The Best of the Week on The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Best of the Week on The Dan Patrick Show
Released on January 4, 2025
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

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1. College Football Bowl Season Overview

The episode kicks off with a lively discussion on the ongoing college football bowl season, centering primarily around the Pop Tarts Bowl. The hosts delve into the significance of bowl games in the college football landscape, highlighting their impact on team rankings and playoff considerations.

Jason Stewart initiates the conversation:
"So it is bowl season in college football, and when you talk about great discussions, it all centers around the Pop Tarts bowl." ([01:04])

2. Pop Tarts Bowl and Team Performances

The hosts engage in a humorous yet insightful debate about the iconic breakfast treat, Pop Tarts, juxtaposing it with the football dynamics of the bowl game.

Rich Davis shares his preference:
"It's a Pop Tart Frosted." ([02:08])

The conversation takes a turn towards the notable player, Cam Ward, whose performance in the Pop Tarts Bowl has stirred significant attention.

3. Cam Ward's Pop Tarts Bowl Performance and NCAA Record

Rich Davis provides an in-depth analysis of Cam Ward's decision to sit out the second half of the game after breaking the NCAA career record for touchdown passes:
"Cam Ward was able to break the NCAA career record for touchdown passes, beating out Case Keenum during his time at Houston." ([02:20])

He further elaborates on the mixed reactions from fans and the broader implications for NCAA records:
"We're going to all of a sudden question the motivation for a young man who's trying to protect his ability to move on to the next level... What I'm trying to say is, we don't get the outrage with any of this." ([06:30])

Jason Stewart adds perspective on the evolving nature of player decisions in college sports:
"There's a lot of players right now who are playing not to go to the playoffs, but for incentives for themselves, for their contract, to make sure they prolong their career in the NFL." ([08:49])

4. Evolution of College Football Playoffs and Conferences

The discussion shifts to the structural changes within college football, particularly the introduction of a 14-team playoff system and its repercussions on traditional conferences.

Doug Gottlieb comments on the shifting power dynamics:
"Now that you can do everything above board, it's leveled the playing field." ([44:24])

Jason Stewart reflects on the impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and the transfer portal:
"NIL and transfer portal have changed everything because it used to be these big programs would stockpile town talent." ([46:09])

5. Issues with NCAA Career Records and Rule Changes

Rich Davis critiques the NCAA's handling of career records, emphasizing the discrepancies caused by extended eligibility due to COVID and medical redshirts:
"We're counting a five-year career versus a four and three games for a medical redshirt. And we're counting it two of those years at a lower level where he absolutely dominated." ([10:40])

He draws comparisons to legendary players like Barry Sanders to highlight the inconsistency:
"Do not compare what Barry Sanders did in 11 games rushing versus what Ashton Genti has done at this point." ([12:22])

6. Women's College Basketball Impact and Recognition

Transitioning from football, the hosts commend the rising popularity and visibility of women's college basketball, attributing much of its surge to standout players.

Dan Patrick reflects on the role played by figures like Angel Reese:
"I'll look back in 20 years and be like, yeah, the reason why we’re watching women's basketball is not just because of one person. It’s because of me too." ([33:19])

Matt Campbell emphasizes the foundational contributions of female athletes:
"Look at what Asia Wilson has done... Lisa Leslie, all those other players... they're doing great things for the WNBA." ([34:29])

7. NFL Point Spread Analysis

Shifting focus to the NFL, the hosts analyze current point spreads, drawing parallels to historical games to underscore market perceptions and expectations.

Doug Gottlieb draws a historical comparison to Super Bowl III:
"As of this morning, the Ravens are favored by 20 against the Cleveland Browns. That's just because they dismissed the AFL. They didn't think the AFL could match up with the big bad NFL." ([36:10])

He highlights the surprising underdog positions of teams like the Browns and Chiefs:
"The Chiefs are getting 10 and a half point underdogs and the Browns are getting 20 against the Ravens. That's sad." ([37:00])

8. Poll Questions and Audience Engagement

Throughout the episode, the hosts engage with their audience through poll questions, encouraging listener participation and feedback on pressing sports topics.

Jason Stewart poses a question to the audience:
"Who are you rooting for to win the national title? Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas?" ([39:43])

Doug Gottlieb and Rich Davis provide their insights based on listener responses, further enriching the discussion with diverse viewpoints.

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Key Takeaways

• Cam Ward's Decision: Cam Ward's approach to breaking the NCAA touchdown record by limiting his playtime has sparked debates about athlete motivations and NCAA regulations.
• College Football Playoff Changes: The transition to a 14-team playoff system and the influence of NIL and the transfer portal are reshaping traditional power structures within college football.
• NCAA Record Discrepancies: There is growing concern over the fairness of NCAA career records, considering extended eligibility and varying competition levels.
• Rise of Women's Basketball: The increased visibility and popularity of women's college basketball are being attributed to key players and heightened media coverage.
• NFL Betting Trends: Current NFL point spreads indicate a significant underestimation of traditionally strong teams, reminiscent of historical upsets.

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Notable Quotes

• Rich Davis on Cam Ward:
  "I don't get the outrage with any of this." ([06:30])

• Doug Gottlieb on NCAA Changes:
  "Now that you can do everything above board, it's leveled the playing field." ([44:24])

• Dan Patrick on Women's Basketball:
  "I'll look back in 20 years and be like, yeah, the reason why we’re watching women's basketball is not just because of one person. It’s because of me too." ([33:19])

• Doug Gottlieb on NFL Spread:
  "The Chiefs are getting 10 and a half point underdogs and the Browns are getting 20 against the Ravens. That's sad." ([37:00])

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This episode of The Dan Patrick Show offers a comprehensive exploration of significant developments in college football, critiques of NCAA practices, the ascent of women's basketball, and intriguing insights into NFL betting trends. Through engaging discussions and expert analysis, the hosts provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the evolving sports landscape.

