The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 (December 9, 2025)

Episode Theme:
A lively dive into the weekend’s biggest NFL and college football stories: an aging legend’s possible NFL return, seismic changes and drama in college football (with special attention to Indiana and Notre Dame), playoff debates, and listener calls—layered with Dan’s signature humor and perspective.

Main Topics Covered

• NFL Week Recap: Eagles vs. Chargers and the quarterback crisis in Indianapolis
• College Football: Indiana's shocking rise, Heisman conversation, and the Notre Dame-ACC standoff
• Surrounding Drama: Notre Dame’s potential exit from the ACC and playoff committee controversies
• Fan Calls: Reactions, questions, and debates on Lions, playoff snubs, and media coverage

Key Segments & Insights

1. NFL Headlines: Philip Rivers “Grandpa” Comeback?

[01:32–06:26]

• Colts QB Crisis: Rivers (age 44) is working out for the Colts after injuries to Riley Leonard and others. Dan muses about the appeal of “Grandpa and the Colts” (06:02).
  • Quote: “Are you tuning in to watch Grandpa and the Colts facing... maybe that’s how they promote it... The Colts are 13-and-a-half point underdogs.” (04:59 - Dan)
• Weekend Watch Guide: Comparing intrigue for matchups like Packers/Broncos, Chiefs/Chargers, Lions/Rams, and Colts/Seahawks IF Rivers starts.
  • “If I have multiple TVs, I gotta have the Colts and the Seahawks on.” (05:36 - Dan)

2. College Football: Indiana’s Impossible Dream

[06:26–10:39]

• Indiana’s Rise: Dan argues Curt Cignetti’s feat at Indiana is vastly greater than Deion Sanders’ Colorado work, but media ignores it.
  • Quote: “Kurt Cignetti did that times a thousand at Indiana. And there’s very little fanfare for Kurt Cignetti because he’s not going to get clicks.” (08:05 - Dan)
  • Indiana is No. 1 and home to the Heisman favorite—unthinkable 20 years ago.
• NIL & Portal Effects: Quick turnarounds are now possible for even dormant teams thanks to NIL and the transfer portal.

3. The Notre Dame-ACC Fallout & Speculation

[10:39–14:00]

• Speculation of a Major Shift: After a heated playoff committee and Notre Dame’s playoff snub, Dan wonders if they'll bolt the ACC with all sports.
  • Quote: “Is Notre Dame planning a bigger picture here? ...Going to the Big Ten, taking all of our sports to the Big Ten…?” (12:43 - Dan)
• Quotes ACC Meeting Rumors: The ACC used three hours of a CFP committee meeting focused on Notre Dame & Miami, feeding tensions.

4. Poll Questions – NFL Panic Meter

[14:00–15:21]

• Polls Introduced:
  • “Philip Rivers coming back: Great idea or terrible idea?”
  • “Man, [insert team], they’re in trouble: Colts, Chiefs, Eagles, Ravens?”
• Sets up further discussion and engagement.

5. NFC/AFC Power Rankings and Playoff Outlook

[15:40–18:13]

• Eagles’ woes after a tough loss, Chargers’ defense praised, and Chiefs “done/done-ish” but “if they make it, Vegas still loves them.”
  • Vegas likes Green Bay as 2.5 point favorite at Denver—“tells you a lot” about perception shifts.
• Jim Harbaugh’s wry humor on “best feelings” after a big win:
  • Quote: “In the discussion, the birth of my seven children, my marriage, you know, just joyful.” (17:14 - Harbaugh clip)

6. Fun & Fandom: Bobblehead Origins

[23:45–25:55]

• Brief interlude—Dan and the Danettes share stories about bobblehead dolls, their origins, and quirks.

7. Eagles/Chargers Game Breakdown

[25:55–27:32]

• Stats: Jalen Hurts’ disastrous night—QBR 31.3 (worse than spiking every play, 39.6); first since ’78 to commit two turnovers on a single play.
  • “Jalen Hurts, first player to commit two turnovers on the same play since 1978…” (25:55 - Dan)
  • Chargers’ secondary/outstanding defense praised.

