The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - James Franklin joins The Herd

Episode Date: July 23, 2025

Colin talks to Penn State head coach James Franklin about being a National Championship contender and expectations for quarterback Drew Allar.  He also shares summer box office movies titles inspired by the biggest moves of the NBA offseasonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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We'll be joining us in 30 minutes. We are live. We're in Chicago. It is the herd. So J-Mack, I was watching, I got it this morning, and I got on the old treadmill. Nine incline, four-speed, a little sweat. What are you, like a rock climber now? That is steep.

And sports center came on. What's that? And long before they got to the Dallas Cowboys story, they showed the Indiana fever and the New York Liberty playing. And Caitlin Clark didn't play. And I thought the highlights were very engaging. New York won. Obviously, without Caitlin Clark, they're not a very good team, whether they're a very good team. They're not great and terrible.

They're very good and not very good without her. But it's interesting. So the numbers finally came out on the WNBA All-Star game without Caitlin Clark. She was injured. So it got 2.2 million viewers. Now, that was down from last year's 3.4 that had Caitlin Clark. But that wasn't the story. We knew it would be down.

The story was, even without Caitlin Clark, it was the second highest rated WNB. NBA All-Star game ever, and that is a huge point of distinction. Two things are clear. If Caitlin Clark plays in the All-Star game, it will set records. But now, because of her popularity, even if she doesn't, it will break records and be the second highest ever, only beaten by the time she played in it. And that matters. that's why the women, despite you guys not liking the t-shirts they wore, pay us, you owe us,

that's why the women have the leverage. And this is what Tiger Woods did to the PGA tour. Yes, Tiger made the most money, but he raised the purses in all tournaments and made a lot of people rich. That was the key. So this All-Star rating is proving, despite losing a million viewers from last year, is that she has risen the entire league. This league is now a topic on all sports shows on all sports networks. I'm watching the highlights this morning.

Comes right before the Cowboys. And people say, well, the last 25 years it's lost money. Guys have, any of guys business people, that doesn't matter much. You don't even have to make a profit to sell your company for millions and millions of dollars. I use the example of the athletic being purchased by the New York Times. It was losing $45 million a year, and they're very happy today because it breaks more stories than any sports section, probably of my life. It's very relevant to the athletic. It's not real profitable, but it adds scale to the New York Times.

So it's a great investment, very worthy investment. And this is the point. All negotiations in business, in all sectors, it could be tech, it could be media, law, it doesn't matter. are all about timing. The WNBA is hot and the contract's up. Now, if the contract would have been up one hour before Caitlin Clark was drafted, that's a different ballgame. You'd be projecting on something you didn't know, but now we have numbers.

Now we have two back-to-back all-star ratings. Sets a record and even if gone, highest in 19 years except for the one game wither that set the record. And here's the other thing. is that this is not a woke opinion, is that league valuations for all these investors have increased in one year 168%. That's not the fever. The fever with Caitlin's evaluation has got up 273%.

The rest of the teams, on average have risen by 100%, or 168%, and all of them at least 100%. So if you're an investor, the contract's up, you're negotiating, and your investment's gone up 100% in the last year. Minimum. Average is 168%. You're selling it? I'll give you an example. Is that in the last year, the Bay Area, San Francisco Bay Area, has had a franchise, an expansion franchise. They're using the Warriors Arena.

they sell out all their home games. That's not about Caitlin Clark. So some of you guys out there on the internet, you know, you're epidemiologists, you're experts in politics, you're not very good business people. You're all caught up on, well, the previous 25 years,

they're hot now. And the negotiations are currently in session. The girls have the leverage. Now, would I have worn the T-shirts? No, it's silly, but who cares? It doesn't matter here or there. It just doesn't matter. It's something that people like media people talk about.

It has no impact. What has impact are those All-Star ratings? The merchandise sales explosion, the ticket sale explosion, the TV rating increases, and more than anything, the valuation of the franchise explosion, and not just the fever. And so they have leverage. They've got leverage. All negotiations. are just timing. You know, it's, it's, it's, I'm sitting there looking this morning.

