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Dan Le Batard
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Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Complaining about going to the Copper Bowl. It was a fine reward for a nice season to go and see Baylor there. What I'm talking about, though, is the visit to Ann Arbor several weeks before. I thought Trent Green and and Von Dunbar put together a really great effort there against the Mighty Wolverines. I know Desmond Howard and Elvis Gerbach had other ideas, but they didn't need to be assisted by the referees. That was really what was stuck in my craw there. There was a PI on third down to Desmond Howard and it was clearly an uncatchable ball. Gerbach threw it into the stands and yet the flag was on the field. We all saw it. We all have two eyes. I thought it was a ridiculous thing. Trent Green, who knew where he was going to go in the NFL. But as an Indiana Hoosier quarterback, that was about as good as I had seen up to that point. I'm not saying that he ultimately was more talented than Dave Schnell, his predecessor at the position. Dave Schnell was very good himself for a few years there as Bill Mallory was building the program up. And those. Those were some good times. I mean, 831 is nothing to turn your nose up at. Go.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Let's go. Damoshek. Get out of here.
Dan Le Batard
Where did you go?
Co-host or Panelist
Dan?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
That was enough. You just been. You just been talking to yourself all night. Everyone here damage back here.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Take five is take sources.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
He's done 12 straight hours. I believe we violated an assortment of federal and labor crimes by making damage. Just work all night Talking into the YouTube abyss about Indiana Football. I can't believe this sentence. Indiana football completing the greatest college football season ever played. Just crushing if you are Miami to lose at the end that way, about as close to a championship as you can get. Indiana played the game you needed them to play and you couldn't win it anyway because you got a blocked punt and an assortment of small undercuts you. But I do think that all of that is something that should be celebrated. Like I'm not going to sit here and nitpick about a delay of game penalty or the kicker or messing up a decision in a game between two great teams and one of them had to lose. I do wonder. And Carson Beck said that his ears were ringing at the end that hit. He took on second and 15. That got a penalty. I don't think he was right after that. And I do think it needs to go into the math on. He throws his first interception after that. The first turnover of the game.
Dan Le Batard
Right.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Mendoza didn't fumble at all this season. Correct. He went the entire season without fumbling. One time. Fumbling, losing it. A lost fumble.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, lost fumble.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Crazy game, crazy night. But let me get your thoughts here as we go to a bunch of people who were at the game. Tony has said he's never forgiving Roy Bellamy. What happened with Roy, we'll get to that second. We'll get to that in a second. But Tony was telling me before the show, I'm going to be on my deathbed and I'm going to say in 2026, Roy did that thing and wherever it is is the beyond. I'm never going to forgive him.
Co-host or Panelist
I can't. And I'm for, you know, I love to forgive people. I can never forgive Roy.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Roy said at the beginning of that drive, Roy doesn't speak very much. And he said at the beginning of the drive, here comes an interception.
Guest Analyst
Oh, boy.
Co-host or Panelist
Before the Canes even got. Before the Canes even got the ball, might I add.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Okay.
Co-host or Panelist
Before the Canes even get the kickoff, he said, here comes the Carson Beck interception. And I'm sitting at dead Flamingo a couple of miles away, shocked, flabbergasted, that that would even come out of his mouth that he would even think that thought.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Okay, well, Lucy thought that thought.
Guest or Contributor
Lucy, to be fair, I think everybody thought that.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Dog, I've seen this before. Lucy doesn't trust Carson Beck. What are your thoughts, Greg? Because I'm not. I'm not going to sit here and criticize and be overly critical of the University of Miami for losing a game against the Team that took on all comers this season and dismissed everybody. They took out everybody like Notre Dame's. About the only one they didn't take out.
Guest Analyst
Yeah, I. I don't think there's any form of loss last night that wouldn't haunt and hurt my Mario crystal ball forever. Like, he's never going to get over last night. But I think this one hurt even more because they. Except for a couple of notable exceptions, they played Mendoza very well. He didn't. He didn't. Alone and Surat and, And Serat and. But. But the. It wasn't just the interception toward the end of the game that crushed everything. It was the. The punt block touchdown they gave up. It was a missed makeable field goal. They could have won that game despite never leading in that game. And that's going to haunt Mario forever. But to your point, I give them enormous credit. This was a successful season. It was a watershed season. They make their first playoff. They. They win the Fiesta bowl, they win the Cotton Bowl. There's just no situation on earth where I'm going to criticize Miami today more than I'm going to praise the season they had.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Indiana hadn't won a bowl game since the Copper bowl in 1991. Hadn't won a bowl game of any kind as low. You were there. And to. To Lucy's point, Beck only has six losses. But the reason he has this reputation and the reason Roy said that and the reason Lucy feared it is because four of those losses, he's got a chance to win it in the end of the game and throws an interception. That's what happens. And so the latest one, obviously the.
