PTI Podcast Summary

Episode: Ryan Day Objects to Transfer Portal Changes
Date: September 10, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Notable Guest: Steve Young

Main Theme

The episode centers on vigorous debate over a proposed change to college football’s transfer portal window—specifically, Ryan Day’s objection to consolidating two windows into one that would overlap with the playoffs. Kornheiser and Wilbon also break down the latest in MLB playoff races, U.S. Men's National Soccer Team dynamics, and dive deep into NFL quarterback storylines with Hall of Famer Steve Young.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ryan Day's Objection to the Transfer Portal Change

[00:45 – 04:07]

• Context: Ryan Day, Ohio State’s coach, objects to a new plan for only one transfer portal window (in January), overlapping with playoff games.
• Wilbon’s Perspective:
  • Empathy for Day: “He probably does [have valid reservations]. Every other college football coach is… coming at this from a perspective of self preservation.”
  • Solution-Oriented: Wilbon suggests a straightforward fix: move the window’s opening to after the championship game.
    • "The championship game is on January 20th, so make the damn deadline. Just go to January 21st. Open it. Open it then." (Wilbon, 01:49)
• Kornheiser’s Perspective:
  • Advocates fairness to playoff teams and recognizes the current chaos of massive player movement:
    • "You cannot penalize your good because they're still playing. Because the transfer portal has upended college football." (Kornheiser, 02:23)
    • "If you are a coach, that's how you recruit next year's team. If you are a player and you don't like the coach or you want more playing time, boom, you go into the portal. So there's chaos there." (Kornheiser, 02:48)
• On Transfer Rates: Wilbon claims a huge transfer rate—"I'll bet you more than 60%... these last two years." (Wilbon, 03:21)

2. MLB Playoff Races: Tigers vs. Yankees

[04:07 – 06:31]

• Recent Game: Tigers pounded the Yankees with nine runs in one inning, taking the division lead.
• Kornheiser:
  • Favors the Tigers given their season-long consistency and sharper bullpen stats.
  • "Since August 1st, the Yankee bullpen has an ERA of .505... Tigers was .298. I can't be bullish on a team with a .505 ERA in the bullpen." (Kornheiser, 04:51)
• Wilbon:
  • Cynical about anyone: “I can't be bullish on anybody—there's nobody to be bullish on in the entire major leagues.” (Wilbon, 05:04)
• Pitching Highlight: Tarik Skubal (Detroit) has Cy Young and Triple Crown hopes, “ERA is one full run under [Yankees].” (Kornheiser, 06:00)

3. US Men's National Soccer Team & Coach Pochettino

[06:31 – 08:42]

• New Coach’s Plea: Mauricio Pochettino urges media to “criticize me, but let the players play free.”
• Wilbon’s Take:
  • Dismisses the request: “No, it’s a stupid request.”
    • “We’ll criticize whatever we damn well please.” (Wilbon, 06:53)
  • Points out Pochettino’s lack of standing in US soccer.
• Kornheiser:
  • Calls this classic "coaching 101," but adds: “In the United States when you lose, everybody gets right. The players, the coaches, the GM.” (Kornheiser, 08:00)
  • Stakes are high with USA set to host the World Cup.

4. Five Good Minutes with Steve Young (NFL Focus)

[11:10 – 18:04]

a) J.J. McCarthy's Debut Comeback

[11:10 – 12:57]

• He’s the first QB since Steve Young (1985) to lead a double-digit fourth-quarter comeback in their NFL debut.
• Young’s Perspective:
  • “There is nothing greater that could happen to a first time quarterback… to see him gather himself after the pick six, gritty and go get it done.” (Steve Young, 12:34)

b) Caleb Williams’ Adjustment to New Offensive System

[12:57 – 15:14]

• Young: Aligns with Wilbon on the challenges of learning new systems—especially for mobile quarterbacks.
  • “So many defensive coordinator, focused head coaches do not understand the position… if you played quarterback…but never were able to move around, you would not know what to say, you would not know what to teach.” (Steve Young, 13:22–15:05)
• Ben Johnson (new offensive coordinator) has never coached a mobile QB.

c) Russell Wilson’s Job Security

[15:12 – 16:16]

• Dabal noncommittal about Wilson starting in Week 2.
• Young’s Advice:
  • “You gotta become the reason that you win some games… perception is 9/10 of the law… go be the reason they win some games…” (Steve Young, 15:32–16:16)

d) Jim Harbaugh’s Dramatic Comment on Herbert Hit

[16:16 – 17:54]

• Harbaugh: “That hit would have killed a lesser man.”
• Young:
  • Downplays the drama: “Let’s go look at that hit again… talk about overreaction, but I understand he’s trying to defend his quarterback.”
  • Recounts his own “I thought I was dead” story after a fridge hit from William Perry:
  • “I thought for sure I was dead.” (Steve Young, 17:48)

5. Quick Hitters & Notable Quotes

• Ben Wallace's NBA Legacy: Only undrafted player in NBA history to make the Hall of Fame. (Wilbon, 21:09)
• Pete Sampras US Open Anniversary: Youngest winner at 19, but underappreciated in his era. (Kornheiser & Wilbon, 21:27–22:21)
• Fernando Tatis Jr. Defensive Gem: “Yet another spectacular play at the wall… but later in the ninth, Stevenson got his revenge.” (Kornheiser, 22:32)
• On Cubs Rookie Kate Horton: “He's our ace, our stopper. And he's the Rookie of the Year in the National League. Flawless.” (Wilbon, 24:19)

Notable Quotes

• “This is not that hard. This is the simplest thing in the history of the world.”
  — Tony Kornheiser on adjusting the transfer portal window (02:17)

• “You cannot say that. Oh, there's only four teams left, so the hell with them. You can't say that. No.”
  — Tony Kornheiser, defending playoff teams (03:45)

• “We'll criticize whatever we damn well please criticize.”
  — Mike Wilbon, on Pochettino's media request (06:53)

• “I thought for sure I was dead.”
  — Steve Young, on being hit by the Fridge (William Perry) (17:48)

Timestamps for Segments

• Ryan Day Transfer Portal Discussion: 00:45 – 04:07
• MLB: Tigers vs. Yankees: 04:07 – 06:31
• US Soccer/Pochettino Segment: 06:31 – 08:42
• "Five Good Minutes" w/ Steve Young: 11:10 – 18:04
• Rapid Fire/Happy Time: 20:24 – 24:57
• Miscellaneous/Corrections and Quick Hits: 22:30 – 24:57

Memorable Moments

• Wilbon’s matter-of-fact fix for the portal:
  • “Make the damn deadline. Just go to January 21st.” (01:49)
• Kornheiser, poking fun at their (and Betty White’s) aging:
  • “Even sexier now.” (00:35)
• Steve Young’s empathy for mobile QBs not being properly coached:
  • “…If you played quarterback in the NFL 18, 20 years, but never were able to be capable of moving around, you would not know what to say, you would not know what to teach.” (14:40)

Tone and Language

The episode retains PTI’s trademark rapid-fire banter and friendly bickering, mixing dry humor, directness, and insider perspectives. There’s a blend of formal sports analysis with spontaneous, personality-driven commentary.

Closing Thoughts

This episode covers pressing college football policy debates, highlights emerging and established sports figures, and offers rare firsthand quarterback insight from Steve Young. Whether you’re a college sports obsessive or just love lively sports talk, this PTI episode is classic in both content and style.