Transcript

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[Steve Covino]

You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio.

[Jason Stewart]

So it is bowl season in college football, and when you talk about great discussions, it all centers around the Pop Tarts bowl.

[Rich Davis]

That's right.

[Jason Stewart]

You know, frost.

[Rich Davis]

By the way it delivered. Say what you want, man. Just like those brown sugar, cinnamon, like those. Those ones. Those always hit. That was my favorite. I was a little.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, frosted, unfrosted. Doesn't matter.

[Rich Davis]

It's a Pop Tart Frosted.

[Jason Stewart]

Well, some people are into the unfrosted stuff.

[Rich Davis]

That's like a toaster strudel. That's not. That's not a Pop Tart.

[Jason Stewart]

Look, the frosting on a Pop Tart. I'm not sure when that was made and how it was made. No offense to Pop Tarts, buddy.

[Rich Davis]

If you eat a Pop Tart, you're not overly concerned with the health or nutrition facts. You're eating a Pop Tart, by the.

[Jason Stewart]

Way, toaster or microwave for a Pop Tart.

[Rich Davis]

Toaster. And it's not even close.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, I don't know. Feel like it's a. I feel like it's a better cook in a microwave to be honest with.

[Rich Davis]

Every time I want to. I want to like you, you say something like that and it's. I can't. I can't do it.

[Jason Stewart]

Lee, what's your problem?

[Rich Davis]

I don't even know where to start.

[Jason Stewart]

When did you ever put one in a microwave? I don't know.

[Doug Gottlieb]

What do you mean?

[Jason Stewart]

As a kid, you just throw it in the microwave. It's a better cook. Oh, my God, dude. Mark, why are you shaking your head? Toaster, toaster, toast, toaster. All right, what are you putting?

[Rich Davis]

I'll say it again. I say it once a week. You deserve all the backlash you get on Twitter. You really do. It's for takes like this that you deserve the backlash that you received.

[Jason Stewart]

There are different options out there. It's almost changed everything for me. Screw you, Mark. I'm just saying there's, you know, options out there, right? If the toaster up, you know?

[Rich Davis]

Good for you, Mark.

[Jason Stewart]

By the way, I do, like, made for the toaster. What are you doing? I also like how Pop Tarts don't even give you the option of having one. You open a bag, you're getting two, and if you don't eat the other one, it's going stale. So, like, no, you. Not only are you eating bad, you're eating bad twice.

[Rich Davis]

I just can't believe you said unfrosted.

[Jason Stewart]

Like, that's.

[Rich Davis]

Who in the. Who are in their right mind would get a Pop Tart unfrosted?

[Jason Stewart]

I don't know, man. Some people are into it, you know?

[Rich Davis]

Some people listen.

[Jason Stewart]

Some people are into weird stuff. I don't have to tell, okay?

[Rich Davis]

It's like getting a giant sized Snickers bar and only half of it. You're like, oh, I'm worried about the sugar and the calories in it.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, yeah. Well, it's the. The old Rob Parker trick. You. You eat healthy but still get dessert. It's like. He's like, oh, I got a. I got a burger with no bun, but I ordered a chocolate sundae afterwards. Dude, just get the bun. What's the point? Like, you just did more damage to yourself.

[Rich Davis]

So aren't you making our argument right now?

[Jason Stewart]

Well, no, I'm just telling you that there's an out there for people if they don't like the frosting. The frosting's not that great.

[Rich Davis]

I mean, I have not seen an unfrosted Pop Tart in forever. Mostly because anyone who eats an unfrosted Pop Tart probably got shoved in a locker. We've never seen them. I'm just saying.

[Jason Stewart]

What's with the violence? It's just. It's a. It's a strudel. Like, what. What's the violence here over a breakfast snack that's not good for you.

[Rich Davis]

And Pop Tarts are way better than toaster strudel. I mean, there's a reason why Toaster Strudel hasn't sponsored a pool game. All right.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, I would agree. Yeah. Were they even in the. In contention for the bowl game? But apparently, you know, if they do partake in sponsoring a bowl game, they'll be there for the entire game. Not like that. Damn Cam Ward. How dare he not return for the second half. He had to be ashamed of himself. All right, do it for your team.

[Rich Davis]

Are we believing in the fake outrage that. That there was around Cam Ward, who. And this is the explanation that I guess was given because Mario Cristobal, the head coach at University of Miami, didn't really elaborate on what that conversation was with Cam Ward behind the scenes. Simply that we had an individual conversation with. With a lot of players who were deciding whether they wanted to play or sit out the game, and he's going to leave it at that. Which was a smart way of handling it, because every player's situation, circumstance is different. Could Cam Ward have sat out of that game altogether? Of course. In all seriousness, three weeks ago, the Miami Hurricanes were potentially playing for an ACC championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. And then come to find out a few weeks later, now they're losing in the Pop Tarts Bowl. Like that is a dramatic fall from grace from where Miami fans thought their team was three, four weeks ago. So here we are. You've got a player who's choosing to at least participate in a portion of the game now, even if it's about his own selfish reasons, which Cam Ward was able to break the NCAA career record for touchdown passes, beating out Case Keenum during his time there at Houston. And so he did it in the first half through three touchdown passes, got the record, and then sat out the second half, obviously watched his team lose in the final minutes. Now, that being said, I don't really understand the outrage from this standpoint. Like, do people really think NFL teams are going to care? Like, he actually put himself out there to play. In an era where a lot of players have not only opted out of games, Jamar Chase opted out of an entire season, do we tend to forget that back when he was at lsu, And I'm not saying that Jeremiah Smith would ever do this at Ohio State, but based on his freshman season, they're obviously still playing for national championship. Based on what I think he'll do next year as a sophomore, he would probably have every right to do so if he wanted to. I mean, that young man is NFL ready now. And so to have to put himself out there in harm's way for another year. Yeah, he'll get an insurance policy. He'll get paid a lot of nil, but it won't be anywhere close to what he's going to receive when he's taken somewhere probably in the top three picks once he's draft eligible. What, in 2020? Is that it? 2027 is when math is off. But I think you're getting. My point is, like, we're going to all of a sudden question the motivation for a young man who's trying to protect his ability to move on to the next level, make money, which at that level. There's a lot of players right now who are playing not to go to the playoffs, but for incentives for themselves, for their contract, to make sure they prolong their career in the NFL, because they can't necessarily opt out, at least not without making it look kind of shady. I just. I don't get the outrage with any of this.