Guest or Contributor
Most crushing that was that last night was one of the best sporting experiences I've ever had in my life. I have nothing, nothing but praise for that Hurricanes football team. I think the Canes fan should be so proud. Like, short of winning the whole thing, this was an incredible, incredible season. It could not have gone any better. I couldn't have imagined a scenario where the Canes did not play their best game, did not play a perfect game, and would have a chance to win last night. They didn't play close to a great game, and they were right there in the end. I think I had such a great time. The Canes fans should be so proud that, like, just all hearts, all heart and guts, that Cane's team. And it's such a bitter finish for the Canes fan. I saw kids leaving the stadium last night crying, you know, and I'm like, man, you, you should be just so proud of this team. It was a great, great night. I was so happy. And of course the only, you know, the only regret, if you will, is so close. We were all so close to an all time moment and just so, so close.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Well, we got the all time moment for Indiana. You see the stats. This is going to be hard to explain to people who only see the box score when you say, hey, Mendoza had one of the greatest runs of all time. And the stat sheet says seven rushes for negative eight yards because that was the only time he used his legs in any meaningful way. Pat Coogan, the center for Indiana said, best defensive line I've ever seen. And he says, we knew it going in. But hol. Because I was surprised Indiana was able to run the ball as well as it was as well as they did. But I was also surprised that Miami didn't win a game in which Mendoza looked like. That didn't look like the Heisman winner.
Guest Analyst
No, he.
Guest or Contributor
But he made the Heisman play.
Guest Analyst
He did not. Only the 12 yard run, which was.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Epic balls call by S. Fourth and five twice on that drive. Fourth and five.
Guest Analyst
He had two 19 yard completions. One on fourth and five, one on third and long. Those three plays, those two completions and that run were why he won the Heisman Trophy.
Guest or Contributor
That's what Mendoza did this season, though. If you look at the Iowa game, if you look at the Ohio State game, there were several stretches this year where he did not look that good. And so. But what was really the difference in this game, in this entire season for Indiana is he was able better to any than anybody to take a game where he looked bad. And the second you needed him to do something remarkable, you knew he was going to do it. It was automatic.
It was one of the all. I'm sorry, Dan. It was, it's. It's one of the all time great college football plays you've ever seen.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
That is correct. He referred to Tebow as Mr. Tebow after the game. That was Tebow esque. I want to bring in Mike here.
Guest or Contributor
Because, Mike, did you watch the game last night?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
I want to talk about the idea that Beck says after the game his ears are ringing. You saw on second and 15 he gets hit in the chest. It's called a roughing. The passer, he hits the back of his head on the turf. And here we were asking who's the backup? We were asking, is this going to come down to the backup? And then what he does on. I told you this earlier in the Netflix documentary on the Cowboys Troy Aikman played an entire NFC championship game that he does not remember because of a concussion. And I want to ask you how fair is the criticism of Beck when he's telling you after the game my ears were ringing. And the decision he makes is to throw to Marion who's got one catch for six yards and was fairly useless in the entire throws into double coverage when there's plenty of time and that's not a good decision. And under throws it.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, he got up wobbly. I think it's safe to question whether or not he was right. That's not how you beat the COVID 2. It wasn't a good.
Guest or Contributor
But it's safe to criticize.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
I mean.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, yeah. Like there were six plays in that game that you know Indiana as advertised. They execute and they made all those plays and Miami didn't. The, the block punt, the miss field goal which is 50 yards. You know.
Guest or Contributor
Well the block punch by the way, Tony, you can't feel that at the five which of course leads to the block punt.
Dan Le Batard
Tony Malachi. Tony can do whatever he wants. Like we're good with him. Yeah, like shut up Bauman. Just forget like not whiffing on a block. Like what the hell was he doing? Like you're punting out of your end zone. Like that's one that. That honestly hurts the most. Those back shoulder throws and the RPOS had us in hell. Like those are 1v1 plays. I will say for all the Mendoza love like he did make the mistake. He did throw the pick six. That was a tailor made house.
Guest or Contributor
I don't remember that.
Dan Le Batard
When was it bounced off of Ethan OConnor's hands. It was at their 40 yard line that that was a house call and we, we didn't make that play. And you got to make every play Miami. I'm fully confident that Miami's best beats Indiana's best. And Miami just had procedurals penalties and.
Guest or Contributor
They didn't so many missed tackles.
Dan Le Batard
Mendoza is like a tough as nails kid too. Like they, they kept.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
They.
Dan Le Batard
They had us in hell with the RPOs but he was being punished for him and they stopped running it a little bit in that second half because of the punishment that he took. But one thing about Mendoza, I think he's going to be a really good pro. He's accurate. That's a pro throw that he dares you to stop and you can't stop it. I think he's got pro wide receivers too. But he is tough dude because we were hitting him hard.
Guest Analyst
Very hard signetti said after the game, which put Signetti in on Mario's hate list forever. He said there were at least two roughing penalties that should have been called that weren't. And he pretty much said Miami played a little bit dirty on his quarterback.
Guest or Contributor
Really?
Guest Analyst
Yeah, yeah, he did.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
I mean clearly early in the game he catches one under the chin several, several beats after the ball is out of Mendoza's hands. It's unquestionable that he, that the, that the Miami defense was instructed put a lick on this guy.
