The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Drake Maye is an elite QB, Jaxson Dart needs to be smarter, the importance of Dak Prescott

Episode Date: December 2, 2025

Colin Cowherd elevates Patriots QB Drake Maye into the elite quarterback conversation after another MVP-caliber performance in New England’s Monday Night Football win over the Giants Giants QB Jaxson Dart needs to learn how to protect himself The Cowboys continue to exceed expectations - Dak Prescott is the reasonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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He got smoked last night. It's the herd. We're in Chicago. A little snow last night's football season, officially, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. So, I mean, I watched the game last night. I think Jackson Dart has a chance to be a fine franchise quarterback for the New York John. I mean, Eli Manning wasn't even the best Manning son.

And he won two Super Bowls in New York. I think Jackson Dart's going to have a fine career. it's a different discussion. He looks like he's going to be one of these guys about every four years that enters the league and is an all-timer. Size, arm, IQ. I mean, Drake May, he just doesn't miss.

Even when he was missing in the end zone, they were smart misses. Nobody else could get him. Didn't have his left tackle. Didn't have a left guard. Doesn't have a number one wide receiver. They don't run the ball particularly well. He had 30 points in the first half.

It was a show-off flex game for New England that's been really good all season, but they don't get many stand-alone games. And, you know, one of the rules, when somebody's going to be great, they don't necessarily make it look easy, but they make it look easier than it looks for 90% of the quarterbacks in the league. Joe Burrow, on third down, he doesn't have a huge arm, it's not a giant guy, it's not super mobile,

it just always puts the ball in the right place when he's healthy. You know, like it's just great, looks a lot easier. I watched Michael Jordan for years. He wasn't the best ball handler. He wasn't the strongest player. He didn't have the best long range. It's just like 17 feet away. He's going to stop him.

And the first year, he was a little reckless, got hit too often. Beginning of this year, he wasn't quite there yet. But I watched him the last four or five weeks. I was sitting there waiting for his bubble to burst a little bit, you know, sophomore slump. No. He's getting better every week. This is one of those guys that checks all the boxes.

Jackson Dart to me feels like he is still, to some degree, kind of winging it and doesn't quite see the field as well as I'd like him to see the field. Drake May, you're watching it in real time. Stoic, not a lot of bad throws, not getting hit. I mean, you only, listen, you get a franchise quarterback every year. You get an all-timer about every four or five years. I think we found one. He is on pace to be the greatest quarterback on first down in the history of the game for a single season.

Number two is Aaron Rogers. Number three is Drew Brees. And here's the thing. New England's offensive roster is still at least one draft class away. They've got to upgrade the O-line, upgrade they need more dynamic players at tight-end and wide receiver. Their run game again below average. And I know watching them last night. I know anybody, I lived, you know, in New England territory for a decade.

So I watched every Patriot game during Brady, Belichick, Robert Kraft, Josh McDaniels. It's a very reminiscent team. There's a lot of do-your-job efficiency, just like Belichick. Brable's special teams are great. And Josh McDaniel is designing the offense and play calling. Kraft's still the owner. Vrable's a more player-friendly version of Belichick, and Drake May is a more mobile version of Brady.

Tall guy, smart guy, doesn't take a lot of hits, doesn't make a lot of bad throws, super accurate. It's very reminiscent. It's almost like you ever have a car you absolutely love and you eventually turn it in. You still love it, but it's getting a little old. You turn it in and you get a newer version, same model. that's what New England is.

Vrable is Belichick, really cares about special teams. He's just more player friendly and more current. And Drake May has a lot of Brady. Accurate, moves well, doesn't take shots, not a lot of picks. He's just a little more modal. I'm getting the new model of the car,

and I just, I'm not sure if I love the mustache. Everything else, we say it all the time. when you get the quarterback and the coach right, it just doesn't take that long. There's so much mediocrity in every business. Here's the other thing. They're ahead of schedule. Drake May is two and a half years younger than Bo Nix.

