Leading up to third-ranked Ohio State’s 14-7 win over top-ranked Texas on Saturday, August 30, 2025, FS1 sports commentator Colin Cowherd had been highly critical of one Buckeyes coach. No, his criticisms weren’t directly aimed at Ohio State head coach Ryan Day.
Cowherd, who hosts “The Herd” on FS1, made the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator, who came to Ohio State with NFL credentials, a big target. In light of the Buckeyes’ win, what is Cowherd saying now?
How Does Colin Cowherd Feel About Ohio State’s DC?
Cowherd had been verbally beating down former NFL head coach Matt Patricia, who took over defensive coordinator duties under Day this season. Patricia had some tough years when coaching for the New England Patriots or being head coach of the Detroit Lions, opening himself up to plenty of beatdowns in the media.
Back in 2019, Cowherd got behind his microphone and lit up Patricia in a big way. “But I watched Matt Patricia, another (Bill) Belichick guy, and it just didn’t work on Monday,” Cowherd said at the time. “There are multiple reports since he took the job, players don’t like him, players don’t relate to him, he’s too gruff, he works too hard.”
“You watch him on the sidelines, hat on backwards, pencil, he’s a mess, nobody’s communicating,” Cowherd added. “Stories out today, he’s over his head, nobody likes him. Another Bill Belichick guy, he’s not working.”
Cowherd was not holding back when he shared these thoughts years ago. Has Cowherd changed his tune, though? Was the Ohio State victory, especially with their fourth-down stands against the Longhorns, enough to soften Cowherd’s words? Cowherd had plenty to share when going online after the big game at “The Shoe” in Columbus, Ohio.
“Well, defensive coordinators in the NFL face the world’s best quarterbacks,” Cowherd said on Saturday. “Whereas in college football, a defensive coordinator’s job is to stop the run because you don’t face a lot of world-class quarterbacks. Even the great college quarterbacks come into the NFL and have to clean up and speed up their game.”
“You’re seeing that with (former USC quarterback) Caleb Williams in Chicago,” he said. “But in the NFL, you’ve got to figure out how to stop the pass. You’re facing (Kansas City quarterback Patrick) Mahomes and, you know, the best quarterbacks in the world,” Cowherd said before talking about quarterbacks.
“And Lamar (Baltimore quarterback Jackson) and (Buffalo Bills quarterback) Josh Allen and (Cincinnati Bengals quarterback) Joe Burrow,” Cowherd said. “You have to be able to stop the pass.”
Cowherd said Patricia was throwing much “stuff” at Texas quarterback Arch Manning and added that he bet it was stuff “Arch Manning didn’t see in practice.” Patricia may not have worked as a Detroit Lions head coach or offensive coordinator that year in New England.
“He’s a brilliant defensive coordinator,” Cowherd said. “Literally a rocket scientist.”
Cowherd then said that during the game’s first three quarters, Manning was seeing things that he didn’t understand and didn’t look comfortable.
That’s quite a sea change of opinion on Cowherd’s part from his years-ago ripping Patricia up as an NFL head coach. Patricia looks to keep Ohio State’s defense stepping up the pressure going forward in the 2025 college football season.
