The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Football America! Top NFL Games of Week 12 with Conor Orr, Drip Drill with Mike Ryan Ruiz on the AFC East, And Why Miami is Better Than Notre Dame
Date: November 21, 2025

Overview

Broadcasted from the Elser Hotel in Miami, this episode of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" is a packed installment of sports debate, nostalgia, and NFL/NCAA hot takes. Host Dan Le Batard, joined by Stugotz and a rotating crew including Mike Ryan Ruiz and Conor Orr, delves into college football playoff politics (with a Miami Hurricanes vs. Notre Dame twist), drags the AFC East through a fashion critique, and breaks down the most consequential matchups for NFL Week 12—all enhanced by signature wit, banter, and deep-dive analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Significance of '27' and Number Disputes (00:02–01:30)

• Starter Banter: The show opens with a playful debate over who wore the number 27 best, noting some infamous NFL figures (Ray Rice, Larry Johnson, Kareem Hunt) and tossing in Eddie George and Vlad Guerrero from baseball.
• Anonymous Greatness: Dan makes his case that Mike Trout is so anonymous that hardcore fans wouldn't know his jersey number (27), despite his generational talent.

2. College Football Playoff Controversy: Miami vs. Notre Dame (03:11–15:54)

Mike Ryan Ruiz’s Propaganda Campaign for The U (03:11)

• Mike’s Take: "Really excited to join this week because it's yet another platform that I could espouse my propaganda about the Miami Hurricanes and this unjust CFP committee." (03:13)
• Critique of the New CFP System: Mike and Dan bemoan the loss of “every game matters” in college football with the expanded playoffs and corporate TV contracts influencing selection and perception.
• Systemic Bias: Mike points out the committee’s subjectivity: “You have a bunch of backroom bureaucrats that are impressionable and don't like being bullied... you gotta start the messaging now.” (04:08)

Head-to-Head Argument and SEC Bias (06:10–13:19)

• Dan’s Lament: The show reminisces about the old days when losing a game at any point meant losing control of your destiny—a uniqueness Dan sorely misses.
• SEC Defensiveness: They air a Paul Finebaum clip making the case for the SEC's weekly grind and its supposed superiority.
• Mike’s Rebuttal: Mike points to Florida State's week-one destruction of Alabama, challenging the SEC’s supposed dominance this season:
  “...Results are supposed to matter. If you just jumped in this season and took this season for what it was worth... no one would think the SEC is as dominant as they're portrayed.” (08:18)

The Problem with Rankings & “Cooked Books” (11:44–13:11)

• The crew criticizes how perceived “ranked wins” inflate SEC credentials and how the system ignores true head-to-head results (like Miami beating Notre Dame).
• Dan: “The idea that if you put Ohio State or Notre Dame... into the SEC, your results would be way worse...the argument is all predicated on jive as far as I'm concerned.” (10:34)
• Mike: “They cook the books from the bottom of the rankings to elevate the bona fides of the teams up top...If you don't have a head to head matchup, it's a lunacy.” (11:44)

Notable Exchange

• Dan: “Let's not jive ourselves or anyone listening to us right now...all takes a back seat to 'Come on, you know who's better.'” (12:42)
• Mike: “Who would be favored if those two teams played? I don't know, maybe Notre Dame. They were favored the last time...and how did that work out?” (13:11)

Empty Seats and Perception (18:54)

• Dan and Mike touch on how visuals—like empty seats at Hard Rock Stadium—unfairly affect perceptions of Miami, even more than actual results.

3. NFL Uniforms: “Drip Drill” AFC East Fashion Power Rankings (21:57–33:06)

Purpose: Mike Ryan Ruiz and Dan rank and thoroughly roast every AFC East uniform, diving into history, mascots, and missed branding opportunities.

Division Rankings

• #4 Miami Dolphins:
  • Mike: “This logo makes no sense...are we shooting the dolphin from below?...the colors...way too light...” (22:00-22:44)
  • Both agree throwbacks are better: “Every time we see the throwbacks, we all point to the TV like DiCaprio and say that's what they're supposed to look like.” (22:44)
• #3 New England Patriots:
  • Dan complains about dumping 'Pat Patriot' for ‘Flying Elvis’ and missed opportunity to rebrand post-Brady.
  • “When the Patriots want to honor their very best...for the hall of Fame ceremony, what do they give them? A red coat. What the hell are you doing?” (27:34)
• #2 New York Jets:
  • Mike bemoans their “lazy” uniforms and wishes for a permanent return to the Broadway Joe Namath look.
  • “When you close your eyes, what uniform do you picture?...It's that Joan Willie Namath running off the Orange bowl field...” (29:29)
• #1 Buffalo Bills:
  • “Any look that this team has had outside of the early 2000s...every single one of these uniform sets makes sense to me.” (30:26)
  • Fascinating logo design trivia: the “charging buffalo” was designed by an aerospace illustrator, who also created the notorious one-day 49ers logo. (31:17)
• Final Fashion Thoughts:
  • Mike: “Head to head matchups in college football should matter as the ultimate tiebreaker. And the Miami Hurricanes should be in the playoff.” (33:06)