He's a year younger than Caleb Williams. He's two years younger than Michael Pennix. He's a year and a half younger than Jaden Daniels. He's younger than Cam Ward. And he's easily the best of that group, the most accurate of that group, the most poised of that group. Well, talent is just part of the boxes you have to check.

So, I mean, I watch him, something I look for all the time. Even his misses are smart. Like those throws in the back of the end, only had a deep ball. Only one guy was going to catch it, a Patriot. He didn't get it, nobody did. Even his misses are in the right spot. He took too many shots last year, beginning of the day. this year he wasn't quite there yet, but

this kid is, I mean, he's two and a half years younger than Bo Nix. He's younger than Cam Ward. And yes, it helps that he got Mike Frable. Every great quarterback, however, has had generally, you know, Marino had Don Shula, Brady at Belichick, Montana, at Bill Walsh. Here is the coach and the quarterback after. He's realizing what he can be and what

the impact that he makes on this offense and being the conductor. He's hard on himself. I think that he challenges himself as well as his coaches. And I mean, he means a great deal to this football team. Trying to be the face, try to be the conductor. He calls the conductor of the offense. You're trying to be the face of the offense, trying to, you know, want the pressure. You want to, you know, the ball in my hands.

And I've tried to, you know, show that all year and throughout my career. That's what I kind of feel like, and I know they feed off me and feed off my energy. And when adversity hits, you know, I've got to respond. And then from there, I just got to be the same guy. You know, same guy every day. You know, don't try to change. You know, Drake May's first year, he didn't get the right coach. By the second coach, they got the right guy.

His comp was Justin Herbert, who had to go through a couple of coaches and get the you-know-what beat out of him until he got Jim Harbaugh. Then their offensive line fell apart and he still getting beat up. But a lot of this dynamic is, is I watched the last night and I saw what you saw. It was very reminiscent of the old Patriots. Great special teams. Excellent coach.

Very good on details. Big, tall quarterback. Stoic doesn't make a lot of mistakes. And Josh McDaniels designing and calling the plays. So Dallas plays Detroit on Thursday. I like Dallas in that game. And they just beat Philly and they just beat Kansas City. Dallas will make the herd hierarchy today.

I'll tell you in advance. They are 6-5-1. I thought they'd win four games this year. Topps five. Look at their schedule. They can win out. If they do, Dak will make the playoffs

and will have made the playoffs with Jason Garrett, Mike McCarthy, and Brian Schottnheimer. Translation, the head coach just doesn't mean that much with Dak Prescott.

When he first came into the league, I thought his success was circumstantial. He was a B quarterback BB Plus, but he had the best O line easily in football, the best running back arguably in football, rookie contract, they stacked the roster. He is currently guiding the number one offense in the NFL, and he will do it with a third different head coach.

And most of us, I like Jason Garrett more than other people, but a lot of you didn't like Jason Garrett, almost nobody like Brian Schottnheimer, and Mike McCarthy's a coin. flip depending on which room he answer and he and he keeps being number one i talked about conversations changing deck prescott's all-time rank this is year 10 he's got five or six left this is the best he's ever played he's got at least five years left top 10 in completion percentage touchdown interception radio and passion rating it is time it is time we start having a different conversation

Listen, Samuel L. Jackson started acting in his 70s. He didn't become a big time star until he was in the 90s. It's not like Samuel L. Jackson just became a really good actor in the 90s. He finally got an opportunity, Quentin Tarantino, right? Like, Amazon didn't make money for 21 years. Like, sometimes it takes longer. The bake is longer to see greatness. But, you know, people have said that Philip Rivers will get Hall of Fame votes, and I agree.

and one of the reasons I agree, because Philip Rivers made the playoffs with Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner and Anthony Lynn and Frank Reich and Mike McCoy. He made the playoffs with five different coaches. Not everybody gets Belichick out of Michigan. And I love Brady, but sometimes Mahomes gets Andy Reed. You got a meddling owner, you got a lot of noise, and Dag Prescott is proving once again,

and this is what the great ones do. They rise above the end. environment. They are not held down. And people will say, well, it hasn't a great success in the playoffs. Dan Marina had Don Shula as a head coach, sub 500 in the playoffs. Lamar Jackson has John Harbaugh as a coach. Lamar Jackson struggled in the playoffs. Aaron Rogers, I think he's one game above 500. He's considered an absolute top 10 legend of all time. You can't hold playoffs against the guy. I mean, Eli Manning's regular season numbers will not be as good as

Dax. But he won Super Bowl, so absolutely a Super Bowl would help Dack. Nobody's disputing that. But I think Dax very unique. I always say, by Thanksgiving of your second year, I feel very confident.

