The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1: Dodgers Land Kyle Tucker, Matt Norlander Date: January 16, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Overview

In this hour of The Dan Patrick Show, Dan and the crew break down the Los Angeles Dodgers’ shock acquisition of outfielder Kyle Tucker and his record-setting contract, and tackle the eye-opening college basketball gambling scandal with insider Matt Norlander. The episode blends signature Dan Patrick humor, sharp sports insights, and thoughtful discussion around the impacts of money and gambling in sports.

Main Theme

• Dodgers' Blockbuster Signing of Kyle Tucker: The show opens with disbelief and analysis at the Dodgers' $60 million-a-year deal with right fielder Kyle Tucker, speculating on motivations and impact.
• College Basketball Game-Fixing Scandal: CBS’s Matt Norlander joins to detail an ongoing federal investigation involving dozens of current and former college basketball players implicated in point-shaving and gambling conspiracies.
• NFL Playoff Weekend Preview: The team debates which upcoming NFL games are likely to be blowouts, with discussion of weather impacts, betting lines, and player matchups.
• Dan and Team’s Signature Banter: Sprinkled throughout are humorous side stories, such as overheard bar conversations about sports anchors and friendly ribbing among the Danettes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dodgers Stun MLB by Landing Kyle Tucker

Dan Patrick:

• Expresses surprise at the Dodgers’ move:

  "I kept thinking it's going to be Toronto, it's going to be the Mets, Kyle Tucker is going to get paid. And all of a sudden the Dodgers got Kyle Tucker. And that salary is I guess $60 million a year..." [02:00]

• Explains that most fans may not know Tucker, despite a huge contract.

Paulie:

• Introduces Tucker as a "classic hitter," four-time All-Star, previously with Houston and the Cubs, known for his beautiful swing and consistent play [05:08].

Dan Patrick:

• Jokes about how much has changed:

  "The Dodgers make the Mets and the Yankees feel like a mom and pop shop." [04:31]

• Notes the Dodgers' approach: "They order from the left side of the menu. They don't worry about what that price tag is..." [05:59]

Memorable Quote

"If you think about...right field is where the worst player on the team went...and that dude just got paid just gobs of money." [06:30]
— Dan Patrick

Salary Breakdown:

• Tucker: $60 million/year
• Only Shohei Ohtani (his new teammate) makes more
• Dodgers’ guaranteed contracts: $2 billion (highest in MLB history)

2. NFL Weekend – Potential Blowouts & Weather

Seaton:

• Poses the poll question:

  "Which NFL game this weekend is going to be a blowout?" [09:09]

• Teams discussed: Broncos-Bills, Patriots-Texans, Seahawks-49ers, Bears-Rams

Dan Patrick:

• Reads out betting stats for highest scoring teams; Rams and Seahawks are favorites for most points.
• Details on key injuries (Sam Darnold, Drew Lock) and cold weather impacts:

  "We do make a big deal about the cold weather...but somebody will be out there and they'll be warming up and they'll have their shirt off, and you're probably going to have players who go, the cold is in your head." [12:56]

• Anecdote from the Bengals-Chargers game—the coldest in NFL history

Weather forecasts for games:

• Patriots at home: 35°F
• Bears at home: 17°F
• Seahawks: 49°F
• Broncos: 41°F [15:27]

Paulie:

• Notes how playing styles and quarterback arm strength (Matt Stafford) might be affected by cold; disagrees with analysis that Stafford is experienced in cold weather since he played most games indoors. [14:27-15:14]

3. College Basketball Point-Shaving Scandal (w/ Matt Norlander, CBS Sports)

[Segment begins at 22:17]

The Scandal:

• 17 former players indicted; 15 played in last two seasons
• Massive bets on obscure games:
  • $458,000 on North Carolina A&T to lose to Towson
  • $424,000 on Kent State to cover first half vs. Buffalo
  • And more

Matt Norlander’s Insights

• Investigation has been ongoing for over a year; authorities delayed public reveal to build a stronger case.
• Limited to smaller schools (except DePaul, the only power conference implicated).
• Used first half spread bets to avoid suspicion.

