The Dan Patrick Show

Episode: Hour 3 – Sign-off from South Bend, Pete Bevacqua
Date: October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show comes live from South Bend, Indiana, wrapping up Dan and the crew's visit to Notre Dame. The episode blends in-studio banter and classic Dan Patrick humor with a significant interview with Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua. Central themes include the enduring mystique of Notre Dame, the shifting landscape of college football, storied rivalries, and the future of the College Football Playoff. The crew dives deep into college football culture, game atmosphere, and contemporary issues facing programs and athletic departments. As always, the show is energetic, irreverent, and insightful.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. The Notre Dame Experience & College Football Atmosphere

• Dan and the Danettes reminisce about their first Notre Dame experiences, the unique stadium feel, and the iconic gold helmets.
• The "meat Friday" tradition continues on set, with the crew enjoying grilling and reflecting on nostalgia, fan culture, and legendary coaches.

Notable Quotes

• Dan Patrick on the stadium:

  "You go in, it's not as large as you think it is. You know, before the renovation… But on TV it looked huge." (07:05)

• Paulie Fusco on Notre Dame's stadium:

  "It's a much cleaner college football experience. Back when I was younger, when everyone else had jumbotrons, they didn't… You got to focus to the game." (06:45)

2. Coaching Stability, Contracts, and the Nature of Pressure

• The crew discusses the unstable nature of coaching tenures, new contracts, expectations, and quick turnarounds in modern college football, referencing Marcus Freeman, Ryan Day, and Lane Kiffin.

Notable Quotes

• Dan Patrick:

  "It’s what have you done for me lately? And if I’m paying you $11 million at Indiana, you better be great... It’s not just, 'Hey, thank you for making us not, you know, an embarrassment.' It’s, 'We want to be competing for a title here.'" (09:38)

3. The “Most Must-Win Game of the Weekend” Roundtable (MMW-GOTW)

Each Danette makes their pick for the most pivotal upcoming football matchup, highlighting teams under pressure and key playoff implications.

Picks Include:

• Paulie Fusco: Georgia Tech at Duke
• Marvin: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Vikings
• Todd: Bears vs. Saints
• Seaton: Syracuse vs. Pitt (emphasis on bowl eligibility pressure)

Notable Quotes

• Seaton (Bridget Todd) on Syracuse:

  "If they want to get into a bowl game, they absolutely have to beat Pitt this weekend." (13:34)

4. Most Impactful Game So Far (MIGOTSSF)

A lively debate on which recent NFL game has shifted the playoff race most significantly, with references to the Steelers, Bengals, Patriots, and Bills.

Notable Quotes

• Dan Patrick, clarifying the stakes:

  "That’s the most impactful game of the season so far? ...It totally opens up the division." (15:11)

5. Fun with Football Fashion & Merch

• Nostalgic discussion of player shoulder pads and uniform evolution over decades.
• Debating the merits (and curses) of "capri pants" for coaches at pressers, especially Miami’s Mike McDaniel.

Notable Quotes

• Paulie Fusco:

  "Combined capri pants equal losses. Everyone knows that." (17:35)

• Bridget Todd:

  "I love Mike McDaniel. Everything that he does... I wish that he was a little more like, protected his quarterbacks... but in terms of his style... that’s my guy." (17:45)

Feature Interview: Pete Bevacqua, Notre Dame Athletic Director

[Starts at 25:47]

Entering, Gifts, and Banter

• Pete brings out the new Notre Dame hockey jersey and performance review jokes about being Dan’s former boss at NBC:

  "I think he was my boss at NBC at one point, although I never saw him." – Dan (25:17)
  "I thought you did a really good job." – Pete (26:40)

Power, Independence, and the State of College Football

• Dan frames Pete as one of the top three influencers in college football, alongside the SEC and Big Ten commissioners. Pete humbly defers, attributing influence to Notre Dame’s legacy, not himself:

  "It's not me. It's Notre Dame... I'm the caretaker of that. You know, and I couldn't be more honored..." – Pete (27:21)

• Explains his unique role as "caretaker" with a responsibility to Notre Dame’s independence, tradition, and the future of college football.