I can call you what you are. But, you know, Baker took a while. Darnold took a while. Dak Prescott, we got to, he's hot. He's got the number one offense again. He's got a coach. Not everybody loves again. The pass protection with this offensive line is not ideal. They're making big trades in the middle of a season. Dak Thursday, Lions get a

W. 7-5-1. Playoffs again. Here's Dak. Had been on other teams where you started off hot and you're at this time of the year trying to figure out what you've got to do to get back on the horse. and to have the momentum we do right now, the confidence, and not just that the right guys in the locker room who understand where we are, who understand that this is the most important time of the year, and showing that and just their daily prep and throughout the week is fun.

Yeah, he's put his head down. Listen, Seinfeld almost got canceled. Similarly, DAC has been very good in syndication. Every time I'm like, all right, he's Kirk Cousins with a star in his helmet. Little better mobility. This is the best I've ever seen him. Not everybody is a child actor or De Niro and taxi driver.

It takes a lot of actors a long time and a lot of writers to have their first great novel. Dak has been a slow bake. But if he wins Thursday, you can roll your eyes all you want. You start doing a deep dive on all his career numbers. He's playing better than he ever has in year 10. He didn't have four or five years left? He's going to end up top five, six in a lot of stats. He just needs a couple of pelts in the postseason.

Jay Mack, listen, I can acknowledge. It took me a while to figure him out. But he's good. And we both like Dallas against the Lions Thursday. So you have one Hall of Fame vote, okay? You can only vote for one of these two guys. Russell Wilson or Dak Prescott? Dak.

Oh, come on. Well, that, no, no, no. Right. Russell had great success. One coach. One team. How many Super Bowl? How many Super Bowls? Well, again, you're asking me, I didn't say it was a landslide, but I also think one of the things you have to consider when it's close is intangibles, leadership. There's a lot of things to consider.

It's not just, you know, I mean, like Russ has dived at the end of his career. Dax getting better. Can we get a conference championship game appearance before we, before we, Carve up the bust for the Hall of Fame. Just a conference title game. That's all I'm asking. I'm getting very excited. I can tell.

You're fired up. No, no. I just, I mean, he's just guys played out of his mind. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio on Fox Sports Radio. On Fox Sports Radio, Fxport's Radio. Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from the odd couple on Fox Sports Radio. And in addition to hearing us live weekn nights from 7 to 10 p.m. Eastern on Foxx.

Sports Radio, we are excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show. That's right. You can now watch the Odd Couple live on YouTube every day. All you got to do, search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube. Again, YouTube, just search Odd Couple FSR. Check us out on YouTube and subscribe. All right, there was a moment last night's game where Jackson Dart runs early in the game, team trailing, and gets absolutely.

and it's a legal hit. Get absolutely smoked on the sidelines. Got way too cute. This is a guy that lives in the blue tent. And it was 10-0, it was first quarter. This was not the NFC championship. Fourth quarter, trying to get a first down to get to a Super Bowl.

Bro, what are you doing? And after the game, oh boy, here's what he said. Is there anything you would have done different on that one? No. Look, like, I understand the question. But like, this is like, this is football. Like, I'm going to get hit if I'm in the pocket or outside the pocket. I've played this way my whole entire life.

It shouldn't be like any shock or anybody if you've followed along with my career. Okay, so when anybody says it's just part of the game for linebackers, not for quarterbacks. The second thing is, I don't like this quote. When he says, like, I've played my entire career this way. This is not Corner Canyon High School in Utah. Okay, that's not what we're doing here. Smart people, including football players, evolve. Lots of things are cool at 19.

