Hour 3 – Demise of the SEC?, Mike Golic

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3: Demise of the SEC? with Mike Golic

Release Date: January 3, 2025

In the third hour of The Dan Patrick Show, hosted by iHeartPodcasts and the Dan Patrick Podcast Network, Dan Patrick delves into the evolving landscape of college football, specifically questioning the sustained dominance of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Joining him is former NFL star Mike Golic, providing expert insights and engaging in dynamic discussions that capture the attention of sports enthusiasts.

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1. The Changing Landscape of College Football and the SEC

Dan Patrick kicks off the discussion by referencing a thought-provoking article by Dan Wolkin of USA Today titled "SEC and its Dear Leader Should Accept Reality." Wolkin argues that the SEC's era of unquestioned supremacy in college football is waning, citing factors such as the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies and the transfer portal's impact on player distribution.

[04:00] Dan Patrick: "The old reliable narrative that there is a different quality of football in the SEC than other leagues is now more of a myth than a reality."

Patrick highlights Wolkin's assertion that the SEC needs to acknowledge the shifting dynamics in college football, where talent is more dispersed, and traditional powerhouses face increasing competition from other conferences and independent programs like Notre Dame.

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2. Counterarguments: The SEC’s Resilience

Mike Golic responds to Wolkin’s critique, emphasizing the SEC's ongoing influence and resilience in college football.

[04:58] Mike Golic: "One off year for the SEC does not deny the past 20 years. They will in the offseason, Greg Sankey make maneuvers to alter the rules of the college football playoffs to be more friendly to them."

Golic argues that the SEC's extensive history of success and its robust media and financial strategies ensure its continued prominence. He likens the SEC’s situation to that of a basketball player experiencing an off-year, asserting that a temporary dip does not signify a downfall.

[05:27] Dan Patrick: "Things, but there's only so much amount of money you can spend on NIL."

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3. The Impact of NIL and Transfer Portal on the SEC

Dan Patrick elaborates on how NIL deals and the transfer portal have democratized talent distribution in college football, potentially diluting the SEC's traditional advantage.

[05:27] Dan Patrick: "If you're a quarterback, you want to play. If you're transferring, you want to play. If you're now, you're not going to be third on the depth chart waiting for your turn at Alabama."

He points out that schools across various conferences are now offering lucrative NIL deals, attracting top talent away from the SEC. This shift allows programs like SMU, Indiana, Arizona State, and Boise State to rise in prominence, challenging the SEC’s longstanding dominance.

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4. Listener Engagement: MVP Candidates and Sam Darnold’s Performance

Phone calls from listeners add depth to the discussion, focusing on NFL players and their potential accolades. A listener named Donovan questions whether Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard could outperform NFL player Taysom Hill, leading to a broader conversation about MVP candidacies.

[20:16] Dan Patrick: "Though he's somewhat not eligible for the Comeback Player of the Year award."

The debate intensifies around Sam Darnold’s performance with the Detroit Lions, contemplating his eligibility and potential for the Comeback Player of the Year award despite not meeting traditional criteria related to overcoming injury or illness.

[15:48] Todd Fritz: "Can Sam Darnold win Comeback Player of the Year?"

Mike Golic joins in to debunk the notion, reinforcing that comeback awards typically require overcoming significant adversity, which Darnold hasn’t experienced in the conventional sense.

[21:00] Mike Golic: "He has been absolute money. But no, he's not winning comeback player of the year."

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5. The Future of Notre Dame and Coaching Strategies

Discussions pivot to Notre Dame's adaptability in the current college football environment, especially in navigating the NIL and transfer landscape. Golic praises Notre Dame’s strategic recruitment and coaching under Marcus Freeman, contrasting it with traditional powerhouses.

[26:43] Mike Golic: "We saw the portal open a few Mondays ago and within a week there was over 2000 players in the portal. So this is the new college football."

He underscores Notre Dame’s ability to attract and retain talent through effective coaching and strategic decisions, suggesting that their model may serve as a blueprint for other programs adapting to the new norms.

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6. Rhyme Time and Casual Segments

Amidst the heavy discussions, Dan Patrick introduces the entertaining "Rhyme Time" segment, where co-host Paul Pabst engages in wordplay and sports-related rhymes, adding a lighter touch to the show.

[36:37] Paul Pabst: "MVP Tonight Show. MVP Tonight Show."

[37:05] Dan Patrick: "Marcus Carcass is so good."

These segments showcase the hosts' chemistry and provide a playful respite from the intense analytical discussions.

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7. Conclusion: SEC’s Path Forward and Evolving College Football

As the hour progresses, Dan Patrick and Mike Golic reconcile their viewpoints, acknowledging the SEC's storied past while recognizing the challenges posed by emerging trends like NIL and the transfer portal. They conclude that while the SEC remains a formidable force, the landscape of college football is undeniably shifting, necessitating adaptability and strategic innovation.

[28:20] Dan Patrick: "The new era of college football is here. It's just a matter of how much you want to use it."

The episode wraps up with a consensus that the SEC must evolve to maintain its dominance in an increasingly competitive and financially driven college football environment.

