Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Postgame Show: The Postgame Show Before Hour 2 (feat. JuJu Gotti)
Date: January 19, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Featuring: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, JuJu Gotti, Lucy, Zaz, Dave, others
Episode Overview
This episode unfolds in a characteristically loose, spontaneous “postgame” environment before Hour 2 of the show, capturing the crew gathered in downtown Miami to break down the whirlwind weekend in sports—particularly college football’s historic Indiana turnaround, NFL playoff heartbreak, and the state of the Bills—plus JuJu Gotti’s takes and offbeat Top 5 NFL offseason predictions. The mood is equal measures bemused, passionate, and irreverent, punctuated by rapid-fire conversation on the games, coaches, and players, with pop culture references and signature banter throughout.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Miami/Indiana College Football Spectacle (03:03 - 07:23)
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Fernando Mendoza, Miami’s “favorite son” and the Hurricanes’ hopes:
- The group jokes about Mendoza becoming a legend in Miami if he wins ("You'd never have to pay for croquetas again. Do a solid for Miami Dade and throw this game, Fernando." – 01:18, E), and the humorous plea for him to “throw” the game for the city.
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The Unprecedented Indiana Turnaround:
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The cast marvels over Indiana’s journey from “the losingest power four team” to the national championship, noting the historical rarity (03:22, C).
- Lucy: “There is none. Indiana was the losingest power four team until this season… College football… is the most difficult to win a national championship. You’re competing with 130 teams.” (03:22, C)
- “I had to go to a couple Indiana games when Iowa played them… maybe a thousand people there.” (03:54, C)
- Dave: “Why would I spend my time watching us lose by five touchdowns to Michigan again?” (04:12, G)
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Context & Comparison Attempts:
- Reluctant comparisons to Bernie Kosar’s Miami Hurricanes and UCF’s near-miracle seasons arise but are quickly dismissed as Indiana’s situation is even more remarkable (05:10, G; 05:20, F; 05:32, G).
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Sustained Success vs. Fluke:
- Lucy emphasizes the importance of coach Signetti’s continuity and staff retention—not just a one-off miracle (05:43 - 06:43, C):
- “What’s most important about it... is sustained success. You’re already seeing that with the portal classes they have... It is so unheard of in this sport to see this turnaround…”
- Lucy emphasizes the importance of coach Signetti’s continuity and staff retention—not just a one-off miracle (05:43 - 06:43, C):
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2. NFL Playoff Heartbreak: JuJu Gotti’s Buffalo Bills Therapy Session (07:23 - 11:33)
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Juju’s Response to Another Bills Loss:
- JuJu Gotti gives a resigned, self-aware take on rooting for a perpetually snakebitten franchise:
- “I feel like James Franco on that meme… every single year ends. As a Bills fan, I focus more so on the position we put ourselves in... I just want to focus more on the accountability.” (07:48, I)
- Calls out specific game-changing mistakes by Josh Allen and James Cook.
- JuJu Gotti gives a resigned, self-aware take on rooting for a perpetually snakebitten franchise:
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Evaluation of Coaching and Roster Moves:
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JuJu disagrees with the “fire McDermott” crowd, blaming the front office’s draft/trade decisions (08:47, I):
- “Our run defense showed up yesterday… what bit us is Brandon Bean’s inability to make moves at the trade deadline.”
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Dan highlights the gap between teams in the AFC East, explaining the Patriots’ (unexpected) rookie snap counts as a sign of their struggles (09:33, F).
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Therapy and Fan Resilience:
- JuJu opens up: “About a year ago, I went to therapy… before that, I would be so sad in these moments. But I’m just looking within, what can we do better for next year?” (10:26, I)
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Breaking News & Historic Stats:
- Brian Daboll reportedly eyed as next Bills coach—immediate, live reaction (11:05, F).
- Wild stat: Josh Allen has never won an overtime game in his career (11:27, A):
- “I can't believe Josh Allen never has won an overtime game in his entire career. That was just wild, right?” (11:27, A)
3. Playoff Quarterbacks: Critiques and Frustrations (12:19 - 14:02)
- CJ Stroud Rollercoaster:
- JuJu leans into criticism:
- “Damn all that, man… you gotta say something to a young brother: we need you to sit down. Some of the mistakes you can’t make these in the playoffs.” (12:19, I)
- Argues that Davis Mills should have been given a shot and pans Houston’s decision to punt on 4th and 18: “So gutless.” (13:13, I)
- JuJu leans into criticism:
- CJ Stroud vs. Caleb Williams Hype:
- The hosts poke fun at the cyclical QB hype/discrediting after a single playoff result (13:51, I).
