Kirk Herbstreit

College football players should be required to sign contracts and form a union

I think these players at this point, they need to sign contracts. I think we need a CBA, I think we need to form some kind of player's union... we somehow need to get that national view to partner with the players union. Create a CBA where you're held accountable. Okay, we're gonna agree on NIL here are the rules we're gonna agree on... and then we obey the contract on both sides.

Ohio State's offensive line is a massive concern that could lead to an upset loss against Tennessee

If you really watched the Michigan game, when they lost the center from Alabama, Seth McLaughlin, when he went down with that Achilles, I think that offensive line is a serious question mark going up against Tennessee's strength, which is their defensive front.

Indiana will pull off the upset against Notre Dame in the CFP

What's the, I, what's the IU Notre Dame? Seven and a half... I would say IU. I'd probably say IU would, would be [the upset].

Bill Belichick will prioritize academic performance at North Carolina

I really think as much as you guys are saying, Hey, don't worry about the education... I think he's gonna think about how I do both... I think he's gonna, the reason it took two weeks... I'm sure he sat there and just gathered so much intel... but I do think he's gonna do the academic side. I I, that's just me.

The Dr Pepper tuition challenge is 'embarrassing' and should be moved back 10 yards to ban chest passes

I'm with you. That, that, you know, everybody, it is almost like pop a shot. They're just firing that thing away. Right. And it, it doesn't take any ability at all. Right. So I think that, I think you're onto something. I think you move it back at least another 10 yards... to take away that, the chest pass.

Florida State shouldn't automatically be in the playoff just because they are undefeated

The loss of Jordan Travis to me is pretty significant... We live in an era where it's like, okay, they're undefeated, so they're in because they're in a Power five. I just don't do that. I'm really big on the best four teams... If you think Florida State's one of the best teams with Tate Rodemaker, then that's no problem. But I'm just not big on, they're undefeated so we have to put 'em in.

Ryan Day definitely has a Michigan problem

He definitely has a Michigan problem... Ohio State lived in Michigan's head for a number of years... and Jim Harbaugh, to his credit... has completely turned this thing around. If I were Ryan Day... I would suggest maybe looking at finding more Ohio guys that qualified to be on the roster to make them appreciate what this game really means.

Jayden Daniels should win the Heisman Trophy

I have Jayden Daniels winning... He has been by far, when you think of a Heisman winner and you watch his plays, that's the guy you think of. In my opinion, it should go to the most dynamic playmaker and that player has been Jayden Daniels up to this point.

Removing divisions from the Big 10 is a mistake that will diminish the importance of its premier rivalries

What's bad specifically for me in the Big 10 as you lose the divisions... Imagine Ohio State, Michigan this Saturday playing in the Big 10 championship. I think that wrinkle to me is gonna be odd and gonna take some time to get used to. Michigan deserves credit. They just beat Ohio State. They shouldn't have to a week later now go have to play them again.

Al Michaels hears the social media criticism and thinks it is bullshit

Al hears it. He disagrees with it... Social media is using those two examples [Jacksonville playoff game and Denver game] to just say Al Michaels hates Thursday night, Al Michaels has lost it... He hears the noise, I don't think he's like 'I'll show them'. He has more of an f-you attitude about it. He thinks it's a bunch of bullshit.

Dak Prescott is currently playing the best football of his entire career

You could argue that Dak's playing the best that he has in his career. And number two, Mike McCarthy calling plays. I think there's a rhythm right now. They have balance. They can run, they can throw. The defense with Dan Quinn right now... there's a lot there to like.

Al Michaels has a full 'fine dining' steak and shrimp dinner with silverware during halftime of NFL games

This dude, we get to halftime... He's got like steak. Oh, like shrimp. He doesn't touch the mashed potatoes but, and he's, and and they've got like real silverware and they got a plate and then, you know, you only have eight minutes at halftime... headphones are off back behind that screen and they got a table set and it's like fine dining for eight minutes.