I'm watching the highlights and I'm like, you're kind of telling on yourself if you're like, the other argument I hear that doesn't make a bit of difference. Well, she's the only player that's changing it. Well, the all-star ratings proved that's not true. She didn't play and the ratings were still up. But even if she was the only player, there were a lot of kind of popular golfers. There was only one guy outside of Augusta. Augusta drives its own rating, regardless of who's playing.

It's higher when you have a star like a Rory McElroy winning or Mickelroy winning. But the truth is, golf exploded, and Tiger Woods overwhelmingly singularly drove the rating. Who cared if you were in network and wanted to negotiate? And you said, well, I'm not going to pay that much for golf. I mean, the only guy driving the ratings is Tiger. and the PGA said, well, this is the beginning of a 12-year run with Tiger. Do you want Tiger? Here's what you have to pay NBC.

Here's what you have to pay ESPN or CBS. You can say you've only got Tiger. Well, that's enough because he'll play all the majors. Well, you've only got Caitlin Clark. Well, she'll be in the All-Star game. She'll be in the playoffs. We'll put her on TV 30 and 38 games. I mean, so, well, it doesn't do as well.

well without her. Yeah, and tournaments without Tiger didn't do as well, but the whole sport was elevated. So I think she, I think the women have the leverage here, not the business investors. And it's, I have used this example more than once over the last week. I own a podcast company. If I had a podcast for five years, not lost money for four and a half years, and six months before the end of the contract, they added somebody to the podcast and the ratings exploded, I would re-sign that podcast, even though four and a half years they lost me money. If I had a podcast

that made a fortune for me for four years, somebody great left and it went into the tank, I probably wouldn't give them a new contract, even though it was much more lucrative. It's all about timing. It's all about now. And right now, the WNBA's hot. Well, Caitlin Clark, she's going to play

for 10 years. You've got 10 years of price. It's the worst she's ever going to be. So I think they have all the leverage, or most of the leverage. Now, they're not going to make 50% of revenues like guys, they're not. Because it is more one person dominated. But they're going to get, they're never going to sign another contract making only 9% of revenues.

That's not going to happen. They'll get somewhere between 25 and 35, and that's reasonable. By the way, another Pittsburgh Steeler hammering on the culture. First, it was Najee Harris. Now it's George Pickens. Here's George Pickens. He's probably one of the best coaches I've ever had around. Definitely a size like Kirby Smar and a lot of other legend coaches that I play for.

But his energy, like you said, his energy is like one of one. I think I needed a first start just in terms of, like you said, people not knowing me. I'm definitely excited to run better plays for sure. Yeah. Interesting. For the record, fewest games with 400 plus total yards in the last four years. Pittsburgh's got six tied for the fewest with those unwashable Patriot teams and the Panthers.

So I'm not saying all defensive coaches don't get offense. Dan Quinn, Dan Quinn hired Cliff Kingsbury, home run. Dan Quinn hired Kyle Shanahan, home run. Some defensive coaches, Dan Quinn's one of them, no offense or know what they don't know. The Steelers' offense in the last, six seasons. I'll put it in the screen. I'm not reading all of it for the radio audience. I apologize.

It's a lot of numbers. It's bad. Like bottom of the league. And when you consider that they've got better players, I mean, this is Pittsburgh that's got a good roster, meaning their defense puts their offense in a better field position. So think about that to be 28th, 29th, and last in the offense in the last six years with Pittsburgh's defense. Right? Like you can take more chances on offense when you have a great defense. You can open up the playbook when you have better field position thanks to your defense. And it's still horrible. So just throwing it out there, not good. And I've said this, forget the NFC. If you just gave me the AFC power rankings, I just ranked the 10 most viable playoff teams just in the AFC. Where would I have Pittsburgh? Well, I'd have Buffalo

Kansas City, Baltimore Chargers, Broncos. By the way, really like all the quarterbacks. Texans, Bengals, 6 and 7, star quarterbacks. Patriots, Titans, I think will be the two most improved teams in the league, both with coaches that get offense, and I'd have Pittsburgh 10. Why? They can't figure out their O line. They lost Pickens and Naji Harris and their left tackle.