4. The Tough Road Ahead for Josh Allen & the Bills (14:02 - 14:31)
- Drafting & Development:
- “Josh Allen… like Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow have already played on their best team. They are going to have to carry more of the load, not less.” (14:02, G)
- The missed opportunity: Keon Coleman could have changed things as a draft pick for the Bills.
5. JuJu Gotti’s Top 5 NFL Offseason Prediction List (14:31 - 17:32)
JuJu, ever in “offseason mode,” fires off his boldest possible transaction predictions for 2026:
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Alvin Kamara to Browns (15:10, I)
- “It’s gonna happen because Quinn Sean Judkins went down with a gruesome injury…”
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Kyle Pitts to Chiefs (15:23, I)
- “Kyle Pitt’s gonna be fire as hell as a Chief… Falcons got a new coach Stefanski, everyone in Atlanta mad as hell.”
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A.J. Brown to Patriots (15:23, I)
- “Vrabel is such a good guy, he’s gonna keep his guys close and I think—he gonna go there.” (Linking ex-Titans, ex-Patriots via Vrabel.)
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Justin Jefferson to Buffalo Bills (16:28, I)
- “Have you seen those Pepsi commercials? Oh, him and Josh [Allen] look amazing together.”
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Kyler Murray to Steelers (17:04, I)
- “The Steelers are now… chasing other teams’ washed-up mercenaries for one season and then losing in the wild card round. Great formula, keep it going.” (17:19, G)
Notable banter: “Let the GMs figure it out.” (16:52, G)
6. NBA MVP Chat: Anthony Edwards’ Emergence (17:46 - 19:10)
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Advocacy for Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves as a true MVP candidate after a 55-point performance, even in a loss.
- “If we're gonna have a conversation about MVP, we better be including Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.” (17:46, H)
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Dan, Zaz, and the crew riff on Heat center Bam Adebayo’s candidacy and poke fun at each other’s sleeping habits and NBA apathy.
- “Look how riveted Lucy is by this conversation... We've woken her from a deep slumber. Snoring like Jessica, like that lumberjack Jessica.” (19:06, F)
- “I've been looking at ways. Things are not looking good right now.” (19:18, C)
7. Lightning Round: Listener Polls & Miscellany (19:39 - 20:41)
Juju gives updates on LTBS listener polls:
- Confidence in WiFi at College Football Games: 97% say no. (19:56, I)
- Is the targeting penalty like porn (“you know it when you see it”)?: 90% say yes. (20:16, I)
- Does cafecito make you honk at everyone?: 88% yes. (20:16, I)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You'd never have to pay for croquetas again. Do a solid for Miami Dade and throw this game, Fernando.” – E (01:18)
- “I feel like James Franco on that meme... every single year ends.” – JuJu Gotti (07:48, I)
- “Our run defense showed up yesterday... what bit us is Brandon Bean’s inability to make moves at the trade deadline...” – JuJu Gotti (08:47, I)
- “About a year ago, I went to therapy… before that, I would be so sad in these moments. But I’m just looking within, what can we do better for next year?” – JuJu Gotti (10:26, I)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Indiana’s miraculous football rise: 03:03 – 06:43
- Juju Gotti’s Bills therapy/fan breakdown: 07:23 – 11:33
- NFL quarterbacks, playoff decisions, and critiques: 12:19 – 14:02
- JuJu Gotti’s Top 5 “Transactions” for 2026: 14:31 – 17:32
- NBA MVP chat & banter: 17:46 – 19:10
- Listener Poll Results: 19:39 – 20:41
Episode Tone & Energy
The tone oscillates between irreverent, self-deprecating, and earnest, especially as JuJu Gotti dissects Bills’ heartbreak and laments over “accountability.” Banter flows seamlessly from deep sport knowledge to the nostalgic and absurd, making the camaraderie and coping mechanisms of die-hard fandom front and center.
This episode is a lively, quintessential Le Batard postgame: spontaneous, funny, occasionally poignant, and rewarding for diehard and casual listeners alike.