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Notable Quotes:

• "The old reliable narrative that there is a different quality of football in the SEC than other leagues is now more of a myth than a reality." — Dan Patrick [04:00]

• "One off year for the SEC does not deny the past 20 years." — Mike Golic [04:58]

• "If you're a quarterback, you want to play. If you're transferring, you want to play." — Dan Patrick [05:27]

• "We saw the portal open a few Mondays ago and within a week there was over 2000 players in the portal. So this is the new college football." — Mike Golic [26:43]

• "The new era of college football is here. It's just a matter of how much you want to use it." — Dan Patrick [28:20]

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This episode of The Dan Patrick Show offers a comprehensive examination of the SEC's current standing within college football, enriched by expert analysis from Mike Golic and interactive listener segments. For fans seeking an in-depth understanding of collegiate shifts and their implications on the sport's future, this episode provides valuable perspectives and engaging discourse.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

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[Paul Pabst]

Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit.

[Dan Patrick]

Service port in 90 plus days with.

[Mike Golick]

Device and eligible carrier and timely redemption.

[Paul Pabst]

Required card has no cash access and.

[Dan Patrick]

Expires in six months. You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio final hour on this Friday. It's a meat Friday. I of course am the head of quality control. I went out to check out the teriyaki chicken stir fry and it is delish. We also have spring rolls. Who has it better than we do? Nobody. Sunday night nobody has it better than we do. And NBC and Peacock, Kings of the North, Sam Darnold and the Vikings against Jared Goff and the Lions. It's the final game of the regular season and what's up for grabs? Number one seed in the NFC. The loser will be the fifth seed with 14 wins on the road opening round of the playoffs Sunday 7 Eastern on NBC. And Peacock and if you talk about a must win situation, this is and we'll do the must win game of the weekend coming up. But if I look at the Lions, I have to take them off the board for the following reason. They have to win this game for a variety of reasons. You want to have the number one overall seed, you have the home field advantage. But also they need to continue to win. So there is the possibility that Aiden Hutchinson will be able to play. The longer they go, the more opportunity for these players. And it's not just him. There's a couple other players they're trying to get back for the postseason. They must win this game this weekend. They got to get to the NFC title game. And if they do, chances are they would have Aiden Hutchinson back for the Super Bowl. But when you talk about most must win, I know there's other scenarios here, but that would probably be front and center for me because it's not just home field advantage. It's also sending the Vikings on the road and it's also maybe going to extend the, you know, the opportunity to be able to extend your postseason because you'll have home field advantage. All righty. Final hour phone calls are welcome. Seaton, you'll have the poll question for the final hour. Tyler sitting by to take your phone calls. 877 3DP Show Good morning those watching on Peacock. Thank you for downloading the app and our radio affiliates around the country. Over 400 cities that carry this program. We'll have rhyme time with Fritzy. Most must win game of the weekend coming up. Big Mike Golick will also stop by as well. It was a great night for Notre Dame. This is one of those games that now this isn't a great Georgia team, but it's a dangerous Georgia team. And I thought that Notre Dame looked like an SEC team or at least an older old school sec. You know, they were able to control the ball. They were physical, they had speed. All the things, you know. And I go back to I was at the national title game with Ohio State in Florida and I remember it was just different. You just watched what the SEC was all about and it was speed. And I thought there is a big difference between the SEC and everybody else. There's not that big of a difference anymore. Dan Wolkin, who writes for USA Today, he has an article that starts out by saying SEC and its dear leader should accept reality. The league no longer rules college football. He goes on to write, the time has come for SEC fans, its media machine, and especially its commissioner to fess up to the reality that it has simmered under the surface this entire college football season. The world has changed significantly. And the old reliable narrative that there is a different quality of football in the SEC than other leagues is now more of a myth than a reality. It goes on to write how you can't stockpile players nil transfer portal that's changed everything. And he ends up by saying that they should not be entitled that quote, we won all these championships under a completely different set of rules, so you must kneel to us now. That baloney that comes far too naturally for people all over that league. It's time for a new act. It's time to be honest. It's time to face facts. You're just like everyone else now. Yes, Paulie, I like to pump the.

[Todd Fritz]

Brakes on that article. One off year for the SEC does not deny the past 20 years. They stir the drink of college football. They will in the off season, Greg Sankey make maneuvers to alter the rules of the college football playoffs to be more friendly to them. One off year does not mean falling off a cliff. It's like a basketball player in his prime has an off year and they, well, that's it. You know, Tom Brady's falling off a Cliff or LeBron James. The SEC is going to be fine and they are going to keep running.

