piss everybody off at Old Miss and probably take the LSU job, which comes, I mean, you're going to make $15 million a year if you get into the playoff and win some games, but Lane's not short on cash. LSU is short on patience. Yeah, I think I often try to put myself into a position, you know, look, what would I do? And I'm never going to criticize people for professional mobility. You know, I bounced around and I have friends who have and I, and I, this whole loyalty thing, be loyal to your family. There's a great opportunity. Olmiss is a good job.

LSU's a great job. LSU, the governor stepping in would be a huge turnoff for me. I've always said, chase good management, money, there's a sea of it if you're good at what you do. LSU would worry me. And I think Florida is a remarkable job. I mean, Spruyer, Urban Meyer. There are a lot of coaches. You can win a lot of games at Florida.

And you're close to the beach. Get yourself like Spruyer, a beach house or a beach condo, a second home. Gainesville's a cool college town. Florida job's really good. But I think he's probably going to go to LSU. I think he likes the South. I think he's changed his life. And remember, I've been told this by

really, really good head coach, told me this, that offensive players will follow the coach. So Lane is always going to get good offensive players at a high school and the transfer portal because he's going to go to the whiteboard, draw it up, and offensive players are going to be like, yeah, I want some of that. The great defensive players, the five-star guys, they like to play at the big schools. They're not as coach loyal. They're going to go to Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Clemson and LSU and Georgia and Bama and Oklahoma. And defensive players tend to go to the big schools. Offensive guys follow the wizard, the offensive guru.

So Lane's offenses, he doesn't matter. Roy coaches, Ole Miss, Florida Atlantic. He's going to get offensive guys. He's not going to get elite defensive guys at Ole Miss, like he can get at Georgia or a Bama or a Florida or an LSU. And I think Lay knows that. So my gut today, he'll play. probably take the LSU job.

In coaching circles, it's always been thought of as Georgia, LSU, Bama are the three best jobs in the conference. I think Florida is one that really attract me. I went to Gainesville four or five times. I really like the town. And I think Florida is a cool gig. A lot to like about Florida, the entire athletic department. It's like well-run.

But I think he's going to go to LSU. I said this on FS1 this week when people say, but he could be an all-time legend at Ole Miss. I've never heard a single person in my life. Let's say I've got a couple friends that are, you know, they're in the wealth management business. They want to make a good living, provide for their family, and have a great support system.

They've never once said to me is, I want to be the greatest stockbroker in the history of Blight. I want to be a legend at blank. That's not a discussion anybody has. That's what fans say. What they want is a good salary, great support, and a place their family's comfortable living. So, you know, being a legend at Ole Miss,

that Lane Kiffin didn't get into coaching thinking, I want to be a legend anywhere. He doesn't even want to be a legend at LSU, Sabin's coach there. He wants to win natties, be able to get five-star players, have a lot of money behind him, and he knows he can build a better roster at LSU or Florida than Ole Miss. That's what coaches think about, right?

That's what they think about. I want to be, I've never met a pro athlete that I want to be the great, maybe the late Kobe Bryant's like, hey, can I be the greatest linker of all time or something? Maybe. But I think Kobe, more than anything, want to get paid and wanted to hoist trophies. That's what you want to do. That's what great athletes want to do. Show me the lettuce and let's pursue trophies.

Give me the right coach, the GM, the roster, LFG. Let's win it. Finally, I'm going to go, I may watch it for a second time. The Age of Disclosure on Amazon Prime. I watched it this morning. I'm probably watching it again tonight. The Age of Disclosure. It is a 90-minute, just shy of,

to our documentary, much anticipated, on UPAs or UFOs and the legacy program within our government that even Congresspeople can't access. And it's a story from senior officials. I mean, it's really impressive. The litany of, you know, important people in our government. This is not, you know, bloggers or people change. chasing contrails. You're getting senior officials, physicists, Stanford professors commenting on it, insiders in our government for 50 years talking about craft that is not created by us, that we don't know what the hell they are. And I'm not going to give it away. I'm not going to spoil it, but there's a five, about an hour in, the physicist talks about a certain kind of craft

that exceeds what we can create. And it's fascinating. It is absolutely fascinating. It goes for about five minutes. It's about an hour in talking about what people have seen and the probability of what it is. And it is next level. I've watched every UFO documentary. I've always thought it's foreign craft. It's China. It's Russia. I don't think for the first time in my life, I do not believe that after watching Age of Disclosure. And there is a five. five minute segment that is the most captivating, utterly fascinating five minutes that I've ever seen in any UPA or UFO documentary. You'll know what I'm talking about. You'll know what I'm talking about.

I'm not going to give it away, but it is mind-blowing. I mean, I literally rushed upstairs, found my wife. I see, you got to download it now, watch it. And you just get to an hour in. She's like, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. You get, you get, you get, you give, you get really worked up. Yeah, yeah, because this whole earth may not be around in 15 minutes. I'm getting worked up.

I'm just age of disclosure. Watch it. And good night. The volume. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin.

And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions.

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David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garros. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay.

Listen, Lernerabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist

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