The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 3 Summary

Episode Date: October 10, 2025
Main Theme: Breaking down the biggest must-win and opportunity games of the weekend in both college football and the NFL, alongside an in-depth discussion of the UNC football and Bill Belichick situation with guest Pat Welter.

Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show dives deep into the most pivotal games of the upcoming football weekend—both college and NFL—with a fun and lively analysis of who faces “must-win” pressure and which teams or individuals have the "opportunity of the week" to define their seasons. The show also features WRAL TV sports anchor Pat Welter for an insider’s look at the unfolding controversy surrounding Bill Belichick and the University of North Carolina football program.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFC Favorites and the State of the Eagles (02:46–04:39)

• Poll question results show a surge in support for the Lions (57%) as current NFC favorites, while the Eagles are at a low 4.7%.
• Discussion of the Eagles’ midseason struggles and questions regarding head coach Nick Sirianni’s direction and the overall predictability of the team.
  • “Something's up, something's off... it just feels like — what style are you going to play?” — Dan Patrick (03:03)
  • Eagle’s ranking drop: Offense falls from 7th to 17th, defense from 1st to 20th year over year.

2. Giants’ Energy and Transition to UNC-Belichick (04:39–05:39)

• Praise for the Giants, specifically Jackson Dart’s playmaking ability and team “swag.”
  • “I don't know if the Giants are any good but they're leading the league in swag, that's for sure...” — Dan Patrick (04:39)

3. Pat Welter on Bill Belichick & UNC Football Turmoil (05:39–15:30)

Key Takeaways:

• Breaking the Story:
  • Pat describes the gravity and process of reporting on Belichick’s situation at UNC:
    “It’s been a whirlwind…I was able to speak to a lot of sources at the Clemson game, and that’s when I really knew I had something.” — Pat Welter (05:39)
• Current Status:
  • A joint statement affirmed Belichick’s commitment to UNC amid swirling rumors, though no confirmation on “exit strategy” conversations.
• Ongoing Escalation:
  • Example of real-time news: running back Caleb Hood retires shortly after media inquiry, signaling an unstable environment: “It has been downhill ever since... it’s fitting poetry that now Caleb Hood, after this week, is leaving the program.” — Pat Welter (08:20)
• Media’s Role:
  • Discussion on national vs. local media expectations, the hype around Belichick, and responsibility of honest reporting. “We’re all complicit in this in a way... This is the story of my lifetime.” — Pat Welter (10:08)
  • On the fallout: “When you're going to be the highest paid employee in the state and you're going to be one of the worst teams in all of college football...that's statistical fact.”
• Comparing Coaches:
  • The sharp contrast between Mack Brown’s tenure and Belichick’s, highlighting why the transition made sense in theory—but failed in practice: "Everything for Carolina was well intentioned in bringing Bill Belichick in. It just has gone spectacularly wrong in ways that I don't know that anyone really could have foreseen." — Pat Welter (12:04)
• Impact of Reporting:
  • Welter details how his reporting led to staff suspensions and ongoing investigations into the football program. “I could tell you that our reporting directly led to the suspension of assistant coach Armond Hawkins...” (13:21)
• Dan’s Advice:
  • “Trust your gut, trust your instincts. But, man, you know, nail it down. This is serious stuff.” — Dan Patrick (15:14)

4. College & NFL: Most Must-Win Games and “Opportunity of the Week” (22:39–29:44)

NFL Lines and Scenario Breakdowns

• Focus on which teams are in "must-win" situations heading into the weekend, e.g.:
  • Bengals as 14-point underdogs at Green Bay.
  • Broncos favored in London, Cowboys narrow favorites at Carolina.
  • Chargers-Dolphins called a “last call” scenario for the Dolphins (24:07).
• Introduction of the “Opportunity of the Week” (OOTW) segment:
  • “Player, coach, team that has an opportunity to make a big jump this weekend or career-defining moment...” — Paulie (24:55)
• Panel’s OOTW picks:
  • Florida Gators’ coach Billy Napier at Texas A&M (Paulie)
  • Indiana football at Oregon (Marvin)
  • Jacksonville Jaguars to prove top-tier AFC status (Pat)
  • Texas football’s shot to salvage their season (Mandy)
• Most Must-Win Game (MMWGOTW):
  • Various nominations, including Ravens vs. Rams (Pat), Chiefs vs. Lions (Mandy), Chargers (Marvin), LSU vs. South Carolina (Paulie), and Buccaneers vs. 49ers (Dan).
    • “Buccaneers...you want to be in the big picture, you got to make sure you handle business here as the most must win game of the weekend.” — Dan Patrick (28:12)

