The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 Summary

Date: September 10, 2025
Main Theme:
This episode dives into the controversy over South Florida’s college football ranking snub, debates the legitimacy of early season rankings, discusses the underdog narrative in college football, and analyzes the revived excitement of NFL kickoffs. With Dan Patrick and his team’s usual banter, humor, and listener engagement, Hour 1 is equal parts sports insight and show camaraderie.

Main Discussion Topics & Insights

1. South Florida Ranking Snub

• Dan opens with the surprising discovery that South Florida is ranked 23rd in one poll and 18th in another, prompting spirited debate about their standing.

• The group discusses the flawed logic in college football rankings, referencing teams with early hype who failed to deliver.

• Underdog teams such as Boise State, SMU, and Arizona State are compared to South Florida's current trajectory.

• Quote [05:27]:

  “What is wrong with these voters? You beat Boise State, beat Florida. My Bulls, they got it wrong.”
  — Dan Patrick

• There’s skepticism about whether South Florida can or should break into the top 10 if they beat Miami:

  • Marvin: “They won’t get top 10. They won’t crack the top 10.” [08:16]
  • Dan: “If they beat Miami, they’re a top 10 team. Is that okay, everybody?” [08:08]

• The limitations of pre-season and early-season polls are called out as unfairly biased toward traditional powerhouses.

• Paul points out:

  • “That first poll that should come out should come out in October...we...rank somebody...and then all of a sudden, they don’t perform as well as they should.” [08:38]

2. Naming Conventions & Perception

• The team humorously debates the confusion caused by the "South Florida" name, since the school is located in Tampa, considered by them to be more "Mid Florida."

• Paul:

  “If there was South Florida as a state and North Florida as a state, nobody would judge South Florida poorly for that.” [13:43]

• Jokes fly about the geographic cutoff lines and whether the Bulls would be better branded as University of Tampa or "Mid Florida."

3. Dan’s Commitment to ‘Homework’

• Dan is ribbed for spending his post-show evenings re-watching games like BYU-Stanford for research, but defends it as part of his job:
  • “This is called homework. It’s called preparation.” [06:45]
• Todd worries he isn’t taking enough time for family or rest, begging for a “no football” night.

4. Show Banter: Team Chemistry & Energy

• There’s notable energy from Todd (Fritzi), prompting playful concern about his sleep, medication, and CPAP machine.
• The team teases him for talking too quickly, losing control, and singing Beatles songs to needle Dan.
• Quote [10:54]:

  “Marvin wanted to know if you were on drugs. And Seaton questioned what was going on.”
  — Dan Patrick

5. Poll Questions & More South Florida

• Paul proposes a poll: “Where should South Florida be ranked? Top 10, 11–20, or 21+?” [11:52]
• More quips about South Florida’s true mascot status, with Dan joking, “The only bull in South Florida is Michael Jordan.” [12:04]
• Ongoing deep dive by Paul and others into the university, its location, and potential celebrity fans.
• Notable South Florida alumni include Tony La Russa, Jason Pierre-Paul, Mark Consuelos, and (jokingly) Hulk Hogan. Dan jokes he should be on the “Mount Rushmore of South Florida supporters.” [25:04]

6. Audience Engagement

• Multiple listeners call in to share perspectives:
  • Christopher in Colorado shares a creative dinner music routine inspired by Dan, emphasizing how the show connects fans.
  • Several calls (Aiden in Utah, Derek in Florida) passionately defend or provide realism on South Florida’s ranking, noting biases in sports voting.
  • Chris in Syracuse discusses the impact of the new NFL kickoff rule and reminisces about the football film “North Dallas Forty.”
• Insights on AP voting quirks, including a viral moment where a voter ranked Florida ahead of South Florida despite their loss.
• Quote [31:33]:

  “Sometimes the rankings don’t make any sense. Sometimes somebody’s logic doesn’t make any sense.”
  — Dan Patrick

7. NFL Kickoff Rule Changes

• Dan breaks down the NFL's new kickoff rules to encourage more returns:
  • “After week one...over 75% of kickoffs were returned. Last year, under 33%...the NFL revived a play that was almost extinct.” [27:27]
• The panel discusses ongoing safety concerns and the entertainment impact of the rule tweaks.
• Paul adds:

  “People are trying to pooch punt it...which means there’s more returns and more action.” [29:51]

8. Other Sports News and Show Updates

• Brief update on NFL standings and injuries (e.g., George Kittle out, Brock Purdy banged up), with emphasis on the San Francisco 49ers.
• Some talk about the show’s team dynamics (Paul’s eye surgery, contract jokes, etc).

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “My Bulls, they got it wrong.” — Dan Patrick [05:27]
• “If they beat Miami, they’re a top 10 team. Is that okay, everybody?” — Dan Patrick [08:08]
• “They won’t get top 10. They won’t crack the top 10...” — Marvin [08:16]
• On early polls:
  “That first poll that should come out should come out in October...let’s just put the blue bloods up there.” — Dan Patrick [08:38]
• “The only bull in South Florida is Michael Jordan.” — Dan Patrick [12:04]
• “I think you need to have separation of church and state.” — Dan Patrick, on couples working together (re: Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos) [25:26]
• “They revived a play that was almost extinct, and they made it worth watching again.” — Dan Patrick, on NFL kickoffs [27:27]
• “Sometimes the rankings don’t make any sense. Sometimes somebody’s logic doesn’t make any sense.” — Dan Patrick [31:33]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• [05:21] – South Florida initial ranking discussion begins
• [08:04] – Underdog teams & South Florida-to-top-10 argument
• [13:10]-[15:15] – Debate on South Florida’s geography and brand
• [16:21] – Christopher calls in with “A-Z” music dinner idea
• [27:27] – In-depth breakdown of NFL’s new kickoff rules
• [31:33] – Discussion of AP rankings and voter logic quirks
• [35:21] and on – Ongoing listener calls about football rankings
• [44:30] – Play of the Day: Kyle Schwarber’s 50th home run
• [48:24] – Origins of the “South Florida” name clarified

Overall Tone & Takeaway

The episode is a spirited blend of earnest sports debate and classic Dan Patrick Show levity. While delivering measured takes on flaws in college football rankings and the evolution of the NFL kickoff rule, the crew detours into playfully self-deprecating humor, team dynamics, and rollicking asides about Beatles hoodies, musical youth, and alumni trivia.

For listeners:

• The South Florida ranking debate is less about hard stats and more about the collective sports fan frustration with arbitrary polling and favoritism.
• The NFL kickoff segment is an insightful commentary on how small rule changes can revitalize excitement in the game.
• If you enjoy strong opinions served with a wink among sports radio family, this hour delivers.