I would have them 10th in the AFC. And by the way, above them, I would have Josh Allen, Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Sean Payton, C.J. Stroud, Joe Burrow, Vrable. And I think Cam Ward is going to shock people how good he is in Tennessee. Jay Mack, you're looking at me with a level of shock, dismay. Wait a minute. Hold on. Hold on. Coward. Listen, we both like Cam Ward. We're bullish on the Tennessee Titans. To have them ninth? in the A, ahead of Miami?

A healthy Miami? What? Don't you have Tennessee in the playoffs? I mean, I had them as like a fringe team because of their division. But power ranking is different, though. Power ranking is best teams. Time out. If you have them as a fringe playoff team, that's about ninth.

Well, the difference is you can be eight and nine in that division and get to the playoffs, whereas Miami could win 10 games and still miss. I've told you. I've sold my Miami stock. I think they're bad. I think the Jets have a chance to finish third. I think the Mike McDaniels, too, I don't like their roster, their O-Line, left tackle retired, Jalen Ramsey gone. And I got to ask, Trevor Lawrence, no love for the Jags? He's got a new head coach.

They got Travis Hunter, they got the young kid. Oh, wow. They're good. I'm doubting Jacksonville. What a hot take. I'm doubting Jacksonville delivers. I've been begging them to deliver for four years with Trevor Lawrence. I'm out on Miami and out on the Jags.

You don't like these warm weather Florida teams. What about the low tax situation in Florida? Shouldn't they be getting a lot of great free agents? I don't, by the way, I don't see any part of this. I think Cincinnati and the Texans are good, but I don't think they're great. I think there's five teams that can be great in the AFC. Bill's Chief, Ravens, Chargers, Broncos can be great. Then it's a series of improved or limited.

Texans, Bengals, Patriots, Titans, Steelers. Just humor me here. Didn't the Raiders, like, weren't they competitive last year? I think they won seven games. You're telling me the Raiders aren't going to be better than the Titans and Steelers. Upgrading at coach, upgrading at a coordinator, quarterback? I think it's inches not feet. I would do Raiders at 11.

Where are the Jets out of the 16? Near the bottom. Okay. No, no, pile on. Pile on away. I'm going to be quiet. I'm going to zip it. Lock it, put it in my pocket, and then wait for the moment that Justin Fields takes over,

and the jets suddenly are like six and three, and we have a glimmer of home. Okay. Okay. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, we're Kavino and Rich. Fox Sports Radio every day, 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern.

But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Overpromised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two-hour show. We never get to everything. Honestly, because this guy is over-promising things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubber lips. Blame and me.

Well, you know what? It's called Over-Promise. You should be good at it because you've been over-promising women for years. Well, it's a Kavino-and-rich after show, and we want you to be a part of it. We're going to be talking sports, of course. But we're also going to talk life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Overpromised.

Well, if you don't get enough, Kavino & Rich, make sure you check out Overpromise, and also uncensored, by the way. So maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's going to be the best after show podcast of all time. There you go. Overpromising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube,

but definitely join us. Listen to Overpromised with Kavino and Rich on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news.

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. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say,

Hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy,

Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L'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. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated, polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets,

meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion-dollar fraud, But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you content. and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. By the way, old J-Mack told me before the show. He said, where are you getting your information on Penn State? May I have to put a little money down on the Nittany Lions. I would strongly advise you to do it on your Draft King's account. I think they are playing for the national championship. The last team to have a running back duo this good was Georgia when they had Sony

Michelle and Nick Chubb. Penn State's backfield is an absolute first round running back and maybe a second round running back and or maybe it's two seconds, but a first round quarterback, excellent O line and they poach the Buckeyes defensive coordinator. Ohio State last year, the two running backs they had, Henderson and what's his face, both got drafted. That's a good point. They're good. I mean, the other guy, Jenkins or Judkins? Yeah, they were excellent. Yeah.

Now, back-to-back years, it's the Big Ten. It has the dominant backfield, not the SEC. It's a better conference right now at the top. J-MAC with the News. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Hurdline News. Let's start really quickly with the NBA, because we got to introduce Mockus,

My newest Laker met with the media, Colin. And guess what? Luca Donchich was leading the recruiting charge on Marcus Smart. If you don't love this, you're not a real Laker fan. Here's Marcus Smart talking about Luca coming after him. When you get a guy like Luca calling, referencing, checking on him, trying to see where you're at to see and that if you want to come and, you know, join something special that he's trying to cook up over here.

