The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 3 - Miami Hurricanes HC Mario Cristobal stops by The Herd

Episode Date: December 5, 2025

Colin talks to Miami Hurricanes HC Mario Cristobal about his teams season, why he feels Miami should be in the College Football Playoff, what's wrong with the sport, and more! Tomorrow's headlines today with Jason McIntyreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

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, 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. I'm Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city in which there were more homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets.

But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man. on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And someday into right now with Body by Jake Radio, nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7.

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Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. To Fox Sports Radio. I've said before, I like Notre Dame. I think they're good for the sport. But if you really dig really, really deep and do your job in the media or on the committee, Miami is the choice.

So I want to bring on Mario Cristobald's, the coach of the Miami Hurricanes and a friend of the show and a great guy. So here's one of the things that, again, I can't watch every Miami game. I think I've watched you start back four games, Notre Dame four. I try to watch everybody. But, you know, some games aren't as easy to get to. and there's games that are on at the same time. So just to set it up, Notre Dame, people look at their run game, but they really mostly look at Jeremiah Love, coach.

He's great. But Notre Dame this year has faced the 129th defense, the 127th, the 117th, the 117th, the 121, the 123, the 105. When Love and Notre Dame faced your defense, how did he do? Well, again, like you said, he's a great, player, but our defense-aligned control the line of scrimmage, you know, rendering them to a very tough game, and I think he had 33 yards against us. Okay.

So there you go. So again, and by the way, I would argue your defense is better now because, generally speaking, people are better in December than August when you're just hitting class. I remember the game, and my takeaway was their old line, struggled to block your D-line. And that was my interpretation of the game I watched. What was your takeaway when you faced each other? Well, again, the two real good teams going at it with a chance to settle it on the field. And we knew that the line of scrimmings was going to be the determining factor.

We really felt that both sides had great playmakers. But up front, I believe our guys had an opportunity to render the best performance against their offensive line that's ever been graded, I believe, on PFF. And that's a tremendous accomplishment, you know, because aside from us, They had some really good statistical data. But both sides of the ball just did a really good job. In a game that we never trailed and really proud of our guys for doing so and really looking forward to our guys being rewarded for doing so.

So Notre Dame also played a couple group of five teams. They played three teams that were two and ten. Notre Dame had some bad teams. They played a three and nine team. They played a four and eight team. You didn't, you know, you had, I mean, listen, and everybody in college football faces the middle and the bottom of some conferences. Are you playing, I've said before, my first takeaway was about two weeks ago,

I said, well, I don't know, I think maybe Notre Dame would be favored. And then I came back after watching the Pitt game, and I'm like, no, I can't do that. Miami's playing the best. They've played. Carson Beck is playing really good. If this team right now, your Miami team played your Miami team eight weeks ago, tell me the difference. Oh, this team would win right now.

You know, Notre Dame was favored in the first game as well, you know, as it relates to that kind of stuff. But our team right now is playing better football than we did when we were ranked number two in the country. And I'll tell you why. Number one, of course, everyone's seen Malachi, Tony. And just the way he's exploded on the scene, right? Wow. Carson is number one in the country right now for the last four weeks in terms of passing yards, completion percentage, touchdowns, interceptions. our defense was always top seven, eight, nine.

I think we're top five, four, three, the last few weeks. We're healthy. You know, in the middle of season, we were down at one point, even seven starters. And now we're almost, I think we're back six of them. We'll get the other one back hopefully by the end of, you know, the postseason run. So I don't, there's not a single metric where we haven't improved upon. And we're just getting, we're just getting started we feel like. So again, we're a better team now than we were when we were ranked number two in the country.

So Mario, I've always said, I want to see your wins. Everybody has a bad game. I mean, Alabama, last year, Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois at home and played for the Nattie. I'm not somebody that crushes you. I didn't think the SMU game was a bad loss. They're 8 and 4. They were in the playoff. They've got pros.

I think it was 2620. So I didn't look at that. Go back to the SMU. M.U game because it was a winnable game. What happened? Yeah, we turned the ball over and we lost an overtime. You know, a really controversial situation at the end. We're a good amount of starters. And you have to overcome that and we understand that.

And we own it and we move forward. And that's why, you know, when people speak of the totality of a resume, it's important to show that, you know, that's good football team. Yeah. And when you look at all of it, we had an opportunity to play four common opponents and in all four games, right? And three of those games, I should say, are results were significantly more impressive

and more dominant than the Notre Dame's. And of course, the most important part, like, we played, man, we won. You know, we won the game. And never in history, never in history of the CFP has two teams that had a head-to-head, and never once has the loser advanced and the winner of that game been held back.

