The Dan Patrick Show: Hour 2 – Penn State Loses to 0-4 UCLA, Chase Daniel

Date: October 6, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show by iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode centers on major surprises and disappointments from the sports weekend, with an in-depth focus on Penn State’s shocking loss to winless UCLA, ongoing NFL intrigue (especially about the Eagles’ offense), and a guest segment with ESPN analyst and former NFL QB Chase Daniel. The show blends analytical football discussion with humor, banter among the regular cast ("The Danettes"), and memorable sports talk moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Weekend in Review: Surprises and Stumbles

• Penn State’s Embarrassing Loss to UCLA:
  The main talking point is No. 7 Penn State’s unexpected 42–37 defeat at the hands of previously 0-4 UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Dan and the crew discuss the implications for coach James Franklin and the continued perception that Penn State can’t win the biggest games.

  Quote:

  "You can’t lose to UCLA. UCLA was 0 and 4. What are the numbers? UCLA is the first 0-4 team to beat a top 10 team since 1985."
  — Dan Patrick (10:08)

• Assessment of NFL Teams After Five Weeks:
  Dan observes that after five weeks, many teams’ identities remain unclear:

  • “Are the Colts legit?”
  • “Is Denver returning to form?”
  • “Do the Patriots have playoff potential after a big win over Buffalo?”
  • The Cowboys’ up-and-down performance, particularly with Dak Prescott.

  Quote:

  "How many teams do you know who they are?"
  — Dan Patrick (03:22)

2. Poll Questions and Listener Engagement

• Polls Discussed:

  • Who had the worst weekend? (Front-runner: James Franklin)
  • Should local broadcasters be homers or impartial?

• Listener Calls:
  Local broadcaster Mark calls in and weighs in on the home-team vs. impartiality debate for local announcers.

  Quote:

  "I’m the biggest homer in our league ... I broadcast for my fans. Those are the people I gotta face after the games."
  — Mark, caller (12:01)

• Dan and Todd Banter:
  Playful skits imitate bland/homer announcer styles and debate what emotional tone is “right” when something big (but bad for the home team) happens.

  Quote:

  "The words enthusiasm and excitement is not what I'm getting at."
  — Todd Blackledge (15:19)

3. NFL Deep Dives and QB Analysis with Chase Daniel (27:43 – 45:09)

Cardinals’ Meltdown:

• The worst NFL loss: Arizona’s numerous “error after error” meltdown.

• Commentary on players dropping the ball before the goal line.

  Quote:

  "Carry it in with two hands, hand it to the ref like you’re in grade school and celebrate your team."
  — Chase Daniel (27:43)

Eagles’ Offensive Struggles:

• Defenses are “stacking the box” against Jalen Hurts.

• Hurts appears “streaky,” and the offense lacks consistency despite returning most starters.

  Quote:

  "They’re not motioning as much as last year...There’s no consistency there."
  — Chase Daniel (29:05)

Drake Maye’s Emergence:

• Drake Maye’s strong play for Buffalo—inviting national attention.

  Quote:

  "He did some Josh Allen type stuff playing Josh Allen...I don’t know if I’ve seen a better quarterback this year escaping the pocket."
  — Chase Daniel (30:51)

Chargers’ Ongoing Issues:

• Despite Justin Herbert’s talent and Chase’s personal connection, the Chargers continue to disappoint with play-calling issues and critical errors.

Dak Prescott’s Strong Play:

• Schottenheimer’s play-calling puts more on Dak at the line—leading to “total control” and his best level of performance despite missing key players.

  Quote:

  "Dak is consistently and constantly changing plays...at an extremely high level I’ve never seen from him."
  — Chase Daniel (33:53)

Baker Mayfield Resurgence:

• Mayfield is credited with clutch play, particularly in two-minute drills—inviting legitimate MVP chatter.

  Quote:

  "You have to start talking Baker Mayfield for MVP...All four wins have come in two-minute drives."
  — Chase Daniel (35:54)

Chiefs’ Offense and Personnel Packages:

• Xavier Worthy’s return has added dynamism.

• Chase explains “12, 22, 11 personnel” in layman’s terms (Running backs, tight ends, receivers).

  Quotes:

  "If the Chiefs can just get to 3-3 ... they're going to be just fine."
  — Chase Daniel (37:50)

  "When we’re saying 12 personnel, the first digit talks to the running backs...The second always is tight ends."
  — Chase Daniel (39:19)

Analyst Craft and Broadcasting Tips:

• Discussing what makes for a great football analyst—brevity, clarity, and enthusiasm.

  Quote:

  "The great ones give you enthusiasm, nuggets, they’re smart, they’re to the point, they get out."
  — Dan Patrick (43:19)

4. Best/Worst of the Weekend – Around the Room (50:20)

Each Danette shares their highs and lows, including:

• Best: UCLA’s stunning win, Sacramento Republic’s Jagermeister Cup victory, Stefan Diggs’ monster return.

• Worst: Penn State’s loss, the Chargers’ home-field environment, Amari Dimmercato’s forgettable gaffe.

  Quote:

  "You would think for a guy who scored four touchdowns, you would be saving every football. And I would make it mandatory: you hand the ball to the official when you score a touchdown."
  — Dan Patrick (52:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Humor & Banter Highlights

• Play-by-play skits: Dan and Todd roleplay underwhelming versus emotional announcers after big moments (13:15 – 15:02).
  • “Here’s a long drive and he’s done it again... another home run... and the Yankees are looking like they’re going to be down two-oh, Susan.” – Todd Blackledge (13:15)
• Dan and Todd’s ‘Marriage’ analogy:
  • “You guys sound like a husband and wife that are just staying together until the youngest goes off to college.” – Listener Zach (16:34)

Sports Insight & Wisdom

• On Team Identity:
  • “After five weeks we should kind of know who these teams are or get a pretty strong indication.” – Dan Patrick (03:22)
• Analysis Clarity:
  • “Call a game like your mother-in-law’s watching. If you want to say ‘cover two’ that’s great— just explain what cover two means.”
    — Kirk Herbstreit (reported by Chase Daniel) (41:19)

Timestamps: Important Segments

• 03:22 – Dan wonders which NFL teams have established true identity.
• 06:26 – Ravens’ surprising defensive struggles discussed.
• 08:40 – Poll: Who had the worst weekend? James Franklin in the lead.
• 12:01 – Listener Mark defends homer local broadcasting.
• 13:15 – 15:02 – Banter and impressions of play-by-play calls.
• 27:43 – Chase Daniel segment begins: Cardinals’ loss, QB talk.
• 29:05 – Deep dive into Eagles’ offensive problems.
• 30:51 – Drake Maye’s rise at Buffalo.
• 33:53 – Analysis of Dak Prescott’s improvements.
• 35:54 – Discussion on Baker Mayfield’s MVP-caliber showings.
• 39:19 – Explainer on NFL personnel groupings (12, 22, etc.).
• 43:19 – On what makes a great football analyst.
• 50:20 – Around-the-room Best & Worst of the Weekend.

Tone & Language

The episode maintains Dan Patrick’s signature tone: irreverent, clever, self-aware, and highly accessible. While deeply knowledgeable, Dan and his team use plain language and foster a sense of camaraderie and inside jokes, making the analytics and hot takes feel approachable.

This episode is a must-listen for sports fans who want the inside scoop on both the gridiron and the booth while enjoying trademark banter and wit.