Beer bongs. They're not at 22 when you're the face of the New York Giants. It's like when I hear NBA players like John Morant, hey man, this is just my game. And they rely on super athleticism, and John Morant like never changes. John Wall had this component. Hey, man, this is my game. Well, in this episode of Let's Keep It Real, exit stage right, you have to evolve the game, you have to be able to shoot threes, you've got to improve elements of your game.

I don't want to hear, hey, it's just football. No quarterback should ever take a hit like that. And again, if you're stretching for a first down at the marker to get to a Super Bowl or win one, it's a different conversation. This is a first quarter game and you're not making the playoffs. And the New York Giants have not had a quarterback start and finish the season every start since Eli Manning. And this kid has lived in the blue tent. So to me, it just lacks a self-awareness.

And again, Kevin Durant and Tyrese Halliburton got to the NBA finals, and there was a risk. Right? They said, I'm going to play. Because you're playing for a trophy. Even Bill Belichick had a legendary rule with the Patriots. do not stretch the ball out for a first down unless it's the Super Bowl and we're going to win it. Like there are exceptions to everything. You can't take that hit.

So it's just, again, there's a gigantic gap in this league. KD. and Tyrese Halliburton risking their health to hoist a trophy, I got you. I get it. That I understand. Pacers may never get back there. KD may never get back there. But that's not smart. And I don't want to hear

this is my game. No, it's not. I mean, LeBron James, until about six years ago, was adding elements to his game every year. I mean, if you've been in the NBA for 12 years, Kevin Durant at this point, your game is your game.

It's not your first four years in the NBA. And it's not for a quarterback, in year one. This is just, I mean, I like his confidence. He's a bit of a playmaker. His accuracy is good enough. You know, he's a,

Shador Sanders and he both like to air it out downfield. They take big swings. There's a lot I like about him. But I, well, you know, it's football. That's right. It's not football. That's the one where you can flop overseas. Football?

Six, six, six. 258 pound defensive ends who can bench press Rhode Island should never get a clean shot at you, ever any circumstances. For the record, Drake May first year spent some time in the blue tent. Stay out of it. Stay away from the blue tent. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady made art out of avoiding the big hit. And I know bike helmets aren't cool.

Wear one. Please. This is a... It's a top five hit in the league this year. What are we doing? J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. I like here. He lives in the blue tent. He's paying rent. He spends so much time in the blue tent. All right, let's go to Lane Kiff and Colin. I mean, this story just continues to be bonkers, and college football fans are going crazy.

So he was introduced as LSU's coach on Monday. Obviously, everybody knows he tried to still coach Ole Miss while taking the LSU job. He was denied that, but he did get one thing interesting. Old Miss, if they win in the playoff, they will, LSU will pay Lane Kiffin what he would have earned for Ole Miss. Just crazy, Colin. Here's Kiffin at his press conference. Leaving Ole Miss was extremely difficult, extremely difficult decision. And in that, we tried every single thing possible to continue to coach the team through the playoffs and continue to coach the players.

In the end, that was their decision, and we totally respect that. At LSU is the best job in football. When you take the history, tradition, passion, and the great players in the state of Louisiana, no one can argue that when you're in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night, there is nothing like it. I want to tell you right now, he's going to win a national championship at LSU. Okay. I said it went horrible. Oh, yeah, absolutely.

Ed Orgeron won an addie there. Lane's the better. The guy's never won anything. Can we settle down with Lane Kiffin? I know he's a good coach and he knows his offense. Hasn't won anything ever. Can we relax a little bit on that? Win a national championship?

Won a lot of rivalry games? He's won a lot of big games. If you're in the FCC and winning 11 games, you've won a lot of. lot of big games. He's a good coach. That's on Denyball. But win a national... Give me a timetable on that. What are you talking? Seven years of an hour. By the way, by the way, before Jim Harbaugh, who's on the show today, won a Natty at Michigan, I heard a lot of this. Well, he's never won anything. Are you denying Jim Harbaugh is one of the top

five coaches of our lifetime? Wait, no, no, no. Harbaugh won like division titles. He won an NFC championship game. That stuff matters. I mean, Kiffin's never done any of that. I mean, let's just get the basic stuff out of the way. But I'm curious, do you think that like this is going to happen sooner than later? Because I'll tell you right now, LSU's not going to the playoff next year. Oh, yeah. No chance. Have you looked at the schedule?