I just, like my job is to keep presenting information, you know, because I don't, I don't feel like I have to campaign or make a case. But I'll be honest with you. I've known you for a while. I wouldn't even come on your show if we had lost that game. And I was now trying to contest the fact that, hey, we're better if we had lost. You know what I mean? No, I mean, listen, one of the great arguments that has not been discussed, and I think we did today,

Notre Dame played six awful defenses. They played one great defense, yours, and they couldn't run the football at all with an unbelievable player, Jeremiah Love. And I like Notre Dame. I think Marcus is terrific. I think they're great for the sport. I love Notre Dame, and I love big powers. I want to talk about how do we fix it?

So in the NFL head-to-heads number one, I think common opponents does matter as two. is there, I mean, good God, if Duke wins this weekend, and I think they have a real chance to meet Virginia. Nobody from the ACC goes. Big picture, how do we solve the college football rankings? Urban Meyer says, get rid of the committee. Just get rid of it. Do you have a belief on how you solve it?

How you fix it? I know that every year it seems like college football migrates more and more towards the NFL policies, right? Yeah, yeah. And like you mentioned, head-to-head has always been at the forefront of that because you never even go to metrics or common opponents, if you have a head-to-head. So I think it starts with that right there.

And then I just think this, in a world war, you know how crazy college football has become over the past three years? Right. Well, you have coaches that are playing in the postseason but are being introduced at press conferences at their new school. So in a world of chaos, man, let's not ever, ever compromise the value and the importance of winning because at the end of the day,

it's so about the players. And, you know, after all the work, all the craziness they've gone through, If they're not rewarded for winning, then the sport itself, I think, is in a real bad place. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from the odd couple on Fox Sports Radio. And in addition to hearing us live weeknights from 7 to 10 p.m. Eastern on Fox 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. Hey, it's us, the 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. A 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 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, 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 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.

Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is. Getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is. getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War.

To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space.

We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Keith Gianmanca seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went. on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy. But I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong

and what that might look like? No. I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that you're going to manifest success? Your dad has been living a double life. That is not the look of an innocent man.

This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Well, you've got the best freshman in Tony. You have the best edge rusher. I would argue your defensive line is one of the best in the country. And I think Carson Beck, it's hard to be an NIL player. Like when Caleb Williams started making money in Carson Beck,

I want you to talk about that because I thought it was hard for Caleb. Everybody in the locker room knows that guy makes millions of dollars. I want you to talk about Carson Beck goes to Miami. There's a lot of money. I think it's hard on players. I mean, you become like an influencer and a star. Let's talk about Carson back in his maturity this year. You know, it is if you let it.

You know, at the end of the day, the guy's an unbelievable human being and a great competitor, and he's a right kind of guy, and he's a worker, and he's a grinder. And you know what he's invested in? He's invested in his teammates and the team winning. And he's not one of those, hey, look at me, look at me, I want to win this award. He could give a rats. You know, what about that stuff, brother? He wants to win.

He wants to see his teammates do well. And he's a likable guy because he works his butt off. I mean, relentlessly works his butt off. He's been through a lot. After getting a known for the past year, I think he's the most misunderstood guy I've ever been around. The guy's an absolute stud. And I'm telling right now,

and I won't waste your time on the show. I'll send you the metrics. There's no one playing at the level he's playing at right now, and he's got our offense absolutely hungry. Lloyd led the ACC and completion percentage. I think it was 74.5%, 75%. Your team's gotten better. You know, I've said this before.

I brought Sark on this week, and I said, I think Texas has an argument. I think Miami's, you know, has the argument in college football. And I think, and I do think something that's important to remember, and this is not a knock on Notre Dame. Sometimes it just happens where you schedule a bunch of teams, and Notre Dame did, and a lot of them were awful. And they have crushed many of them. But they did face Miami, whose defense is great, and they literally couldn't move the chains with their run game, is viewed as their strength. You have the better defense, the better pass game.

You won the head-to-head. So I think that needs to be discussed, and that is not a knock on Notre Dame. It's a reality. You know this, Mario, when you were in Oregon or Miami. Some years, you think you have a tough schedule. A coach gets fired. They get injured. You faced a much tougher schedule.