[Jason Stewart]

I think there's. Do you have a place that you go to eat with the family where it's like, if you go to that place, you have to eat that one specific item because they just, like, that's what you're used to. Whenever you go there, it's like, hey, I'm going here. I got to get this. You know, I got to get, like, what? Like, whatever it is with college football, I think people are just so accustomed to bitching that they can't help themselves. It's a Pop Tarts bowl. Like, you've got a. You've got a weirdo dressed as. As a breakfast strudel jumping out of a fake toaster. At the end of the game, Cam Ward goes out there, he plays the first half, he breaks the record. That's it. It's over, done. There doesn't need to be a conversation afterwards. He did what he did. Good for him. He assumed the risk. He went out there, he put it on the line for the first half. You could get hurt at any half of a game. Like, you remember Jalen Smith who got hurt playing. Like, people criticized him afterwards saying, yeah, it's nice he went out and played. But you got to think about your draft stock. That guy was a top five pick, but in the bag, top five pick back. And I think, what, 2016?

[Rich Davis]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

Like. And so when Christian McCaffrey sat at a bowl game, he got criticized for it. When Leonard Fournette sat at a bowl game, he got criticized for it all. They're being selfish. And so here, Cam Ward actually plays the first half, goes out, breaks a record, and Then sits out the second half. No, no, no. You've got to commit to the entire game. What does this work like? You can't help but people just want to complain when they talk about college football. It doesn't matter what the discussion is. We've got other conversations coming up. People just want to complain about college football because they're just so accustomed to doing it. I'm convinced.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah.

[Rich Davis]

I don't know, maybe they just want to see came or get a piece of that gigantic pop tart there at the end. Yeah, Matt Campbell and. And Rocco Beckford. We're diving into all that icing you hate so much. I mean, if we really want to be upset about something, we should be upset about the fact that the NCAA is allowing a career record for touchdown passes to count for Cam Ward. Like, if you really want me to get on my soapbox and take like one of those hot takes, okay, here it is. All right. Cam Ward played five years. Okay, he did so two of which were these. Some of these stats were amounted at Incarnate Word, which is an FCS school. So is it really comparable to compare Case Keenum, who at least played at the FBS level for four years in three games in a year he got a medical redshirt when he tore his AC to accumulate those career stats, or five years of playing because that first year at Incarnate Word was a Covid year, they get the additional year of eligibility. So all those stats count, all those touchdown passes count towards this record. And so not only should there be, I don't know, I want to say an asterisk, but we're counting a five year career versus a four and three games for a medical red shirt. And we're counting it two of those years at a lower level where he absolutely dominated, then went to Washington State, then went to Miami. So kudos to Cam Ward for the success that he's had. But I would go a step further and say this. Like, what's starting to bother me a lot about everything that's happening in the college football space is we talk about the history, we talk about the tradition. You know what? We do an awful job of protecting that history and that tradition. The legacy of guys like Barry Sanders, for example, who rushed for over 2,000 yards. What was the. You could look up the exact number during his time at Oklahoma State, but he did it for like 11 games.

[Dan Patrick]

And.

[Rich Davis]

And Ashton Genti look great player at Boise State, obviously a Heisman finalist. Doak Walker winner. He's incredible. Let's not compare him though, to Barry Sanders. Like, as much as we want to talk about how well this is a part of Ashton Genti's legacy or this is a part of Cam Ward's legacy, that's true. But what are we doing to protect the legacy of the guys who came before them? Like, it's just, it's not even comparable what Barry Sanders did in 11 games rushing versus what Ashton Jetty has done at this point, we're still, you know, still counting the stats isn't fair. It's not fair to the past players who only had four years of eligibility to do it. And you have now have guys who have stats that are counting for five years, six years because of COVID because of redshirt years, medical redshirts that they're counting. Like, if you really want to dig into like what the issue should be with this conversation is the fact that he was playing in the first half at all. To go try to break this career touchdown record is part of the issue with the NCAA is we like try to make up ways that guys can break records when their eligibility, now that we've got Diego Pava, who's eligible again next year, the quarterback at Vanderbilt because his JUCO years didn't count. So we keep changing and moving the goalposts with what these records are. That's the most ridiculous part of all of this that no one's talking about. And so, yeah, it's awesome that Cam Ward was able to throw for that many touchdown passes. But in reality, like he didn't do it on a per game basis the way Case Keenum did. He didn't do it consistently at that high level or at a higher level like Houston during the time Case Keenum did. So you can give Ken Ward the record. I think they'd be an asterisk next next to it.

[Jason Stewart]

2,628 yards for Barry Sanders in 1988.

[Rich Davis]

Which is 11 games, right?

[Jason Stewart]

Mind. Yes, mind boggling.