That meant a lot, you know. played against Luke a lot I've been on a lot of opposing ends of you know Luca magic and to be able to come out and be on his side at this time I think we stack right up there

with the best of them you know and I think we can our ceiling was hot I think there's no ceiling I think if we all lock in and come and do what we're supposed to do we can have a real good shot in

well I like him he's his body's been beat up because he's such a great defensive, committed player. I like him. I do like Marcus Smart. It's interesting. You know who didn't call him?

LeBron James. You know, I'm trying not to get too upset. LeBron's not in a good headspace right now, clearly. He's got some stuff going on. He's upset. But once he gets out of this little malaise, this summer funk, he's going to be fine. I mean, seriously, Colin, when they lock in, tell me a team with two better players than Luca and LeBron.

on the roster. Like, you just can't find one right now. I'm sorry. They're going to be good. I think you need to get on board. All right, let's move on to another Los Angeles team. The Rams, not great news for your boy, Matt Stafford. He's been limited this week in camp with a sore back. Now, we do need to end.

He's going into year 17, Colin. Okay? And a few years ago with the Rams, he got beat the hell up in the pocket. Remember, he was sacked a ton of times. only played nine games. You got to keep Stafford healthy. How do you feel about the offensive line, Colin? Because Stafford's 37 going into your, he turns 38 in February right around the Super Bowl. And you know, you got to look at it. He's getting a little long in the tooth there is Stafford. Yeah, I think what they're going to do, they have two first-round

picks. Ideally, they would take a quarterback. And if their pick will be too good to get a quarterback without giving up the farm. But Atlanta's pick, they have that may not be. But the first three positions they're going to draft quarterback, offensive tackle, and corner. They're pretty stout everywhere else. They're not looking to bum rush him out. They would like to draft a quarterback and have him sit because they want him to play this year and next year, and they want the young quarterback to sit behind him because Stafford has such great work habits and such a cerebral approach to the game. But I think they're resting him, and I think they've done this three straight years. They're not looking to get rid of him. They would like him to be the starting

quarterback this year and next, but I do believe, and I know this, I got at source, they're going to go big game hunting on quarterback. The Rams are really smart. They saw this quarterback class a couple years ago. There's three guys, maybe four if Nussmeyer hits at LSU that are top 10, top 12 capable quarterbacks, and I don't think there's a wide gap. I think my take is Drew Aller right now is the guy I would take one, but let's watch Arch Manning play. So they're going to draft the quarterback without the need to play him. That's their key. They want to, they, they, they, they don't want to have to play him the first year, which would be Matt's last year probably is a ram. Yeah. All right. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping

by. The Hurdline News. Well, I have them in the national championship. Michigan, Ohio State, and I think Penn State faces Texas for a natty. I've said that multiple times on the air. James Franklin has won 10 plus games and made a New Year's six bowl game in three straight years. James, oh, now you're the favorite. You got the best quarterback. You got the best backfield. I'd argue since Sony Michelle and Nick Chubb in the SEC. It is interesting.

We always want these coaches like James Franklin to walk into a program and just start devouring people. But the big 10, I really believe this, James. I think at the top it is better than the SEC, and it has been. for two years. You coached at Vandy, now at Penn State. Do you believe that to be true? Well, I think the reality is we're part of that conversation now. I think in years past, everybody was talking SEC, SEC, SEC, and then after what we've been able to do the last two years, obviously, I think that's changed that conversation. So it's all based on perspective. Obviously, I got strong feelings. I know you have strong feelings. But we're part of that conversation. I don't

think there's any doubt so it's funny i was i was talking to urban mire about this two years ago i watched drew aller and i'm like there's something there but he's not he needs to be more refined then i watched them last year and went all right he's going to be the number one pick on my board he there he made a big jump in accuracy tell me what you saw in his improvement i'm watching tv i just see the ball comes out quicker and more accurately i don't get the game i don't get the practice film where did he make the big jump to you well it's probably going to be something that you just didn't mention uh it's it's his athleticism and movements he's six foot five he was 242 pounds he's now about 232 pounds um i think the game of football has changed the old days of the pro

style quarterback that's just going to stand there and sling it around that that doesn't exist anymore um so a guy that's going to be able to get one or two first downs a game he doesn't doesn't have to be a LeVar. I'm not saying that, but you know, be able to threaten people with his feet, his movements, his ability to extend plays. He's always been a great decision maker in terms of touchdown to interception ratio. And then what we had to do is we had to go out and get a few more wideouts and continue to develop the ones we had.

