The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Episode: Hour 2: The Pathetic Cowards at USC (feat. Jessica Smetana and Adnan Virk) Release Date: May 22, 2025

1. Knicks' Heartbreaking Collapse

Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
Guest: Jessica Smetana

The episode kicks off with a discussion about the New York Knicks' tumultuous game that left fans devastated. Stugotz brings up the stark contrast between the previous optimism surrounding the team and the sudden downfall witnessed last night.

Stugotz: "I was asking here if Knicks fans slept last night. You guys felt how about how last night landed on you, Jess?"
(01:08)

Jessica Smetana: "I fell asleep on the couch watching the WNBA Link swings game last night and woke up and saw that the Knicks were up by nine. I was like oh great, that's exciting. But then they blew it..."
(01:31)

The conversation delves into the emotional rollercoaster experienced by fans, highlighting the team's inability to maintain momentum despite early leads. Jessica shares a personal anecdote about the impact the loss had on her household, emphasizing the deep-seated frustration and disappointment.

Jessica: "It's so frustrating to me... it's just very pathetic to me that they would want to give this away for no reason."
(06:47)

2. USC's Move to the Big Ten and Its Impact on Notre Dame Rivalry

Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
Guest: Jessica Smetana

The focal point of the episode revolves around USC's controversial decision to join the Big Ten Conference, a move that has significant implications for one of college football's most storied rivalries—USC vs. Notre Dame.

Jessica Smetana: "No one told USC you have to leave for the Big Ten and blow up the Pac12 in all of your west coast rivalries... this rivalry is something that... means so much to Notre Dame fans and USC fans."
(06:30)

Jessica passionately argues that USC's departure destabilizes a century-old tradition, diminishing the rich history and competitive spirit that defined the Notre Dame-USC games. She criticizes USC's motivations, questioning the rationale behind prioritizing conference alignment over preserving long-standing rivalries.

Dan Le Batard: "That was incredible. And I did take a look at that USC 2027 schedule, and it's unrecognizable for what USC has historically done."
(09:11)

Jessica: "Especially with their... their claim is like, oh, you know, well, we want to see what the playoff format is like. So I really don't understand that justification."
(09:47)

The hosts and Jessica debate the future landscape of college football, pondering whether USC's move will set a precedent that other schools might follow, potentially eroding more traditional rivalries.

3. IndyCar Scandal and Its Broader Implications

Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
Guest: Adnan Virk

Shifting gears from football to motorsports, the conversation addresses a major scandal in IndyCar involving Team Penske, a powerhouse in the sport. The team faced backlash after being caught cheating by manipulating vehicle performance during pre-qualifying sessions, granting them an unfair speed advantage.

Stugotz: "The team that owns the sport is now cheating and people are being fired. And I don't even know what to compare it to."
(11:41)

Dan Le Batard: "They were smoothing out their vehicles that gave them a significant speed advantage... If this was happening in any of the other sports, you'd have a scandal that would echo throughout sports media."
(12:13)

Adnan Virk provides insights into the potential long-term effects of the scandal, emphasizing the tarnished reputation of IndyCar and the upheaval it causes within the racing community.

Adnan Virk: "Roger Penske got directly involved. He fired everybody. Austin Cindric's dad got fired... it's a massive scandal headed into the Indy 500."
(13:02)

The discussion highlights the severity of the incident, comparing it to hypothetical scenarios in other sports where governance would take a firmer stance against such breaches of integrity.

4. Miscellaneous Sports Discussions

Throughout the episode, the hosts delve into various other sports topics, including:

• Detroit Tigers and Javi Báez: Celebrating Báez's resurgence and his pivotal role in the Tigers' performance.

  Mike Ryan: "He's an electrifying player. There's rarely find players as charismatic or as flamboyant as him."
  (30:21)

• Minnesota Twins' Win Streak: Analyzing the significance of their 13-game win streak and historical parallels.

  Mike Ryan: "When they had a 13 game win streak last time, they won 15 straight back in '91—the season ended with a World Series title, of course."
  (28:24)

• Baseball Trivia Segment – "The Pitch Clock": Engaging listeners with baseball trivia and interacting with expert Adnan Virk.

  While this segment provides entertaining content, it is considered a non-core discussion and is thus summarized briefly.

5. Notable Quotes

To capture the essence of the episode, here are some standout quotes:

• Jessica Smetana on USC's Decision:
  "I just find the excuse though, like, oh, this is a hard game for us and you know, we're going to have maybe this SEC scheduling agreement... it's so pathetic to me that they would want to give this away for no reason."
  (06:35)

• Dan Le Batard on IndyCar Scandal:
  "They have really responded to this in kind. But it's a massive scandal headed into the Indy 500, which is on Sunday, the biggest day in motorsports."
  (12:13)

• Mike Ryan on Javi Báez:
  "He's back to mashing it again. 120 OPS+ right now he's hitting for average over .300. He's an electrifying player."
  (30:21)

Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a multifaceted look into the worlds of basketball, college football, and motorsports. From dissecting the emotional fallout of the Knicks' loss to critically examining USC's strategic conference shift and unraveling the intricacies of the IndyCar scandal, the hosts and guests provide listeners with insightful and passionate commentary on some of the most pressing sports topics of the moment.