The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3 Summary: Matt Ryan, NIL, and College Football Playoffs
Release Date: July 10, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Introduction

In the third hour of The Dan Patrick Show, hosted by Dan Patrick, former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan joins the conversation to discuss his transition from professional sports to broadcasting, insights into quarterback performance, and the evolving landscape of college football, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations and the proposed expansion of the College Football Playoffs.

Interview with Matt Ryan

Transition from Playing to Broadcasting

Matt Ryan delves into his seamless shift from an NFL quarterback to a broadcasting analyst. Reflecting on his final playing years with the Indianapolis Colts, Ryan mentions the challenges he faced, including organizational changes and personal decisions influenced by his growing family.

“I had been in Atlanta, and after a difficult season, my wife was pregnant with my youngest son. It seemed like the right time to root myself at home and explore new opportunities.”
[15:30]

Ryan credits his initial roles with CBS as foundational to his broadcasting career, highlighting the enjoyable experience of calling games and later transitioning into studio work.

Quarterback Performance and Hall of Fame Prospects

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around what defines a great quarterback and the criteria for Hall of Fame induction. Ryan contrasts his career statistics with those of peers like Eli Manning and Peyton Manning, emphasizing the impact of memorable plays and Super Bowl performances on legacy.

“If you're asking me about one of them, Dan, I would probably say that's the one I would like to have not been sacked on. But anyhow, what else do you guys want to talk about?”
[35:45]

The conversation touches upon the fluctuating nature of quarterback performance and its implications for Hall of Fame considerations, debating whether single pivotal moments should overshadow consistent season-long performances.

“There are a lot of great plays that got forgotten in Super Bowls… It shouldn't be that tenuous. It shouldn't be one play away.”
[48:20]

NIL and College Football Playoffs

Deion Sanders on Salary Caps

Dan Patrick introduces insights from a reliable source regarding the future structure of college football playoffs and the persistent challenges posed by NIL deals. Deion Sanders’ comments at the Big 12 media day are highlighted, where he advocates for a salary cap in college football to maintain competitive balance.

“Deion Sanders talked yesterday at the Big 12 media day about college football needing a salary cap. The problem is there's always going to be illegal payments here. Collectibles, you know, collectives…”
[07:50]

Expansion to a 16-Team Playoff

The discussion shifts to the anticipated expansion of the College Football Playoffs to 16 teams in 2026, using a 5+11 model. This format proposes allocating five automatic bids to the highest-ranked conference champions and eleven at-large bids determined by the selection committee.

“What I'm told is that'll be the format in 2026. That's expected to be the format for the playoffs in college football where you get the five highest ranked conference champions, they get an automatic bid.”
[10:15]

Conference Reactions and Revenue Sharing

The Big 12 and ACC are reportedly in favor of the 5+11 model, while the SEC and Big Ten prefer a model granting four automatic bids each. The conversation underscores the financial motivations behind these changes, emphasizing that revenue sharing models may fail to curb under-the-table payments, leading to a return to past practices of illicit compensation.

“But the revenue share that's in place has little chance of succeeding. It's opened the door to excessive payments by collectives. And going forward, these payments will be under the table and not reported.”
[12:40]

Potential Impact on Competitive Balance

Participants express skepticism about the effectiveness of the proposed changes in achieving a level playing field. Concerns are raised about the dominance of wealthier programs and the difficulty smaller schools will face in competing for top talent and playoff spots, despite suggestions to innovate recruitment and competition formats.

“You're just going to have the haves and the have nots. It's just the way of life.”
[14:55]

Matt Ryan’s Reflections on Key Moments

Super Bowl Sack and Missed Opportunities

Matt Ryan candidly discusses a pivotal moment from his Super Bowl experience—a sack that led to a fumble, which he admits he might prefer to forget. This incident seemingly had a profound impact on his perception of his career and potential Hall of Fame candidacy.

“He promised he was telling stories… but that's not what I was getting at. I was talking about you got sacked nearly 500 times… but he brought up the Super Bowl.”
[52:10]

Ryan reflects on the emotional aftermath of high-stakes games, highlighting the psychological toll of narrowly missing out on significant career milestones despite enduring a successful career.

“You're a kid and you dream your whole life of getting to that moment, and then that's what happens… All of your dreams are coming… And then now you're in the Super Bowl and you're rolling…”
[54:35]

Conclusion

Dan Patrick wraps up the hour by acknowledging Matt Ryan’s openness in sharing personal and professional insights. The conversation sheds light on the complexities of athlete transitions, the metrics for evaluating sports legacies, and the evolving economic structures within college athletics. The discussions around NIL and playoff expansions underscore the ongoing challenges in maintaining competitive integrity amidst financial incentives.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Matt Ryan on Transitioning to Broadcasting:
  “I had been in Atlanta, and after a difficult season, my wife was pregnant with my youngest son. It seemed like the right time to root myself at home and explore new opportunities.”
  [15:30]

• On Hall of Fame and Memorable Plays:
  “If you're asking me about one of them, Dan, I would probably say that's the one I would like to have not been sacked on.”
  [35:45]

• Deion Sanders on College Football Salary Caps:
  “Deion Sanders talked yesterday at the Big 12 media day about college football needing a salary cap…”
  [07:50]

• On Playoff Expansion Format:
  “What I'm told is that'll be the format in 2026. That's expected to be the format for the playoffs in college football where you get the five highest ranked conference champions, they get an automatic bid.”
  [10:15]

• Concerns on Revenue Sharing and Under-the-Table Payments:
  “But the revenue share that's in place has little chance of succeeding. It's opened the door to excessive payments by collectives…”
  [12:40]

• On Competitive Imbalance in College Football:
  “You're just going to have the haves and the have nots. It's just the way of life.”
  [14:55]

• Matt Ryan on Super Bowl Sack:
  “He promised he was telling stories… but that's not what I was getting at. I was talking about you got sacked nearly 500 times…”
  [52:10]

• Emotional Impact of High-Stakes Games:
  “You're a kid and you dream your whole life of getting to that moment, and then that's what happens…”
  [54:35]

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions from Hour 3 of The Dan Patrick Show, providing listeners and those unfamiliar with the episode a detailed overview of the topics covered, insights shared by Matt Ryan, and the broader conversations surrounding college football's future.