Yeah. No shot. Well, look at the Rams schedule. Niners twice. Seahawks twice. Philadelphia Eagles. So what? If you're great, you win games.

LSU's going to be great next season. Well, hey, Texas was great this year. Nine and three. They're probably not going to make the playoff. SEC's really hard, man. That's why this whole LSU stuff. You know what the SEC is next year? Five new coaches.

I'd rather have LSU new coach with their players. The whole conference, Kirby Smart's there. But I mean, Kaelin DeBore now is in year three. It's got five new coaches in the conference. So it's wide open. I mean, I just put it down right now. I may buy season tickets just so I can get there for the playoff game. LSU and Lane Kippen are making the playoffs.

Well, I'll tell you, Texas is definitely making it next year. Arch is staying, Sarkis staying. They're a lock. It sounds like Mateer is not going anywhere. He's a good quarterback. And if he was healthy, the full season, maybe Oklahoma is close to undefeated. So Oklahoma's better than them.

Alabama will see what they do at quarterback. I just, I don't see it instantly from LSU. I think in like three years, could they be 11 wins? Sure. Three years. Transfer portal, though. They're going to step up and buy, I mean, they're going to land like six five star guys.

Yeah. They're going to land four, five star guys in the portal. And by the way, Brian Kelly, it's not like he's taking over Old Miss. They've got NFL bodies everywhere. Last LSU trip to the playoff was Joe Burrow. That was ages ago, bro. For the record.

They won it. They did, yeah. Many teams have been to the playoffs since then. I'm just not buying this LSU life, and I think I'm going to double down. You and I are going to go head to head for the next few years. I just don't think this is going to work out, but I'm probably in the minority. Next up, let's go to the Kansas City Chiefs Collin. They, listen, they're down bad right now, okay?

line dropping against the Texans. There are two games back of a lot of teams in the wildcar chase, but Andy Reid, oh boy, he refuses to hear any of that. If you're coming to me on this, Matt, I'm telling you, we're going to go after you every game. And, you know, that's how we roll. We're going to try to tickle your tonsils on every play, every game. But that's the attitude that we're coming in with.

then you let the chips forward they may. I'll say this. If I had to win one game with an offense that's been a little uneven, I would not want to face the Texans, who have won four straight. The defense is good, mostly healthy. C.J. Stroud now is back in. This schedule.

The schedule, Colin, there's a world where they sweep all these. The Raiders and Titans, they're winning those two. So that's two wins, right? then you've got the rematch with the Broncos at home. You've got the Chargers at home. Why aren't they, they're going to be favored in those games at home? This Texans won. They are favored.

Five and O's in play. Those are all close. Three of those games are going to be close. How have they been in close games this year? Well, a lot of them have been on the road, unfortunately, for the Chiefs. A lot of these are at home. I don't know. Trust me, I don't want to see the Chiefs in the playoffs.

By the way, are they in the herd hierarchy? If they are, we're going to have to have a chat off air. I mean, this is not except. They're definitely not a top 10 team in the league right now. Final story, Con, let's go to the Pro Bowl. I know you love the Pro Bowl. How about this, shocker? The Detroit Lions have 11 players, 11,

in the top 10 of Pro Bowl votes at their respective position. Jemir Gibbs obviously is up there. The Lions have a lot of good players. Colin, this is a team that's probably going to miss the playoffs. Yeah, I know. I mean, this is why. This all goes back to some. Remember they were in the Hall of Fame game and they were atrocious?