[Dan Patrick]

Things, but there's only so much amount of money you can spend on nil. And other schools are promising your opportunity to play right away. If you're a quarterback, you want to play. If you're transferring, you want to play. If you're now, you're not going to be third on the depth chart waiting for your turn at Alabama. It's just not going to happen. And you even saw this with Georgia last night. Georgia should have five running backs ready to go. And maybe they do, but they, they didn't have a running game last night. I mean, Sony, Michelle and Nick Chubb, like, this is Georgia gotta have a running back. They had no running game. Now you're still spending money on the offensive and defensive line, but it just feels like these other schools can pony up money and it can be an attractive place to go because you can play right away. And I think that's the difference is maybe they're not going to be as great as they once were, but you're going to have teams that maybe you didn't factor in, like SMU or Indiana, Arizona State, Boise State, that they can come up and they can play with you. It's only one game that that's all you're asking for. They, they wanted an opportunity. Now they lost, but they got an opportunity. And Arizona State took Texas to the mat. Double overtime. That's what you want. Now you have more teams that can make the playoff. It's not making a bowl game, it's making the playoffs. So now when you spend, you're spending with a goal that can be lucrative because if you win or you continue to win and that amount of money, like Notre Dame doesn't have share of the money. They had $14 million they, they made last night and then they got this next game. So that's where you know the business of college football is allowing you to be able to compete. And if you win your conference I and, and college football will change. It'll continue to change. But this is why when you see what's transfer portal, I can get that quarterback who played with that team, Quinn Ewers is going to play for somebody next year. Imagine if Quinn Ewers goes to Notre dame or Oregon. $6 million. Probably going to cost you. You got your quarterback. So that's what's going on. Notre Dame. Sam Hartman, Riley Leonard. Come on in. Play a year. See you later. That's what college football has become. You know, it's not this. Hey, you. You've earned your time. Your time is now. You come in, you play. If you don't play, you're thinking about transferring. Or I might transfer. How much are you going to pay me to stay? This is what's going on. And it'll continue until they're able to put, you know, a seat belt on this. And believe me, they're working on this. They are. Like, how did this happen? You know, kind of like you. You walk in and you. You left your teenagers alone for the weekend to have a party, and you're like, what happened? You left us alone. We decided to have a party, Mom. Stat of the day, brought to you by Panini America, the official trading cards of the Dan Patrick Show. Donovan in Iowa. Hi, Donovan. What's on your mind today? Hey, Dan. 621503. Okay. Hey, Dan, Are you talking some dude earlier about Riley Leonard, Notre Dame quarterback, and how he can't be Taysom Hill because he's too small? Well, Riley Leonard, 6 4. 2 inches taller than Taysom Hill and the same weight. I'm just wondering. I feel like he could be way better if you wanted to. I don't say, you know, Riley Leonard is. Is lanky. Taysom Hill is jacked. Okay? And he. And he was like that in college. Riley Leonard's good athlete. I told you. You know, he was recruited to play college basketball. He's a perfect college quarterback. But Taysom Hill is different. There's no. There's no other Taysom Hill in the NFL. And. And Riley Leonard is not playing running back. Okay. Maybe gets a chance playing quarterback. I don't know. I mean, I've just. I watched him. He's athletic, you know, watched him before he transferred, so I was aware of him, and he found a great place. But I. He's not Taysom Hill. How about the most must win game of the weekend? I can't wait any longer. Okay? Lions are off the board. Okay? Because if you factor this in the Lions, the most must win. You get the bye week, and then you have 18 players on the IR. 13 of the 18 players for the Lions on the IR defensive players. They're gonna have to Outscore everybody like they're. They can't just score 21 points and win again. They can't. I'd be shocked if they do. All right, Todd. The most must win game of the weekend.

[Paul Pabst]

Shockingly, I'm going to go with. At Mile High Stadium, the Broncos must be Carson Wentz and the second tier Chiefs and finally grab the Bronco.

[Dan Patrick]

You know what? I'm taking the Broncos off the board for you.

[Paul Pabst]

Are you really?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. That's obvious.

[Paul Pabst]

Then I'm going to go for a must win for.

[Dan Patrick]

I'll come back to you.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I'll come back to you, Seaton. Most must win game of the weekend. I think this is a must win weekend for Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson's future. I think Russell Wilson, if he beats the Bengals, which I think knocks them out of the playoffs, right? Yeah. I think if he's able to do that, he can count on having a job in Pittsburgh next year. I'm not sure if he doesn't, though. Bengals favored by two by two. I think he wins that game, you can count on him coming back. All right, Marvin. Most must win game of the weekend. Ironically, I have the Cincinnati Bengals. If they can get in, have a couple teams lose, that's a team you do not want to see in the playoffs. Okay. Like legit. You don't want to see. You do not. They can get to the Super Bowl. Yeah. They can't get to the Super Bowl. Part of the face. Yeah, they. They don't have a defense. They got Joe Burrow, though. They. They have Joe Burrow and they have Jamar Chase and they have T. Higgins. Paulie. The most must win game of the weekend is my.

[Todd Fritz]

MMW got W. Is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers favored by 14 against the Saints? The NFC is wide open.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

And they are very threatening if they get there. I'm going to give you a bonus. Most must lose game of the weekend. This is new. The New England Patriots hosting the Buffalo Bills. You must lose that football game. You have the number one draft pick and I think there's no way you could lose it unless you win that game.

[Dan Patrick]

And so you can win by losing.

[Todd Fritz]

Correct. You can win big by losing.

[Dan Patrick]

I think you can also lose and still win.

[Todd Fritz]

Correct.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow. After all these years, you can lose and still win in the NFL.

[Todd Fritz]

Can lose in the NFL and still win. The Patriots are 3 and 13. Have won six. Lost six in a row. Right on cue.

[Dan Patrick]

So wait a minute. You can lose and still win. You can win and still lose.

[Todd Fritz]

The New York Giants and the Raiders have lo one and still lost the past few weeks.

