Best of The Herd

Here we go. Massive NFL week ahead, Blazing Five in an hour, and happy new year to everyone tuning in. And what a Rose Bowl thumping that was. Indiana bullied Alabama, Georgia couldn’t clamp down a real offense, and the sport finally feels wide open thanks to realignment, NIL, and the portal. The Big Ten’s been handling the SEC lately, and I’m all in on this new parity. Give me Miami, Indiana, Oregon, Ole Miss in the mix. And Fernando Mendoza? He looks like the top pick to me, clinical and calm, and I don’t need my quarterback to be cool to trust him. Miami over Ohio State just reinforced it. College football now feels like the NFL. You can trip in October and still make a run, and that’s a feature, not a bug.

We’re not acting like we’ve arrived, but we are getting better. Against the top defense, our late answers and the closing interception were big body shots and counters that showed real toughness.

I think we’re headed toward Indiana–Miami for the title, with Indiana by a field goal if you force me. Ohio State’s losses had a common thread: both fronts harassed their quarterback. Indiana’s clean, physical, runs it, and has the best quarterback in the sport. That’s a nasty out.

Trinidad Chamberlain blew me away. A year ago he’s winning a D2 title, now he’s improvising like a highlight reel. It’s hard to find an NFL comp, maybe a little Manziel chaos but it works.

I said it midseason, I get light Dak Prescott vibes. College Dak moved well behind a shaky line, and this kid gives me a similar feel.

He’ll see a different animal against Miami’s front. And Georgia’s rush vanished. Any time they brought heat he just ran away. Fun game, though.

Blazing Five to close the regular season. Mostly favorites. Seattle over San Francisco because the Seahawks travel well and control the ball. Bengals over the Browns since they’re humming and Cleveland’s offense has been loose with it. Bears over the Lions because Chicago’s run game fits the matchup. Rams bounce back and roll the Cardinals. Steelers keep it within the number against the Ravens, but Baltimore sneaks it by one. Solid year so far, let’s finish strong.

I’m with you on the Rams after that McVay note. Bears–Lions is tricky for me, so I’m passing. Otherwise I’m aligned, aside from leaning San Fran.

RG3 is here. Quick one on Ohio State. Ryan Day taking back play-calling right before facing two elite defenses and then scoring 10 and 14 felt like a tough pivot. That’s a hard late switch, right?

Exactly. You don’t overhaul roles before your biggest tests. Teams that kept their coordinators steady had an edge. Ohio State lost continuity at the worst time, and Miami made them pay.

What do you make of Fernando Mendoza as a pro? Big, poised, does what’s needed without forcing it. I like the grown-up vibe.

I love him. He processes fast, delivers what the game asks, and doesn’t hunt empty hero ball. That’s a top ten profile. Put weapons around him and he can win a Super Bowl. He won’t be a one-man fixer, but he’s the kind coaches trust. Indiana’s turnaround with Kurt Signetti is special.

Miami’s arc with all the new faces took time. I really bought in after they smashed Pitt and started stacking wins. They feel built to match Indiana. How do you see their midseason reset after Louisville and SMU?

They stopped trying to be a quarterback showcase and leaned into the trenches and closers outside. Pay the QB, sure, but win with line play and five big throws without turnovers. That shift made them dangerous, and I’m happy to see the ACC get its shot.

I don’t see Ole Miss getting the stops it needs when it gets tight. Fun offense, but the defense worries me. Fair?

Fair. Georgia put up plenty on them. And Trinidad Chandler’s rise is wild. From zero-star to Ferris State champ to sparking a semifinal team with both structure and flair. If they pull this off, that’s a movie.

Sam Darnold’s been the riddle of his era. Thrown into New York at twenty with illness and politics, then bouncing to better spots that liked him. I think the talent’s real. Is the recklessness fixable, or is this who he is?

He’s a classic case of a young QB let down by his first situation. Belief alignment matters from owner to coach. He’s always had rare arm talent, and like every modern quarterback, he needs real dudes around him. Seattle gets discounted because people don’t buy him. The playoffs are his chance to reset the narrative. With the right cast, his risk level works.

On Lamar and the Ravens. There are a few guys you just don’t even take calls on. Lamar’s elite, but he’s missed time, the cap hit is heavy, and at twenty-nine he doesn’t look quite as explosive. What’s really going on?

The building and the city are behind him, and Harbaugh stood up for him publicly. Trading him would take an outrageous offer. He’s wired to flip narratives like Vick did, whether by arm or legs. I’ve got Baltimore over Pittsburgh, and that outcome forces tough conversations for the Steelers.

I’ve said it before. Some stars fit a city so perfectly it’s hard to picture them anywhere else. Is Lamar that in Baltimore?

One hundred percent. The Ravens let him be fully himself from day one, and that authenticity mirrors the city’s grit. That’s why the locker room rides for him.

Great stuff, RG3. What a college slate and a juicy NFL weekend. Stick around. I’m naming my NFL person of the year next.

No spoilers, but it’s definitely not anyone from the Jets. Can’t wait.