Remember in the preseason and I said this is bad? Right, right, right. And because they made coaching changes. And then they stabilized. But I've always said, the longer a season goes, the truth comes out. Like, the longer the season goes, Drake, May and Mike Brable, it's not a mirage. they're really good. The longer the season goes, well, Denver keeps winning games. Bo Nix and Sean Payton, they work together. The longer the season goes, Dak Prescott in the offense,

keeps getting better. They got a lot of good players. Pickens was a steal. The longer the season goes for the Lions, the worst they get on third down, the worst they get on fourth down. It's not a player issue. It's not. So what are we doing here? Is Dan Campbell the problem? No. It's like Dan Campbell, like Nick Seriani, is a big, bit more coordinator dependent. McVeigh's not. Shanahan's not. That's why Belichick, by the way, kept Josh McDaniels forever. He wasn't an offensive scheme guy. So they got to get the OOC right. Right now, it's just not tied it up. And Green Bay looks like a Super Bowl team. Chicago's the number one seat. So they're lucky in Detroit that Minnesota is kind of

playing with their food and can't figure it out because Green Bay and Chicago are, Green Bay, after that win over Detroit. There's an argument there's as good as anybody in the league right now. By the way, can we call Cowboys Lions an elimination game? Because Cowboys cannot lose it if they want to get in the playoffs. There's just too many good teams in the NFC. And I do believe for the Lions with their schedule, this is an elimination game. This has to be every trick in the book.

And by the way, no Leporta, no Amman-Ross, St. Brown. I know. More pressure on golf. Good luck keeping up with that Dallas offense. Yeah, J-Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Line News.

So I read a headline today. Shadour Sanders deserves more time. I agree. The rest of the Brown's operation does not. So about 25 years ago, oh, it was over 30 years ago, I had a very smart news director tell me something. His name is Mike Cutler.

He said, if I fire an anchor or a reporter, and they don't get hired, I made the right move. If I fire an anchor and a reporter and they get a job immediately and a good job, I probably made a mistake. Kevin Stefansky would get a job and a good job very quickly. Folks, we are just two years removed if you think about firing Kevin Stefansky. Two years removed, I don't even think it's officially two years. From the Browns being 11 and 6 and their quarterbacks were Deshawn Watson,

Joe Flacco, PJ Walker, Jeff Driscoll, and DTR. And they were in the AFC, and they went 11 and 6, when the AFC, at that point, probably the best conference. So Cleveland firing Stofansky would be a very Cleveland thing where they can't even identify in the building who's good. So, I mean, just think about this. Think about what Stefansky and Andrew Barry have to overcome. This morning, Deshawn Watson is a bigger cap hit this year than Jordan Love or Patrick Mahomes. Now think about that. You wake up in the morning.

That's why what Sean Payton's done in Denver with Russell Wilson's cap hit is remarkable. And the owner, Jimmy Haslam, and he deserves credit for acknowledging it, but he's the one that made that move. The Deshawn Watson move. So if Mike Tomlin exits Pittsburgh, many are suggesting he should, and there are discussions now, it's possible, one of the top candidates for the Steelers job, I would think would have to be Kevin Stefansky. He knows the division. So the market tells you when you make a mistake. Remember when the Tennessee Titans fired Mike Frable? The market told you the Jets wanted him, the Patriots wanted him. everybody wanted Mike Brable. Cowboy fans wanted it. The market told you Tennessee made a mistake.

And I'm just telling you, if Stefansky's on the market, he's going to get a job, and it may be really close to Cleveland. It could be in division. Zach Taylor's only got one year left. They're not giving Joe Burrow a stiff.

I mean, Joe Burroughs not happy with the Bengals now. They're going to hire somebody who knows the division. offensive guy. So here's Stefansky this week on Shadour coming off a loss. He wants to continue to get better and better, and that's the right attitude to have,

and that's why we'll continue to work. There are things that he wants back that we're coaching up right now that he can improve upon, but bottom line is we have to continue to put our players in position to succeed. So just looking forward to that constant improvement

with Shadour and for all of our young players. Just go back a couple years ago, 11 and 6. AFC, Buffalo was better than now. Kansas City was better than now. Bengals were arguably better than now. I mean, go back a couple years ago. AFC was stacked, 11 and 6th, and go look at the quarterbacks that were playing.