[Rich Davis]

And yet we're still like comparing players now who are playing into, you know, bowl games and conference championships and into the playoff now, which has been extended. And yet we're counting all of that. It's like, oh, he broke the record. It's like, well, imagine if Barry played 14 games. Do the math on that. He would have went over 3,000 yards.

[Jason Stewart]

I mean, at this point, isn't Cam McCormick like on the verge of breaking the all time record? I mean, he should be. He's been there 37 years.

[Rich Davis]

Maybe not, not that record. I don't know. I don't know what he's got going on Miami, but maybe some other records.

[Jason Stewart]

You know, if you're gonna, if you're gonna stick around, like, how many? Like, Cam McCormick just turned 53, by the way. So he's, he's still, I think, got another year of eligibility. Cam Rising might come back for another year.

[Rich Davis]

Dude, there's, there's all that year seven, year eight, something discount at this point. And here's. I'm not gonna bash the young men for coming back and taking their opportunity to play, but I, I think again, we're, we're moving the goalpost in regards to how we want to talk about what our career records and all these stats and all these ways that we're acknowledging accomplishments for players. I was like, well, yeah, it. Of course we'd throw for that many yards if you could play five, six years. And all those years counted. So, again, that's more my biggest gripe with all this. Like, it's. It's really surprising that as many people, especially in this day and age, and again, as I've said before, where players have opted out of an entire season, now we see players opt out of bowl games all the time, especially ones that are insignificant. And yet that's where the outrage is, because he only played half the game. I mean, he did spot his team three points at half. I mean, they were up three points on Iowa State, so it was better than if he didn't play at all. And they start 0, 0.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, he did his job. Blame the bullpen. You know, it's not his fault they blew the game for him. By the way, would you have done anything different in the new landscape on your decision to come out because you had another year of eligibility? Correct.

[Rich Davis]

No, I came back. So again, back during those years, you have, you know, once that clock starts, unless I would have had a medical register, I guess I could have sat out a year in between or something. But, you know, once it starts, you're playing and the decision would have been to come out after my junior year. And for me personally, it just, it felt like between the class of guys that I was with wanting to graduate, then I talked to some older guys who had given me the advice that's just said it's really, really hard to come back and finish your degree. They're like, life just kind of hits you at a time where, you know, drove Bettis, I think in a couple years ago. Yeah, finally came back, got his degree, which is awesome, and it was incredible. It's fun to watch. He's one of the most charismatic people you ever meet. But imagine that, like, having kids. His son's now committed to come to Notre Dame soon. I mean, imagine sitting in class with your son because you're trying to finish up your underground. He's starting, right? Like, granted, he'd be a different classes, different levels, but it would be to a degree. But then you're like, all right, who's doing the homework? Dad or son doing the homework. But the general point is, I wanted to come back. I wanted to get my degree. I wanted another shot at trying to win a national championship. I wanted to be there with the guys I came in with. We had a really close class of guys. I wanted to be there for another year with them and try to obtain all those things. So it ended up not working out. But I wouldn't change that final year for anything. Like, it was a great ride. I love Notre Dame, love my alma mater. And like I said, I just. I wish, if anything, there's times where I wonder back if I could have expressed more of an interest of wanting to redshirt. And that way, my true freshman year, I would have maybe gone through a lot of the lumps that I went through and trying to learn and trying to improve as a player and would have been more mature, more prepared, especially within that offense, because it's not like we could enroll early. Like, back then. I came up early in the summer for workouts and things, but. But that was the extent, you know, they. We weren't allowed to enroll, like, in January, like they do now and then, and practice through spring practice. Hell, some of these guys are actually practicing to prepare for the bowl games, you know, juju Lewis, I believe is his last name. The quarterback who's committed to Colorado to come in behind Shador Sanders as their starter. He's been practicing throughout, you know, the Bull practices before the Alamo bowl, so that experience would be incredible.

[Jason Stewart]

I think. Lavar said, man, man, his son is already in State College, and if they were a national title, that he would. He would be eligible for a ring, right?

[Rich Davis]

Like, what? Crazy. I mean, again, different strokes for different folks. I'm not sure I would accept something if I wasn't there the entire year. But the general point is it's very different now, and it wasn't that way at Notre Dame back then. It is now. You have the capability of doing that. So that's one of the things that I wish I could have done either. Enrolled earlier at the halfway point of my senior in high school and got up to school earlier to then prepare more for that spring or if redshirt. I mean, those are the things I more think about.

[Steve Covino]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app, search FSR to listen live.

[Jason Stewart]

Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course the iheartradio at. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[Steve Covino]

We have round two of the college football playoffs getting underway tonight. Again, same time, same, same idea as last time around. One game today and then three tomorrow. I think this is the perfect bowl game, Fiesta bowl game. Now look, full disclosure, I, I, it's ridiculous that Boise got a buy equal. Equally ridiculous that Arizona State WINS the Big 12 and they're not playing in Glendale. And as much you can say, well, that would be a, that would be an unfair home field advantage. Like, okay, so neither Arizona State nor Boise State deserve to be a top four seed. But if they're going to be a top four seed, and if the difference is all that slight, shouldn't you want to sell tickets? And if you sold tickets, and I just saw online that tickets for Arizona State's game in Georgia are going for pennies on the dollar. So congratulations on screwing something up. That was pretty easy right there in front of you. But regardless of it. But Dan, can I make the pitch to you of why I think this.

[Matt Campbell]

Is the perfect game yeah, I'd love to hear it.

