The Dan Patrick Show (Guest Hosts: Two Pros and a Cup of Joe)

Episode: Hour 1 - Bowl Games & Opt Outs
Date: December 31, 2025

Episode Overview

In this New Year's Eve edition, regular Dan Patrick Show guest hosts LaVar Arrington, Brady Quinn, Jonas Knox, and producer Patrick Suica (from Two Pros and a Cup of Joe) dive deep into the heart of college football’s bowl season, the ongoing debate about bowl game opt outs, and the shifting landscape brought on by NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and conference realignment. Their vibrant, humorous, and informed sports talk covers conference rivalries, the changing value of bowl games, and insider perspective on the College Football Playoff format.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Social Media Debates & College Football Rivalries

• Notre Dame-USC Rivalry Drama ([05:32–07:28])
  • Background: Lincoln Riley blames Notre Dame for canceling their football rivalry; Brady Quinn responds publicly.
  • Social Media Firestorm: LaVar details the Twitter spat and the passionate reactions it generated from fans and other former players like T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
  • Brady Quinn:

    "That’s how much this rivalry has meant... It kind of goes to show you, like, even people who don’t have a dog in the fight necessarily want to weigh in on it because it’s that big of a subject." ([07:08])

2. Conference Strength—SEC vs. Big Ten ([08:15–12:42])

• Big Ten's Bowl Dominance: Brady Quinn presents stats showing the Big Ten outperforming the SEC in recent bowl seasons.

• The SEC's Perception: Despite media dominance, the SEC often schedules easier non-conference games, inflating win totals.

• Brady Quinn:

  "The Big Ten has been better than the SEC in the postseason. This isn’t opinion. This is factual." ([09:50])

• LaVar Arrington:

  "It’s almost like the rivalry of it all that’s being created between the Big Ten and the SEC... But it plays out in these games that are upcoming." ([10:24])

3. NIL’s Influence: Big-Spending Teams and the Professionalization of College Football ([12:42–15:13])

• Pay-to-Win Mentality: The discussion shifts to how big donors and NIL money are tilting the balance (e.g., Texas Tech’s billionaire booster Cody Campbell).
• LaVar Arrington:

  "This is like stock market game too... I’m looking at how strong is your dollar." ([12:42]) "The big spenders won last year, right? Big bank take little bank." ([12:46])

• Patrick Suica:

  "Texas Tech is rumored to be the biggest spender this year... They completely revamped their defensive front."
  "That investment has led to them now winning the Big 12 and getting a buy and now, you know, being the number four team in the country with a chance to legitimately compete for a national championship." ([13:15])

4. College Football Playoff Format—Fairness, Byes, and Logistics ([15:13–21:50])

• Playoff Home Games Debate: The hosts discuss Dan Lanning’s point that top-seeded teams (e.g., Texas Tech) should get home playoff games instead of just byes and neutral-site matchups.
• Patrick Suica:

  "There’s always going to be some subjectivity... But I also don’t feel like we’re at a spot right now in college football to be able to make the changes necessary..." ([17:54])

• LaVar Arrington:

  "If you make it into the playoffs, let’s play... I would say I don’t have a problem with a bye week. But that could work to your advantage, but it could also work to your disadvantage." ([19:44])

• Jonas Knox:

  "Every playoff format has flaws, but in college football, everybody harps on what there isn’t... You can find something wrong with anything if you wanted to." ([20:41])

5. Bowl Games: Value, Opt Outs, and the Future ([21:50–29:02])

• The Declining Importance of Non-Playoff Bowls: The NFL draft and player safety mean starters opt out, making some bowls feel like exhibitions.
• LaVar Arrington:

  "I think this college playoff, as it continues to evolve, is the death of bowls. I really do. Outside of the bowls that exist within the playoff..." ([23:25])

• Logistics & Financial Impact: Schools must evaluate whether minor bowls are lucrative or worth the hassle, considering costs and player opt outs.
• LaVar Arrington:

  "Why would you do the game if you don’t have 10, 15 of your players that play?... Why would you want to do it?" ([26:02])

• Notre Dame’s High-Profile Opt Out:
  • Discusses Notre Dame skipping their bowl this year
  • Brady Quinn shares a behind-the-scenes look at similar team decisions when he played:

    "Even though we had an amazing time in Scottsdale, Arizona... there was not a lot of seriousness taken to the approach for the game." ([27:02])

  • Predicts more elite teams may skip bowls unless they’re in the playoff.

6. Broader Perspectives: Opt Outs, Legacy, and College Athlete Choices ([35:52–45:40])

• Changing Attitudes: Today, player and team opt outs are less controversial; it's a business decision.
• LaVar Arrington:

  "There’s personal assessments and then there’s sensible assessments. The sensible side of me says it’s your choice... Do you want to risk being one of the extreme cases that could alter your future?" ([38:35])

• Patrick Suica:

  "Are you really putting your brand, your program, the best foot forward when you go out and play some of these bowl games? Probably not, right?" ([40:38])

• Bowl Games as TV Content: ESPN owns most minor bowls; their value is more for TV and betting than sporting merit.

  "If you really peel back the business model... most of these bowl games are owned by ESPN. It’s part of their business model for this time of year..." ([43:43])

• Players' Compensation:
  • Lack of “bowl bonuses”; NIL might be used as leverage, but no formal playoff/profit sharing yet for student-athletes.

7. Quick Segment: 2026 Hall of Fame Finalists - Fan & Player Picks ([49:59–53:29])

• Announcement of Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists
• LaVar’s picks: Darren Woodson, Tori Holt, Willie Anderson, Luke Kuechly, Frank Gore (debate about Drew Brees and Frank Gore)
• Banter on what constitutes a "great" NFL career:

  "If you’re first team All-Pro one time, you’ve done well in your life." ([52:55])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On bowl games and the playoff era:
  "This is the death of bowls... Outside of the bowls that exist within the playoff."
  —LaVar Arrington ([23:25])

• On changing expectations for college stars:
  "Do you want them to just risk it so that you could, you know, see him what, dump Cheez-Its on their head? Like, hey, everybody else is doing it, why can’t you do it? Okay, well, I don’t know because I’ve got... That's 50 million."
  —Jonas Knox ([43:06])

• On the real purpose of exhibition bowls:
  "Most of these bowl games are owned by ESPN... it’s part of their business model for this time of year. The ratings for these bowl games are typically higher than many of these teams usually face."
  —Patrick Suica ([43:43])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Notre Dame–USC social media beef & rivalry meaning: [05:32–07:28]
• SEC vs Big Ten bowl records & perception: [08:15–12:42]
• NIL's impact and "buying" championships: [12:42–15:13]
• Playoff format, home games, byes: [15:13–21:50]
• Decline of non-playoff bowl games: [21:50–29:02]
• Players/team opt-outs & business reality: [35:52–45:40]
• 2026 Hall of Fame finalist picks & debate: [49:59–53:29]

Tone & Language

The episode reflects the hosts’ signature blend of humor (lots of inside jokes and radio banter), frank opinions, and a sense of tradition and nostalgia about college football. They offer player and insider perspectives, making it relatable for sports enthusiasts while also giving serious, nuanced takes on the issues facing college football and athletics in general.

This summary gives you a comprehensive rundown of the hour’s discussions, highlights, and perspectives, capturing the evolving state of college football as seen through the eyes of well-informed insiders and former athletes.