It was just a revolving door. It was a merry go-round. So I'm going to defend Kevin Stefansky. Dylan Gabriel, stabilize the offense. Shadour gives them more pop. I think he's a really good coach. I think it's a mistake to fire. In Chicago, it's the herd.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. So, you know, there's a lot of things people can use for tiebreakers in the NFL or college football. One of the things that, I mean, to me, the most important part of college football, because schedules are uneven.

I mean, you got the Big Ten, nine conference games, the SEC's just getting into nine conference games. The schedules have been uneven. So I always look at the end of a year, give me your biggest games. Give me the absolute biggest games you've played. So Indiana had a very soft schedule, but they did play Oregon at Ottson and they rolled. So it's like, okay. And Illinois is pretty good.

They beat him by 53. So in the two games where they faced a really good solid. team, they were totally impressive. But they didn't have a great schedule. I guess they wanted Iowa. They didn't have a great schedule, so I don't want an ugly loss with Indiana. They didn't have one. But Texas played Oklahoma, hammered him.

Texas A&M dominated him. Vandy was top 10. Thumped him, was thumping him in the fourth quarter. Well, they lost at Ohio State by a touchdown. Since that game, Ohio State wins by 31 a game. They're the only team in the country that gave Ohio State a good game, and they were introducing four new offensive linemen and Arch Manning, biggest game, massive pressure.

Nobody was talking about Julian saying before that game. The pressure was all on Arch Manning. It was in Columbus. So I, in their biggest games, sorry, that's why I say by Alabama, their biggest game this year was at Georgia. They were flawless. Yeah, they stumbled. Alabama lost to Florida State.

Just become a hazmat spill of a program. But when they went to Georgia this year, they were perfect. And that counts like three wins to me, winning in Athens. So here's Sark yesterday on being punished mostly for a loss in the game they scheduled in Columbus. Unequivocally, I think we should be in the playoffs. I'm actually kind of shocked. We're actually having a discussion about. this. But again, there's two teams ranked in front of us that we just beat. I'm a little concerned

about what the committee's looking at. And to your point, if we're just going to look at records, I got to reevaluate our future schedules because I have to do what's in the best interest of the University of Texas. If we're going to look at records, I've got to make sure I'm putting us in position to have the best record possible at the end of the season, as opposed to playing really good teams and then looking at the total body work. So Miami's complaining. Miami's going while we beat Notre Dame head to head and the voters are like, so what?

So Miami's not getting credit for a win over their best opponent. And Texas is getting penalized for losing to the best team in the country close on the road. Another thing in Texas' favor. Like last year, Notre Dame lost at home to northern Illinois.

and then got to the nattie. These are young kids. They change. Texas right now is playing really good football. The best they've played all year. Arch Manning over the last five games, 16 touchdowns, two picks. So I've always said even more so than the pros. We all know in the pros,

do you have Belichick's worst month? Sean Payton's worst month easily? September. Well, in college, the kids are even younger. You only get 17 hours of practice. So I am always, if you schedule a tough game early, I said last year when Ohio State lost at Otson, I said they're going to play again, Ohio State's going to beat him. I said after they lost them, Michigan, I said Ohio State, I still think can win the Natty.

Everybody bailed on them because the young kids, class, midterms, fall in love, bad game, high and low. Anybody got kids? Up and down, up and to NFL teams, you kind of by this time get consistent efforts. New England's been good now for eight weeks. They're pretty good. right so i i would have texas in um you know Miami Notre Dame listen

head-to-head first game in August isn't the be-all end all but if you start looking at common opponents with Miami and notary name the four common opponents Miami beat three or four more soundly and it's not like the fourth opponent Notre Dame beaten by a thousand Miami also crushed him, Syracuse. So here's Urban Meyer on Texas and what to do with them. I think Texas deserves me in the playoff, and I would not penalize that loss against Ohio State.