Guest Analyst
But, but in, in the parade of reasons why um can be extra crestfallen by last night is that Miami outgained Indiana in total yards despite running 17 fewer plays. Miami's defense uh, held Indiana to four and a half yards per play, which is not much when you have the Heisman winner and that kind of a ground game. So Miami did not play a bad game. They just had two or three or four crucial things go against them.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
The fourth and five calls is a combination of coach and quarterback coming together at the very top of the history of this sport to beat Miami because of what Signetti was calling in those situations. A radio guy for the Washington Huskies tweeted this. A two star quarterback scrambling for the national championship winning touchdown on fourth down in his hometown against his hometown team after winning the Heisman for the most losing program of all time while his mother with multiple sclerosis screams for joy from her seat is possibly the limit of how good sports can get. And it was amazing to watch those two teams after a pretty dreadful first half.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Yes.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Put on a second half that made half a game a game for all time. It made half a game a game for all time because of everything that was happening at the end. If you can't ask for more if you're Mario Cristobal, then my highest paid player has the ball in his hands at the end and we've got a chance to, to win the game because Indiana has finally done the dumb thing of giving the game away on second and one with a false start. When they don't do that like that, that team, do you know how ridiculous it is for that team not to lose fumbles? Like they don't, they don't, they don't make mistakes and they sure don't make dumb ones. And so a false start on second and one when all they needed. We don't get the classic ending. We don't get the back interception. A bit of anti climax because the hoosiers ran for nine yards on first and 10 when the Hurricanes knew they were going to run the ball to get second and one. Then they get the false start. And so Miami gets the gift, the gift of Signetti in that spot saying, I'm going to kick the field goal on fourth down. I'm not going to go for it. Even though Miami fans were terrified that he was going to go for it because he ends the game on a single play with the ball in the Heisman winner's hand.
Co-host or Panelist
And the other thing, too, like, man, two times where you're on 4th and 5, and it is a crucial moment, he calls timeouts that he probably should have saved for later in the game. Game to like, figure out, all right, boys, like, what do we got here? And it ends up being Mendoza to Becker. What's his name?
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Becker.
Co-host or Panelist
In that play where you're like, who is this guy? Where did he come from? If you're not watching Indiana, you don't know this guy.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Indiana didn't know him two months ago. Indiana did not know who that was two months ago.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
That's right. Surat was injured. That required Becker to go in there. Bottom line is, you guys were Beck, we were Becker. That's all. No, the fourth and five run, iconic for all of time, obviously, but really look at it as Fernando gets to roughly the line of scrimmage. He's lost at sea. He has to cut back across. It looks like he's stuck. It looks like it was a bad play call. And he makes the play with his legs with the cutback.
Guest or Contributor
He's done that all year. Like, this was Fernando Mendoza's game. This was why he won the Heisman this year. I honestly think Kurt Signetti did not have his best game. I thought he was kind of sloppy with his timeouts. Just the management of it, it play calling, all of it was like, this was not the Kurt Signetti that we've seen throughout the playoff, but it was really Fernando Mendoza who saved his ass.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
You say this, but if you look at that stat line, that is one of the worst stat lines he's going to put up because he's not going to make the mistake of throwing interception. So if I told Mario Cristobal, look at the box score here, look at Surat, and look at what it is that Mendoza does in this game. He says that's a win like that, that. That he would have taken that before the game if I'd offered it to him.
Dan Le Batard
He threw the interception. We just didn't catch it.
Guest or Contributor
But it's like, really not like people kind of look at this I think a lot of people have watched Indiana in the postseason and did not watch Indiana in the regular season. This was not a Heisman year where. Where we were particularly blown away with how great Mendoza was. If you saw him against Alabama and Oregon, you would have been. He had several games like that this season where he did not do much, but in the moments where you needed him to be the best player on the field to win the game for you, he did that against Ohio State, he did that against Iowa, he did that against Penn State. That is why he won the Heisman. I didn't come in thinking that this would be the Fernando Mendoza is better than everyone else on the field. He just is like, he's like so pure college football. Like, that's what he is. And you saw that yesterday.
Dan Le Batard
Happy new year, everybody. 2026 is already getting off to an incredible start. Because you want to know how I rang in the new year? It was with a bunch of friends in a Dallas hotel lobby bar ordering a bunch of Miller Lights. Because that's how you do it. That's how you make special memories. Miller Lite has been by my side at many special football memories this year. And hopefully we get to write a few more memories with Miller Lite. Some of my most legendary moments have started that exact same way. A buddy's house, a lobby bar, a game, no big plan. And then you crack open a Miller Lite, you take a sip and you look around and you immediately recognize that you made the right call. Legendary moments start with Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Co-host or Panelist
All right, kicking things off with smearing off the official vodka sponsor of the NFL and the number one vodka in the world, Chris Cody, you're here.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Smirnoff. Wow.
Co-host or Panelist
You're on the money with Smirnoff. Smirnoff. Chris, you know what goes great with Smirnoff?
Guest Analyst
Smirnoff.
Co-host or Panelist
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Dan Le Batard
Wow.
Co-host or Panelist
The merch will be dropped on select dates from December to January 21st. And it's all courtesy of what brand? That's right, Chris. Fans 21 and over can head to Smirnoff Socials to learn how to sign up. And don't forget to grab a bottle of Smirnoff vodka number 21 at your local retail. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21 vodka distilled from grain 40 alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, NY. Please do not share with anybody under legal drinking age. No purchase necessary. Must be legal. US resident, 21 or older. Sweepstake starts 12152025 at 12:00am Eastern and ends 1232026 at 11:59:59pm Eastern. See official rules at program website.