5. Callers & Fan Reactions (30:23–38:02)

• Callers weigh in with OTW/Must-Win picks and personal stories (birthday shoutouts, fantasy football, etc.).
• Discussion on situational hitting in MLB playoffs and shifting strategies (35:36–37:20).
• Notable on-air moment:
  • “I would build a team for speed, defense, pitching... but it feels like everybody is just, hey, let's just throw hard and swing hard.” — Dan Patrick (36:37)

6. Final Predictions & What to Watch on Monday (43:57–47:14)

• Panel predicts Monday’s big sports headline:
  • Belichick controversy coming to a head (Pat)
  • Chiefs’ losing streak or redemption (Seaton, Marvin, Paulie)
  • Baker Mayfield “swell” post-game narrative
  • Seattle Mariners and Tigers get a baseball spotlight.
• Playful banter on how perspectives shift week-to-week in the NFL and MLB.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Eagles’ season:
  “Is Jalen Hurts going to throw and win a game?... No one's really talked about the Eagles defense... that's a big drop.” — Paulie (03:30–04:16)

• On media pressure and local journalism:
  “You're local. Why aren't you on our team? Why don't you support the team?... You gotta hold true to what you're doing.” — Dan Patrick (15:37)

• On Florida football’s opportunity:
  “Billy Napier has been on a perpetual hot seat. He can cool it off real fast this month with a win against A&M.” — Paulie (25:17)

• On NFL's unpredictability:
  “As the season develops, losses change. The Chargers lost to the Giants last week—that loss doesn't look as bad because the Giants just beat the Eagles.” — Paulie (45:32)

• Caller on Eagles' loss:
  “Completely understanding why it went down the way it did... but Cam Scatterbo and Jackson Dart—Dart looks a lot faster than I thought he was... I'm not ready to sound the alarm quite yet.” — Frankie, caller (33:48)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:46 – NFC poll, Eagles’ midseason woes
• 04:39 – Giants’ swagger and transition to UNC/Belichick topic
• 05:39 – Pat Welter joins for UNC-Belichick deep dive
  • 06:45 – Current status and rumors at UNC
  • 08:20 – Caleb Hood’s departure and symbolic meaning
  • 10:08 – Local vs. national media expectations on Belichick
  • 12:04 – Comparison of Mack Brown and Belichick eras
  • 13:21 – Impact and consequences of local reporting
  • 15:14 – Dan’s advice to Pat on reporting tough stories
• 22:39 – Introduction of Most Must Win Game and Opportunity of the Week feature
• 24:55 – NFL and college football must-win scenarios
• 30:23 – Call-ins: birthdays and fan perspectives
• 35:36 – MLB situational hitting discussion
• 43:57 – Panel predicts Monday’s headline stories

Style and Tone

The episode is marked by Dan Patrick’s trademark blend of humor, insider knowledge, and casual but incisive sports talk. The panelists (including Paulie, Marvin, Seaton, Mandy, and guest Pat Welter) mix stats-focused analysis with playful banter, while callers reflect the fanbase's passion and real-world connection to the sports narratives.

Conclusion

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show delivers a winning mix of newsbreaking sports journalism (with Pat Welter’s revealing segment on the UNC football turmoil), actionable insight into weekend football, and the show’s signature easygoing, fan-powered energy. Whether you need weekend betting tips, want to gauge the true heat under college and NFL seats, or are tracking the latest drama in college sports, this lively hour has it covered.