Overview of THE HERD — Hour 1
Colin Cowherd opens by reacting to the first big playoff game of the night, arguing that the Knicks didn’t just “steal” Game 1 — they were the better, more organized, and more physical team down the stretch. The main themes of the hour are Victor Wembanyama’s struggle against New York’s size and strength, the Knicks’ sustainable team construction, why Notre Dame should seriously consider joining a conference, and a quick run through NFL camp headlines involving Micah Parsons, Sam Darnold, and the Raiders.
Knicks Take Game 1: Why New York Won
New York’s size and physicality mattered
- Colin says the Knicks won because they were stronger, older, and more composed in the fourth quarter.
- New York’s front line — especially Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart — repeatedly pushed Wembanyama off his spots.
- He emphasizes that playoff officiating usually becomes more physical, which further favors the Knicks’ roster profile.
Wemby’s biggest issue: body strength, not talent
- Cowherd is clear that he is not doubting Wembanyama’s greatness, but he thinks the matchup exposed a real physical limitation.
- He compares Wemby to a very young Giannis: elite talent, but still needing more strength and body development.
- His concern is that Wemby may need another offseason and added muscle before he can consistently overpower strong NBA front lines.
Spurs were good early, but ran out of gas
- San Antonio generated quality catch-and-shoot looks, but missed them badly.
- Colin attributes much of the collapse to fatigue after a grueling seven-game series.
- By the second half, the Spurs looked disorganized, rushed, and exhausted.
Wemby was too dependent on others
- Cowherd argues that San Antonio’s offense leaned too heavily on Wembanyama to create everything.
- He says Wemby is more of a finisher than a true play initiator right now.
- If the Spurs’ shooters aren’t making shots, the offense can look ugly fast.
Brunson, Hart, and the Knicks’ Sustainability
Jalen Brunson is the engine
- Brunson’s fourth-quarter reliability is a major reason the Knicks feel so stable.
- Cowherd likes that the offense has a clear identity: give Brunson the ball late and get out of the way.
Josh Hart was a huge factor
- Hart’s stat line stood out to Colin: rebounds, assists, steals, and nonstop energy.
- He calls Hart one of the league’s best glue guys and says the Villanova core gives the Knicks real cohesion.
The Knicks feel built for playoff basketball
- Cowherd says New York’s roster construction is strong because:
- Brunson is on a team-friendly deal
- The roster has multiple big, tough defenders
- The team is collaborative rather than chaotic
- He contrasts that with Boston, which he sees as more top-heavy and overly reliant on the three-point shot.
Notre Dame Should Join a Conference
The core argument
- Colin argues Notre Dame has:
- money
- a great coach in Marcus Freeman
- national relevance
- But it lacks something essential in the modern college football landscape: consistent high-level opponents willing to schedule it.
Why the schedule problem matters
- With super-conference realignment, many top teams won’t want to take on Notre Dame non-conference.
- He says Notre Dame’s schedule is often too soft compared with teams like Ohio State and USC.
- That means Notre Dame needs a bigger playoff or a conference affiliation to avoid being boxed out of strong regular-season matchups.
The takeaway
- Cowherd’s view: Notre Dame still matters, but in the new era it is increasingly vulnerable without conference membership.
- He frames it as a practical issue, not just tradition.
NFL and College Football Headlines
Micah Parsons may miss the start of the season
- Parsons said he likely won’t be ready for Week 1 as he continues recovering from his ACL injury.
- Colin notes the Packers’ early schedule is soft enough that they may survive his absence.
Sam Darnold gets more love
- Cowherd uses Darnold as an example of how hard it is to evaluate quarterbacks fairly.
- He argues Darnold’s recent body of work suggests he’s a top-10 quarterback based on his last several seasons across multiple teams.
Raiders and Fernando Mendoza are suddenly interesting
- Maxx Crosby praised quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s work ethic and energy.
- Colin says the Raiders are one of the league’s most fascinating teams because they have a new coach, new talent, and real uncertainty at quarterback.
Roster-Building Lesson: Spend Money on Premium Spots
Steelers criticized as a contrast
- Cowherd closes with a roster-construction rant about the Steelers.
- His point: teams should spend heavily on premium positions like:
- quarterback
- left tackle
- edge rusher
- corner
- He mocks Pittsburgh for prioritizing things like a blocking tight end and linebacker spending while leaving the offensive line less protected.
Main Takeaways
- The Knicks won Game 1 with size, physicality, and fourth-quarter organization.
- Wembanyama’s talent is undeniable, but the game showed how much strength and roster support still matter.
- New York’s roster feels more sustainable than Boston’s because of contract value and team fit.
- Notre Dame’s scheduling problem is becoming a major issue in the super-conference era.
- NFL camp storylines are heating up, especially around Parsons, Darnold, and the Raiders.