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Dan Le Batard
Don LeBatard it's not my favorite rejoin.
Co-host or Panelist
Context needs to be applied.
Dan Le Batard
Going for a joke and I thought that context was applied. We we'd like to rip that out of context. I was going for a thing and you're gonna I have a family.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
You're gonna pretend here that you don't love Matthew Tkachuk more than you love anybody you've ever loved.
Dan Le Batard
I don't love Matthew Tkachuk more than my daughter. Stugats now.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
It's pretty damn close. This is the Dan Levatar show with the St.
Guest or Contributor
Canes fans are mad at Carson Beck today.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
I don't know whether I mean Canes fans are going to be mad because they lost and the standard and the expectation is win all the time, make me feel good all the time. But I really think that the the entirety of this season and that result is above criticism. I Don't believe that losing to that team that ends the best college football season there has ever been. Not best team, not the best team, but the best season there's ever been. And not the best team just because it's all 25 year old guys who aren't draft.
Dan Le Batard
I gotta tell you like in terms of. I've seen a lot of good teams in person. Sabins, Alabama, Clemson, like that's as good a team as I've ever seen in person. Like they, they're just really good. Like I was stunned. I know Miami, especially in the second half had had some success at the line of scrimmage. I was really impressed. Like pregame I was looking at like God damn, we're much bigger than these guys. Like how is this gonna, how is this gonna play out? And everything that I've seen and heard about Indiana came true. Like they just execute. And the flabbergasting thing was that Mendoza threw that pick six, we dropped it. And that they had the false start on that second one. Which I was like what?
Sports Analyst/Commentator
How?
Dan Le Batard
At that point you start thinking like maybe we can do this. Because it was like a spaceship landed in the world.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
You were 40 yards from doing it. You had 50 seconds, plenty of time to score the touchdown and you got that you wanted. Where Indiana was gassed at the end the last two drives. Miami, Miami being able to score quickly and up tempo offense with wide open receivers. When Mike. I don't think there was a more surprising thing to me in an evening of surprises than the first three quarters. Every damn pass back through was being touched by an Indiana defensive back.
Guest or Contributor
How were receivers never.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
He was, he was throwing into tight windows accurately and everybody was always covered in a way that I haven't seen all season.
Dan Le Batard
5 foot 9. D' Angelo Pons is a friggin sick player. I said can we stop throwing at this guy like he was unreal. Refs let them play. I was good with that. Like I like that type of game. They, they get there and they, they force the refs to think about it a little bit. But that's what they do. They execute, their timing is exceptional. They're really good, fantastic football.
Guest Analyst
I think both things are true. I think you can say Miami might well have won that game if not for a turnover with 44 seconds left. But you can't take an iota away from a 16 and old team that had a plus 21 turnover ratio. The best in the nation. I mean Indiana richly deserves the championship. It's.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
But when Mike says it was Six plays, right. You got two plays on fourth and five. You've got a blocked punt, and you've got a field goal hitting an upright. Those are the four for me that I'm like, okay, those are game swingers. I don't know if you want to.
Dan Le Batard
Put an extra third down to Becker was crazy. Yeah. Like, everybody in the building knew what was coming, including our corner. And it's just like, can you stop this? Yeah, Becker's unbelievable. I don't know. That guy just, like, became Jordy Nelson or Alec Pierce or any other white wide receiver you can think of.
Guest or Contributor
Did anyone see a replay of the deep pass that they said, hit the ground?
Co-host or Panelist
Hit the ground like, hell?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Yeah. It obviously hit the ground for, like, six yards. Yeah.
Guest or Contributor
Oh, really hit the ground.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
So let's play here. The sound last night, a bit of a stunner. Mike, you were not here. Zaslow. I want an etiquette ruling here from everybody in the room because Tony says he will simply never will ever forgive Roy Bellamy for this. This is before Miami gets the football. With no timeouts and less than two minutes left in the game, here's Roy Bellamy out of nowhere. He's. Again, he's very, very careful about when he uses his words. All of us were confused when this came out of his mouth.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Like that kid with a false start.
Dan Le Batard
Never let it go.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Ever.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Did Roy just whisper, an interception's coming up?
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
That's how I usually were screaming, why.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Did you do that?
Guest or Contributor
It sounds so right.
Dan Le Batard
I hate it.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Billy Corbin. No timeouts. Length of the field, it is a lot of time. But that last drive that Miami had was. It went against everything else that was happening in the game. All of a sudden, you had receivers running open down the field.
Guest or Contributor
At least we have a lot of timeouts.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Hey, I can't have that.
Co-host or Panelist
What's up, guys?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Go ahead, Tony, what do you got?
Co-host or Panelist
Why would Roy say that?
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Why exactly?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
I don't know. It's evil.
Co-host or Panelist
He's doing the reverse.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Borderline evil.
Co-host or Panelist
No, that's. No, no, no, no. Okay, listen, you guys are a little bit ahead of us. I'm taking out my headphones. You guys can put me in picture. In picture to see what happens on a delay. I'm sick right now. I don't even want to talk. I'm done. This is a big drive. This is a big, big drive.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
This is a big drive.
Guest or Contributor
You were right.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Juju is a good analysis that Tony just said, this is a big drive.