The AFC Championship energy doesn't compare to an SEC night game until the postseason

The biggest difference is the energy. When you go to Knoxville or you go to Baton Rouge or you go to State College on a Saturday night is very different from an N F L atmosphere until probably you get to the post season. So I, I'm, I'm incredibly spoiled by what you experience in a college atmosphere. And then to go into it was almost like the energy, some of the games we did was like calling a Wisconsin spring game, you know, as far as like the crowd noise. It was just like there was no juice.

The TCU vs. Georgia National Championship game will be a high-scoring shootout over 60 points

Somebody told me the over-under's like in the sixties. I think this is another game over that. I think it's another game early kind of feel each other and then after that it's gonna be back and forth. You know, I think it's in the high thirties, low forties kind of like the two semi-final games. I'd be surprised if it's not a shootout.

If Georgia wins the National Championship, they are officially the new standard in college football, replacing Alabama

The new champ should be, we want Georgia. Like Georgia has become the new standard and if they win Monday night, without question, even if they don't win, I feel like they've arrived to that point. They win Monday night, there's a new sheriff in town. You know, it's Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.

The 49ers will beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl

Gimme 49ers-Chiefs in the Super Bowl and I'm going 49ers. I'm gonna win it all. Brock Purdy.

Brock Purdy's success will change how NFL teams evaluate veteran college quarterbacks over 'workout' prospects

It's gonna change the evaluation on quarterbacks moving forward. Like was Zach Wilson who was doing the spin move in the throw at his workout, and Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant, who was a four-year starter. I think it's gonna change guys like Stetson Bennett or Max Duggan... those guys who played a ton of football, they're all gonna be looked at differently.

If your only goal is reaching the NFL, you should skip your entire third season of college football instead of just a bowl game

I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart. I hope you make generational wealth, but that's one lane. If you're in that lane, why would you not only not play in a bowl game... why would you play in the entire season? See, I think that's where we're going... If the goal is to get there, skip your entire third year, go to Phoenix, go train, stay healthy.

If you are concerned about getting hurt in a bowl game, you should not play

If you play in a bull game and you're worried, oh my gosh, I'm playing in this bowl game. But what if I get hurt? You're going to get hurt... If there's any fear at all about what's at stake... I would say, don't do it. You got to play the game. It is a reckless game.

College football players are on a path toward becoming unionized employees

I say, we make the players, employees. I say, we're going on a path. Now we form a union. I mean, that's where we're going with this thing... because players need to be treated that way. They need to benefit more than they are not just with name, image and likeness.

Cincinnati would have stayed ahead of Oklahoma State in the playoff rankings even if the Cowboys had won the Big 12

My hunch is Cincinnati would have gone ahead of them. I think that's my hunch... Because of where they were all year. I mean, think about it. They weren't coming from 28 working their way, all the way up... they were invited to the party before the season started.

If I'm Georgia, I am jamming Jameson Williams at the line of scrimmage every single snap

I'm literally taking a guy no matter where number one [Jameson Williams] goes... I'm jamming his ass. It's a line of scrimmage, every single snap with a safety over top. And I'm making either Brian Robinson win the game... Jameson Williams destroyed them. The last game they played, he can't beat me. He cannot beat me.

College football has the best regular season but the worst postseason in sports

We have to fix it. It's gotta get better. The best regular season, the worst post season right now in sports. So that has to be fixed. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy when teams get together.

Modern college recruits are making a mistake by prioritizing the NFL over their college experience

These high school going into college, these kids are missing out on an opportunity to really make a difference in the college game... it's like they don't even really plant their roots at their college stop... they all think they're going to become Patrick Mahomes... when it doesn't happen, you need to have something to fall back on.

The NCAA Football video game series is far superior to Madden because of its option plays and quarterback run mechanics.

The college football game, it's so much better for me than the Madden game because of the option part of it and QB run.

Nick Saban and the Alabama defense consistently struggle against tempo offenses and dual-threat, mobile quarterbacks.

It's always a running quarterback that gives Alabama Nick Saban fits. It's a tempo offense, and it's a quarterback who's a dual guy that can create and do some things with his legs. ... That's Justin Fields.