The Herd with Colin Cowherd HOUR 1 – 49ers are overusing their stars, USC is right to ditch Notre Dame
Dec 23, 2025
The discussion kicks off with a critical look at the 49ers, particularly the overreliance on star Christian McCaffrey. Colin highlights the importance of balancing player workload to ensure playoff readiness. The debate then shifts to USC's decision to end its rivalry with Notre Dame, with Colin asserting that Notre Dame's schedule lacks competitiveness. He also praises Brock Purdy's growth and elaborates on the significant impact of tight end George Kittle. Finally, there's a nod to the evolving landscape of college football, emphasizing a shift towards championship aspirations over tradition.
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McCaffrey's Heavy Workload Risks Niners' Depth
- Colin Cowherd argues the 49ers are overusing Christian McCaffrey with extremely high touch counts.
- He warns that repeated 27+ touch games correlate with San Francisco losing the following week, raising playoff durability concerns.
George Kittle Moves The Needle More Than You Think
- Colin states George Kittle is uniquely valuable beyond quarterbacks due to blocking and offensive impact.
- He notes the Niners score about seven more points per game when Kittle plays, underscoring Kittle's outsized influence.
Schedule Rivalries On Your Terms
- Colin advises USC to set terms for playing Notre Dame, preferring early-season matchups before heavy conference stretches.
- He recommends protecting a brutal conference schedule by scheduling rivalry games when roster fatigue risk is lower.