Dan Le Batard
He ain't wrong.
Guest or Contributor
Two minutes, national championship.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Roy saying that there Was going to be an interception by carson beck on this drive. You haven't said that much during this live stream. What an odd thing for you to choose to say.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
I forgot already. Thank you for reminding me.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Miami will not forget Roy.
Dan Le Batard
Mike will never forgive you. This is.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
It's called reverse psychology, man.
Dan Le Batard
Jeez.
Co-host or Panelist
Come on.
Dan Le Batard
15 seconds on the play clock. 14, 13.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Oh.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Oh, there it is. Oh, my God.
Dan Le Batard
See?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Victory lap 2. National champions of college football.
Co-host or Panelist
Of all the things to say. Of all the things to say.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
You say that.
Co-host or Panelist
You say that. You say that. You say that. What's the crowd like, Tony?
Dan Le Batard
It's.
Guest or Contributor
Look at Roy gone.
Co-host or Panelist
Doing this all year. That's why they're.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
All right.
Co-host or Panelist
Good work over there, guys. This is brutal.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
I came in here today and. Muttering under his breath in the eating area. Wow. Lewis is saying. I'm quoting here, in the crucible of life, I don't ever want Roy with me. And I asked him, like, why are we in a crucible? And then he starts yelling at me. Last night was a crucible.
Co-host or Panelist
Last night was a crucible, Dan. Last night was literally the crucible. Crucible of life. And we're all in the foxhole together. Okay, there's ammunition raining down. Roy says, I'm out of here. Starts running the opposite way. The rest of us are going forward. He's going backwards. Can you imagine? Can you imagine? We're all there together, and he's going the opposite.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Roy, where you going?
Co-host or Panelist
As bullets rain, we were charging up.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
A hill with bayonets, and we looked behind us the other direction.
Co-host or Panelist
He's hauling ass with a mess hall.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
But you'll survive the foxhole. If somebody in there says 30 seconds prior to the bombs dropping, we should get out of here. Something bad's about to happen.
Co-host or Panelist
I think that's not the point. That's why we had zaz on the ground. Zaz was giving us the updates of 30 seconds ahead, which I liked because it was going well. And then he does that. Dan, the one thing you can't do is say the I word when you got a final drive for your life. Okay, this was for our. If you ask Mario, if you ask the guys in that rock, that locker room, that was a drive for your life.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Well, mendoza said, after the game, I would die for my tip. Yeah. If that was something. If you looked at his right arm. It was. It was a raspberry. It was damaged.
Dan Le Batard
Damaged. We were playing a game back here. How many members of your family would you be willing to kill off to not suffer the Indignity of last night again. My dad's dead.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Well, your dad played the bongos in here. He was playing the bongos after Indiana touchdowns. He was doing so with delight. I see that the troll doesn't fall far from the trees. He was really it. I've never.
Dan Le Batard
Like, straight up, like, no respect for that guy.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Roy joins us now from remote. And when I say from remote, he's in hiding. He's in the federal witness protection that.
Co-host or Panelist
The mess hall, Dan. The rest of us in the foxhole still.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
He is not welcome around crucibles or welcome back in Miami right now, given what it is that he was wild thing.
Dan Le Batard
Just casually say while you're sipping your coffee.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Coffee, Roy. Yeah. Muttering under his breath. He just. I could see the ripples on his coffee of the hatred being caused coming out of his nose and mouth as he talked about not wanting Roy at the crucible of life to be with him.
Dan Le Batard
Dark morning Louis is just like, casually spitting out Morrissey lyrics like, as he's sipping his coffee.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Roy joins us now. Roy, do you have an explanation? Have you given it some thought? Do you regret your decision or are you just happy that you got the prediction right? Right.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Well, first of all, I'd like to say hello, Lucy. I miss you. Second of all, don't blame me for this loss. If you want to blame anybody, you can blame the kicker for missing the kicking the ball off the upright. You can, you can.
Co-host or Panelist
I'll leave Carter Davis out of this 50 yards, bro.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
You do it for having his blocked. You can blame the DBs for dropping interceptions. And you can. You can blame Carson Beck for, you know that.
Co-host or Panelist
That inception day and what happened just before that.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
A person said words.
Co-host or Panelist
A person said words on an air, on a live stream. And you know, words carry weight, Roy. You know that more than anybody. You know that. And you know I love you, but I'll never forgive you. I'll never forgive you. I'll go be at my deathbed. You may be dead. I may be dead first. It doesn't matter. I'll be on my deathbed. I'll never forgive you for that.
Guest or Contributor
Roy, you know about those words carrying weight?
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Yes, I do. Okay, so you knew that many of them. Exactly.
Co-host or Panelist
Right. Which is why it means more. Okay, that you said what you said before we even got the ball, before we even got the ball, you said, here's an interception. You didn't say it once. You said it twice so people could hear you because it went underneath the radar. And then you said it again.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Tony, it was the most logical conclusion to this game. Of course he was going to get intercepted.
Co-host or Panelist
No, absolutely not.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
You knew it was gonna happen.
Co-host or Panelist
No, the most logical thing was he's gonna have another incredible drive. Malachi. Tony's gonna make a play and they're gonna score with six seconds left and win the damn game.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
That's not how the world works, Tony. Sorry.
