The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2
Indiana Football on the Rise, Rick Neuheisel Interview
October 13, 2025 | iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show centers on major shifts in college football, particularly at Indiana and Penn State, and broader trends in sports loyalty, coaching moves, and college football culture. Dan and the Danettes debate the implications of James Franklin's firing at Penn State, Indiana’s football ascent under coach Curt Cignetti, and how NIL and transfer portal changes are impacting loyalty in college coaching. Special guest Rick Neuheisel, CBS Sports analyst, joins to give insider perspective on these stories. The hour also features lively calls from listeners about their best and worst sports moments of the weekend, debates about NFL officiating, and Dan’s anecdotes from his ESPN days.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Penn State's Coaching Change and Collegiate Loyalty

(03:30–15:30)

• Main Topic:
  The Danettes discuss the firing of Penn State head coach James Franklin, the massive $49 million buyout he’ll receive, and how the dynamic of staying loyal vs. seeking bigger opportunities has changed in college sports.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Dan Patrick (05:12):
    “You can’t tell me you’re among the great teams in college football if you can’t beat the great teams in college football.”
  • Dan Patrick (07:15):
    “Some of the greatest coaches, they’re part of the fabric—that community. That’s their city, their town, their people, their alumni. We win, we lose together.”
  • Marvin (10:13):
    “You become a bigger legend if you build something. Like Dabo at Clemson—doing it somewhere new means more. But I don’t know if it means more to them... with NIL and transfers, it’s different.”

• Poll Question:
  If Indiana’s coach Kurt Cignetti makes the playoffs and Penn State offers him $3 million more per year, should he jump or stay?

2. Indiana Football’s Rise Under Curt Cignetti

(09:30–14:20)

• Insight into Indiana's unexpected surge with a playoff-bound football team, emphasizing Cignetti’s age (64) and opportunities.

• Comparison made with legendary coaches who stayed put, like Mark Few at Gonzaga, sparking debate about achieving “legend” status by building a program in a traditionally non-football school.

• Notable Quote:

  • Paulie (13:23):
    “Cignetti is 64. If you don’t take Penn State now, that might be last call.”

3. Listeners' Calls: Best and Worst of the Weekend

(15:52–27:35)

• Callers share weekend highlights and lowlights, e.g., experiencing celebrity encounters, NFL officiating rants, and college football heartbreaks.

• Stories include Jelly Roll sightings, Dan’s golf game with Dan Brown, and betting heartbreak on Jared Goff's rescinded touchdown.

• Notable Quote:

  • Caller Buddha from SF (19:20):
    “May we all have bad weekends like James Franklin. I did not feel bad for that little guy.”
  • Dan Patrick (22:04):
    “When you talk about the refs and they’re part of the storyline, that’s usually not good.”

4. NFL Officiating and Betting Woes

(20:10–23:50)

• The hosts dissect a controversial no-touchdown call involving Jared Goff and debate convoluted NFL rules regarding quarterback motion.

• Notable Quote:

  • Todd (23:44):
    "Wouldn’t it be more fun if everyone could keep moving and everyone’s eligible?"

5. Listener Questions and Dan’s ESPN Reflections

(27:40–32:45)

• Dan recalls his time at ESPN in the '90s, highlighting the atmosphere during the SportsCenter boom and playful management antics.
• Discussion about egos among ESPN anchors as TV fame soared.

6. Interview: Rick Neuheisel on Penn State, Indiana, and Coaching Trends

(33:10–47:52)

• James Franklin’s Firing: Neuheisel says letting $50 million go is emblematic of how big-money boosters now drive decisions—echoing the Jimbo Fisher buyout at Texas A&M.

  • Rick Neuheisel (35:18):
    “We’re asking so much of our fan base... what we’ve got is a bunch of pseudo-owners.”
  • On Franklin: “At blue blood programs—Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia—they wouldn’t put up with that (record vs. top teams).”

• Indiana’s Win over Oregon: Neuheisel praises Indiana for their defense, QB Fernando Mendoza, and NFL-caliber receivers.

  • RN (39:54):
    “They kept their edges all day long. That is a dang good defense playing for Indiana... a rising star in Fernando Mendoza and two really good probable NFL guys at receiver.”

• On Bill Belichick’s College Future: Neuheisel speculates that if things don’t improve at North Carolina, the Belichick era might end—citing a lack of fire and “distraction with a capital D.”

  • RN (42:08):
    “What we’re seeing is a very average to below average team... I can’t imagine this going much longer.”

• USC’s Win and South Bend Memories: He says Lincoln Riley had his best win at USC in beating Michigan and reminisces about visiting Notre Dame’s campus.

7. Listener Segment: NFL Talk and Fun Bets

(47:55–52:30)

• Commanders and Bears fans debate their teams and propose fun on-air bets, leading to talk about the infamous “Wheel of Punishment” and show traditions.
• The Danettes joke about how tall they are as they prepare a live “official measuring,” poking fun at each other’s listed heights.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Patrick (10:55):
  “It just feels like everything is transient. Not, ‘I’m gonna stay, I’m a pause right here.’ There aren’t many guys like Mark Few at Gonzaga.”
• Rick Neuheisel (36:12):
  “It’s not a coincidence [Franklin] couldn’t beat ranked teams—the games that went the other way make it no longer a coincidence. There was something in the DNA that just didn’t allow them to play in those games.”
• Dan Patrick (24:56):
  “There are more violent collisions now on kickoffs than there were before they tried to ‘fix’ it.”
• Rick Neuheisel (44:15), on Notre Dame home crowd:
  “The place is unbelievable. You’re in for a treat.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:30 – College loyalty and the Penn State coaching job
• 09:30 – Indiana football’s rise and the value of building a legacy
• 15:52 – Listeners’ Best and Worst of the Weekend
• 20:10 – NFL officiating and the Jared Goff TD controversy
• 27:40 – Dan Patrick on ESPN’s 1990s heyday
• 33:10 – Rick Neuheisel Interview
  • 35:18 – On Franklin’s firing and Penn State’s standards
  • 39:54 – On Indiana’s impressive win
  • 42:08 – On Bill Belichick’s future and college coaching shifts
  • 44:15 – Notre Dame’s unique game environment

Episode Tone & Style

As always, the hour is a lively, humorous blend of insightful analysis and locker room banter. Dan leads with curiosity and the easy authority of a longtime sports broadcaster, while the Danettes offer candid and occasionally irreverent takes. Listener calls further inject real-fan energy, and Rick Neuheisel’s segment delivers expert, behind-the-scenes perspective with warmth and authenticity.

Summary

For listeners, this episode delivers a deep dive into the shifting values in college football, from legacy-building to chasing bigger, NIL-influenced pursuits. The show’s signature blend of inside access, witty debate, and relatable storytelling—plus a top-drawer guest—makes this a can’t-miss hour for sports fans wanting to understand not just who won and lost, but why the landscape keeps changing.