Memorable Quote:

"This really stands to be the most widespread game fixing scandal in the history of college sports." [24:14]
— Matt Norlander

• Betting was attempted through both legal and illegal means; large coordinated bets attempted to “fly under the radar,” but were ultimately flagged by sportsbooks and third-party monitors. -** Current players implicated:** Four played in past week, including Kennesaw State’s Simeon Cottle.

• On prop bets: NCAA president pushing for Congress to ban college prop bets to protect players from corruption and online harassment.

• Even if props are outlawed, basic game-fixing remains a risk due to the normalization of gambling culture.

Memorable Quote:

"Players were paid $10,000, $20,000, sometimes $30,000 just to say, 'Hey, make sure that your team doesn't cover that first half 11 and a half point spread...'" [27:03] — Matt Norlander

Dan’s Take:

• Emphasizes that once a player participates, they’re compromised for good:

  "Once you fix one, you're in, they got you, and what are you going to do? Call the cops? You're going to call the NCAA? Once you're in, you're in." [30:13]

• Recognizes that NIL payments complicate things:

  "...if a kid from Kennesaw State all of a sudden has five grand on him, he could just say, 'Yeah, it's my NIL money.' It could be explained away..." [31:10]

Broader Impact:

• Fixes appeared to be focused on easy-to-miss games and first half spreads.
• Watchdog systems are in place, but not infallible.
• Betting market anomalies (lines jumping) are often the canary in the coal mine.

4. Show Banter and Miscellaneous

Sportscenter Anchor Rankings:

• Dan shares a story about overhearing a bar conversation ranking Sportscenter anchors.

  "As if I'm going to turn around and get involved in the conversation..." [07:19]

• Friendly mentions: Kevin Negandhi, Reese Davis, David Lloyd

Call-In Segments:

• Rhyme Time NFL Playoff Edition (34:01): A lighthearted game matching NFL figures to rhyming words (e.g., "Drake Fake," "Swift Gift," "Brock Clock," "Tony Baloney").
• Callers weigh in on potential playoff upsets and cheer on favorite teams.

NFL Historic Talk:

• Callers and crew reminisce about the AFC’s struggles in 1980s Super Bowls and the legacy of the Bills’ four straight SB berths.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "They order from the left side of the menu. They don't worry about what that price tag is." — Dan Patrick, on Dodgers’ spending [05:59]
• "The Dodgers make the Mets and the Yankees feel like a mom and pop shop." — Dan Patrick [04:31]
• "29 is 29, way too many. This is a huge, huge deal. It's a huge story." — Matt Norlander, CBS [23:30]
• "Once you fix one, you're in, they got you, and what are you going to do? ...but you start getting text messages, and then, you know, then you text somebody else. Now you're bringing in more and more. Somebody tells somebody..." — Dan Patrick [30:13]
• "If a kid from Kennesaw State all of a sudden has five grand on him, he could just say, 'Yeah, it's my NIL money.' It can be explained away." — Paulie [31:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–03:48 — Cold Open, Dodgers-Tucker Trade News
• 05:08–06:27 — Who is Kyle Tucker? Why the Dodgers? Salary context
• 08:43–09:09 — Weather impact on NFL games; poll question introduction
• 14:06–15:36 — Discussion of quarterback arm strength and cold game conditions
• 22:17–28:39 — Matt Norlander on the college basketball gambling scandal
• 30:00–32:10 — Consequences for players, NIL and hiding illicit gains
• 34:01–35:16 — Rhyme Time Call-in Game
• 36:49–37:48 — Dodgers fandom reaction to Tucker signing
• 43:03–44:58 — Super Bowl/Bears-Patriots/NFL throwback talk
• Final 5 Minutes — Playoff predictions, call-in Q&A, coming guests, show sign-off

Tone and Style

The show is lively, skeptical, and tongue-in-cheek, blending sharp sports commentary with humorous observational banter. Dan yields the floor at the right moments for expert guests, callers, and fellow Danettes while knitting the episode together with personal anecdotes and wry asides.

Summary Verdict

This episode is a must-hear for any baseball fan trying to process the Dodgers’ historic payroll, for those interested in the dark side of college sports betting, and to enjoy the unique chemistry and quips that define The Dan Patrick Show.