[Dan Patrick]

The Bills are favored by 2 1/2. 2 1/2. 21 /2. Most must win game of the weekend. I'd say the Steelers, I think. Steelers is kind of a tricky situation there because the Ravens are favored by 20. Yes, Todd.

[Paul Pabst]

I think for an also round, even if it's not the most, because they're pretty much off the board from the ones you guys picked, Chicago at Green Bay, all the attention going to the Lions and Vikings in that Sunday night game that they need to dominate the Bears in Lambeau and feel good going into the wild card round, that they're the team to be reckoned with in the nfc.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, thanks. All right, Ryan in Michigan. Hi, Ryan. What's on your mind today? Hi, Dan. I was just calling because I just don't understand why Jared Goff is not an MVP conversation. He's got pretty comparable stats of Joe Burrow, and if you take him off this Lions team, they're nothing without him. I mean, yes, he's got a great line, he's got some weapons, but this guy's been playing lights out. I'm so glad that we have him. And. Yeah, I just want to know your thoughts. Well, I could say, how about we put Joe Burrow on the Lions? That's the greatest offense there's ever been. Jared Goff has played well. Sam Darnold has played well. I. I don't. I don't have any problem. Like, how many MVP candidates do you want to have? Saquon Barkley, Josh Allen, Mar Jackson, Jared Goff, Sam Darnold, Joe Burrow, how many MVP candidates do you want to have? You want to have five, you want to have 10? I don't care. Sure. I have no problem with it. Or if you just want to say, hey, should be in the consideration as an MVP candidate. Okay, I'm fine with that. It's Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. That's it. You can have other candidates if you want to, and I don't have any problems. What Sam Darnold did surprised everybody. I think Josh Allen benefited from a bad division, but he also surprised me at how he had a window of, I think, five games that was bordering on historical. And if you watch them play, you're like, who's that guy? Or who's that guy? You know, Cook's a good running back. They got a couple of tight ends there. Coleman's good or has the potential, but I don't think you look at them and look, you know, say oh, that's like the Lions or the Bengals when it comes to offense. Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

Paulie, interesting story. Can Sam Darnold win comeback player of the Year?

[Dan Patrick]

Well, what's he coming back from?

[Todd Fritz]

Right, based off the old rules, the pre Joe Flacco rules, you had to come back from something like injury, whatever. And because of the.

[Dan Patrick]

Can you come back from humiliation, from being average? Yeah. Can you come back from being benched?

[Todd Fritz]

I just saw this story, though. The Associated Prep. This can't be right. The AP confirms that Sam Darnold Comeback Player of the Year award votes won't be rejected. They'll accept them, which is in the face of the rule. Interesting.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. I wouldn't look at him as a comeback player of the year, but if Joe Flacco came back from his couch, then. Oh, didn't they change the rule because of that? Like, Demar Hamlin nearly died, but Joe Flacco came back from, you know, sitting on a couch. Yeah, see, I don't think we can set the bar at did you die or not? I don't. I don't think that that's fair. What I'm saying is he lost the comeback player of the year. Yeah. What are you even coming back from a bad season? He died. I don't know that that's the. I don' but in that situation, though, the guy who. Who truly did Joe Flacco is more deserved. He came back. Yeah. Like, he truly came back from the dead. He could. He couldn't play. Nobody wanted him to play. And then out of necessity, he had to play. And, hey, he did. Well, only one other person came back, and that's J.C. jamar Hamlin came back. I got it. I mean, you got to give him the. I mean. Comeback Player of the Year. Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

Paul, the new AP rule for Comeback Player of the Year. Quote, a player has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury, or other.

[Dan Patrick]

Or other. Other is vague. Okay? But let's not discount the importance of or other. What. What is the or other with Sam Darnold not being very good? Okay. Yes, Tom.

[Paul Pabst]

I think or other could be someone who was written off by most, and all of a sudden, wow, look at that. That's the or other.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, let's take a break. Big Mike Golick will join us coming up next. Dan Patrick Show. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live. Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the. The iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Kovino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's covino and rich. 2025 is bound to be a fascinating year. It's going to be filled with money challenges and opportunities. I'm Joel. Oh, and I am Matt. And we're the hosts of how to Money. We want to be with you every step of the way in your financial journey this year, offering the information and insights you need to thrive financially. Yeah, whether you find yourself up to your eyeballs in student loan debt or you've got a sky high credit card balance because you went a little overboard with the holiday spending, or maybe you're looking to optimize your retirement accounts so you can retire early. Well, how to Money will help you to change your relationship with money so you can stress less and grow your net worth. That's right. How to Money comes out three times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For money advice without the judgment and jargon, listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. He's fallen in love with Sam Darnold. You've got a crush on Sam Darnold. You want him to get paid. Now you're promoting him for Comeback Player.

[Todd Fritz]

Of the Year award, which he's somewhat not eligible for.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, no, the criteria is is there that you can vote for Sam Darnold for Comeback Player of the Year Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

The AP put out criteria that guidance for their voters that it's someone who came back from an illness or an injury or something of that or other. Or other. But it's not a hard rule. So if you're an AP voter and you want to vote for Sam Darnold, you're not supposed to, but you can.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. He's Mike Golick, co host of Gojo and GOLIC on DraftKings Network and of course, former stalwart with the mothership. Joining us on the program, Big Mike. Sam. Sam Darnold. Let's start with Sam Darnold.

