The Dan Patrick Show | Hour 2: Oregon's Win & the CFP System

Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Jonas Knox & Brady Quinn (guest hosting for Dan Patrick)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show dives deep into the aftermath of Oregon's victory over Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, the effectiveness and fairness of the current CFP system, major upsets like Ohio State’s loss to Miami, and broader issues facing college football. With humor and spirited debate, Jonas Knox and Brady Quinn (in for Dan and the crew) analyze bowl logistics, quarterback play, transfer portal chaos, and riff on the quirks of football and baseball rules.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Oregon's Statement Win and Quarterback Importance

• Oregon handily defeated Texas Tech, showcasing physical dominance and a strong defense.
• Brady emphasizes quarterback's role:

  "To me, there's no more important position in all sports than the quarterback ... A quarterback who can play at a high level is able to raise the level of everyone else." (04:57)

• Texas Tech’s quarterback struggled under Oregon’s defensive pressure, a marked change from season performance.

The College Football Playoff (CFP) Structure

• Home-site fairness & bowl traditions debated

  • Lanning previously commented about bowl games vs. home games:

    "We’re trying to serve two different purposes here. In my opinion, the playoff should've been played in Lubbock, Texas... But, you know, last year, very similar situation for us." (07:33)

  • Brady notes:

    "Maybe we don’t need to just have set assignments … would it have not been better to have this game played in the Rose Bowl between Texas Tech and Oregon?" (09:44)

• Fan travel challenges:

  • Oregon and Texas Tech both had to travel cross-country to Miami, impacting ticket sales and atmosphere:

    "It stresses the fan bases. It does stress some of the bowl games, especially in the quarterfinal round, to sell out some of those tickets." (09:44)

Should Tradition or Playoff Supremacy Rule?

• Jonas asks if it's possible to balance playoff expansion and bowl traditions:

  "Is it possible to feed both beasts? Like, is it possible to have this College Football Playoff but still keep the traditions that are the bowl games that we've all grown up with?" (12:23)

• Brady's view on playoff expansion:

  "I think the playoffs are going to change everything … there might be some validity to [expanding more], but I would say 16 makes the most sense. I don't really believe in buys ..." (12:59)

The Broken College Football Calendar and Transfer Portal

• Transfer portal chaos:

  • Multiple transfer windows and mismatched calendars frustrate coaches and threaten team stability.

    "Thank God the powers that be got together and said we don’t need two transfer portal windows. I have no idea why no other sports … has two windows." (14:15)

  • The timing forces players to leave teams mid-postseason.

• Academic & athlete priorities have shifted:

  "Once you start involving NIL … everything else, the academic desires of these student athletes went out the window. It's all about the money. They're not even going to class anymore … it's all online." (19:14)

Uniformity in Football Rules

• Disparities between NCAA and NFL rules cause confusion and hinder player development.

  "Why are these rules not the exact same at both levels?... one of the hardest things for quarterbacks when they adapt is dealing with where the hashes are." (16:16)

• Jonas recounts explaining the "one foot/two feet in-bounds" rule to his son:

  "I have no answers for you. ... It's the same product, yet ... there's two different ways to rule it and officiate it." (17:58)

Lighter Moments & Memorable Quotes

• Aluminum bats in baseball?
  • Jonas: "Major League Baseball. Aluminum bats. Let's go. ... I want to see tank shots." (21:01)
  • Brady: "Someone's gonna die. ... I mean, first off, guys be rewriting the record books, too." (21:04, 22:04)

Ohio State's Collapse and Miami's Breakthrough

Buckeyes Flounder in Playoffs

• Jonas sets the tone:

  "New Year's Eve was not kind to the Ohio State Buckeyes as they got smoked by Miami. Like that game didn't feel close." (30:42)

• Albert Breer (upcoming guest) tendency to gloat about OSU is lampooned; Jonas jokes Breer may be ducking the show after the loss (30:23–32:08).

What Went Wrong for Ohio State

• Brady's diagnostic:

  "It felt like there was one glaringly obvious weakness for [Ohio State’s] offense and that was their inability to consistently run the football... you went up against the two best edge rushers in college football ... once Ohio State became one dimensional ... it was a wrap." (32:45)

• Miami’s physical dominance & strategic coaching power:

  "They've been a tough, physical team at the line of scrimmage, both sides of the ball, and that's really where Mario Cristobal, has, I think, to me, defined this team the most." (40:30)

Is Ryan Day on the Hot Seat?

• Brady’s verdict:

  "I think if someone says yes, you're a --. That's just what I'd say. Like, he's an unbelievable coach. ... You're a -- if you think Ryan Day is on the hot seat." (38:19)

Miami's Unique Position

• Miami could win a national title in their home stadium—remarkably, before winning an ACC title:

  "They could win a national championship ... in their home stadium… also before they've won an ACC championship. Think about that!" (42:44)

  • Miami not even in the ACC title game due to tiebreak rules.

Updated Title Odds (per Jonas)

• Indiana: +135
• Oregon, Miami: +300
• Ole Miss: +550
  (42:07–42:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Oregon's win & Playoff Home-site Debate: 04:57 – 12:59
• CFP Scheduling, Transfer Portal, Calendar Chaos: 14:09 – 19:41
• Rule Discrepancies between CFB & NFL, Lighter Moments: 16:16 – 23:13
• Ohio State-Miami Analysis and Buckeyes' Troubles: 30:42 – 40:30
• Miami’s Rise, Cristobal’s Impact, and National Title Scenarios: 40:30 – 43:10

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lanning's approach:
  “He doesn’t want to take his foot off the gas pedal ... I can understand that.” – Brady Quinn (52:39)
• On college football priorities:
  “It’s all about the money. It’s all about where I can go play and make money... That’s the point on which we’re at now.” – Brady Quinn (19:14)
• On Miami’s unique shot at history:
  “They could win a national championship ... in their home stadium… also before they've won an ACC championship.” – Jonas Knox (42:44)
• Ohio State’s decline:
  “They looked out of sync or out of sorts since Michigan… This is just not an Ohio State team like we saw last year… I don't know that this Ohio State team ever really played up to their capability this entire year.” – Brady Quinn (32:45, 37:56)
• On the role of head coaches and accountability:
  “He deserves a ton of credit, man, because he’s gotten some criticism... The way they're playing right now is the best team maybe in college football.” – Brady Quinn (39:36)
• Light-hearted banter about rule changes:
  “Make us the commissioners.” – Jonas Knox (23:13)

Tone & Style

The discussion maintains The Dan Patrick Show’s signature blend of insider commentary, humor, debate, and lighthearted tangents, with Brady Quinn’s analytical perspective on football and Jonas Knox’s playful, yet incisive questions and quips.

For a full play-by-play, analysis of playoff structure, or passionate rants about rule uniformity and the transfer portal, this episode offers both laughs and in-depth college football insights.