Co-host or Panelist
Just you're not going to forgive him.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
You're not sorry. You don't have to forgive him. I don't blame you for not forgiving.
Guest Analyst
I need a T shirt that says I stand with Roy. I love the idea of superstition so much. Sports superstition. I think it must have started with not talking about a no hitter in the fifth inning and on. It's the most ridiculous thing in the world. And with all due respect to all of the intelligent people in here who actually believe in superstition but can never explain why I stand with Roy.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
You know, people keep asking me about my 2026 resolutions and yeah, I got the usual stuff. You know, watch more games, complain about the power play and pretend like my team's actually going to stay healthy.
Guest Analyst
Haha.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
But this year the one at the top of my list is simple. Get comfy. That's where Bombas comes in. They bring serious comfort to my everyday essentials. Bombas just dropped their all new sports socks engineered for running, golf, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, basically whatever you're pretending you're about to to be really into. And I'm trying to stay active this year by playing hockey. I need these socks. It has cushioning where you need it. It's sweat wicking, solid support, no distractions, just comfort. And for the everyday stuff, Bombers footwear has you covered. Sunday slippers for staying in, Friday sandals for quick errands and a new Saturday suede slip ons for when you want comfort but still need to leave the house. Premium everyday go tos I don't really think about, which is kind of the point. And for every item you buy, Bombas donates one to someone facing housing insecurity. One bought one donated over 150 million items so far. Head over to bombas.com dkn and use code dkn for 20 off your first purchase. That's B O-M-B-A-.com dkn code dkn at checkout Don LeBatard comic the Frog Here live from Metalog Media studios here in Miami, Stugats the Germans are advancing on.
Dan Le Batard
France in World War II.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
This is the Don Levatar show with the Stugach.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
We're going to get to an off roading with Lucy Rodin in just a second. But I understand that you guys had some press box experiences worth recounting.
Guest or Contributor
I saw somebody get tackled by five security guards who was posing to be media. One, he was wearing a Miami jersey, so that kind of gave it.
I saw those two guys walking through the lunchroom right after you came and said hello to me.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Yes.
Guest or Contributor
No, no, no. It happened way later.
No, but I saw those guys.
He had like a. Wait, was it the guy with the white jersey? No, because he didn't have a press pass. So I was in the ox press box and I'm not a big time gal. They didn't let me in the main one, which was better because I got.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Were you in the main press box? Did they honor the legendary columnist?
Guest Analyst
I was in the main press box, but the times have changed. Dan, I know you're not in press box as much anymore, but the. The traditional media has been shunted into the shadows. We were. The Miami Herald and other big local outlets were in the number five press box, which is not the main press. But here's the thing. The main press box now is given over to, you know, self help podcasters and TikTok influencers and pit bulls, astrologists. I mean, the Miami Herald is in the end zone. Okay? We were lucky. Dave Hyde's made to work out of a janitor's closet. An open bottle of fabuloso spills on his podcast. Right on deadline. I mean, times are podcast. Times are tough. I meant his laptop.
Dan Le Batard
It spilled all over his podcast.
Guest Analyst
That too.
Co-host or Panelist
Two and a half hours sleep.
Dan Le Batard
Thank you.
Guest or Contributor
So what happened?
Sports Analyst/Commentator
There was a fight.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
We've got Cody on two and a half hours. Thank you.
Guest or Contributor
First of all, quit. Quit your yapping. I was in the stands. They basically put me in the sands. I was in a Miami section.
Guest Analyst
Okay?
Guest or Contributor
But this guy, he's in like the media area with the camera. He clearly does not have a credential and he's wearing a Miami jersey. And somebody giveaway. Yeah, somebody reported him. I guess I wasn't me because I didn't see him. And the security went to bring him down and then he was like, no, like, I have a ticket. I'm supposed to be here. And they, they were like, you don't have a credential. This is like media. And he starts screaming at this cop who was a woman. And I was like, whoa, I do not like the vibe of this.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
This.
Guest or Contributor
And he kept yelling at her. Don't touch me. Don't touch me. She was not touching him. I was right there. I saw the whole thing. And then he starts yelling at her, and he's, like, getting in her face. And then the other cop comes up, and he's like, if, like. He's like, she keeps touching me. And he's like, I can see that she's not touching you. We're all watching her not touch you. And he was like, I'll touch you. Like, I'll touch you. And so then he put on his, like, little meta glasses because I think he was gonna try to film it. And he was like, fine, I'll show you my ticket. And the lady was like, no, I've been asking you for, like, 10 minutes to show me your ticket. And then he was like, no, I'm not leaving. So they had to pick him up by his arms and carry him out. And then he started fighting, and then they all tackled him to the ground, and he didn't make it to the second half, which honestly probably worked out for him.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
That's a bummer. That's a bummer that he doesn't get to watch the second.
Guest or Contributor
He missed a good second.
It was epic. It was really cool. I felt like I got the most, like, uniquely like Miami in their home stadium playoff experience.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
We've got Diana Rossini coming up later in the show. Charles Barkley as well. But let's together go off roading. Yeah. Hello, I'm with Channel 6 News. Not really, but I'm here to inform you that IU is gonna stomp Miami tonight.