And I do appreciate you coming on. And, by the way, this Malachi Tony, I didn't know it was 10 weeks ago. what, explain this because he's the best freshman I think I've seen in the country. Well, it starts with my son one day, he tells me, you know, you're recruiting baby Jesus. I go, what are you talking about? He's like Malachi Tony. He is baby Jesus. I'm like, all right, let's check it out.

Well, anyways, he's playing wide receiver of American Heritage. Colin, this dude in their playoffs run, they're about to get balanced out of the playoffs. their quarterback goes down. He goes in that quarterback, and they win every game. In the state title, I think he went 15 of 15 with like four or five touchdown. He did it all.

And anyways, we sign him from day one, from day one is just what he would do on the field, how he'd back it up with his work ethic. Insane energy, unbelievable character. Like he's never had a bad day. Like he lights up a room whenever he walks in it.

He is unselfish. Watch the guy, his teammate score. When his teammates score, like he is going bananas, energy flipping out, high-fiving, he's, man, you know what he is? He's an old school Miami hurricane. There we go. Absolutely. By the way, I don't know what you're doing, but you're losing weight. I mean, I may be able to beat your arm wrestling now. I don't know. What's going on? Is it smoothies? Is it Coral Gables' Whole Foods? What's happening? Oh, there's a lot down here, man. You got the smoothies. We've got the nutrition bar downstairs, man.

Down here in South Florida, you've got to be moving. I mean, it's 90 degrees you're around. Plus, I did have to lose a couple pounds, so it's a good thing. All right. Good seeing you, coach. Great senior, man. Thanks for having me. You bet. Yeah, I mean, we, listen, our job on the show, and I'm, I like Notre Dame, and I, about three weeks ago, I was like, I think Notre Dame would beat them. But you start examining stuff, because I got a lot of teams to cover, and it just so happens. Notre Dame this year faced a lot of

of atrocious defenses, and then they face one great defense, because USC's defense was not great. And USC's defense could be by next year, but in big games, last couple years, USC, especially on the road, hasn't been a great defense. But they faced a lot of the 129th, 127th, 121, they faced Miami, 33 yards rushing. And again, Jeremiah Love is going to be a star as a rookie in the NFL. He is a great player. They could not move Miami's D-line. You can go watch the highlights.

It's on YouTube. If you heard of that, it's an excellent business. So Mario Cristobal joining us. J-MAC with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herd-Line News. Let's go to the World Cup.

Six months away, Colin, and we've got our group for the United States. In Group D, the U.S. will face Paraguay, Australia. and the winner of a playoff sea. Those teams are Romania, Slovakia, Turkey, or Kosovo, probably Turkey, as you alluded to earlier. Turkey did beat us in a friendly. The June 12th match has been announced USA Paraguay at SoFi. Yep.

Circle it on the calendar. I already alerted the family. Hey, I don't want to hear we're going anywhere that weekend. We're going to USA Paraguay, hopefully. Colin, I haven't seen odds yet. We should be the favorites in this group. advance down here i don't want to get ahead of myself but that's what we do in sports if they win this group they will play july one i'm told in santa clara so we could go ahead and book an air bn b and

if you'd like because the u.s is winning this group we will advance and we'll play i believe a third place team uh advancing if the u.s does not advance somehow let's not even let's not even let's not be negative let's take it positive how good is that trump shack wayne gretzky and erin judge did you see what i needy cloutin was there come on that's the biggest start Oh my gosh, Heidi Klum, turning back the clock. But Kevin Hart as well, a big, great comedian. But in all seriousness, USA, we got six months to repair, Colin. No excuses.

Well, yeah, I mean, I think at least two outright wins. We are in a real transition period for our world's best players, our best players, because they're now playing overseas and making a lot of money and being high-end players overseas. And so there's a sense that, well, they don't care about the United States men's national team. Well, of course they do. And especially because this World Cup is here, Canada and Mexico. So as long as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKinney are healthy, we're going to get out of the stage and be in good shape. Last World Cup, we were young.

We were the second youngest squad. And we both watched us play Netherlands, and they had veterans more experienced on the world stage. But we did draw to a tie with England. And I think you came out of that thinking we got out of the group stage. I looked at it as a success. All those guys now are older, more experienced with more gloat. global play, more playover in Europe. So I think it's a realistic that we will not only win the stage,

but this team, I think, is closer than ever. We just have more skill. Yeah. Obviously, the World Cup is the greatest sporting event every year that it happens. It's tremendous. I cannot. I mean, it's going to be, I saw one of the players, Tim Riem was going, talking about what it's like.

