The Dan Patrick Show: Expanding the College Football Playoff, with Dan Wetzel
Date: December 11, 2025 – Hour 2
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Dan Wetzel, ESPN Senior Writer, College Football Analyst
Overview
This episode dives deep into the evolving landscape of college football, focusing particularly on the push to expand the College Football Playoff (CFP). Dan Patrick discusses insider information about the Big Ten's desire for a 24-team playoff, potential impacts on bowl games, and the challenges of such a seismic shift. Dan Wetzel joins the show to break down Michigan’s latest coaching scandal, the intricacies of the upcoming coaching search, and the broader implications for Notre Dame, bowl traditions, and playoff expansion.
Patrick and his Danettes address the week’s NFL stories, including Joe Burrow’s honest—potentially ominous—comments about his football future, and touch on Travis Kelce’s and Nick Sirianni’s recent public statements. The episode is candid, humorous, and laced with signature Dan Patrick skepticism about college football’s decision-makers.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. CFP Expansion: From 12 to 16…or 24?
[03:36–12:14, 37:23–41:18]
- Big Ten’s Ambition: Patrick reveals insider reports that the Big Ten is pushing for a 24-team playoff, with at least 4 automatic qualifiers. The current momentum is for a 16-team format next year.
- Dan Patrick’s Skepticism: He warns that expanding too rapidly without foundational planning “feels like they started building the roof before they put in the foundation…Once we go to 24, we’ve opened the door, and it's wide open.” ([05:55])
- Bowl Game Dilemma: Expansion could make many traditional bowl games obsolete or force them to rebrand as early playoff rounds. The panel debates if sponsorship, tradition, or fan travel can keep these games relevant.
- Home Playoff Games: They speculate about sponsors naming home playoff games (e.g., the “Pop Tart Bowl” at Notre Dame) and what this means for traditional bowl-hosting cities.
- Fan Logistics: There’s concern over whether fanbases would travel “back to back to back weeks” for playoff games and how this impacts attendance and atmosphere.
2. The Value of Bowl Games Amidst Expansion
[08:20–12:14, 41:37–43:34]
- Loss of Prestige: The Danettes note that once the playoff was introduced, many bowl games “lost their value.”
- Bowl Survival: Wetzel argues bowl traditions are resilient—"I've been hearing for 20 years that the bowl industry is dead. They keep making more bowls...People like to watch football and they like to gamble on football." ([42:05])
- Possible Solution: Dan floats the idea of having bowl games kick off the season in September with marquee matchups, instead of being postseason afterthoughts.
3. Michigan’s Coaching Crisis
[12:14–34:10]
- Sherrone Moore Firing & Legal Troubles: Patrick and Wetzel detail the rapid-fire timeline—Michigan’s investigation, immediate firing following credible evidence of an inappropriate relationship, and the subsequent assault investigation.
- Timing and Fallout: Wetzel is skeptical of the timing: “I don't see how this was beneficial to them...A number of candidates were hired, others signed deals to stay, which potentially takes them off the market. Michigan’s a little different, though.” ([31:41])
- Coaching Candidates: Wetzel’s shortlist includes Kalen DeBoer (Alabama), Jed Fisch (Washington), Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri), Jesse Minter (Chargers, ex-Michigan DC), and he notes the job’s unique appeal—but also chaos.
4. Notre Dame’s Playoff Plight & Independence Debate
[34:10–37:23]
- No “Permanent Damage”: Wetzel downplays talk of lasting harm to Notre Dame’s relationship with the ACC. "There's no permanent damage in college athletics. You could be dead enemies today and best friends tomorrow."
- Tiebreaker Controversy: He argues Notre Dame’s exclusion from the playoff was due to an obscure ACC tiebreaker, not systemic bias or conspiracy.
- Advice: Wetzel: “You cannot be blindsided. That’s this job. There’s no rug in the at-large selection process.”
