CFB With Stanford Steve, Deshaun Watson Wants You To Stop Boo'ing, Preseason Week 2, Hank Went To The Last LIV Event Ever + Mt Rushmore Of Emojis

Summary of CFB With Stanford Steve, Deshaun Watson Wants You To Stop Boo'ing, Preseason Week 2, Hank Went To The Last LIV Event Ever + Mt Rushmore Of Emojis

by Barstool Sports

2h 46m•August 24, 2026
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Overview of Pardon My Take with Barstool Sports

This episode is a wide-ranging sports conversation covering the Cleveland Browns’ boos aimed at Deshaun Watson, preseason Week 2 takeaways, a college football preview with Stanford Steve, Hank’s trip to what was billed as the “last LIV event ever,” and a fun Mount Rushmore of emojis. The show leans heavily into NFL and college football season ramp-up, with plenty of jokes about fan behavior, broken sports systems, and absurd modern sports content.

Deshaun Watson, Browns Booing, and Preseason Week 2

Browns fans booing Watson

  • The hosts react to Cleveland fans booing Deshaun Watson again.
  • Watson complained that the boos were “personal,” not about football.
  • The crew pushed back hard, arguing:
    • It’s both personal and performance-based.
    • Fans have every right to boo.
    • Watson’s play has been poor enough that the backlash is unsurprising.
  • They also mocked his lack of accountability and contrasted him with past athletes who at least apologized or owned their mistakes.

Bigger takeaway

  • The Browns are still one of the strangest NFL franchises, because even a preseason postgame press conference becomes an internet-wide controversy.
  • The team’s defense is viewed as good enough to contend, but the offense and quarterback play remain the problem.

Preseason Week 2 reactions

  • The hosts mostly agreed that preseason is hard to care about now because lineups and rotations are too inconsistent.
  • Notable talking points:
    • Caleb Williams played one drive.
    • Joe Burrow didn’t play.
    • The rhythm of preseason evaluation feels broken.
  • They also reacted to several injuries and preseason storylines:
    • Ashton Jeanty left practice injured and was later reported to have a sprained ankle.
    • Tyler Biadasz was also mentioned as out for the season.
    • The NFL preseason injury news cycle was described as increasingly ridiculous.

Kicker discourse

  • Harrison Butker’s 69-yard preseason field goal was dismissed as interesting but not especially meaningful.
  • The hosts argued that preseason kicking feats don’t matter much unless a team actually attempts long field goals in real games.

College Football Preview with Stanford Steve

Stanford Steve joined to preview the upcoming college football season and discuss several major contenders and dark horses.

Indiana

  • Steve strongly backed Indiana as a real contender again under Curt Cignetti.
  • He argued last season was not a fluke:
    • The roster is still strong.
    • They replaced a lot of talent well through the portal.
    • The defense remains legitimate.
  • The hosts also noted that Cignetti’s intense demeanor and signature handshake are part of his mystique.

Miami

  • Steve is high on Miami’s upside.
  • He thinks the offense could be even better this year.
  • He praised the quarterback situation and the line coaching.
  • Miami’s schedule is manageable enough that they should be in the ACC title mix.

Georgia

  • Steve sees Georgia as a classic, physical, depth-driven contender.
  • The team may be built to just “cement mixer” opponents and win with defense, line play, and depth.
  • He was not overhyping them, but agreed they are absolutely capable of winning it all.

Notre Dame

  • Steve was very bullish on Notre Dame.
  • He called them one of the best defensive teams in the country entering the year.
  • He likes the returning talent, the offensive line, and the stability under Marcus Freeman.
  • Main concern: the margin for error is small if they lose a couple of important games.

Oregon

  • Steve was more cautious on Oregon.
  • His concern was whether Dante Moore can take the next step and handle the biggest games.
  • He pointed out that Oregon keeps getting close but has struggled in major moments.

USC

  • He thinks USC could be improved, but the schedule is brutal.
  • The Trojans have a very difficult stretch against multiple ranked teams.
  • He said a lot will depend on whether the team can finally hold up on the lines of scrimmage.

Texas

  • He likes Texas a lot, and sees Arch Manning as a player worth believing in until proven otherwise.
  • The roster is expensive and loaded, but expectations are massive.
  • He noted that if Texas stumbles, people will begin to question Steve Sarkisian.

LSU and Lane Kiffin

  • Steve was optimistic about Lane Kiffin at LSU.
  • He likes the staff, the roster structure, and the potential defensive direction.
  • He stressed that LSU people want defense and a running game, not just a flashy offense.
  • He also highlighted the importance of LSU’s upcoming games, especially the showdown at Ole Miss.