Guys are going to make more consistent plays for him on the outside. I actually think the NIL helps guys like you. Well, you don't have to worry about your job, but let's say Lincoln Riley struggling at USC. He wins eight games again, and people start yelling and screaming, and my take is the NIL helps coaches. Because you're asking boosters to raise $15 million a year for players. They're not getting rid of coaches and writing another $50 million buyout, and then another $50 million for the next coach is that coaches initially some blanched at the NIL. And my take is, well, these athletic departments have to raise so much money. to retain players. They can't buy out coaches left and right. Did you initially looked at NIL?

When it first arrived years ago, were you concerned about it? And if so, where are you now with it? Yeah, I think everybody initially was concerned. I think in theory, nobody had a problem with it. I think, you know, when you talk about the money that college football brings in, not only for the conferences, but for these campuses, the players deserve a portion of that. I don't think anybody ever had an issue with it. The challenge, as you know, is some programs have more money than others. So that creates some of the issues. I think some of the things that have happened in terms of leveling the field is there's been programs that have had a culture of giving for a long time. And they were able to transition in this world a little bit faster than others.

But I actually would say the transfer portal has got as much of an impact on that as anything, because if you let your coach go and that coach is connected and tight with the team in a way he should be, those guys can all go into the transfer portal. You could lose 50 guys to go into the transfer portal by making a coaching change. So I think that's impacted as much as anything. You know, it's interesting. I've been to Penn State's campus twice, the Nittany Lion Inn, which, by the way, has great free popcorn. just in case you ever go there, Coach.

It's a great place to stay. And when I went there both times, I was taken by the fact that for about an hour until you drive there, there's nothing there, and then this beautiful stadium arrives, and the campus is gorgeous, it's got great architecture. But if you're looking for a city environment, so now you have to recruit against maybe a USC or an Ann Arbor.

And I look at Penn State, and I'm like, when I went there, I was like, yeah, it's kind of remote, but it's fascinating. It is such a unique community. What sold you on Penn State? Because you had a lot of people coming after you at Success at Banderbilt. What separates Penn State because your recruiting has been phenomenal since you've been there? Well, I think a couple things.

I think it depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for a city school, then obviously we're not that. But if you're looking for a college town, we're kind of like the postcard for college town. It's exactly what you're looking for. I grew up in a state of Pennsylvania, grew up just outside of Philadelphia. So this is home for me. It made sense. I understood the place.

But yeah, if you're looking to be in, whether it's Miami or whether it's Philadelphia, or whether it's Atlanta, we're not that. But if you're looking for a college town where everything revolves around the university, and it's not just the football program. We sell out 107,000 fans in every single game. We have over 70,000 season. and tickets sold out every single year. But it's also, our women's volleyball program, they're sold out on a Wednesday night. They just won the national championship. It's our soccer program is playing

on Tuesday night. It's sold out. Obviously what Kail's been able to do in wrestling. So this is a place where football matters, the athletic department matters, the university matters, and everything revolves around it. Some of these schools that are in cities, they got a lot to compete with. In state college, It's football. It's the university. It's the athletic department. You know, so you guys were, I think, eighth in the country in defense last year. And then you go get, and now you're bringing in Ohio State, Jim Knowles, defensive coordinator.

