The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 1: Perhaps The Middle (feat. Jessica Smetana)
Date: November 26, 2025
Main Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
Featured Contributor: Jessica Smetana

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Broadcast live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, this episode captures the show’s signature blend of irreverent humor and deep sports knowledge, veering through college football coaching rumors, rivalry weekend breakdowns, F1 and NBA highlights, and some seriously funny Thanksgiving tangents. Jessica Smetana takes center stage, subbing in for Amin with both an Internet Minute and an F1 Minute, while the crew juggles debates over which football games truly matter this weekend, mock drafts for NFL picks, and even taste test discussions for turkey.

KEY SEGMENTS & DISCUSSION POINTS

1. NBA Mayhem and “Would You Fight Andre Drummond?”

[01:52–03:21]

• Dan marvels at Orlando Magic’s Anthony Black’s wild stat line: “27 points in 17 minutes…”
• The group laughs over a near-fight involving Andre Drummond:

  “Andre Drummond, as a seven-footer...not someone you want to ever fight.” — Dan [02:33]

• Shoulder hair as an intimidation factor, and the correlation between fouls and fighting.

2. Lane Kiffin Rumors and College Football Silly Season

[03:21–07:07]

• Jessica and Mike dive into rumors around Lane Kiffin’s possible jump to LSU, including hilarious speculation based on Fortnite chats:

  “‘My source is Knox Kiffin. We played Fortnite yesterday online, and he told me his dad is going to LSU. Don’t send this to chat, please.’” — Mike [04:41]

• Light mocking of the message-board rumor mill and the theater of college coaching drama.
• Jessica notes:

  “…The statement from the AD over at Ole Miss made it seem like he’s for sure leaving, but this is airtight over the last week. Kudos to them.” — Jessica [06:35]

3. Rivalry Week: College Football Games to Watch

[07:07–15:19]

• Mike and Jessica debate which rivalry games really matter, with the crew ribbing Mike for his “malady” — his obsession with random, less significant matchups (“Olis”).
• Notable Games Discussed: Iron Bowl (Auburn vs. Alabama), Texas A&M vs. Texas, Oregon vs. Washington, Egg Bowl (Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss), plus deep dives into oddball matchups like Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State.
• Quote:

  “Western Kentucky, Jacksonville State...Kind of a de facto copy playing game. Clemson, South Carolina...both teams that stink this year but hate each other.” — Mike [09:09]

• Jessica jokes about weather being Pittsburgh’s edge when Miami visits Pitt.

4. Jessica’s F1 Minute – Or Not

[19:30–20:05]

• Dan tries to get a real F1 Minute, but Mike admits:

  “The race started at 11pm Eastern, so I went to bed, but both McLarens got disqualified.” — Mike [19:30]

• Dan:

  “That’s you mailing it in. And that is just as bad as what Amin did…” [19:57]

5. The Internet Minute & College Football TV Show Riffs

[21:06–26:03]

• Jessica’s Internet Minute fixates on college football’s on-air talent, with Dan critiquing the show's lack of entertaining spokespeople for playoff discussions:

  “Have the people be something that represents college football better than this guy in a sports coat.” — Dan [21:38]

• Thanksgiving sound file dump-in, including Zion Williamson dodging questions about his favorite side dish:

  “No matter what answer I give, social media gonna clown me.” — Zion (via Jessica) [22:59]

• Eddie George gives a sensual description of his turkey recipe:

  “It’s a 72-hour process… I inject him, you know, with a homemade injectable marinade…” — Eddie George (as recounted) [23:34]

• Sidestrack into whether Eddie George’s dyed goatee undermines his turkey credibility.

6. ShamWow Guy for Congress & More Absurdity

[25:27–26:01]

• Tangent on the ShamWow guy running for Congress “to end woke-ism.”

  “Apparently the shamwow guy is running for Congress in Texas to end woke-ism.” — Mike [25:39]

7. NFL “Bucket” Segment: Punishments and Picks

[27:10–31:37]

• Classic segment of randomly drawing NFL teams, agonizing over terrible picks, and joking about each other’s football acumen and superstitions.
• Jessica:

  “I volunteer to pick for you if you need a helping hand.” — Jessica [29:14]

• Spider scare! Zaslow gets genuinely frightened by a spider in the helmet bucket; the group roars with laughter at his visible fear.

  “Are there any more spiders in there? …that was a good move. Yeah, they, that’s a great thing.” — Dan [31:30]

8. Reflections: Lee Corso’s Honest Retirement

[35:53–37:14]

• The group gets sincere about aging and retirement in sports broadcasting, echoing Lee Corso’s brutally honest admission:

  “‘I hate it. I can’t watch College GameDay… but it sucks.’” — Dan (reading Corso) [36:27]

• Discussion on honoring sports legends while they’re still alive.

9. Taking College Football’s Professionalization Head-On

[39:17–40:43]

• Jessica and Dan probe the transfer market and coaching carousel impact on teams, arguing that players and coaches following each other aligns with new college football realities:

  “That’s the right move for Oklahoma State…They’re going to have to win inside the margins.” — Jessica [40:08]

10. NBA: The Art of the Floater and Miami’s Quirky Offense

[40:43–43:32]

• Jeremy Tache shares fascinating NBA stats: Tyler Herro ties a record with 8 “floaters” in a single game; discussion around the Heat’s historically low number of pick and rolls.
• Jessica quips on Bam Adebayo’s statue:

  “If Bam gets a statue outside the arena, it’s going to be that dribble handoff.” [42:50]

11. Instant Replay: The Spider Prank

[43:43–44:11]

• Replay of Zaslow’s panicked reaction to a spider in the NFL picks bucket.

• “That is the brave Jonathan Zaslow, the face of bravery.” — Dan [44:00]

MEMORABLE QUOTES

• “Do you have Olis or is it just five?...There are NOT five worth watching this weekend.” — Dan [08:36]
• “I want my employees – corporate times-stealing weasels – to actively not do their job well as an act of defiance.” — Dan [37:40]
• “I don’t like the Browns anymore, but I still hate the Steelers and Ravens. That I can’t shake.” — Jessica [08:29]
• “Don’t send this to chat, please.” — Mike, reading Lane Kiffin Discord rumor [04:41]

NOTABLE MOMENTS & CALLBACKS

• Jessica’s savage wit on football, food, and more, keeps the pace sharp.
• Zaslow’s spider scare is replayed as the staff’s new favorite prank highlight.
• Dan’s grievances about employees “mailing it in” drive comedic tension after both Amin and Mike flub their “minutes.”
• Eddie George’s turkey recipe borders on the sensual.
• The ShamWow guy is running for Congress. Yes, really.
• Sincere reflection on Lee Corso’s sadness in retirement adds a rare emotional note.

USEFUL TIMESTAMPS

• NBA mayhem discussion: 01:52–03:21
• Lane Kiffin Discord Rumor: 04:41
• College football rivalry breakdowns: 07:07–15:19
• F1 Minute fail: 19:30–20:05
• Thanksgiving food/side dish fun: 22:33–24:23
• Spider scare (Zaslow): 31:15, replay 43:43–44:11
• Lee Corso quote & retirement: 36:21–37:14

FINAL THOUGHTS

Rich with banter, sports minutiae, and absurd humor, this episode is classic “Le Batard Show”—a heady mashup of sports insight, media critique, and group therapy through laughter. Jessica Smetana shines filling in for an “absent” Amin, the crew can’t stop ribbing each other about half-hearted efforts, and Zaslow gets haunted by spiders in what might be the episode’s most enduring memory.

If you’re after sports, culture, weirdness, and actual sincere moments, this episode serves it all—sometimes all at once.