Clemson

  • Steve was less certain about Clemson.
  • He acknowledged the talent is there, but asked whether the team is still living on past reputation.
  • He said the LSU opener will tell us a lot about where Clemson really is.

Big 12, West Virginia, and others

  • Steve took a shot on West Virginia as a possible Big 12 title-game team.
  • He also liked the idea of Florida or Auburn being surprise chaos teams in the SEC.
  • He mentioned that Texas Tech is a popular pick in the Big 12, but he wasn’t ready to fully lock that in.

Penn State / James Franklin

  • The hosts floated the idea that Penn State could still make the playoff this year even after firing James Franklin.
  • Steve pointed out that Penn State’s schedule is favorable enough that 10–2 could be enough to get them in.
  • The broader point: schedule strength matters, but big conference teams with 10+ wins are still highly likely to make the field.

Hank’s LIV Golf Trip

“Last LIV event ever” recap

  • Hank drove down to Indianapolis expecting the end of LIV as a serious spectacle, but found the event energetic and well-run.
  • He described:
    • A lively atmosphere
    • Good hospitality
    • Lots of fans and familiar AWLs
    • Strong team branding and a very polished setup

What stood out

  • He met players and talked with the Four Aces group.
  • He said the event felt less like a funeral and more like business as usual.
  • He admitted the event made him think LIV may not be going anywhere after all.

LIV-related stories

  • The hosts also discussed:
    • Sergio García’s history with the Masters tee box incident
    • Harrell Farnier and Oklahoma GC getting kicked off a course for improper group behavior
    • Bryson DeChambeau shooing away a media member from the range
  • Hank gave out gifts from the trip, including team merch and a Four Aces mug.

Fantasy Football, NIL, and Random Sports Bits

Fantasy punishment talk

  • The show referenced several funny last-place fantasy punishments, including:
    • The “Very Hungry Caterpillar” costume idea
    • An invisible golf punishment
    • A giant beans puzzle in a closet
  • They love these because they are peak “dudes being dudes” fantasy league behavior.

NIL

  • Big Cat said he’s officially contributing NIL money to Wisconsin football and basketball.
  • He explained that the money was split between the two programs.
  • He’s also running a ticket giveaway tied to the support.

Who’s Back of the Week

John Gruden

  • Gruden was praised for being back in the booth for preseason football.
  • The hosts loved his energy and football knowledge.
  • They said he still clearly belongs on TV.

Nano bubbles / concussion talk

  • PFT highlighted a bizarre study about a postbiotic that might reduce concussion damage.
  • He jokingly compared it to “eating shit” helping with brain health.
  • The conversation spiraled into a funny discussion of fantasy punishments and odd health science.

Jerry / Michael O’Connell reveal

  • It came out that Jerry’s real name is Michael O’Connell.
  • The hosts were surprised and thought “Jerry” fit him much better.
  • They joked that he should keep using Jerry for the brand.

James Winston

  • Zach picked Jameis Winston as his Who’s Back.
  • He praised Jameis for his classic motivational lines and his handshake/twerk-style interaction with Cam Skattebo.

Mount Rushmore of Emojis

The episode ended with a Mount Rushmore draft of favorite emojis.

Picks included

  • Eyes looking sideways
  • Skull / skull-and-crossbones style reaction
  • Crying laughing face
  • Peach
  • Upside-down smiley
  • Fire emoji
  • Snowflake
  • Purple demon
  • Handshake
  • Poop
  • Crying laughing sideways version
  • Thumbs up / thumbs down
  • Heart eyes
  • Prayer hands
  • Melting face
  • Middle finger
  • Red siren
  • Monkey covering eyes
  • Golf-related emoji jokes
  • “Booked and busy” / “on top soon” style text combos

General consensus

  • The draft exposed how different the hosts’ emoji habits are.
  • Some picks were practical reaction emojis; others were more absurd or niche.
  • The discussion was one of the funniest low-stakes segments of the episode.

Main Takeaways

  • Deshaun Watson is still getting booed, and the hosts believe he has earned it.
  • Preseason Week 2 didn’t change much, aside from more injuries and more confusion.
  • Stanford Steve is very high on Indiana, Miami, Notre Dame, and several other contenders, while cautioning against overconfidence in teams like Oregon and USC.
  • Hank’s LIV trip suggested the league may be more alive than its critics think.
  • The emoji draft was a perfect silly endcap to a very sports-heavy, very PMT episode.