I mean, Colin, people forget, like, the World Cup is unbelievable. Like, the last one was, I remember, obviously, Messi finally getting his World Cup. This will break every record in the history of our country. Shatter them. You will see Super Bowl plus ratings. This will shatter every sports rating, not only soccer, but my guess is we're going to shatter NFL numbers.

Oh, without a doubt. Can't wait. USA favorable draw. Now, I haven't even looked at the other brackets because I'm so locked on USA. We'll do that, I'm sure, next week. But very excited for the World Cup. All right, let's move on to the 49ers. And your guy, Robert Sala, you're basically his agent now saying he should get a job instantly.

He's already being linked to the Giants based off his history in New York. Salah talked about that on a podcast recently. I'm not thinking about it, Joe. I know you probably want an answer, but we got four weeks here. Love New York. Love the fan base. Love all of. Love the chaos.

I can't imagine that he's going to go back to the Giants. Do you think there's any way that they bring him in after what happened with the Jets? Well, he'd be motivated. I mean, remember, he got fired as he was going to Buffalo with the Jets for a chance to have a first place tie. Pathetic. Woody Johnson, a total joke of an owner. Come on. But in all serious, Robert Sala, listen, the schedule is favorable for the Niners.

Don't rule out a top two seed for them in the NFC column. No, I know. It's, listen. Legitimately in play. And they're getting healthy offensively. I mean, that's really the key is. They're getting some of the band back, so I don't disagree with you. And what Salah's done missing, like, I don't know, half his defense?

And they've got a buy this week. Perfect time for a buy. The late bias, clutch. Niners and Patriots, vote with the late buy. All right, final story, Colin. For the first time in conference history, number one and number two, playing for the Big Ten title game, Indiana, Ohio State. I believe it's still four and a half. Both obviously are going to the playoff.

This is for a surefire number one overall seed. definite by Kurt Signetti, the Indiana coach, is taking this game as a measuring stick to Cicillixie. Ohio states in a league of their own for a lot of different reasons. And a big part of it is their tradition, their winning history, and all national championships that won. And the money that they've put into the program over a long, extended period of time. Are we closing that gap? Yeah, I think we're closing that gap. And what would a successful performance do on Saturday?

Well, it would do a lot. Yeah, I mean, I think Kurt Signetti is keeping it real. Ohio State, in terms of overall composition of roster, has far more NFL players. Both staffs are excellent. Both quarterbacks are phenomenal. I think Mendoza is the best quarterback right now. I think in two years, Julian Sands going number one. I think he's a huge talent.

I like Sam, but Colin, he's listed at 6-1. Talk to any of the big noon guys. There's no way he's 6-1. He's like 6'1. He's like 6' tall. I know he's a great college quarterback. Let's pump the brakes on him as a pro prospect. I do want to ask you, this should be a layup.

Who's under the most pressure in this game? Ohio State versus Indiana. It's one player. It should be pretty easy. Number well. It's got to be Mendoza, right? He's facing North. the number one defense in the country by a mile.

He's the number one NFL quarterback prospect. This is the Oregon game. I mean, you watched it, right? Like Oregon kind of spit the bit there. They miss a field goal, turn over on downs. Moor throws two picks. I don't want to say they handed it to Indiana. That was a tough one.

Great win. But this is going to be a real test. And there's going to be, you know, 20 million viewers saying, is this the number one pick in the draft? That's fair. And I just, I don't know how Mendoza is going to handle it because you've seen Ohio State calling. Oh, come on.

It's scary. That's secondary, and their back, seven lights out. So their offense, I think Clat had the number. They are the slowest offense in the country at pace. They just take their time, going to the line of scrimmage, and all that is to rest. So the defense, when they come on, they just smother you. And they just slowly choke you out, kind of like an anaconda, you know, squeezes you out.

And I don't know how Indiana wins this. I'm on the Buckeyes, minus four and a half. So am I. I like Ohio State to win by a touchdown or more. Uh, J-Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News.

We've been in a little bit of a heater. J-Mex pro picks 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 I-Hard Radio app. 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 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 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 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 acapella 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. What's up, fam, it's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. and finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.

And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stopped by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah,

you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Keith Giamanka seemed like a mild-mannered, Bourbon dad. But secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy. But I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go

wrong on what that might look like? No, I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics

of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire that is really catching.

