Colin Cowherd is a polarizing guy. You either love his analogies about divorce and corporate CEO culture, or you want to throw your remote at the TV when he compares a quarterback's pocket presence to a "bad marriage." But here’s the thing. The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a juggernaut. It’s been years since he made the jump from ESPN to Fox Sports and iHeartRadio, and the show hasn't just survived—it’s basically defined the modern "sports opinion" era.
It’s loud. It’s calculated. It's often right.
Most sports shows feel like a bunch of guys screaming in a bar. Colin feels like a guy giving a keynote presentation at a tech conference, even if he’s just talking about why the Dallas Cowboys are "over-valued stock." That specific vibe is exactly why the show dominates both the midday TV slot on FS1 and the podcast charts.
The FS1 Shift: Why Colin Left the "Mothership"
Back in 2015, the sports media world shook a little. Cowherd left ESPN. At the time, people thought he was crazy. Why leave the biggest platform in sports? But Colin saw the writing on the wall. He wanted ownership. He wanted a partner in Eric Shanks at Fox who would let him be, well, Colin.
The move to FS1 wasn't just a change of scenery. It was a business play. By anchoring The Herd with Colin Cowherd on a burgeoning network, he became the face of a brand. He wasn't just a cog in the Bristol machine anymore. He was the machine.
He brought Joy Taylor along for a long stretch, and their chemistry was undeniable. Joy provided the "sanity check" to Colin’s sometimes wilder takes. When she moved to Speak, many worried the show would lose its rhythm. But Jason McIntyre stepped in, bringing a gambling-centric, "internet-savvy" energy that fits where sports are going. It’s more about spreads, props, and "The Blazing Five" now.
The Art of the Analogy (and Why It Works)
Have you ever noticed how Colin never just says a team is "bad"?
No. They are a "rebuilding software company." Or they are "the guy at the party who talks about high school too much."
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This isn't just quirkiness. It’s a deliberate communication strategy. Most sports fans get bogged down in stats—Completion percentages, EPA per play, PER. Cowherd skips the math. He goes for the "vibe." He looks at sports through the lens of psychology and business. Honestly, it’s why your spouse who doesn't even like football might actually stop and watch a segment. It’s relatable.
What People Get Wrong About the Takes
Critics love to point out when Colin is wrong. And he is. Often. He famously whiffed on Baker Mayfield and has had some legendary "cold takes" over the years.
But Colin doesn't care.
He’s admitted on air that his job isn't to be a scout. His job is to be interesting. The show's structure—the "Where Colin was Right/Where Colin was Wrong" segment—is a masterclass in transparency as entertainment. By leaning into his failures, he builds a weird kind of trust with the audience. You know he’s not faking his opinion just to be a "shock jock." He actually believes the stuff he says, even when it’s borderline insane.
The Volume: Building a Media Empire
You can’t talk about The Herd with Colin Cowherd without talking about The Volume.
A few years ago, Colin launched his own podcast network. He realized that the three hours he spends on FS1 every day is just the "top of the funnel." The real money and the real "stickiness" is in digital audio.
- He signed Draymond Green.
- He brought on Richard Sherman.
- He leaned into the gambling world with FanDuel.
This changed the show. Now, when you watch The Herd with Colin Cowherd on TV, you’re seeing a cross-platform promotional engine. He’ll reference a conversation he had with a player on a podcast the night before. It feels less like a static TV show and more like a 24/7 conversation that you're just dropping into for a few hours at noon.
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Behind the Scenes: The "Blazing Five" and The Guest List
The "Blazing Five" is arguably the most successful weekly segment in sports talk history. Every Friday during the NFL season, Colin picks five games against the spread.
It’s high stakes. It’s fast-paced.
Even if you don't gamble, you watch because of the conviction. He treats these picks like he’s betting his house, even if he’s just "betting" his reputation. It’s the peak of the show’s weekly cycle.
Then there are the guests. Colin doesn't do "carwash" interviews. He doesn't want the backup punter for the Jaguars. He wants:
- Nick Wright: For the high-level NBA debates.
- Joel Klatt: For the college football deep dives.
- Greg Jennings or Julian Edelman: For the "inside the locker room" perspective.
He treats his guests like consultants. He asks them to validate his theories rather than asking "how did the game feel?" It’s a smarter way to do an interview. It respects the viewer’s intelligence.
Why the Show Dominates Google and Social Media
The clips. Oh, the clips.
Fox Sports is incredible at slicing up The Herd with Colin Cowherd into three-minute YouTube videos with titles that practically demand a click. "Colin explains why the Lakers are a mess." "Why LeBron is the perfect CEO."
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These aren't just snippets; they are self-contained essays. Because Colin speaks in "blocks," his show is perfectly designed for the algorithm. He starts with a premise, provides three examples, and gives a concluding "so what." It’s a repeatable formula that works as well on TikTok as it does on a 60-inch TV.
The Evolution of the Midday Slot
Midday sports TV used to be a wasteland. It was the "best of" clips or weird fringe sports. Cowherd changed that. He made 12:00 PM ET a "destination" time.
He’s also smart enough to know when to pivot. When the NFL is in the offseason, he doesn't just force baseball talk (unless it's the Dodgers or Yankees). He talks about "the business of the off-season." He talks about trades, rumors, and big-picture league movements. He understands that the drama of sports is often more interesting than the games themselves.
Actionable Insights for the Dedicated Viewer
If you're a regular listener or just getting into the show, here’s how to get the most out of the "Cowherd experience" without getting caught in the "hot take" trap:
- Listen for the "Big Picture": Don't get hung up on whether he’s right about a specific game. Look at his logic for why a franchise is successful. He focuses on "alignment" (Owner/GM/Coach). That’s a lesson that applies to business and life, not just the NFL.
- Watch the "Where Colin was Wrong" Segments: This is where the real value is. It’s a lesson in intellectual honesty. Seeing how an expert deconstructs their own failure is more educational than watching them celebrate a win.
- Follow the "Blazing Five" Tracking: If you actually follow his picks, do it for the "why" behind the line movement. He often explains "pro money" vs. "public money." It’s a great primer on how the sports betting market actually functions.
- Check the Podcasts: The FS1 show is polished. The "Colin Cowherd Podcast" on The Volume is much more raw. If you want the "unfiltered" version where he swears a little and goes deeper into political or social themes, that’s where you go.
The Herd with Colin Cowherd isn't going anywhere. Whether he’s at a desk in Los Angeles or recording from his vacation home, Colin has mastered the art of being the "smartest guy at the bar." You don't have to agree with him to realize that he's playing a different game than everyone else in sports media. He isn't just reporting on the news; he’s contextualizing it for a world that’s moving way too fast.
Check your local listings for FS1 or find the show on Premiere Networks via iHeartRadio. The "herd" is always moving—you might as well keep up.