[Mike Golick]

Listen, come back.

[Dan Patrick]

Player of the year.

[Mike Golick]

I, I am, I'm calling the, the Detroit, Minnesota game for Westwood One Sunday. And the first thing I'm going to do when I go on the field before the game is apologize to Sam because a few, I had talked on my, my son and I show that, you know, is he going to fall to the, you know, level he had been or is he going to keep going? I was kind of questioning it and he's been nothing but money. He has been absolute money. But no, he's not winning comeback player of the year. That, that, that's for illness. That's for injury. That should be stated. I know there's the other part that you just mentioned in the, in the rules, but I, I, I, I think comeback player is for an injury or an illness.

[Dan Patrick]

What do you do if you're the Vikings? I don't know if you bring this up during the broadcast, but, you know, they're, are they in a good situation because you have this decision that you might have to make with Darnold and J.J. mcCarthy.

[Mike Golick]

Oh, yeah, it's a, it's a great situation. I mean, listen, we've seen Green Bay do it twice where they drafted a guy high and he sat for three or so years and Aaron Rodgers and Jordan love, so, and JJ's coming off of a knee. Listen, you, you got a strike while the iron's hot. Now the issue will be what deals does he get offered from other teams? Are they huge money deals? Can you get away with a Baker Mayfield type of deal for Sam? A three year, 100 million, 50 million guaranteed? It would probably be more than that instead of a $50 million year, which I'm not sure someone will give, but they might get close to that thinking that, that this guy is kind of recaptured that that first round thought. But if I'm Minnesota, I definitely try and hang on to him and I, I run it to its course. I mean, if JJ sits. He sits. I mean, you have a proven guy, a guy who's proving it on the field, as opposed to an unproven rookie who's coming off of a knee.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I would probably franchise him. And I agree with you, we brought this up years ago that their agents had to come up with a middle ground here. It was not we got to get 60 million or 55 million. Like, you had to be smart. And Baker Mayfield's agent was smart.

[Mike Golick]

Yes.

[Dan Patrick]

You're getting paid, you're playing well, you're going to be in the playoffs. He'll get commercial endorsement like it. I just don't want Sam to price himself out of a great situation that he has with the Vikings.

[Mike Golick]

I think what Sam, and it seems Sam's a smart person, is he also realizes what he has with Minnesota. And if you get offered now, again, there's a lot of money and a little money depending on your preference of what you get offered. But what he has with Kevin O'Connell, make no mistake about it, Kevin O'Connell calling plays and the offense that he has is definitely helping to his success. While he's playing great. There are other factors involved and Kevin O'Connell is one of them. So you have to think, do I go to take more money and go to a lesser coach and lesser offense?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. And this isn't a quarterback heavy draft as well. So, yeah, I mean, this is the right place at the right time. Unless Sam Darnold, if they would lose Sunday night and they go on the road and they play Tampa and they bow out or play the Rams and bow out, I wonder if that would have any impact on Sam Darnold's future.

[Mike Golick]

Well, I think it'll be on how Sam plays. Right. Right now the offense is humming. The defense, while the defense is. Is fourth worse than giving up pass yards or fourth best and giving up points. And that's the most important thing, how many points that you give up. So I think it would depend on how he plays, even were to bow. Bow out early.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm looking at the Lions, the pressure on the Lions to win, to be the number one seed, to get a bye week and have home field advantage and the better chance to extend your season and then get some of these injured players back. When you're doing a game like can you ask these questions of Dan Campbell or somebody with the Lions when you're doing the broadcast where they'll give you a little more information?

[Mike Golick]

Sure, you can ask, but they're not really going to give, quite honestly. I mean, they're, they're going to talk around it and I think one of the most important players, quite honestly I, I'm concerned more for the defenses, especially Detroit's defense in these games. Both these offenses are high, high profile offenses. But the defenses, the injuries Detroit has had now they have Alex Anzalone, the, the linebacker who broke his forearm missed the last six games. He's, he's in the 21 day window to come back and he's practicing this week. But the thought is Dan Campbell said it was an eight week injury and it's, it'll be seven weeks this Sunday. So do you bring him back early because they need him and especially in defensive pass coverage they need him. But do you risk him re injuring it and being out for the playoffs or just trying to get the job done without him and still get the number one seed? But if you get the number five seed at least you're still in the playoffs and he has another week to rest his forum. Those are the kind of decisions that they have to make.

[Dan Patrick]

He's my Golic co host of Gojo and golick on DraftKings Network. Your Notre Dame Fighting Irish last night. Let's look at that like a bigger picture here with nil transfer portal where Georgia wasn't Georgia like they had been before. Alabama is not Alabama. Clemson is not Clemson. And I don't know if this is a one off Mike, or is it because maybe the playing field is leveling and talent is dispersed and you're not stockpiling three running backs at Georgia or you know, five defensive linemen, you know, at Alabama. Is this a one off or do you think we're peeking into the future?

