The Herd with Colin Cowherd THE HERD - Hour 3 - Former Boise State HC Chris Petersen stops by The Herd
Dec 19, 2025
Former Boise State head coach Chris Petersen shares his insights on the current landscape of college football. He discusses the challenges faced by teams like Notre Dame in the playoff scenario and the appeal of young coaches moving to the NFL. Petersen highlights Puka Nacua's unique talents that he spotted while coaching, and reflects on his experiences with quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He also debates coaching preferences between Michigan and Alabama and provides thoughts on Ohio State versus Georgia matchups.
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Watching Stafford's Mastery Up Close
- Chris Petersen described watching Matthew Stafford's photographic memory and precise processing during a Rams game he attended.
- He praised Stafford's accuracy, quick processing, and mastery of Sean McVay's complex offense.
Petersen On Puka's Reliable Hands
- Chris Petersen recounted recruiting and coaching Puka Nacua at Washington and Utah where he saw exceptional hands and body control.
- He noted the harder the catch, the more confident he was that Puka would make it, even as a freshman.
Treat Playoffs Like A Short Pro Season
- Chris Petersen advised coaches to treat the playoff stretch as a short pro-style season and avoid long midseason layoffs that kill rhythm.
- He emphasized peaking at season end and using the tournament's fresh start after finals to perform best.