[Steve Covino]

Okay, so basically, for the last, I don't know, 25 years or so, and obviously it got worse once we got the College football playoff, the 14 playoff, but remember, we'd always have these bowl games. We had Hawaii taken on who they get pummeled by in the Sugar Bowl. Was that Alabama, Georgia, Georgia in the sugar. But it was just bad. Right? But you also, you had Boise take down Oklahoma in this in the Fiesta Bowl. That was the hook and ladder play, right? You had the Statue of Liberty. You had Chris Myers going, okay, now you're gonna ask your girlfriend to marry you. Like, dude, what are you doing? Anyway, like, arguably one of the most famous substance. And you'd always get from the side of the SEC, the side of the Big 12, the side of the Big 10. Like, hey, it doesn't matter. Come on, man. Like, it's a bowl game. We get a swag bag, we get to ride roller coasters and have a big dinner, and freshmen get to a more chance to work out. Like, it's never really mattered to us, right? And there was no real payoff other than to say, hey, we won that bowl game. Which is sort of bragging rights. But, like, you know, the SEC especially has had that, like, we love, you know, bowl games only matter when we win them. Well, now the Big Ten, who, let's just be honest, over the last 25 years, outside of Ohio State, been pathetic in bowl games. Is that fair, Dan?

[Matt Campbell]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Steve Covino]

Okay. Right. Big Ten. Considering the historic nature and success of Big Ten programs generally, again, I'm saying this is more generalization. Generally, the Big Ten has been pathetic and bold.

[Matt Campbell]

It's funny because as a Big Ten guy, I don't even know, I just went along with it. So I. Honestly, Doug, I have no idea. But sure, okay.

[Steve Covino]

It's not an every year thing. I would say more often than not, regardless, okay? And the Big Ten has never, has usually not been the conference, like, A.D. doesn't matter to us, right? But the SEC has been. It doesn't. These. These games don't matter. Well, this one matters. Okay, you have that same Cinderella type story in Boise State. Granted, dramatically overseeded. And they get the benefit of not having to play last weekend. So they're fresh, they're rested. This is the best that Boise is. Is going to have. And proximity wise, you know, you get on a Southwest flight or what's that other airline that you got, you can actually go into Mesa with, But Mesa is on the other side of the earth from Glendale. Anyway, point is they'll have a great crowd, a great chance to win against big bad Penn State. And Penn State cannot say it doesn't matter to us because this is all that matters. So you have the, you know, in basketball you'd have the bracket buster, the high major versus the mid major. You finally actually have that in college football for a chance to go to the Final Four. I think it's kind of sweet that as much as they screwed up a lot of it and again, like I even think Penn State's kind of overseeded and, and we're making a bigger thing about Penn State who's okay, they're not great, but you get a chance for the real everyone who, who went to a school that's not a Power 4 school, anyone who's ever felt slighted, felt like they belonged. And even heck, my own modern Oklahoma State where, you know, you go back to the Brandon Whedon team that, that one was at the 2012, I think Fiesta bowl right there was that they couldn't get into the national championship game, lose to Iowa State on a missed field goal. Right. Even those ones like the overlooked non name brand teams now are going to be rooting for Boise and you got the Big Ten and Penn State and all their tradition coming in. And you know, of course we know James Franklin always takes, you know, catching strays for not beating ranked teams. It's kind of a no win for James Franklin. They win, they're supposed to be Boise State. They lose. While it's going to be ugly in State College, I think it's like the perfect game, perfect game on a New Year's Eve.

[Matt Campbell]

I, and I can completely accept that. And I just wonder if there is a bit of a letdown from what we had in the first opening games because you mentioned the ticket prices. And by the way, the Big 12 was supposed to go to the Fiesta bowl, but what happened is that Boise State just ended up again the fruits of being higher in the rankings because they ended up being higher. They got placed in the Fiesta bowl in that closer region which put Arizona State. But I think the Big 12 was under the assumption that, you know, if it was byu, if it was Colorado, if it was Arizona State, that they likely would have gotten to play in the Fiesta Bowl. But that's why they ended up in the Peach bowl, because Boise State was. But to your point, Doug, I look at the basketball tournament, the Final Fours, the Sweet Sixteens and what do we love? We love a little bit of Cinderella and then we want it Good at the end and we'll probably get that in this College Football Playoff. But the question is, is how much do we want. Do we want Boise State to win this game? Do we want Boise State to go and play Georgia or Notre Dame in the semifinal? I'm not sure I have. I can't even tell you right now, as crazy as it sounds. And that's why I think after these games, despite the first ones being blowouts, there was something new. There was something unique about it. And yeah, whether it's Alabama or LSU or, you know, or smu, excuse me, I'm not worried about it. But I don't know where that medium, that happy medium is that we've kind of figured out in the men's, you know, NCAA tournament. And I think it's going to take a little time. This, this one off tonight could be a great way to start it. And then it leads into the, to the Arizona State, Texas game tomorrow. But yeah, I don't have a read. I don't know if I would feel differently if it was, say, you know, Penn, Penn State against Alabama, as crazy as that sounds, because of what we have with Oregon and Ohio State and Notre Dame and Georgia, I don't know if we need Alabama, but I can see where you're coming from. I just want to find that happy medium that I don't know where it's at because this is so new.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah, I'd say this. I think if Boise were to win tonight, if Boise were to win tonight, I think next week is the perfect example of why all of us know Boise can't win this thing. They just can't. Just the attrition of playing a big boy and then you play a real big boy next week, you just, you get so beat up and so worn down. You do. I think what's the other interesting element to it is again, it's not as much this week as it is for the next game is like once these teams that have had to play the extra game, like that's Notre Dame loses with their best defensive lineman, like you're gonna lose a guy in every game. Now the difference in the, the Georgia's to a lesser extent Notre Dame, but the super, the Ohio states of the world is they do have a depth of talent that the other schools don't. Just that's what the money does. For people who haven't listened to the Doug Gottlieb show, it airs every afternoon, 3 to 5 Eastern 12, 2 Pacific, Dan Beyer alongside and Jason Stewart. We're in for Dan the Danets today. This is. You're seeing it in college basketball, and I think the truth is it's really right there in college football. I know it's hard for you to conceptualize how could Alabama lose to Vandy, lose to Oklahoma. Just the attrition of playing the best competition week in, week out is completely different. It's just, it's a different sport and they're dealing with a different salary cap. Even Indiana, okay, who I. I didn't think belonged in the field and got thoroughly undressed. The fact is that Indiana did spend a ton of money. Like, you don't always get a championship team when you put a bunch of money together for these college rosters, okay? But more often than not you do. And it's just a depth of athletes at those schools because they have substantially more money. You know, I mean, that's really, really it. I mean, I'm just, I'm not, I'm not complaining about my situation. I took a job late knowing, okay, all of the pitfalls. But I was just, you know, before we started the show, I mean, when my assistant's office, like, man, could have had that. There's a dude who we recruited, it was late. He was available. We didn't get. And my sister's like, why didn't we get him? And I was like, we didn't have the cheddar. It was just too much money for us. Just was like, that's the reality to it. And yeah, they're better. They got more money. They're supposed to be better, you know, so I'm not an SEC alum, I'm not an SEC wonk, but I also know how this deal works, and I think it's going to get worse before it gets better in terms of the disparity between the SEC and to a slightly lesser extent, the Big Ten and everybody else, because they just make more money. They have more money. And again now, next year, you can bring it in house, you know, and pay and have the players under an nil contract from the university. And those universities have more money. They don't just make money on the. Everybody says the TV deal, TV deal is great, but that makes sure all the lights are on all the pretty things, whatever. They can make $150 million a year off of their stadiums. They have bigger stadiums, they're always filled. And then you get into all the other stuff. So they. It's just the idea that you're really. You're going to be competitive three weeks in a row with Teams that have, you know, 5 to 10 to 20x, the spending of what you have is. It's really kind of silly when you think about it. Now in a one game scenario, can you pull it off? Yeah, yeah, Boise can beat Penn State, but can they beat Penn State and then beat Georgia and then beat somebody else? Nope.