[Mike Golick]

No, I think we're peeking into the future for guys that are sitting. I mean Gunner Stockton, the backup quarterback is a rarity. He's with the program for three years. Right. And kind of was waiting his turn. Normally you don't see that. You see a guy transfer. So no, I think this is kind of the new era of college football. We saw the portal opened a few Mondays ago and within a week there was over 2000 players in the portal. So this is the new college football. It's just a matter of how much you want to use it. Like Dabo Sweeney has not used it a lot. Marcus Freeman said Notre Dame will always minor in transfers. They won't major in transfers like they're already talking about next year. They won't go to a transfer quarterback. They had Sam Hartman, now Riley Leonard, but now they'll, they'll Use one of their younger quarterbacks. At least that's what they said. We'll see if they stay with it. But overall, I do think we had 43 different starting quarterbacks in FBS through the portal last year, and I think that's going to continue.

[Dan Patrick]

See, I. Notre Dame has figured it out, though. They bring in Sam Hartman, they bring in Riley Leonard. That seems to be the route to go instead of saying, I'm going to raise an 18 year old here.

[Mike Golick]

It does. But I think they have C.J. carr, who they, they really, really like.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Mike Golick]

And it seems like they're going to give him a chance. Now, that's not to say if there's a quarterback that they think fits their system that pops up in the portal, that they won't still go for it. Because you know what, the way it is now with the portal, you're playing year to year, you're not playing for three years down the road.

[Dan Patrick]

Is Notre Dame likable suddenly?

[Mike Golick]

Well, I think, I think Marcus Freeman is likable and I think that makes Notre Dame likable. He's, he's the face of the program. Brian Kelly was this kind of this gruff guy who changed kind of his attitude halfway through when, when people were tired of him turning purple on the sideline and yelling. And it seemed like he was always yelling or mad. And Marcus Freeman is young, he's good looking, he's a great recruiter, Players love him. So I think people start to like because there's, listen, there's always people that are going to hate Notre Dame. But I do think that he brings up the, the, the, the, the rating, the Q ratings on Notre Dame because of Marcus Freeman.

[Dan Patrick]

But the fan base. When Brian Kelly left because he wanted to try to win national titles at lsu, was, was there an outcry of, you know, how dare you leave Notre.

[Mike Golick]

They were surprised that a coach left Notre Dame because normally a coach would leave Notre Dame by retiring or being fired, never left voluntarily. So I think they were, they didn't really miss a beat. They didn't really miss Brian Kelly, even though Brian Kelly's the winningest coach in Notre Dame history. You know, beat out Newt Rockne. I mean, so that's something, there's something to be said for that. But no, they really didn't, didn't really bat an eye that he left. They were a little disgruntled that he chose to leave. And now it's kind of biting him. I mean, he left thinking that better opportunity at lsu and here's Notre Dame in the semi. So. Yeah, there wasn't, there wasn't too much. Too much. Oh, no. What are we going to do now?

[Dan Patrick]

When he left, who's the best team left in the Final Four?

[Mike Golick]

Oh, I mean, the way Ohio State's playing, if Ohio State plays the way they play against Tennessee and Oregon, I don't know who's going to beat them.

[Dan Patrick]

I mean, but Mike, it makes you go back to the Michigan game. Like how do you. That's coaching to me. That your game plan. You can accidentally score three touchdowns with that offense.

[Mike Golick]

It, it is stunning. Now, now Michigan always has a very, very tough defense, I'll give them that. But they don't really have an offense. They rely on the running game so much. That was a stunning, stunning loss and really put Ryan Day's head on the chopping block. But he is more than making up for it. I mean, they're not just winning, they're blowing teams out. They're so explosive on offense, they're so stifling on defense. So they're playing the best right now. I think it'll be Notre Dame and Ohio State in the title game, which would be interesting for Marcus Freeman since he's. That's where he went to school.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Is Ryan Day, is he still on the hot seat if he loses this game?

[Mike Golick]

Man, Dan, that, that is a great question because it's so. Weighed so heavily losing to Michigan. Then it's like, okay, you lost to Michigan, but hey, we'll take a national title over, over beating, over losing to Michigan. But if you fall short of that, I think he's safe. I think the two blowout wins saved his job. If it truly, it was in the, if he had lost the first game, I think there certainly would have been some, some cries for it. But I do think he's going to be fine.

[Dan Patrick]

But if we didn't have this expanded playoff format, does Ryan Day, is he still coaching Ohio State?

[Mike Golick]

Probably not. Because they don't make the Final Four, right?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Mike Golick]

And, and I would. If they don't, if they didn't make the Final Four and lost to Michigan for a four straight year, I would say he'd be gone because so much is put on that. But now that it is expanded and he has a chance to make up for which he is in spades, I think it'll save his job.

[Dan Patrick]

Good to chat with you again. Thank you, Mike.

[Mike Golick]

You got it, Dan.

