Colin Cowherd Podcast - NFL Win Totals, USC vs. Notre Dame Revival? Steelers Headed For Disaster?
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The episode of '3 and Out with John Middlekauff' dives deep into the evolving landscape of college and professional football, focusing on the strained relationship between Notre Dame and USC over scheduling and conference realignment. The discussion reveals that Notre Dame's weak non-conference schedule—due to its independent status and lack of power-conference matchups—has left it vulnerable in the 12-team playoff era, prompting renewed talks to reschedule the USC game to Labor Day weekend. Meanwhile, the podcast scrutinizes the financial and structural challenges facing college sports, including NIL inflation, rising roster costs, and the looming possibility of salary caps for players and coaches. The conversation shifts to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where concerns are mounting over GM Omar Khan’s lack of involvement in scouting and contract management, despite his background in finance. The team’s inability to secure a young quarterback and their continued reliance on Aaron Rodgers are seen as signs of organizational stagnation. The episode concludes with a sharp analysis of NFL front offices, arguing that the best teams—like the Bills, Chiefs, and Eagles—are defined not by star quarterbacks but by elite front-office decision-making, with the Steelers now viewed as a franchise in decline.
Notre Dame is seeking to reschedule its USC game to Labor Day due to scheduling conflicts and a weak non-conference schedule that undermines its playoff legitimacy.
College football faces a financial crisis due to NIL spending, with rumors of future salary caps for players and coaches to prevent an unsustainable arms race.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in organizational trouble, with GM Omar Khan criticized for lacking football expertise and failing to manage personnel or contracts effectively.
The Steelers' reliance on Aaron Rodgers and lack of a clear quarterback future signal deeper dysfunction, despite their high-paid defense.
The NFL is increasingly a 'GM league'—teams with elite front offices (like Buffalo, Kansas City, and Philadelphia) are outperforming those with star quarterbacks alone.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
College Football's Structural Crisis
The episode opens with a discussion on the growing instability in college football, focusing on Notre Dame's scheduling struggles and the looming threat of a 12-team playoff that disadvantages teams with weak non-conference schedules.
Notre Dame vs. USC: The Scheduling Standoff
“They're playing Belichick, which you see the comments by the former quarterback for Belichick about how miserable that place is. It's like, Bill, the Patriot way is not going to work with 18-, 19-year-olds and you don't have the talent.”
The NIL and Financial Arms Race
“Three years ago, it was like $10 million for a roster. Well, within a couple of years, it's 50 million. So you just keep doing the math. Are we talking $100 million roster in three or four years? You can't maintain – it's going to be parallel with the NFL if you just play this out.”
Belichick’s College Football Misstep
“He treats these guys exactly like he would treat Julian Edelman at 33. Meanwhile, this guy's 18. Not nearly as football smart because he's never been taught. He's getting yelled at. He's overwhelmed. And he's not that good.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Decline
“If you told me there was an organization, a brand in sports... that in five years we looked up, and was just an absolute mess, I would guess the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
“Three years ago, it was like $10 million for a roster. Well, within a couple of years, it's 50 million. So you just keep doing the math. Are we talking $100 million roster in three or four years? You can't maintain – it's going to be parallel with the NFL if you just play this out.”
“If you told me there was an organization, a brand in sports... that in five years we looked up, and was just an absolute mess, I would guess the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
“They're playing Belichick, which you see the comments by the former quarterback for Belichick about how miserable that place is. It's like, Bill, the Patriot way is not going to work with 18-, 19-year-olds and you don't have the talent.”
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pittsburgh steelers
other
notre dame
other
nfl
organization
college football
other
usc
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bill belichick
person
omar khan
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buffalo bills
other
josh allen
person
hard rock bet
brand
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