What is the balance between retaining what you did that was highly successful last year? 130 Division I programs you were eight. And now you bring in a different guy who has maybe a different vision. What is the balance between doing a lot of what you did that worked and his? system. Yeah, I think that's a great point. You know, last year, obviously, the game before the national championship game. And I had three new coordinators last year. Offensive coordinator, defense coordinator, special team's coordinator, we're all new. Retain the special teams coordinator, retain the offensive coordinator, and then went out and was able to get Jim

Knowles. All these discussions were not in a point where we can afford to start over, right? Like, Jim, you're coming here. We already got a really good foundation. I've been fortunate. Every defensive coordinator that's worked for me has had a top 10 defense. I think that obviously is a lot of credit to those coaches, but it's also culturally kind of who we are and how we operate. So, Jim, you know, we're not asking you to come in and change what we do.

And philosophically, we do a lot of things saying both are four down fronts. We've been attack style. We play man and zone. So it fit for him as well. So, you know, what can stay the same? What needs to change? And let's get rolling. And he's done a really good job.

You know, obviously, he's been a defense coordinator for a long time. He's been a head coach. He's been great. Any good questions I should ask him? I'm going to be a real journalist here, probing journalist. Well, what do I ask, Drew? Anything good I should ask him? Well, what I will say is you're just going to love him.

He's just, he's a great person. He's obviously gotten better each year. you look at kind of his recruiting journey. It's different. It's old school. He was not a high-profile recruiting. I think it was a three-star recruit when we first started recruiting him. Ends up being based on what rankings you look at, the number one recruit in the country.

It's gotten better every single year. He's been on campus. He's never looked to leave. He's never leveraged anybody. He's what you want. If you got into the organization, whether it's the NFL or college, he's the type of guy you want lead an organization. It's about the team. It's about, you know, the community.

He's the best. So you're going to love him. I think you're going to be a big fan when you get to spend some time. And that's another thing I want to do. I want to invite you. If you haven't been to Happy Valley in a while, you talk about the Nitty Lion in, we redid it. It's been gutted. It's brand new.

You need to come. You need to come for a game this year, check it out. It's a special place. We'd love to have you. Do your show from Happy Valley. We'd love to have you. That's really, you know, Ryan Day didn't offer me that yesterday. I like that. James Franklin's recruit me, baby.

That's how he gets all those good players. It's great seeing you. Thank you so much. Really appreciate the opportunity to be on your show. All right. James Franklin, 12th year at Penn State. And I got to tell you, folks, you look at K.Tron Allen on that backfield and Singleton and Drew Allard, to me, when we show the highlights, that's what a first-round quarterback

looks like. Just watch the high. When we roll the highlights, and I'm doing this interview, just watch it. Big, strong moves, accurate. Like, you don't even need, if these are the only plays that you ever watch of him from the last couple years, look at this play right here. Okay, that's a big time throw. That's a seed.

That they're not 10 guys in the country the last two years that can make that throw. So he's a big time player. Big moves, accurate. Now, he did have Warren the tight end. That helped. He helped him out a little bit, but he's making big time throws. All right. You know, Jay Mack, the NBA season's done.

We're going to, we're going to, I'm going to, I was thinking about this. There's been a lot of movement. Houston's better. Denver's good. And, you know, you're in L.A. now. You're very close to West Hollywood in the movie industry. So we're going to tie the NBA and Hollywood together our movie poster segment on the five most interesting NBA teams this offseason and going forward. and that is next.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, we're Kavino and Rich. Fox Sports Radio every day, 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Overpromised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two-hour show. We never get to everything. Honestly, because this guy is overpromising things we never have time for.

Yeah, you blubberlips. Blame and me. Well, you know what? It's called over-promise. You should be good at it because you've been over-promising women for years. Well, it's a Kavino and Rich after show, and we want you to be a part of it. We're going to be talking sports, of course. But we're also going to talk life and relationships.

And if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called over-promised. Well, if you don't get enough, Kavino and Rich, make sure you check out over-promise. And also uncensored, by the way. Maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's going to be the best after-show podcast of all time. There you go. Overpromising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely join us.

Listen to Overpromised with Kavino and Rich on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a podcast.

A pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down?

Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey Jonas, and then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman helped 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian business, man catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world. He doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion-dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know.

Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo.

Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.

Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Sunday on Fox, with a historic three-beat on the line, can Alex Palo become the fastest ever to lock up an indie series championship? Or will the pack hold him off at Laguna Seika? It all starts Sunday at 3 Eastern only on Fox. I thought James Franklin had a very interesting comment if you listen very closely when he talked about Drew Aller. And he said, he never tried to leave us and he never tried to leverage us. You know who else could have done that and didn't?