[Dan Patrick]

It's big Mike Golick and he's co host of Gojo and golick on DraftKings Network. Sneak in a phone call or two. And let's start with Jonathan in New Orleans. Hey, Jonathan. Hey, Dan. How's it going, sir? Good. Second time, long time. Thanks for taking my call. Actually my 9 year old son is in the other room watching on Peacock and is excited to see hear the call, but too shy to come say hello. But anyways, I was calling. I've read two books from authors you've had on the show. It Takes what It Takes by Trevor Moad and the System, Jeff Benedict. Both amazing reads. And I was just curious if you knew of any books out there being written or currently available discussing the current nil landscape that are similar in context to the four mentioned books. I have not. Jonathan. I don't know if there's a big market for that. You know, we talk nil, but I don't know unless there's gory details there of, you know that that's what I would want to read. But it's changing so fast. So you could start to write something nil by the time you publish it, it might be obsolete. Yes, Marv, I'm currently reading that book the System by Jeff Benedict. It is so good. It goes into detail about every aspect that makes college football run. From the hostesses, the, you know, the co EDS that host them, to Mac Brown's right hand man, to the boosters. It goes into great detail about every single aspect that makes college football run. Some of the stories about the hostesses, like yes. And it goes into it.

[Mike Golick]

Yes.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, like, yeah, Paul, there was a.

[Todd Fritz]

Book years ago called the Courting of Marcus Dupree, this famous high school running back in Mississippi. And it talks about all the recruiting stories, Billy Sims coming to his high school. That's a classic college football book.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. I mean there's so much that went on and I've mentioned this before, somebody I knew actually played against went to Kentucky and knew nothing about horse racing. They went to the track and went with a booster and he just said, what's your favorite numbers? And he told him his favorite numbers. And all I know is this guy came back over the summer with a Mercedes Benz, a two seater, and we were like, man, they're treating you well. He said, yeah, I went to the, to the racetrack. I'm like, all right, I didn't know you knew anything about horse racing. I know, I don't, I don't know anything. He said, I just had favorite numbers. Let's take a break. If you're watching on Peacock, we'll go out to the Traeger Grills. Last call for phone calls. What we learn what's in store tomorrow. Or I should say Monday. Right after this, be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app. 2025 is bound to be a fascinating year. It's gonna be filled with money challenges and opportunities. I'm Joel. Ooh. And I am Matt. And we're the hosts of how to Money. We want to be with you every step of the way in your financial journey this year, offering the information and insights you need to thrive financially. Yeah. Whether you find yourself up to your eyeballs in student loan debt or you've got a sky high credit card balance because you went a little overboard with the holiday spending, or maybe you're looking to optimize your retirement accounts so you can retire early. Well, how to Money will help you to change your relationship with money so you can stress less and grow your net worth. That's right. How to Money comes out three times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For money advice without the judgment and jargon, listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My thanks to Tyler. Tyler did a great job. Whipped up a batch of teriyaki chicken stir fry spring rolls, and, man, it hits the spot. Good stuff, Tyler. Thank you. Let's get to rhyme time because it's really important that Fritzi gets this in first one of the year. I'd forgotten about it. And I, of course, am trying to be a new person, a better person in the new year and say nicer things to Todd and I. This meal, this teriyaki chicken stir fry and spring rolls is because you love it.

[Paul Pabst]

I do love it.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes.

[Paul Pabst]

I'm very happy guy.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, how do we play rhyme time?

[Paul Pabst]

I'm gonna give you two clues and the answers rhyme with one another.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Paul Pabst]

For example, MVP Tonight Show. MVP Tonight Show.

[Dan Patrick]

Marvin Alan Fallon. Exactly.

[Paul Pabst]

That's how we do it.

[Dan Patrick]

We did it. Josh Allen. Jimmy Fallon. Okay.

[Paul Pabst]

Irish head roadkill. Irish head roadkill.

[Dan Patrick]

Like the head coach of the Fighting Irish, Marcus Carcass.

[Paul Pabst]

Marcus Carcass is exactly what I was. I didn't think anybody was going to get that one.

[Dan Patrick]

Well done. Marcus Carcass is so good.

[Paul Pabst]

Malcontent Vandy J. Malcontent Vandy J. Current NBA malcontent, Vandy J. Butler. And a Vanderbilt quarterback back in the day, Cutler Butler. Cutler Butler. Cutler is what we were looking for. Ole Miss slinger. Mall cop. Ole Miss slinger.

[Dan Patrick]

Moleculp dart. Paul Blart.

[Mike Golick]

Dark Blards.

[Dan Patrick]

Look at you guys.

[Paul Pabst]

You guys are crazy. Buffs, passer, over the top, play by play. Buffs, passer, over the top, play by play.

[Dan Patrick]

Harlan Buffs, QB Shador Sanders.

[Paul Pabst]

And over the top, play by play. Sometimes gets a little criticism. Gets a little too excited. That would be Shador Tessator.

[Mike Golick]

I'm not saying I feel though.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm saying a little bit of a stretch. You did say it, but okay.

[Paul Pabst]

Bengal journalism honor. Bengal burrow.

[Dan Patrick]

Murrow. Murrow. Edward R. Murrow.

[Paul Pabst]

Bama deceased. Bama deceased.

[Mike Golick]

Tide died.

[Dan Patrick]

Tide died.

[Paul Pabst]

Exactly. Skin growth, Texas head. A Skin growth, Texas head.

[Dan Patrick]

Something. Sarkeesian.

[Paul Pabst]

That would be a lesion.

[Todd Fritz]

We got them all there.