  "Notre Dame believes in being independent in this space... and it's a great privilege to be in that room." – Pete (27:21)

Super-Leagues and the Future Playoff Model

• Dan asks about an NFL/Premier League model as an inevitability. Pete is strongly against "mini-NFLs," calling them a "horrible mistake":

  "College football is not the NFL. We shouldn't be the NFL. We're something different. We're something that's special." (28:46)

• On the danger of lost traditions and rivalries:

  "We won't look like the NFL. We'll look like a small version, a compromised version of the NFL, and we'll lose what's so special." (29:13)

Notre Dame–USC Rivalry and Scheduling Challenges

• Dan raises the danger that realignment and scheduling changes might end the iconic ND–USC series.
• Pete is optimistic:

  "We've had a lot of positive conversations with USC... We want to keep this series going. It's so special. It's... great for Notre Dame. I think it’s great for USC. And maybe most importantly, I think it's great for college football." (29:48)

• Continues on the negotiation required to keep the rivalry alive amidst conference expansion and scheduling constraints:

  "USC would like to play our game earlier in the season. So I'm working hand in hand... where could we position this game so it’s a win-win for us... I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic." (31:47)

Independence vs. Joining a Conference

• Dan prods about joining the Big Ten for more consistent rivalries (like Michigan). Pete firmly reiterates independence as their "unicorn" status, crediting Notre Dame's NBC partnership and national scheduling as key benefits (34:31).

• "To be independent, you have to be good. And we know that." (35:38)

The College Football Playoff and Expansion

• Dan asks Pete for a hypothetical vote:

  "If you had the deciding vote of expanding the playoffs from 12 to, let's say, 16, 100% answer?" (36:05)

• Pete is emphatic:

  "In my opinion, 16 teams is the way we should go. Five automatic qualifiers... 11 at large. Prove it on the field." (36:12)

Uniforms and Merchandise

• Dan probes about uniform approvals and specialty jerseys. Pete credits Coach Marcus Freeman for his sense of style and Under Armour for creative collaborations.

  "We see the gold helmet as sacrosanct. I don’t think we’re going to monkey around with the helmets anymore." (39:10)

• On Notre Dame’s merchandising muscle:

  "We're lucky we have such a great, passionate, national, international fan base. That Notre Dame logo... people know what it is. It means something." (40:35)

Ending with a Light Note

• A joking request for an honorary degree and praise for the hospitality in South Bend.
• Pete:

  "Well, we're thrilled you're here. I love the show personally." (41:54)

Memorable Banter and Listener Favorites

• Rhyme Time Game returns (42:46). The crew plays a rapid-fire wordplay game—"Lucky Ducky," "Spring Fling," "Max Facts," etc.
• Behind-the-scenes gratitude is expressed to staff and Notre Dame liaisons, with special mention for their director overcoming a family tragedy to deliver the live broadcast (45:18).
• ’What We Learned’ wraps the episode, including running jokes about academic regrets and the persistent Notre Dame study culture (45:46).
• Closing poll:

  "How long will Kurt Signetti’s contract last?" – Majority says under four years (47:43).

Time-Stamped Highlights

• 03:12 — Dan and crew live from Notre Dame, discussing the stadium and football culture.
• 05:35 — Paulie recalls his childhood Notre Dame game; talk of classic stadiums and helmets.
• 09:38 — College football's quick turnover, "what have you done for me lately" attitude.
• 11:45 — “Most Must-Win Game” picks for the college football weekend are debated.
• 15:00 — Determining the most impactful NFL game of the season so far.
• 17:10 — Nostalgic debate on football fashions and capri pants for coaches.
• 25:47 — Interview with Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua begins.
• 28:46 — Bevacqua explains his opposition to college football “Super Leagues.”
• 29:48 — Deep dive on preserving the Notre Dame–USC rivalry.
• 36:12 — Bevacqua calls for a 16-team playoff with clear qualifiers.
• 39:10 — Notre Dame uniform traditions and merchandising power discussed.
• 42:46 — “Rhyme Time” comedy segment delights live audience.
• 45:18 — Show staff gratitude and emotional behind-the-scenes details.
• 47:43 — Poll results and what the crew learned today; lighthearted academic regrets close the episode.

Final Thoughts

This jam-packed episode beautifully blends sports insight, institutional pride, television nostalgia, and trademark Dan Patrick wit. The feature with Pete Bevacqua lends clarity to Notre Dame’s traditions, ambitions, and place in the rapidly changing college football world. For fans of college sports and media, it’s an essential listen—by turns hilarious, nostalgic, and thought-provoking.

Sample Standout Quote

“Notre Dame believes in being independent in this space... and it's a great privilege to be in that room. I love being in that room. I love being a part of those conversations... We have to stay relevant. We have to knock on that national championship door year in and year out, because to stay independent, we have to be impossible to ignore.”
— Pete Bevacqua, 27:21 & 35:38

For listeners who missed it: This episode is an ideal entry point for those interested in college football’s future, Notre Dame’s enduring mystique, and the dynamic behind-the-scenes world that keeps Saturday traditions alive.