You can't do that. You can't, or you're getting ready to see Old Dominion's going to become a favorite of all these big teams like that because they need, no one cares. Indiana's no one's saying a word about Indiana's non-conference schedule. No one. Yet Texas made a decision to get on a plane and go, play the number one team in the country or two number two team in the country on the road and they got beaten a tough game and now there's a chance because of that they'll be

because if they didn't play that game we wouldn't be having this conversation so indiana played a really really weak got on the phone and dialed up very weak out of conference teams but when they did face illinois destroyed them and when they went to oregon they won if they lose to Illinois. I don't feel the same about Indiana. Schedule is weak. So I think a lot of times my perception of a team is, who'd you play? Who did you get on the phone and dial up? Who are the best teams you play? How did you perform? I'm not looking for perfection. And the tougher your schedule, and Texas had a gauntlet, I'll give you a bad loss. Indiana doesn't get a bad loss, and they didn't have one. Texas, I'll give you a bad loss. Oklahoma, Georgia, Vandy. Vandy.

Ohio State. I mean, we said this before the season started. The Texas schedule was brutal. Absolutely brutal. So I'll give you the Florida loss. For the record, back to the NFL. We, and what's going to be really interesting

with these college football discussions, tonight they come out with the latest rankings. Notre Dame and Miami, they're done playing. And so Miami, just looked great. I am, because Notre Dame was slightly ahead of them. I am fascinated. I said, I had Notre Dame above Miami, too, despite the head-to-head.

But after that win, all, you know, everything's been baked, not playing again. I'm having a hard time putting Miami behind Notre Dame. And I think Notre Dame would be favored if they play, and I think Notre Dame right now, because of their run game is better, but I don't know that. So now that all the results are in, it's going to be hard to not put Miami above Notre Dame. Very difficult. I don't think Notre Dame or Miami are national championship teams, but that's not the argument here. The argument is who deserves to be in the playoff.

And it can't be who I think would win. You play the games for a reason. I can't wait for tonight. Speaking of NFL and the New England Patriots, Here's what's really interesting. So for about a five-year period, the AFC kept hitting on all the quarterbacks. They hit on Burrow and Mahomes and Alan and Lamar and C.J. Stroud and Herbert, they were all good. And the AFC felt much better than the NFC.

That is not the case this year. So go look at the AFC playoff picture if you went to the playoffs today. If you're doubting New England, the number two seat is Denver, who's scored. mostly in the fourth quarter. Do you trust Jacksonville is a three seed? Baltimore is playing awful football. Herbert's got a hand surgery. They're the fifth seed.

Colts regressing six. And nobody knows what to do with Buffalo 7. So what's interesting, right now in the AFC, no Burrow, no Mahomes, Herbert's hurt, Jags, Colts. So for anybody doubt, New England, look at this is one of these odd years where the best quarterbacks may not make the playoffs. And the number two and three and four seeds aren't necessarily playing

great. If you go to the NFC, it's a different ball game. NFC is stacked. The NFC, you can go to the seventh seed San Francisco, nine and four. I think San Francisco could play its way into the AFC championship. I don't know if they'd win, but I think San Francisco, I mean, Green Bay has a six seed now. I think Green Bay would win the AFC. I think Seattle would win the AFC, a five seed, and I know the Rams would. So, I mean, right now, Dallas could run the table and actually miss the playoffs. So you could have an excellent team missed the playoffs in the NFC. Go look at again the AFC and what New England may get. And as a number one seed, they get a buy. So if they're dinged up, they're healthy.

I mean, this was the year. Sometimes timing really plays to your favor. No burrow today. No Mahomes. Lamar struggling. Josh Allen didn't have a defense. 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. 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.

Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular street. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA.

Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas, to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex?

Is it just me? Or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season, and I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was crying.

You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in too, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball.

So listen to Point Game on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on Crimless, Rory and I welcome a very special guest. When I did a podcast, I wear my sleep masks. I like where this is going. So if you guys will indulge me. That's right. The incredibly talented and hilarious Will Ferrell on an episode dedicated to crimes committed by people named Will Ferrell.

You're good for 300 crimes? Yeah. We got two. I'm ready to go right up to present day. Listen to Crimless on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Humve. in.