You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever. you get your podcasts. All right, let's not waste any time. I took a lot of dogs this week and a lot of corner TV games. J-Mack has made a living off that for years. He loves ugly football. I look at his picks right now.

Let's not waste any time we call it tomorrow's headlines today. And let's roll it. Okay, commanders at Vikings going to be as stinkeruny. You're all over one side. Where are you leaning? Well, listen, you go four and one. comfortable picking some gross dogs. The headline for Vikings commanders on Sunday will be. Stairway to Kevin. Viking Shred North for the winter. Give me Minnesota here. I think there's a

great spot for J.J. McCarthy to return. Colin, I pointed this out this week. They played seven playoff teams in a row. Okay. Good teams. They're getting after McCarthy. Now you step down in class to face Washington near the bottom of the league in pressure rate. And I do believe this is an opportunity for McCarthy to flourish, actually, against Washington, a secondary that, you know, Bo Nix had his way with them last week. We've seen people attack Washington through the air. Secondary is just not very good.

Justin Jefferson, a little chirpy this week. What do you think happens? Justin Jefferson is going to get forced fed. And I also want to add that when you look at this Vikings defense, what does Brian Flores do call? Dows up pressure and blitzing at the highest rate in the league. Nobody blitzes more than him. I still don't understand why Washington's trotting out Jaden Daniels.

There's a real injury risk here. we saw Flores last week, get after Sam Darnold, give him a lot of trouble. So I would be, if I'm watching a fan, I'm holding my breath watching Jaden Daniels running for his life. Tomorrow's headlines today, corner TV game, Saints at the Bucketeers. Come on, this is a divisional matchup. So much drama here, not really. The headline for Bucks and the Saints will be. Aw, shucks.

Saints pray for new offense. Give me Tampa here, big number. we're on Tampa in the Survivor. I got Tampa every which way here, Colin. I know the Saints covered last week in Miami. Do you remember watching any of that? Every time you look at the screen, the Saints can't do anything. It was 16-0-0 before Tua decides,

oh, I'm just going to start screwing around and throwing the ball to other team. Meanwhile, you got Rahim Morris here who, listen, I just think this Tampa defense should give Shucks a lot of problems. I think Baker Mayfield should have an opportunity through the air. And this is just a Tampa team that really hasn't. been clicking on all cylinders lately. They've kind of been sputtering. Remember the early start?

There was some MVP chatter, right? For Baker Mayfield, I think they put it all together here. They have dominated this series. They've won six or seven against the Saints. Kellyn Moore & Company. Don't like the Saints here. Give me the bucks. Big. Tomorrow's headlines today. I think we're on the same side here.

Dolphins at your suddenly pesky New York Jets. Well, you know, quietly the Jets, they've either covered the spread or pushed in the last five games. People don't notice that because they're losing a lot of them. The headline for Jets Dolphins will be. It's Hall or Nothing. Finns receive a breeze and desist. I'm going against the dolphins here.

Hey, it's cold weather. It's December. Are you ready for this? Chua, in December 3 and 8 in his career, the weather gets cold, he's got to go outdoors. I mean, we talked about this. They just don't perform well, the team from South Beach. Now, Tua, to his credit,

is six and oh against the Jets. Never lost to him. But this shows the Jets dysfunction. In those six matchups, he's faced five different quarterbacks. I mean, the Jets can't get their act together. But now enter Tye God, Taylor, the covering machine.

7.0 and 1 against the spread in his last eight starts. I think the Jets move the ball. I think Brees does it on the ground. I think the Jets, special teams could be the difference. Their special teams have been excellent. Nick Foke, give me the Jets here winning outright. Yep, you and I agree. tomorrow's headlines today.

I almost pulled the trigger on this. Almost, but I didn't. Bears in Green Bay to face the Packers. Yeah, it's been a charm season for the Bears. They've been amazing. Beat the Eagles. The number one in the NFL and turnover margin, Colin, plus 17. Amazing.

But the headline for Packers Bears this week will be B. Burt ends. Green Bay hosts Barbecue kickoff. Matt LaFleur, Colin, one of the best coaches in the league in December, 20 and four, straight up in the month of December. He's great at the adjustments. He is from that Belichick School of Thought.

Let's tinker early in the season. When I saw the Jordan Love interviews this week about the trash talk, jokingly from Ben Johnson, Jordan Love is so locked in, Colin. They're still waiting word today. We're going to find out if Golden and Jane Reed will play. I think they are. That would be a big, big get back.