Notable Listener Calls & Reactions

[27:07–39:07]: Listener-Driven Hot Takes

• Lions Outlook: “Do they have a fighter’s chance?” Dan: “Yeah, of course they do. That’s a really good team... but it’s gonna be tough.” (27:21)
• Chargers & College Football “Fiasco”: “Today Bobby Knight must be rolling in his grave…” (28:44 - Buddha in SF)
• BCS Playoff History/Media Trust: “Dan, your interview with Notre Dame’s AD... it seems like whenever a high-profile executive, coach or player wants to get a message out... you’re the one they trust…” (29:50 - Chris in Syracuse)
• Notre Dame No Pass Given: Dan rebuts fan accusation that he gives ND a pass.
  • Quote: “If this was reversed... the media would have been all over Notre Dame... I gotta be fair to what is going on, and I don’t think it was fair to the system they’ve created. That’s all.” (31:29 - Dan)
• Emotional Fallout: Notre Dame’s bowl opt-out feels like “an emotional reaction.” (39:07 - Paulie/Dan)

More Listener Calls: Playoff Structure Confusion & Media Defense

[39:07–51:08]

• Notre Dame “Comeuppance” and impact of playoff exclusion; media access issues for non-cable viewers.
• Dan’s Interview Philosophy: “My job as an interviewer is to be a conduit to information... asking the right questions... I take great pride in it.” (39:07)
• Notre Dame Bowl Boycott: Dan’s take: “I don’t agree with them not playing in a bowl game. I don’t like it. It feels a little bit more elitist.”
• Speculation on upcoming Notre Dame press conference and a potential “seismic” announcement.
  • “I feel like something seismic is coming.” (51:08 - Seaton)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• On Curt Cignetti & Media Coverage:
  “Kurt Cignetti did that times a thousand at Indiana. And there’s very little fanfare for Kurt Cignetti because he’s not going to get clicks. Indiana’s not going to get clicks. Dion is going to get clicks.” (08:05 - Dan)

• On Playoff Committee Fairness:
  “If this was reversed… and nothing changed until it changed, and Alabama not dropping after getting blown out... Those are the only things I’m questioning.” (11:16 - Dan)

• On Old QBs:
  “It’s not like Philip Rivers lost arm strength or mobility because he didn’t have either one of them.” (14:25 - Dan)

• On Being a Conduit, Not a Cheerleader:
  “My job as an interviewer is to be a conduit to information that somebody wants to give to my audience. That’s all. And asking the right questions.” (39:07 - Dan)

• Jim Harbaugh’s Win Ranking:
  “Just a wonderful, wonderful feeling of winning... It’s in the discussion: the birth of my seven children, my marriage... Just joyful.” (17:14 - Jim Harbaugh clip)

• On College Football Chaos:
  “This isn’t about Notre Dame. If Alabama... and they got blown out by Georgia... In their minds, they thought the committee was setting up Notre Dame to be disappointed... Notre Dame got disappointed.” (34:11 - Dan)

Episode Tone & Style

• Conversational, humorous, occasionally biting, but informative and balanced.
• Heavy banter and interplay with the Danettes; seamless jumps between serious analysis and playful asides.
• Dan repeatedly stresses journalistic integrity and pushing back on all sides.

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• 01:32 – NFL weekend recap begins: Rivers, Colts QB crisis.
• 06:30 – Curt Cignetti/Indiana story.
• 10:39 – Notre Dame-ACC fallout speculation.
• 14:00 – Poll Question: Philip Rivers comeback.
• 15:40 – NFL teams in trouble; AFC/NFC pecking order.
• 17:14 – Harbaugh's "in the discussion" best feelings clip.
• 23:45 – Bobblehead memories segment.
• 25:55 – Eagles/Chargers game breakdown and Hurts’ QBR.
• 27:07–39:07 – Segment: listener calls.
• 39:07 – Dan clarifies interviewer philosophy; Notre Dame emotional decision.
• 51:08 – Tease for upcoming press conference; ongoing drama.

Summary Conclusion

Hour 1 of this episode captures Dan Patrick at his best—juggling headline NFL and college football stories, highlighting underappreciated coaching jobs (Curt Cignetti), and digging into playoff system controversies. He uses a blend of skepticism, humor, and open debate—while fielding lively listener calls—to underscore the seismic, sometimes absurd, and very human drama at play in today’s sports landscape.