The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 3

Date: December 1, 2025
Main Topics: Parity in the NFL, College Football Coaching Carousel, Andy Staples Interview
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Andy Staples (On3 Sports)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Patrick and his crew dive into the ongoing chaos in college football—particularly the wild coaching carousel, focusing on Lane Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss to LSU. The show also features an in-depth discussion of NFL parity, notable upsets, and surprising performances as the league heads into the final stretch. The hour is loaded with interactive listener calls, quirky personal anecdotes, and an insightful, energetic interview with college football insider Andy Staples, who unpacks the behind-the-scenes action in coaching hires and playoff scenarios.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Parity & Notable Week 13 Outcomes

• Parity in Division Races: Dan highlights that, for the first time ever, five NFL divisions are either tied or separated by half a game through Week 13.
  • "First time in NFL history, five division races either tied or within a half game through week 13." (06:04)
• Playoff Upsets Becoming Routine: Eight teams at .500 or better missed the playoffs last year—emphasizing league-wide parity and unpredictability.
• Doubting Greatness: Dan contends that there’s no dominant NFL team this year; injuries and schedule quirks make any result believable.
• Segment with Dak Prescott’s Comments: On the Cowboys’ consecutive wins over last year’s Super Bowl teams:
  • "I mean the two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year... we just beat them both in two great games... Just showing the resiliency of this unit." (06:31)
• Listener Calls: Fans weigh in on contentious officiating, the Steelers and their coaching woes, and the unpredictability of this season.

2. College Football Coaching Chaos & Lane Kiffin's Move

• Lane Kiffin to LSU Fallout:
  • Huge talking point surrounding whether Kiffin should be allowed to coach Ole Miss in the playoff, now that he's accepted the LSU job.
  • "If I'm the athletic director at Ole Miss, I'd say, nope, you made your decision. Go. And don't act like you're the victim here." (25:08, Dan Patrick)
• Buyout and Incentive Details:
  • Discrepancy in coaching buyouts discussed.
  • "I've been looking for the numbers on Lane Kiffin's deal with LSU, and here it is. Seven years, $91 million. The termination fee due Ole Miss is covered by LSU… Lsu will pay Lane Kiffin any incentives that he would have earned based on how Ole Miss does in the college football playoffs. If he wins the SEC title, he gets a million dollars… If he wins the national title, his pay is automatically adjusted to be the highest paid coach in college football." (45:07, Dan Patrick)
• Broader Unrest: General frustration voiced over the lack of regulation and the “wild west” feel of college football.
  • "Maybe we just get to the NFL model... Or I would love to have an overall commissioner for college football. I would settle for that right now." (04:27, Dan Patrick)

3. Andy Staples (On3 Sports) Interview

[Starts ~24:24]

Coaching Carousel:

• Why Kiffin Can’t Coach:
  • "When you’re going from Ole Miss to LSU, you can’t do it [coach in the playoff]." (26:20, Andy Staples)
  • On media narratives:
    • "I can't tell you why the game day desk all did that. My guess is personal relationships with Lane Kiffin..." (27:52)
  • Brings up Nick Saban’s own precedent with Kiffin’s exit from Alabama.
• Who’s Next for Penn State?
  • "The only thing I can think of is they've got somebody in mind who's maybe coaching in a conference championship game this week and doesn't want to do anything until after that happens... Bob Chesney at James Madison, Kalani Sitake at BYU..." (28:27, Andy Staples)
• System Fixes?:
  • Staples explains the NCAA’s options to fix the chaos, but coaches prefer the freedom for quicker roster building.
  • "There's an easy fix. But the coaches don't want it... Just have one [signing day] in February, eliminate spring practice, create OTAs in May..." (30:24)
  • "If the coaches insist that they want their team by January, then they get to be the villains in this. They don’t get to blame the NCAA for it.” (31:29)

Playoff Debates:

• Case for Texas in the Playoffs:
  • "Of the nine and three teams, they would have the best case... They have the best win. If you don’t pick them, you are discouraging scheduling tough non-conference games." (32:19)
• On Arch Manning's NFL Readiness:
  • "He needs to get better… If you watch even the A&M game where he played pretty well, he misses a lot of easy throws still." (33:34)

4. Lighter Moments & Listener Interactions

• Personal Stories:
  • Dan trades medical "battle stories" with a listener undergoing a twofer surgery and relates his own colonoscopy/hernia combo:
    • "I did a colonoscopy and I did a hernia surgery. They just flipped me over. I did that in the same day." (16:40)
• Rap Shoutouts & Song Requests:
  • Listener Johnny delivers a quick, clever rap about the crew:
    • "Dan, Pauly, Marvin, seeing Todd Fritz bringing you that real talk and some nonsense..." (17:33)
• Marvin’s Musical Moments:
  • Requests for Marvin to reprise his "I Don't Want to Work" refrain—becomes a running joke about setting the weekend mood. (34:56)
• Sports Betting Sidebar:
  • Discussion of the problems with college-aged athletes and prop bets:
    • "Prop bets for college kids. Terrible, terrible...because that's where, hey, this isn't a big deal...that's how it starts." (12:21, Dan Patrick)
• Best and Worst of the Weekend:
  • Cowboys' big wins, Packers-Bears bet, D3 football love, 76ers frustrations, and snow woes in Iowa round out the community feel of the show.

Memorable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:27 | Dan Patrick | "Maybe we just get to the NFL model... I would love to have an overall commissioner for college football. I would settle for that right now." | | 06:31 | Dak Prescott | "We just beat them both in two great games, as you said, in four days... just showing the resiliency of this unit, of this brotherhood..." | | 25:08 | Dan Patrick | "If I’m the athletic director at Ole Miss, I’d say, nope, you made your decision. Go. And don’t act like you’re the victim here." | | 30:24 | Andy Staples | "There’s an easy fix. But the coaches don’t want it." | | 45:07 | Dan Patrick | "Lane Kiffin's deal with LSU... Seven years, $91 million... LSU will pay Lane Kiffin any incentives that he would have earned..." | | 32:19 | Andy Staples | "Of the nine and three teams, they would have the best case... If you don’t pick them, you are discouraging scheduling tough non-conference." |

Important Timestamps

• 04:27 — Dan on needing NFL-like structure or a CFB commissioner
• 06:04 — Dan breaks down NFL parity stats and unpredictability
• 06:31 — Dak Prescott audio: Cowboys' statement wins
• 24:24 — Andy Staples joins; kicks off deep coaching carousel talk
• 25:08 — Dan’s hard line on Kiffin coaching in the playoff
• 26:20 — Staples explains why Kiffin can't coach Ole Miss in playoff
• 27:52 — Media relationships & narratives about Lane Kiffin
• 30:24 — Coaching hiring window fixes; who’s really to blame
• 32:19 — Texas’ playoff hopes analyzed by Staples
• 33:34 — Arch Manning’s NFL future critiqued
• 45:07 — Lane Kiffin’s LSU contract/incentives breakdown

Tone & Style

The hour is classic Dan Patrick: conversational, irreverent, and full of both expertise and entertainment. The hosts and guests maintain a candid yet humorous edge, poking fun at college football’s lack of order ("I rage against the machine..."), enjoying lively banter with callers, and finding the absurdities in both sports and everyday life. Andy Staples brings passionate, rapid-fire insights on college football, injecting both industry knowledge and wry amusement.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This hour delivers a comprehensive look at the current state of both the NFL (parity, unpredictability, wild-card races) and college football (coaching drama, playoff chaos, big personalities like Lane Kiffin). The interview with Andy Staples is especially valuable for those seeking perspective on the inner workings of coaching moves and the NCAA’s unresolved issues. The lively calls, jokes, and personal stories keep the tone light, making it enjoyable even for casual fans.