5. Is a 24-Team Playoff a Good Idea? (Wetzel’s Take)
[37:55–41:18]
- “It’s a Terrible Plan”: Wetzel slams the 24-team proposal: “The North Star of college football needs to be to balance maintaining the importance of the regular season with an inclusive, exciting playoff…Once you start having play-in rounds, that's the playoff. It quickly becomes a 32-team playoff." ([37:55])
- Best Regular Season at Stake: He points to how extending too far would diminish what makes college football’s regular season special.
- Who Really Wants Expansion: Wetzel says, “Coaches and athletic directors who have bonuses in their contracts,” not fans, are the ones pushing for more teams. ([40:17])
- Prediction: He thinks 16 teams is the likely landing spot if the conference championship weekend is eliminated.
6. Joe Burrow’s Honest Reflections and NFL Player Well-being
[12:46–18:36]
- Burrow’s Vulnerability: Joe Burrow’s birthday press conference prompts Patrick to compare him to Andrew Luck. Burrow: “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it. I've been through a lot…and if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for?” ([13:23], repeated at [16:03])
- More Than Just Football: The conversation turns to the toll injuries and constant pressure take on NFL stars, questioning how long elite quarterbacks will want to subject themselves to this grind.
7. NFL Check-in: Travis Kelce & Nick Sirianni
[48:42–52:20]
- Travis Kelce’s Struggles: After a tough game, Kelce admits, “I feel like I've always had the answers in years past, and this year, I just can't find them…It's little things...I just can't find them.” ([49:12])
- Jalen Hurts’ Job Security: Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni dismisses rumors of replacing Jalen Hurts: “I think that's ridiculous…Every time I go out in that field with Jalen Hurts as our quarterback, we have a chance to win the game.” (51:12)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
“Once we go to 24, we’ve opened the door and it's wide open...That would concern me.”
– Dan Patrick [05:55]
“The North Star of college football needs to be to balance maintaining the importance of the regular season with an inclusive, exciting playoff.”
– Dan Wetzel [39:00]
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it. I've been through a lot…and if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for?”
– Joe Burrow [13:23, 16:03]
“I’ve been hearing for 20 years that the bowl industry is dead…They keep making more bowls. You know why? People like to watch football and they like to gamble.”
– Dan Wetzel [42:05]
“This 24 is a horrible plan…It quickly becomes like a 32-team playoff…It has got to be something for the fans of this sport where you maintain something before. We don’t just go from four to what’s really 32 teams. If you extract that plan out, that's crazy.”
– Dan Wetzel [37:55]
“Coaches and athletic directors who have bonuses in their contract…Nobody is asking for that.”
– Dan Wetzel [40:17]
“They make big decisions on a whim to try to solve the last problem that the big decision created.”
– Dan Wetzel [40:30]
“We need to protect the sanctity of the Pop Tart Bowl.”
– Dan Wetzel (in jest) [43:35]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Big Ten’s playoff expansion push, bowl game dilemmas: [03:36–12:14]
- Joe Burrow on his struggle/motivation: [13:23], [16:03]
- Michigan coaching saga overview with Dan Wetzel: [28:14–34:10]
- Michigan coaching candidates and program appeal: [31:06–34:10]
- Notre Dame’s playoff exclusion/tiebreaker controversy: [34:10–37:23]
- Wetzel buries 24-team playoff proposal: [37:55–41:18]
- Bowl games: valuation and survival: [41:37–43:34]
- Travis Kelce, Nick Sirianni/Jalen Hurts segments: [48:42–52:20]
Tone and Style
The conversation is candid, sometimes skeptical, and always sharp, blending dry humor (“protect the sanctity of the Pop Tart Bowl”), blunt realism about sports business, and genuine fan perspective. Both Dan Patrick and Dan Wetzel balance critique of NCAA decision-making with playful banter about bowls and coaches.
Conclusion
This episode spotlights the confusion and rapid change at the heart of modern college football. Dan Patrick and Dan Wetzel dissect the proposed playoff expansion, the fallout at Michigan, Notre Dame’s playoff frustrations, and the ever-evolving bowl scene, offering fans clear-eyed analysis, skepticism, and plenty of laughs along the way. For listeners wondering where college football is headed—and whether tradition or television dollars will win out—this is essential listening.