[Matt Campbell]

So Brett McMurphy's report yesterday from the Action Network saying that the committee is going to look at the bracket and possibly change the conference winners getting the automatic bids like Boise State did and Arizona State did, that you would still go with the rankings at least at some point to give your top four buys. You would give them the automatic bid to the tournament, but they wouldn't get the buy, which could change as soon as next year if everyone's on board. And I'm curious on why the Big 12 or the mountain west would want to be on board with this. But again, at the SEC and the Big Ten are playing hardball for future agreements that could possibly change. But I think that Boise State actually has a different field, Doug, and this is why, it's, why it's difficult. And I don't know if Boise State would have won in the quarterfinals or, excuse me, one, in the first round and now was on a, on a streak going into this bowl game here. It almost seems like the Cinderella run into the semifinal is, is just too far when you get down to the Final Four. And I wonder if it would have been more fulfilling to see, to see that sort of advancement by a Boise State team. You know what I mean? Like to have them win a first round game. They become then the story where right now they haven't even played a game and there isn't even the feel for Cinderella and it's almost difficult to find them as a Cinderella considering that they are going to be the higher seated team and wearing the home uniforms today against Penn State. So it's, it's just, it's very, very odd. And I feel that the role of the Cinderella would likely be fit better if that new format was put in and Boise State ended up winning a first round game.

[Steve Covino]

The Dan Patcher Show Fox for Tradies. Dan Byron, Doug Gottlieb. Let's, let's get a little. As we rec 2024 on New Year's Eve day we play a little. They say what? They said what?

[Rich Davis]

Hold up now.

[Dan Patrick]

Hold up.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Wait a minute. They said what?

[Matt Campbell]

Doug?

[Rich Davis]

I just, I found a gift for our listeners. I wasn't able to afford buying gifts for all our listeners, so. But I wanted to give them the gift of sound.

[Jason Stewart]

And I think this might be my favorite.

[Rich Davis]

This might be the best piece of sound from the year 20. 20,000. 24. Was it 2024?

[Matt Campbell]

It's 2, 2000. Yeah. Only 18,000 years off.

[Rich Davis]

ANGEL Reese wanted to kind of sum up the impact that her and Caitlin Clark had on the world of women's college basketball. And this is a real joke.

[Dan Patrick]

It all started from the national championship game. And I've been dealing with this for two years now and understanding, like, yeah, negative things have probably been said about me. But honestly, I'll take that because look where women's basketball is. People are talking about women's basketball. You never would think that we'd be talking about women's basketball. People are pulling up to games. We got celebrities coming to games, sold out arenas, like, just because of one single game. And just looking at that, like, I'll take that role. I'll take the bad guy role, and I'll continue to take that on and be that for my teammates. And if I want to be that, and I know I'll go down to history, I'll look back in 20 years and be like, yeah, the reason why we watching women's basketball is not just because of one person. It's because of me, too. And I want y'all to.

[Steve Covino]

Hey, I was in that game, too. People don't like me. That's why they watch.

[Matt Campbell]

What's so great is the whole WNBA was, was, like, trying to go against Caitlin Clark, and there's this whole groundswell of, look at what, look at what Asia Wilson has done.

[Steve Covino]

Oh, my gosh. Why are we not talking more about Asia Wilson?

[Matt Campbell]

Yeah, look at, look at the other, you know, Maya Moore, all these other players, Lisa Leslie, all that they've done for the, you know, for the W and Cheryl Swoops and Cynthia Cooper, all these great players, which I think that we do recognize yet here. Angel Reese is like, yeah, it's none of them. It's none of them. You want to give it to Caitlin Clark, but it's also me. Oh, just magnificent. Magnificent. SOUNDBITE.