Arch Manning. The one quarterback whose dad stepped in and did that, Nico Iamaliava, went from stacked Tennessee to probably the ninth best team in the Big Ten, UCLA, doing his son and injustice. Yeah, it's amazing. We've talked about this before. Dads are squeezing so hard, their intentions are good. Drew our, nope, could have made more money elsewhere. Arch Manning was playing backup. He's more talented than Quinn Ewers easily. Quinn Ewers got drafted in the seventh round. Arch is going in the first. Dad's didn't step in and leverage it.

It's like I always say about the G League. Do you watch the NBA finals this year? How many great G-leaguers were in it? Really, that one year of money is not worth going to Duke where all your games are on television and you can leverage it into a much better shoe deal? It's just amazing. I'm not saying dad's intentions are bad,

but the top two quarterbacks, in my opinion, in this draft, could have leveraged the school. Didn't. Don't think NFL GMs don't see that. I've said it. Quarterback dad has become pageant mom. Intent are good.

Outcomes often aren't. All right, Jay Mack, you know, you always do tomorrow's headlines today on Friday where you predict the future. You're not the only guy on this show that can predict outcomes. And sports and entertainment go hand in hand. So the recent NBA offseason got me thinking about sports and entertainment.

And I have some upcoming attractions in the NBA. First up, we have a new movie about the Clippers, adding some seasoned veterans. The movie for the Clippers is the bucket list. The league's oldest team has one more thing to check off. The oldest team in the end. NBA last year, just got older. If they start Chris Paul Harden, Kauai, Batuman Lopez, their starting line

it would be 36 and a half years old, the bucket list. Up next, the Nuggets, new film could be a blockbuster. We're calling it, here you go. Winners! Better supporting cast allows Yokits to go from Joker to Jordan, Bruce Brown, Cam Johnson,

Tim Hardaway, Jr. Looks pretty good to me. Never played with an All-Star, but this is a cast of depth and talent. The Nuggets now have the third best championship title odds. Next up, we have the Houston Rockets.

They've gotten more star power in their film, and the movie in Houston will be called Training Day. Hard-nosed veterans brought in to carry a younger cast. It's KD. Dorian Finney Smith, one of the league's best three-and-de guys, Clint Capella, very young team bringing veterans in second best title. I can't wait to watch Houston play.

By the way, Training Day is amazing. One of my favorite Dinsel movies, though. Now, from the Warriors, a sequel that nobody asked for, taken three. We get it. You took all his friends and now Steph has to take all the threes. The only team that did not make any moves in the offseason. Steph is 37, Draymond's 35, Buddy Healed is 32, Jimmy Butler is 35. They have not advanced past the second round

since winning the title in 2020. And finally, the new movie coming out. For your Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron realizes in horror, this team is not his timeline. Get out! Marcus Smart and DeAndre Aidan are the additions. LeBron expected to retire.

after the season. It's not even calling new Lakers. Get Out coming to an NBA season in Los Angeles near you, J.MET. That is excellent. Shout out. Major props for that one. By the way, get out, great movie. And, I mean, you know, listen, LeBron, get out. I like that. Well done. Excellent.

Five stars on that bad boy. Thank you very much. By the way, we have Drew Aller coming up last hour. You know, it is funny, though, when James Franklin came on, and it was just subtle about Drew Aller. Nobody tried to leave. Nobody tried to use leverage. I tell my kids this all the time. Stop.

Don't chase money. Chase management, chase situations, chase environment, chase environment. It's amazing. This is why I say quarterback dads become pageant mom. All these quarterbacks bouncing around to get the best deal. Now, in some instance, there's like a coach gets fired, or there's a new coach that doesn't want you. Look, I understood, like, Bo Nicks going to Oregon. Like, the thing at Auburn felt like it ran out, there's a lot of changes in chaos.