Guest Analyst
Go, Hoosier.
Guest or Contributor
Dan, it took the Miami Hurricane playing in the national championship game for me to finally go to a game at Hard Rock. And as you can see, it went.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Well watching Dan talk about the different types of Cubans, right? And how we're the. We are the types of Cubans that will eat your face off. All right? And we're hoping. We're hoping that they take Mendoza and they eat his face off tonight.
Guest or Contributor
Because I've been to season ticket fan since I was 17. I'm 58 now, so this is huge for me. I've been waiting for this since 2001. Go, kids. How much bad football do you think you've sat through in your lifetime as Indiana fans?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Well, for me, it would be. It would be 46 to 50 years somewhere.
Dan Le Batard
It's been a lot of mediocre football. I'll say.
Guest or Contributor
You weren't there with us two years ago.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
You don't understand the pain that I.
Co-host or Panelist
Watched when we went.
Guest or Contributor
Went four OTs with Akron.
Co-host or Panelist
You could find a ticket on.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
On the ground.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
At the tailgate.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Yeah, at the tailgate. And get in for free.
Guest or Contributor
Did you ever in your life think you would see Indiana football compete for a national championship?
Dan Le Batard
Never in my life, no.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
As of a year ago, not a chance.
Guest Analyst
But at the beginning of this year.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
And as of a week ago, we were.
Dan Le Batard
A bunch of us were in Atlanta. Truly the greatest day of my life.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
And that's a. I have a wife.
Dan Le Batard
I have children, and maybe we cut that. Let's cut that one.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Actually.
Guest or Contributor
You have the most unique outfit on I've seen all day. What is this fit for?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Well, rooting for both Indiana and for.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Miami, because I have a four month.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Old grandson born in Miami and a two week old grandson born in Bloomington, Indiana.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Wow.
Guest or Contributor
Okay, so this really is a house divided. Is there a side you're leaning?
Sports Analyst/Commentator
No.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
How can I pick among my favorite grandchild?
Guest or Contributor
My grandparents have been able to do that pretty easy with me. Your grandson has never known Indiana to be a bad football team.
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Good point.
Guest or Contributor
The earrings, the necklaces. My women are ready for the game today. Best outfits I've seen the whole day. Can we explain them and how we put them together? Okay. We went military style because we're here. We're going to war. It's do or die. The Hurricanes are going to get it done and we're going to claim the victory. You've got the best hat, helmet, contraption I've seen all day. Can you explain to our viewers what you got going on here? Hi. So we have the Miami Cuban theme going on.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
It's a funnel.
Guest or Contributor
You pour your cafecito or your vodka. Is there a world where I could see one of these in action? Is anybody willing to take a drink?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Oh, one more row of.
Co-host or Panelist
There's already someone in action with it.
Guest or Contributor
If Kurt Signetti was here right now, what would you say to him?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Thank God. Thank God you came to save us.
Co-host or Panelist
Changed all of our lives. He put Indiana on the map.
Dan Le Batard
What he's been able to build has been incredible, especially in the two years. And so I'd say I hope you.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Stay until you want to retire. Never go anywhere else.
Dan Le Batard
Let's build you a statue and just please never, ever, ever, ever, ever leave.
Guest or Contributor
Will you guys build Mario Cristobal a statue if he wins this game?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
No doubt. I mean, we got concrete in the truck. We're gonna be forming it up after the game.
Guest or Contributor
Have Indiana fans, have they been nice?
Dan Le Batard
Very nice.
Guest or Contributor
They've been extremely Nice.
Co-host or Panelist
Yes. I gave one of them a slider earlier, gave them some sauces.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
They've been.
Dan Le Batard
They've been great.
Guest or Contributor
Have you been nice to them?
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Yes, for now.
Guest or Contributor
I don't believe you. Have Miami fans been nice?
Guest Analyst
Haven't seen too many police officers making fun of us. Earlier this morning, they were, like, over.
Co-host or Panelist
The loudspeaker in their car. We were getting chirped, so.
Guest Analyst
Miami fans are so kind. They're so nice.
Co-host or Panelist
They would never say anything rude to us.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Enjoy your train.
Co-host or Panelist
Good luck. Have a great day.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Good luck.
Guest or Contributor
Other than that, they've been not nice. This trip was brought to you by DraftKings Sportsbook. Download the Draft King sportsbook app today. The crown is yours.
Dan Le Batard
Love, Dan LeBatard.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
I love the Dan LeBatard Show. I didn't realize this is what it was. What it was.
Guest or Contributor
Right now, I don't look like Dan Levatard. Thank God.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
This is what born and raised Miami looks like.
Guest or Contributor
We deserve to be here.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
A lot of people counted us out.
Guest or Contributor
We kept the faith. We knew we belonged here. And here we are. We're gonna claim the victory. We're in our hometown, and we're gonna get it done. Go, Hurricane.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
We got some canes over here. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Dan Le Batard
Whoo.
Dan Le Batard (show intro and banter)
Whoo.
Main Host (likely Dan Le Batard or lead commentator)
Whoosh.