[Steve Covino]

I don't know if you guys watched the. I watched all the Christmas Day games, and there was one thing that was, that was interesting, was even though it was the NBA, you saw, like, State Farm replaced Chris Paul with. I don't know who the WNBA player was. The game was on. I was working in my office at the time, and many of the WNBA stars. Asia Wilson now is in a Nike ad.

[Matt Campbell]

Sure.

[Steve Covino]

Right. A Nike ad. And just it's one of those things where like, at some point you have to, you have to realize the league did exist for 25 years and no one in the mainstream paid attention until Caitlin Clark came around. I don't know why that's a bad thing, why people can't accept it, why people can't realize it that, you know, you fall in love with like Taylor Swift is not the world's greatest singer. She's not the world's greatest songwriter. Right? Anyone. I'm not anyone would tell you that, that Bob Dylan is 15 times whatever she's ever been. But, but she's a billionaire and she can only bring positive attention to females in music. And the more you fight it, the more you look like an idiot. Well, it's same thing here with Caitlin Clark. You know, like she's a thing. She's made. She's made it to where the couple of things that that Angel Reese said are accurate. Like, I've been doing this job for over 20 years. Outside of the imus deal with Rutgers, we never talked about women's basketball ever. And it wasn't because we hate it or don't like it. It's just nobody cared. Nobody cared. And we talked about it more this year in 24. Then we talked probably about baseball, which had a 5050 guy and now two 700 million dollar contracts and the Dodgers beat the Yankees definitely. We didn't utter a word about hockey other than they still play hockey. Right? So she's right. But the hey, it's me. I'm. Hey me. I'm the reason, like history.

[Dan Patrick]

I'll look back in 20 years and be like, yeah, the reason why we watching women's basketball is not just because of one person. It's because of me too. And I want.

[Matt Campbell]

That was more a slap in the face to any current or former WNBA player than anything. Caitlin Clark did that comment there, like, no, it was also. It was me. It wasn't you guys. Caitlin Clark at least is giving credit to those in the past. That one she told on her.

[Rich Davis]

Caitlin Clark is bent over backwards, almost pandering.

[Steve Covino]

No, now she's gotten to have had to pander. It sucks. She's had to pander.

[Rich Davis]

It's not just one person, it's two.

[Steve Covino]

It's not just one person. It's me. Let's me and more about me. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Notre Dame handled Georgia. They look more of an SEC team maybe than Georgia did last night. And it's a long time coming because Notre Dame has been roughed up when it comes to bowl games but. But they look like they are a complete team. Did have a few too many penalties for my liking and Georgia just didn't have the skill level. And I can't remember the last time a Georgia team didn't have a true legitimate running back running game. Georgia gets handled 23 to 10. So the final four is set. Texas, Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame. Here's the early point spreads. According to DraftKings, Notre Dame is favored by one and a half versus Penn State. Ohio State is a six point favorite against Texas. And peak Speaking of point spreads, I don't know the last time we had a point spread of 20 points or more, but we have that right now. As of this morning, the Ravens are favored by 20 against the Cleveland Browns. Now I go back to Super Bowl 3 when the Baltimore Colts were facing Joe Namath and the jets and I think The Colts were 18 point favorites. And that's just because they dismissed the AFL. They didn't think the AFL could match up with the big bad NFL. And we know what happened with that huge upset here. But the Browns are getting 20 against the Ravens. That's sad. Like, you know when you talk about your franchise, your team and you're like, all right, you know, we're okay, we're competitive. You know, maybe we're a 13 and a half point, you're 20, 20 point underdog. Now the Chiefs are 10 and a half point underdogs against the Broncos. They're not playing anybody and it's in Denver and Denver has to win. But those are. The bears are getting 10 against the Packers. Last I looked, the Bears are still the Bears, aren't they? Are they resting players for next season? I know the packers got to keep winning, but the Bears are getting 10. The Saints are getting 14 against the Buccaneers. Okay, Tampa has to win. The Saints are bad. But it felt like, it feels like every time these two teams get together, it's the team that's not supposed to win who wins. But the Saints are getting 14, the Bears getting 10, Chiefs getting 10 and a half and the Browns getting 20.

[Rich Davis]

Wow.

[Doug Gottlieb]

And it's play in time for the NFL with the playoffs starting on Saturday. All right, Seaton poll question today. Phone calls always welcome. We'll get to those coming up in a little bit.

[Jason Stewart]

Well, we might as well start with sort of an Easier one. Who are you rooting for to win the national title? Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas?

[Doug Gottlieb]

Okay. It's pretty easy rooting.

[Rich Davis]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

Who would you like to see win?

[Doug Gottlieb]

