The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 3

Date: November 10, 2025
Guests: Rick Neuheisel (CBS Sports, College Football Analyst), Jeff Passan (ESPN Senior Baseball Insider)
Host: Dan Patrick
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a lively conversation on college football’s hottest topics — from the open Heisman race and wild coaching carousel rumors to Jonathan Taylor’s NFL MVP prospects. College football analyst Rick Neuheisel breaks down the season’s chaos, surprise teams, and controversial plays. Later, ESPN’s Jeff Passan joins to unpack a major sports gambling scandal involving MLB players, reflect on gambling’s growing role in sports, and survey the early off-season landscape from MLB’s GM meetings in Las Vegas. The show is peppered with humor, memorable moments, and the usual banter from Dan and the Danettes.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. NFL Weekend Recap and MVP Race

• Jonathan Taylor's Historic Performance

  • Dan highlights Jonathan Taylor’s monster weekend: 244 rushing yards, three touchdowns, surpassing Marshall Faulk for most rushing TDs in Colts history.
  • Debate over Taylor's MVP chances, noting the quarterback-centric tradition of the award.

• Quote:

  • "Jonathan Taylor, to me, maybe he could win the MVP, but he’s probably going to have to get over 1,800 yards and...17 touchdowns." (Dan Patrick, 05:26)

• Stat Check:

  • "He has 15 [touchdowns] so far. He's averaging six yards a carry. He's projected at this pace to finish with 1,936 yards, six yards a carry, and 26 touchdowns." (Marvin, 06:38)
  • "If he gets to 2,000 [yards] and 28 touchdowns, I would hope [he wins], but it's a quarterback award." (Dan, 07:17)

2. Best & Worst of the Weekend (Listener Calls)

• Listener Highlights:
  • Bests: Seahawks’ thrilling win, Gus Johnson’s animated six-second call at Indiana.
  • Worst: Steelers’ flat performance, Aaron Rodgers underwhelming.

3. College Football Deep Dive with Rick Neuheisel (Starts ~11:05)

Heisman Race & Standout Players

• Heisman Front-Runners:
  • Fernando Mendoza's clutch performance debated for Heisman (“In any other year...yes, but this year’s so different…” — Rick, 11:05).
  • Other candidates: Diego Pavia, Trinidad Shambliss, Julian Sayin (“Guy’s an 82% passer...I don’t remember anything like that.” — Rick, 11:34), Jeremiah Love (“All he does is just keep scoring touchdowns.” — Rick, 11:45).

Conference Breakdown & Playoff Implications

• SEC:
  • “I think the SEC is going to get five [into the playoff mix]…which five are still up for grabs.” (Rick, 12:18)
• Big Ten:
  • Top three likely in (Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon); watch SC-Michigan for upsets.
• Big 12 & ACC:
  • Big 12 “has a chance for two” (Utah surging); ACC likely gets only one in (Rick, 13:56).

Coaching Carousel & Rumors

• Lane Kiffin’s Future:

  • “I think he stays. SEC...no advantage anymore to have blue blood as long as you have greenbacks in your pocket. Ole Miss has proven they’ll do what he wants.” (Rick, 14:24)

• Predicted Offseason Chaos:

  • “Coaches you don’t think would move, or athletic directors you don’t think would move their coach — things are going to happen.” (Dan, 15:01)
  • “If Lincoln Riley wanted to go back to Texas...I think he’d leave LA...Jed Fisch at Washington will have his eye open...Jeff Brohm, Clark Lee, Eli Drinkwitz — nobody’s signed anything.” (Rick, 15:20–16:07)

• Roster Management Mayhem:

  • Early signing date, single transfer portal window (Jan 2–16): “It’s going to be chaos…Most ADs wanted [the portal] in April, but coaches want to know rosters early...We're bass-ackward in this business.” (Rick, 16:45)

NCAA Rules & ‘Trick Plays’

• USC Jersey Number Swap:

  • “The NCAA rulebook says: The following are considered unethical practices — changing numbers during a game to deceive.” (Rick, 17:37)
  • Labels move as a likely prompt for a rule change; praises coaches for handling it calmly.

• Memorable Moment:

  • “Games they remember are played in November.” (Rick, 18:26)
  • Dan: “You owe me a song soon.” Rick: “Next time...something sultry like that.” (18:32)

4. MLB Gambling Scandal & Offseason with Jeff Passan (Starts ~25:58)

Guardians Pitchers Indicted

• Scandal Overview:

  • Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase allegedly conspired with bettors to fix outcomes for proposition bets — betting on specific pitches (ball or strike).

  • Over $400,000 allegedly made via wagers on Clase’s pitches; Ortiz allegedly received individual payments ($5,000–$7,000 per fixed pitch).