[Paul Pabst]

Stole Hanukkah treat. Stoley Hanukkah treat.

[Dan Patrick]

Vodka Latke.

[Paul Pabst]

Vodka Latke. Domesticate Franklin. Domesticate Franklin. To domesticate an animal would be to Penn State's a clue on the right side domesticates Franklin.

[Dan Patrick]

Tame James.

[Paul Pabst]

Tames James is. Exactly. And the last one here is retired Blue Jay coffee drink maker. Retired Blue Jay coffee drink maker. Like Starbucks. They were on strike recently.

[Mike Golick]

Jose.

[Paul Pabst]

The first name of that retired Blue Jay who makes the coffee.

[Dan Patrick]

Canseco Dunkin Donuts. We were looking for Barista Batista Bautista.

[Paul Pabst]

Barista. That's exactly what we were looking for. Bautista barista.

[Dan Patrick]

And that is rhyme time. There you go. Ola Rude. We are screwed. Yeah.

[Paul Pabst]

Asian Sarkees.

[Dan Patrick]

How about this day in sports history. Wow.

[Todd Fritz]

In 1941, the NCAA made rules that you could sub freely in college football.

[Dan Patrick]

1960, Notre Dame did that last night against Georgia. Yes, you are.

[Todd Fritz]

1962, work began began on the Houston Astrodome. And in 1983, Tony Dorsett of the Cowboys made the longest run in scrimmage in NFL history. 99 yards. The Cowboys only had 10 men on.

[Dan Patrick]

The field on this date. 2003, we were on the sidelines watching this when Ohio State upsets Miami double overtime to win the national championship in the Fiesta bowl on this date. Oh 7. Nick Saban resigned as the head coach of the Dolphins to become the head coach at Alabama. I think he said he wasn't going anywhere, right? And then he was. Let's see. 1920, the curse of the Bambino. They sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. $125,000 in cash. And not to forget the $350,000 loan. And that launched the 84 year curse of the Bambino. Final results of the poll Question Seat no counter. Oh, man. We had A couple of doozies up there today. Let's see. Who are you rooting for to win the College Football Playoff? Right now, Notre dame's got about 39% of that vote. And are the four best teams in college football playing in the semifinals right now? 58% of the audience says yes. Yes, they are. Kevin in Oregon. Hi, Kevin. What's on your mind? Dan, I'm the guy who called in and told you that I lost my patient. I'm a surgeon. Anyway, I was told. Talking about Notre Dame, I was told you do a spot on imitation of Lou Holtz. They put their pants on same way we do. That's what I want. Thank you. So Kevin is the surgeon who said that he wanted to go out and tell a family that they, you know, he lost their. He lost his patient. And they, they would have reacted like he died. And he was like, no, no, I, I can't find him. I don't know where he is. He's walking around.

[Paul Pabst]

Got the room number that we put him?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. And then I said, oh, my God, you could never do that to a family. So that was. That was Kevin. Sense of humor. Doc in Laguna Beach. Hi, Doc. Hey, dp. Happy New Year. I hate starting a new year with a stay in a lane and stay in your lane, but I have to refere biblical mentor that's coming to come back into town from Austria tomorrow. And that would be Shane Irving. But you said Denny Hamlin and JC were the only two raised from the dead. But. But Shane Irving will confirm that there was actually 12 raised from the dead in the Bible. Oh, okay. Want to ask Shay about the other people who came back from the dead? I mean, I was just talking to NFL players. They could come back tomorrow. Hemley, Chey. And Irving is in Vienna, by the way, for the holidays. Getting cured off the Wild Turkey. Or is he? I don't know. Is that a family vacation? Yeah, I talked to him yesterday and he said him and the roommate are getting along a lot better. And. But he's going to be coming home from Vienna. Had to go to neutral territory pretty much. He's part of the gambling podcast [e-mail] Todd, what'd you learn today?

[Paul Pabst]

The Week 18 point spreads are whack, according to you. Including the Browns, there's 20 point underdogs at the Ravens.

[Dan Patrick]

Come on, Seaton, what did you lear learn? Dan Orlowski, a train guy. Marvin. The Jaguars have two Pro Bowlers, Paul.

[Todd Fritz]

People like Notre Dame.

[Dan Patrick]

In an emergency, you want rapid radios, instant push to talk walkie talkies. Clear national LTE coverage. One touch communication, peace of mind. For connecting with families in an emergency, go to rapid radios.com up to 60 off, free shipping. Great to be back. Thanks for joining us. Enjoy the football. We'll talk to you on Monday. For Fritzi Seaton, Marv, Paulie, yours truly in the back room. Guys, I'm Dan Patrick. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate first. Like, you know to check you have the tickets in your wallet first before you drive two hours to the big game. Seriously, you had one job. Now the closest you'll get to the 50 yard line is parking lot D. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. Ah, and here we have travelers in their natural habitat enjoying guaranteed 4pm checkout at fine hotels and resorts booked through Amex Travel. And they don't even see what's coming at them. We're in. We got the table. Yep. With resy priority. Notify they're alerted when hard to get. Reservations open up. Reservation for two. Save the best for last. Thanks to Amex Platinum, the last day vacation brings yet another experience. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Learn [e-mail] with AmEx.