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Committee Bias:
  “The real crime here is that it matters. You have a bunch of backroom bureaucrats that are impressionable and don't like being bullied...” — Mike Ryan Ruiz (04:08)
• On Perception Trumping Results:
  “Even when shown a result, when two teams played, they are convinced...that Notre Dame is better than Miami. And it's such a strange thing...” — Mike Ryan Ruiz (06:10)
• On SEC Branding:
  “They cook the books from the bottom of the rankings to elevate the bona fides of the teams up top...If you don't have a head to head matchup, it's a lunacy.” — Mike Ryan Ruiz (11:44)
• On Patriots Uniforms:
  “They give their legendary Patriots a red coat. What the hell are you doing?” — Dan Le Batard (27:34)
• On Miami Fans/Perception:
  “Miami is a victim of...confirmation bias that they fooled you. Again. They're all talk, they're no action.” — Mike Ryan Ruiz (18:54)
• On playoff head-to-head:
  “If they’re in the playoffs, so are the Miami Hurricanes.” — Mike Ryan Ruiz (33:06)

5. NFL Week 12 Preview & Picks with Conor Orr (36:45–48:28)

Intro & Spitgate Sidebar (36:47)

• Playful take on penalties for spitting vs. actual violence (“one thing can kill you and the other...you just have to do laundry.” – Conor Orr, 37:10).

Top 5 NFL Games of the Week (39:00–48:28)

• #5: Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
  • Both like Dallas due to defense, Dak’s resurgence, and Philly’s O-line injuries (39:20).
• #4: Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
  • Conor takes the Vikings (“excellent on pinning you deep,” 42:23); Dan takes the Pack for one last time as a Super Bowl hopeful.
• #3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angeles Rams
  • Conor lauds Rams’ schematic versatility (“they can pass out of the heaviest formation...run out of the lightest”—43:32).
  • Brief and comedic deep dive into favorite Transformers, equating NFL coordinators and players to iconic Autobots and Decepticons (44:15).
• #2: Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs
  • Conor: This is a final “benefit of the doubt” pick for the Chiefs; he’ll bail if they blow it ("this is my last game doing this with the Chiefs," 45:43).
• #1: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Chicago Bears
  • Both like the Bears, with Conor predicting a “Ben Johnson coming out party” and intoning that a Pittsburgh loss may spell the end for Mike Tomlin as coach (47:00, 47:51).

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Number 27 & Sports Numbers Debate | 00:02–01:30 | | CFP: Miami/Notre Dame, Old vs. New Systems | 03:11–19:46 | | Paul Finebaum and SEC Bias Discussion | 07:36–13:19 | | Drip Drill: AFC East Uniform Rankings | 21:57–33:06 | | Week 12 NFL Picks with Conor Orr | 36:45–48:28 | | Top 5 NFL Games: Fast-Paced Preview & Analysis | 39:00–48:28 | | Quirky Detours: Transformers & Spitgate Stories | 44:15–45:30 |

Tone, Style, and Final Remarks

True to the show, this episode is brimming with playful bickering, sharp sports insight, and plenty of nostalgia. The rhythm flows naturally from hard-hitting football debate to offbeat cultural references (Transformers, Ken Burns documentaries, 1980s uniform trends). Mike Ryan Ruiz’s passionate “U” advocacy and take-downs of SEC/CFP bias are a central emotional throughline, while the NFL uniform segment delivers classic “Drip Drill” nerdery.

In Closing (48:28)

Dan gives his signature send-off: “I hope you’re now feeling better and right to make the right picks for NFL Week 12. Until then, thanks so much, my fellow football Americans. It’s been a thin slice of heaven.”

Summary in One Quote

“Head to head matchups in college football should matter as the ultimate tiebreaker. And the Miami Hurricanes should be in the playoff. You can believe that Notre Dame deserves to be in the playoffs. I won't disagree with you, but if they're in the playoffs, so are the Miami Hurricanes.”
— Mike Ryan Ruiz (33:06)