  • “It’s really the intersection of gambling and sports and where it allegedly can go wrong...The government alleges more than $400,000 was made…Ortiz joined the scheme this year…threw a ball, was paid $5,000.” (Jeff Passan, 26:27)

• Discovery & Aftermath:

  • Betting integrity firms noticed unusual action, flagged it; both pitchers placed on paid leave since July; unlikely to return to MLB.

  • "Games are only as good as they are believable... If you chip away at what we're watching is real—what’s the point of watching sports?" (Jeff Passan, 31:14)

Gambling’s Impact on Sports Integrity

• Star vs. Unknowns:
  • Attention not just on stars, but “guys on the periphery who think nobody’s watching … Vegas is always watching.” (Dan, 30:20)
  • “If you open the door to [fixing pitches], you’re just inviting more and more.” (Jeff, 32:46)

MLB Offseason Scoop

• Offseason ‘Spiciness’:
  • Free agent movement predicted to be slow; teams feeling out market. “No major moves likely this week…it’s an actual market and operates that way.” (Jeff, 32:55)
• Japanese Player Pipeline:
  • Dodgers have been big on Japanese talent; Jeff thinks they don’t need more pitching right now. “Other teams want Japanese players too…you’re not going to get those top-end guys if you haven’t illustrated you’re a landing spot.” (Jeff, 34:00)
  • “Dodgers cornered the market in Japan…brilliant — not just in a baseball sense, but financial too.” (Jeff, 35:04)

5. College Football Coaching Rumor Mill & Brian Kelly Update (36:03–39:10)

• Brian Kelly/LSU Buyout:

  • LSU working to finalize a buyout with Kelly after firing him; offered $25M, upped to $30M — rejected both, seeking resolution.

• Coaching Rumors:

  • “Jeff Brohm at Louisville is the top choice at Penn State.” (Dan, 36:34)
  • USC job feels “fluid” after administrative changes; Kaylin DeBoer and Lincoln Riley named as possible movers.

• Offseason Chaos Predicted:

  • “If you thought the regular season was chaos with firings, wait til the off season.” (Dan, 38:46)

6. Show Closer: Polls, Bets, Banter, Best/Worst Calls (44:16–54:21)

• Monday Night Football Bet:
  • Will Nick Sirianni “rub it in” with the Tush Push vs. Packers, who tried to ban it? “Over/under 4.5 tush pushes tonight.” (Marvin, 44:22)
• Best/Worst of the Weekend (Listener Calls):
  • Lions’ resurgent offense, Rams’ historic QB performances, Pacers’ struggles, college basketball nostalgia (UNC/Kansas, Indiana hoops).
• Historical Notes:
  • Dan & Danettes reminisce about NFL and college football comebacks; fun trivia and name-drops (Webster Slaughter, Heywood Jeffires).
• Memorable Quip:
  • “Jonathan Taylor will win NFL MVP if he stays consistent, has one more big game.” (Gerald McCoy, quoted by Dan, 54:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rick Neuheisel on the Coaching Carousel:
  • “Coaches you don’t think would move, or athletic directors you don’t think would move their coach — things are going to happen.” (Dan, 15:01)
• Jeff Passan on Gambling:
  • “Games are only as good as they are believable. The second you start chipping away at what we’re watching is real…what’s the point of watching sports?” (31:14)
• Rick Neuheisel on November Football:
  • “Games they remember are played in November.” (18:26)
• Dan Patrick on NFL MVP:
  • “I advocate for other positions...we lock in with quarterbacks…the game was built on running backs.” (08:17)
• Marvin on Indiana Football:
  • “It’s still so surreal to see where Indiana football is.” (19:51)

Important Timestamps

• 05:26: Jonathan Taylor’s MVP case discussion
• 11:05: Rick Neuheisel joins, Heisman & playoff discourse
• 14:24: Lane Kiffin future/SEC rumors
• 16:45: Transfer portal & roster management chaos
• 17:37: USC jersey swap ethics debate
• 25:58: Jeff Passan joins, MLB gambling scandal explained
• 31:14: “Games are only as good as they are believable.”
• 36:03: LSU/Brian Kelly buyout, Penn State and USC rumors
• 44:16: Tush push bet, Monday Night Football
• 46:32–54:21: Listener best/worst (NFL, college hoops), show wrap

Summary

Hour 3 of The Dan Patrick Show offers a hearty look at the biggest football and baseball stories currently unfolding, with deep analysis from expert guests and witty camaraderie from the regular crew. The episode is a must-listen for fans of college football’s wild coaching machinations, those (rightly) worrying about gambling’s effect on sports’ integrity, and anyone curious about the nuts and bolts of sports rumor and strategy as 2025’s fall season hits its stride.