He goes to Oregon. That's different. I'm not saying you can't change. Listen, I've moved all over the country for jobs. I get it. But Drew Aller and Archmanning would have gotten more money leaving. I mean, again, Texas has a lot of money, but they're paying a lot of money. of players. But it's like, I understood Caleb Williams going from Oklahoma to USC because he was

following an offensive coach. Like, I get that. That move I get. Lincoln Riley is the best offensive coach at that time in college football, arguably like, I get that. But when James Franklin said that, it was very interesting. He didn't leverage it. It's like a cautionary tale, Nick Iamaliava, Tennessee a great program. Nico, is it Nico? Yeah. I like him. Very draftable player.

I like him a lot. He's got a whip. He's a very good player. I'm not against the kid at all. I hope he does well. But Tennessee's got better offensive linemen, better receivers. It's just a better football environment. You play against better athletes in the SEC, I think, in that schedule.

You have a better home environment. I mean, here's my only thing. with Drew, where was he going to go? They got to the semifinals. It was a super close game. They easily could have been in the championship. He had a bad game. But if he actually took a second and looked at his improvement, Colin, completion percentage, 59% two years ago, 66 last year. And he went from a dink and dunk guy, yards per attempt went from 6.8 to 8.4. So he is showing all the signs. I just, I mean, I like to dig from Franklin, clearly a shot at the SEC. I just don't know where he could have gone

because you're right, the arrow is really pointing up for this kid. I don't know that there was a better landing spot for him. Could he have made $3 million more? Yeah, well, the Niko I Amaliava situation. I should take back that he'd play against better teams, but Tennessee has better players. So Niko Iamaliava at practice would play against Tennessee players. I always said this.

If you play at Georgia or LSU or Ohio State, you go against those players in practice. Like if you're sitting there and you're the quarterback for Ohio State, dude, you're going against NFL first round corners. That's the advantage of a quarterback going to play at these big schools. Practice. You're getting the best coordinators. And like Tennessee program, they pay their coaches double what they pay UCLA.

They've got twice as many NFL bodies. Now, the SEC, depending on your schedule, who plays against better players. But if I was a quarterback, I would go to Tennessee over UCLA. I would go to a big school if I was offered because just, if nothing else. The facilities and who I face in practice, I'm throwing to more NFL level tight ends. So it feels more like the NFL at Tennessee than it does UCLA. Let me ask you. So a year ago at this time, everybody was talking about Carson Beck, the quarterback at Georgia. Oh, he's going to be the Heismid frontrunner, potential number one. Everybody loved him. He clearly

regressed, obviously losing Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers. He went for money. Well, he did, but I don't think he was going to be the starter of Georgia. He got so much worse, Colin. Maybe it went to his head or whatever. You could argue Carson Beck, so I wouldn't have gone from Georgia to Miami, but Ruiz, the big booster down in Miami, paid him a fortune. And maybe his takeaway, I mean, my takeaway is Carson Beck was overvalued. So he may be in the right taking the money.

And Schmanning and Drew Aller are bigger, stronger, better quarterbacks than Carson Beck. Carson Beck may just be one of the, and you see this. a lot. Shador Sanders. They're just going to be really good at one level, and they're not really a top prop. Like, Carson Beck is not a first or a second round NFL. Well, like year ago at this time, everybody was saying he was because he looks the part. He's like a Justin Herbert. He's like six four, strapping big dude, huge arm. He's the prototypical quarterback. So everybody thought, oh, he's the next guy. And then he starts playing. And it's like, he ain't the dude. I think, you know, Drew kind of falls into that bucket at Penn State. I'm telling you,

This is this quarterback draft class. If you need one, Cleveland's got two first round picks. Rams have two first round picks. New Orleans is going to find out very quickly. You know, Spencer Rattler is not the answer. I'm telling you, keep your eye. Because Aller and Archmanning are going to be good. I think the kid at Clemson is really good.

Yeah. I keep an eye on sellers. He is crazy productive. Now, it is the ACC, but that kid is crazy. It doesn't make any mistakes. He's highly productive. Keep your eye on Nuss Meyer at LSU. I need to see more.

I'm sorry. I do too, but there's something there. He's definitely an NFL quarterback. What round? But if he moves into a first round quarterback, it is a stacked NFL quarterback draft. 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. people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen.

We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. And every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you

the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamous and an Armenian businessman. multi-million dollar house,

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.