Colin Cowherd Podcast - Indiana vs. Miami Preview, NIL Is Hurting SEC Powerhouses, Will Kiffin Win Titles?

Rocking a new headset today, and Josh Pate’s here, so let’s jump right in: Miami’s getting seven and a half against Indiana. I think Miami muddies it up, Indiana wins a low‑scoring grinder, but I don’t see them lighting up the 30s or 40s.

I’m with you, and I even sprinkled the Miami moneyline. If Miami’s front forces third‑and‑long and keeps Fernando Mendoza from finding that Oregon‑level rhythm, they can turn this into a four‑quarter fistfight and steal it late.

On Signetti, I wouldn’t jump to the NFL; the current college job is about NIL budgets, portal triage, and targeted fixes. He fits Indiana, doesn’t feel like a ladder climber, and that local backing matters.

Same read. If there’s a surprise NFL jump, I’d look at names like Ryan Day, Lincoln, or Kirby before I’d bet on Signetti moving.

I laid out my next‑decade powers in this NIL era—Texas money, Michigan and Notre Dame endowments, Ohio State scale, Oregon’s Phil Knight, Indiana’s momentum, USC spending—and I’m less certain on Georgia. The booster picture shifted, portal losses piled up, and that corporate halo in Atlanta hasn’t translated like people assume.

There’s no guarantee for Georgia, LSU, or Bama. Georgia’s big brands nearby haven’t kicked in as hoped, and Kirby’s a bit old‑school about leaning into this, so many are banking on the rules evolving soon.

Big Ten size plus quarterback depth could widen the gap next year; do we see another season where the SEC misses?

It could happen. But if Texas hits its ceiling, the SEC’s top end can tower again, and Alabama’s Keelon Russell is a breakout watch while the Big Ten likely holds the overall depth edge.

On Lane Kiffin, the online fireworks are fun, but I can see it backfiring; I’m not sold that pairing him with LSU automatically yields titles.

Agreed. Paying head‑coach‑one money doesn’t transform who he is, and mismatched expectations burn everyone; honestly, Lane’s best consumed on the internet.

Back to Miami‑Indiana: any chance Carson Beck outduels Mendoza? He’s got big‑game reps, real protection, and weapons, and there’s value in that experience.

Not throw for throw. His path is a managed, run‑leaning plan where his legs add just enough; if he’s chucking it 40 times, that’s trouble, and Mendoza can make the wilder plays.

Miami’s talent means you live with some mess and let playmakers roll; now, seeing Mendoza live, what jumped out? I’ve had that Herbert moment in person where the size and zip reset your scale.

The ball explodes out—far‑hash lasers, true NFL windows, and he actually leveled up after the Heisman. The maturity checks out too, so I left even more convinced.

Is Indiana more loaded in person than TV suggests? Their receivers really stretch you and win at the catch point.

One hundred percent—they pass the eye test, not some TCU‑vs‑Georgia gap. Put different jerseys on them and most folks would just nod and say, yep, that’s a top roster.

Portal or NIL—what needs the wrench first? I think coaches and players aren’t the same job, and the churn feels off.

NIL needs real revenue sharing with class‑based tiers and heavy back‑end rewards for staying, plus coach‑change exceptions. Do that and the portal cools on its own without bans.

I’m already seeing programs keep their core and focus spend on pass rush, WR, and QB instead of spraying cash, like USC shifting back to big high‑school classes. It’s still messy, but it’s settling.

Totally; the rules will evolve, and places like Bama and Georgia are reinvesting NIL into their signees and using the portal for targeted needs. Everyone chases a model, but Signetti’s principles‑first build feels sustainable.

Appreciate you, man—proud of what you’re building. The Volume.