Guest or Contributor
Despite what my behavior shows, I am sad for the Miami fans in the office. I can empathize. What it's like to watch your favorite team lose the national championship game. I've been there twice. But I just wanted to say this is why I love, love college football. Because you get stories like Indiana, the greatest turnaround from any team ever. From the losing his Power 4 team in college football to the national champions. This sport is awesome. What a great season. I started to cry at the end because I'm so grateful I get to do this. Thank you for another wonderful year. I'll see you. Well, I'm going to be on the show today, so after this.
Dan Le Batard
Happy new year, everybody. 2026 is already getting off to an incredible start. Because you want to know how I rang in the new year. It was with a bunch of friends in a Dallas hotel lobby bar ordering a bunch of Miller Lights. Because that's how you do it. That's how you make special memories. Miller Light has been by my side at many special football memories this year. And hopefully we get to write a few more memories with Miller Light. Some of my most legendary moments have started that exact same way. A buddy's house, a lobby bar, a game. No big plan. And then you crack open a Miller Lite, you take a sip and you look around and you immediately recognize that you made the right call. Legendary moments Start with Miller Lite. Great taste 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Episode: Local Hour – Mike Kills His Father
Date: January 20, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
This episode of the Local Hour follows Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the show's rotating cast as they gather in the aftermath of the wild college football national championship game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers. Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Miami, the crew unpacks the game’s drama, the heartache and pride felt by Miami fans, the historic nature of Indiana’s win, and the superstitions and quirks that make sports fandom so emotionally loaded. The episode also weaves in humorous tales of press box misadventures and crowd interactions, while grappling with themes of loyalty, heartbreak, blame, and the joy of experiencing legendary moments.
Notable Quote:
“This is going to be hard to explain to people who only see the box score when you say, hey, Mendoza had one of the greatest runs of all time. And the stat sheet says seven rushes for negative eight yards because that was the only time he used his legs in any meaningful way.”
— Main Host (Dan or lead commentator), 07:50
Notable Exchange:
“I’ll be on my deathbed. I’ll never forgive you for that.” — Tony, 30:00
“It was the most logical conclusion to this game. Of course he was going to get intercepted.” — Roy, 30:25
“The one thing you can’t do is say the I word when you got a final drive for your life. Okay, this was for our… If you ask Mario, if you ask the guys in that locker room, that was a drive for your life.” — Tony, 27:46
Notable Quotes:
“Those two completions and that run were why he won the Heisman Trophy.” — Guest Analyst, 08:35
“Miami outgained Indiana in total yards despite running 17 fewer plays ... Miami did not play a bad game. They just had two or three or four crucial things go against them.” — Guest Analyst, 12:36
Notable Quote:
“Short of winning the whole thing, this was an incredible, incredible season. It could not have gone any better.” — Guest/Contributor, 06:38
“From the losingest Power 4 team in college football to national champions. This sport is awesome.” — Lucy (Off-roading segment), 41:00
Timestamped Highlight:
Notable Exchange:
“How many members of your family would you be willing to kill off to not suffer the indignity of last night again? My dad’s dead.” — Dan Le Batard, 28:06
“Like, straight up, no respect for that guy.” — Dan Le Batard, 28:29
Notable Moments:
“The main press box now is given over to, you know, self help podcasters and TikTok influencers and pit bulls, astrologists ... The Miami Herald is in the end zone. Dave Hyde’s made to work out of a janitor’s closet. An open bottle of Fabuloso spills on his podcast. Right on deadline.” — Guest Analyst, 34:09
Notable Quotes:
“Did you ever in your life think you would see Indiana football compete for a national championship?” — Lucy, 37:16
“Never in my life, no.” — Fan, 37:21
“He put Indiana on the map... let’s build you a statue and just please never, ever, ever, ever, ever leave.” — Indiana fans about Coach Signetti, 39:08 – 39:24
On the heartbreak of being a fan:
“You were 40 yards from doing it. You had 50 seconds, plenty of time to score the touchdown... Indiana was gassed... But every damn pass Beck threw was being touched by an Indiana defensive back.” — Dan or co-host, 22:04 – 22:29
On sports superstition:
“I need a T-shirt that says I stand with Roy. I love the idea of superstition so much. Sports superstition. I think it must have started with not talking about a no hitter in the fifth inning... It’s the most ridiculous thing in the world.” — Guest Analyst, 30:49
On the rawness of the loss:
“In the crucible of life, I don’t ever want Roy with me... we were charging up a hill with bayonets and we looked behind us... he’s hauling ass with a mess hall.” — Lewis/Tony, 27:03–27:28
On Indiana fans as gracious victors:
“Did you ever in your life think you would see Indiana football compete for a national championship?” “Never in my life, no.” — Lucy, 37:16–37:21
True to form, the episode is irreverent, quick-witted, and emotionally honest. The show blends sports analysis with humor, raw fandom, and a sense of camaraderie—even as the panel ribs each other mercilessly about blame, curses, and personal allegiances. The heartbreak and pride of college football exist side by side with jokes about family betrayal and absurd press box politics.
This episode is not just a breakdown of a single game, but a living snapshot of everything strange, magical, and maddening about sports fandom. The Miami loss is mourned, Indiana’s win is celebrated, superstitions are argued about, and the crew reminds listeners why rooting for your team—no matter the result—is so intoxicating. It’s equal parts catharsis, therapy, and comedy, delivered in classic Local Hour style.