I know that the TV executives at the mothership would like to have Ohio State vers versus Notre Dame. I do know that. But we got four heavyweights here.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Okay. It didn't go as scripted. You know, we, we thought, all right, these teams that have first round buys, well, they all lost. Heisman Trophy candidates. They're all out of here. The sec. I like how the SEC says, hey, we got one team. It's Texas. Yeah. The, the long standing member of the sec. Texas is the loan. The lone representative of the sec. You know, things have changed now. This might be an anomaly and, and I think there'll be a lot of people go out on the ledge today and say, hey, sec, everybody caught up with you? I'm not going to go there yet, but I will say the following. Nil and transfer portal have changed everything because it used to be these big programs would stockpile town talent. Like Georgia would have three running backs ready to go, much like the U had back in the day. Be like, oh, that guy got hurt. Well, gonna bring in this guy. You can't do that anymore. Kids want to play, they want to get paid. They may not stay around. They may go try to get a, you know, a raise like Jaylen Milroe in Alabama is going pro. I don't know if Alabama wanted him back, but he's going to go pro. It just, things change and quickly and then you get a quarterback. You know, Oregon, are they going to be in the market for a quarterback? Notre Dame, will they bring in Quinn Huers? You know, Riley Leonard still playing, played well last night. But I mean, this is what's going on right now. Remember when you had Brian Kelly left Notre Dame because he wanted to go play and win national titles, so he went to lsu while Marcus Freeman has Notre Dame in the final four. Things change and everything's above board now. Everybody can pay. All you need is one booster. You just one guy who says, yeah, I'll pony up just like smu. Speaking of the ponies, they ponied up and, you know, joined the acc, brought in talent and they made the playoffs. So things have changed. Georgia is not Georgia, Alabama's not Alabama. You know, they're still going to be very good, but it feels like I don't know if they've come down as much as the rest of college football has kind of come up A little bit here like Arizona State. Arizona State should have won that game against Texas. Went toe to toe with Texas and lived to tell about it. Alabama, I mean Alabama got embarrassed this year. So you're even last night. I mean that wasn't a true Georgia team. What you expect out of Kirby Smart. They just didn't have the skill position guys. Now if Carson Beck is playing quarterback, is it a different game? Yes, but I still think Notre Dame was the better team last night. Georgia was unbelievable last year with lad McConkey and they had, you know, Brock Bowers. I mean that's different. Those are game changing players. They didn't have that. And you have these kids who are there and then do I want to go someplace else? Can I go someplace else? And that's what's happening here. You're not waiting around. Now. Arch Manning is an anomaly. He waited. Now he comes from the Manning family so they have money. He waited. He's not waiting anymore. After this season it'll be his job. But you know any other place where you got quarterbacks who are going to two schools, three schools during their three or four years in college or five or six years of college. So it's, it's changing. Do I want to say that it's parody? I don't. But I do think you have more teams now knowing that you can get into the playoffs so you'll spend money to be able to make money to be able to get into the playoffs. Now there's more hope. Instead of, hey, they're just going to take SEC team and a Big Ten team or when we had the Pac 12. That's not the case anymore.

[Jason Stewart]

Yes, it is funny, the timing of NIL and SEC struggling.

[Doug Gottlieb]

As a college football source said to me last night, yeah, now that you can do everything above board, it's leveled the playing field.

[Jason Stewart]

Now that everybody is just clearly paying everybody because it's legal to do.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

Yes. Yeah, that's funny.

[Doug Gottlieb]

But I don't know if it's parody. I don't know if we've gotten there. I'd like to see a little more of a sample size here. I mean Alabama was down this year. I don't think we expected it because it's Alabama. But they weren't a great football team. They at times were just an average team. They were non threatening.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, see there's, there are great brand names, these teams left, but are they the four best teams left? Left?

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah, like I'm, I don't go like I'm not a Penn State Fan because of their coach, but still they have a good quarterback, they got a good edge rusher and they got a really good tight end. Yeah, like you can't deny that. But we've never, like Penn State doesn't win these games, but they're winning these games this year. Year. And credit to them because normally we go, hey, Penn State. And then it would be like, oh yeah, they're, they bowed out, they're playing in the Gator bowl. But here they are and they're going to go toe to toe with Notre Dame. I would not be surprised if Penn State won that game. Texas has been good. Ohio State, you know, they, they had the hiccup and they paid for it. It. But then they made Oregon pay for it. So I'm, I'm fine with where we are with the Final Four. I think it's a pretty good representation here. I'm okay with it. Yes.

[Jason Stewart]

All four teams with a buy eliminated.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

What does that mean?

[Doug Gottlieb]

They're going to change that though because you know, two of those teams, Arizona State and Boise State next year, like if they had had, you know, the same resume, wouldn't get a first round buy. That'll change. But you know, I'm not surprised at any of that. You know, and then people say, oh, rust, you know, Oregon had rust. Or Arizona State had run, Boise State had run. Okay. I mean, I don't know if you can say we don't want a first round buy, we'll give it back to you. But you know, to see Georgia and they weren't manhandled. I mean, Georgia still, there's some grown ass men on the defensive line, but Notre Dame, you know, they made plays. There were 60 seconds that changed the game. At the end of the first half and the start of the second half, that was it. And we wondered, you know, how many points is enough. We thought maybe two touchdowns would be enough for Notre Dame to win that game. I just didn't think Georgia could score. And Notre Dame's got a really good defense. But here is Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.

[Jason Stewart]

Any thoughts on all four teams that.

[Rich Davis]

Had buys losing in the first round?

[Jason Stewart]

Do you think that played a factor at all?

[Rich Davis]

I don't know.

[Jason Stewart]

I love me.

[Rich Davis]

I look at the what Vegas says and it went kind of with what Vegas said, you know what I mean? Like at least in those two games, I guess ours was, I don't know, it was as close. But you know, two of those teams were better than the other teams, to be honest with you, you know, and.

[Doug Gottlieb]

That is what it is.

[Rich Davis]

That's more about the seeding process where it is. But I'm not here to complain about anything. You know, given the opportunity, Notre Dame lost probably their best defensive player, so I don't know how that's an advantage.

[Doug Gottlieb]

He's right about Vegas. This is what I keep telling you. College football. You've embraced gambling, so now embrace Vegas to help you seed these teams. Because Vegas has no emotion. They have no opinion. They're not part of a fan base. Their fan base is the university of money. That's all they care about. That's it. So next year, I would embrace how the Vegas odds makers view these teams of who should be favored. And then that will get you the seating. That will get you home field advantage. A first round buy. That's the smart way to go.

[Jason Stewart]

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[Doug Gottlieb]

First before you drive two hours to the big game.

[Jason Stewart]

Seriously, you had one job. Now the closest you'll get to the 50 yard line is parking lot D. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.