They think they may play. Yeah, they're practicing. It looks good. Packers have owned the Bears. They've won 11 of 12. The key number here is sacks for Caleb Williams. When he's sacked in his career three or more times, they're just three and ten. They're very susceptible.

And remember, Green Bay is going to pressure with four. Micah on the stunts. They'll just sit back in exotic defenses and kind of mess with Caleb and his cadence. I don't think the bears run that well in this one. Give me the Packers winning and covering. I'll go like 2713. Finally, tomorrow's headlines today. You haven't liked the Chiefs all year.

I doubt you love it. them now, what say you? Well, you know, there's all these, every week at something with the Chiefs. Can they beat the Colts? And I say no, and then they beat them. But the Colts covered. Texans, this is the season for Casey. Colin, the headline will be with ends not open. Casey

can't get their Creed to crank. Now, I'm not a fan of Creed, but the staff loves Creed. I know you love with arms wide open. I don't think it happens for Casey. I'm going with the Houston Texans. The Chiefs all lines a map. The Chiefs all lines a mess. Three starters. They haven't been officially out, but we know Simmons and I are Trace Smith, unlikely to go, and then the other tackle unlikely to play. That's bad news

against Hunter and Will Anderson. Now everybody knows that, right? So what are the Chiefs going to do? Going to do the short passes? Colin Stingley is performing at an unbelievable rate. They don't have Lasseter this week, which is a big loss. But I just think other than those short crossers, what is Mahomes going to do? He had time in the pocket against Dallas. Couldn't deliver. He was under pressure. Now, the weather in this one, looks like it's going to be in the 20s Sunday night. Not great, obviously. That's Kansas City Chief's weather.

But if Woody Marks can play, the Chubb Marks combo, I think, should get some traction on the ground. Chief's run game has not been there all season. It's been a bugaboo. I'm going Texans outright. And this is like one of those after the game, plant a flag in the middle of the field. The Texans just killed the dynasty. All right.

Great stuff from J-Mack. We both like the Jets. And we tend generally, if you and I like a side, we do pretty. well in that. United States men's national team. It is official. The odds to win the World Cup are plus 26, 600. They're in Group D.

They will be favored over Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of playoffs, see, that's several countries, Kosovo, Slovakia, Romania, and Turkey. Turkey may be the best of that group. It's a pretty favorable group, would you say? Oh, certainly. U.S. should win this. I don't want to say handily because nothing's ever easy for this team. But you said they're plus 6,600 to win it?

Wow. I would bet on the, I mean, I think they could, a reasonable expectation would be quarterfinals. And then I think semifinals is an absolute home run. Because you remember the last time we hosted the World Cup? We ended up facing Brazil on, I believe, July 4th in a memorable game. Lollas can talk to you for hours about that. But we're going to show up at home, Colin.

We're going to have the home field advantage. Yep. It's going to be a scene here, man. I can't wait. And, you know, if you look at the history of United States men's national team soccer, when we face the elite teams, we play more of a defensive brand, which is Italy's always been known for that. We don't play the attacking Argentina, Brazil style. And the reason is we can't. We can't go toe to toe.

We have to play a defensive style, get great goaltending, and then, you know, try to get a goal late. that's not the case with this team I mean this team's got players who are flourishing overseas I think that now maybe we can't go Argentina toe-to-to-tow track meet but I do think

we will be more aggressive than previous World Cups I thought the last World Cup we were talented but we were the second youngest team so our guys now we have a majority of our players and this really is true for the NBA I mean the reason OKC is so good

is all their best players are either in their prime or entering it. That matters. Golden State's got good players. You know, Steph and Drame on our way out of their prime. So I think our players, our top six or seven players, are either going into their prime here or they're in it. And so I think athletically, I think we are a fast,

athletic, attacking group. And I think very rarely do we go into a group stage and think we're, we have the best roster. And I think that's fair to think right now. And the World Cup at large is going to be amazing. It sounds like Messi and Ronaldo are both going to play. Like, that's amazing, Colin. We thought they would retire.

This is the first World Cup expansion from, is it, 32 to 48 teams? So you're going to have more countries. And that may mean a little easier route, perhaps, for some. I mean, we've advanced to the round of 16 and three of the four last four World Cups. We'll see you Monday. It's the herd. 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. 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, 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. you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets.

But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. I'm Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city, in which there were more homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio.

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