Overview of PMS 2.0 1622
This episode of The Pat McAfee Show was a packed live Friday edition from Austin, with A.J. Hawk hosting at the desk while Pat was on site for Texas vs. Ohio State. The show opened with a heartfelt September 11th remembrance, then moved into a deep dive on the 49ers’ dominant win over the Rams in Australia, a full slate of NFL Week 1 previews and picks, and interviews with major guests including Nick Saban, Bill Cowher, Dana White, and Kirk Herbstreit.
9/11 Remembrance and the Role of Sports
The episode began with a tribute to the victims, responders, and service members connected to September 11, 2001.
- The hosts emphasized:
- gratitude for first responders and military service members
- the lasting cost of freedom
- how sports helped unify the country in the aftermath
- The tone was reflective and patriotic before shifting back to football.
Rams vs. 49ers Recap: San Francisco Looks Ready
A major topic was the 49ers’ win over the Rams in Australia, which the crew viewed as an early statement game.
Main takeaways
- The 49ers looked far more complete
- Brock Purdy was efficient and controlled the game.
- Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and the rest of the offense looked sharp.
- Fred Warner was highlighted for making history as the franchise’s all-time leading tackler.
- The Rams looked flat
- Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay were described as out of sync.
- The same-day international travel was heavily criticized as a bad decision.
- The Rams’ offense felt conservative and disconnected.
- Media and betting reaction
- The crew joked that the “books” loved the game because the public was heavy on the Rams and the game went under.
- There was a lot of “fraud watch” energy around the Rams, though the hosts also noted it’s only Week 1.
Nick Saban on Texas-Ohio State, Quarterbacks, and Defense
Nick Saban joined for a long football conversation centered on the Texas vs. Ohio State showdown.
Saban’s key points
- The game will come down to turnovers and explosive plays
- Both teams have elite talent.
- The team that protects the ball and creates big plays should win.
- Texas
- He believes Texas is much more mature than a year ago.
- The roster is better equipped to handle a tougher weekly schedule.
- Arch Manning will need to improve his ability to handle pressure.
- Ohio State
- He likes Julian Sayin’s processing and accuracy.
- Sayin’s challenge is managing pressure better in big moments.
- Ohio State’s defense, under Matt Patricia, still has to prove itself against elite competition.
- Defensive chess match
- Saban praised Patricia’s scheme flexibility and said Texas was surprised by the coverages and pressure looks last year.
- Other college football thoughts
- He discussed Oklahoma-Michigan, LSU-Clemson, SMU, Florida State delays, and the importance of road-game preparation.
- He also stressed that noise and heat can stress depth, especially on the defensive and offensive lines.
Bill Cowher on the NFL, Travel, Motion, and Steelers Culture
Bill Cowher followed with a classic NFL conversation.
Main themes
- International travel
- He agreed that same-day travel to Australia was a mistake.
- He said acclimation matters, especially for injured players.
- 49ers vs. Rams
- He praised San Francisco’s execution and the 99-yard drive.
- He felt the Rams stayed too conservative and didn’t fully use their offensive weapons.
- NFL offensive trends
- Cowher talked about the rise of pre-snap motion and how it creates confusion for defenses.
- He said motion is now a defining feature of modern NFL offenses.
- Steelers nostalgia
- He reflected on his first home game in Pittsburgh and the emotional significance of walking into that stadium.
- He also discussed the Steelers’ identity, physicality, and the importance of playing with an edge.
Dana White on UFC Noche, Zuffa Boxing, and Building the Next Combat Sports Era
Dana White joined to preview a huge combat sports weekend.
What he covered
- UFC Noche
- He said the event has a major-fight atmosphere in Vegas.
- He emphasized the respect he has for Mexican Independence Day fight weekends.
- Zuffa Boxing
- He explained how the new boxing venture is being built with the same “best vs. best” philosophy he used for UFC.
- He said he believes the project is ahead of schedule relative to his expectations.
- Ryan Garcia vs. Ben
- Dana revealed Garcia had eggs in his pocket before a faceoff, and security had to remove them.
- He stressed that fighters must be managed carefully before a fight to avoid chaos.
- Business model
- He praised Paramount/CBS as partners and noted the appeal of not being locked behind a traditional pay-per-view wall.
- He said the long-term goal is to make boxing feel as accessible and consistently compelling as UFC.
Kirk Herbstreit: College Football Preview, Arch Manning, and Week 1 Feel
Kirk Herbstreit joined later for college football discussion and NFL picks.
His biggest points
- Texas vs. Ohio State
- He echoed the idea that both quarterbacks are in better places than they were a year ago.
- He said Arch Manning entered college with unrealistic expectations and now has a chance to settle in.
- He liked that Ohio State can now let Julian Sayin play more freely.
- College football atmosphere
- He praised how Austin has become a true loud home-field environment.
- Iowa, Miami, and the Big Ten/SEC
- He discussed Iowa’s identity, defense, and ability to win ugly.
- He noted Miami’s huge blowout and why some teams need statement wins for playoff optics.
- He also stressed that early-season football can be sloppy because starters don’t play much in preseason.
- Picks segment
- The crew went through a full NFL Week 1 pick slate with lots of disagreement and home-dog interest.
Notable Themes and Takeaways
- Football is back, and the show treated Week 1 like a major event.
- The 49ers were the biggest on-field winner of the night, while the Rams were heavily criticized.
- Nick Saban’s football IQ segment was one of the most detailed of the episode, especially on quarterback development and defensive disguise.
- Dana White framed combat sports as an innovation business, not just a fight business.
- Early-season football remains unpredictable, especially with limited preseason reps and major roster turnover.
Bottom Line
This was a wide-ranging, high-energy episode that mixed patriotism, football analysis, college football previewing, betting discussion, and combat sports business strategy. The central thread was simple: Week 1 is here, and every major league storyline is already starting to take shape—from the 49ers looking elite, to Texas-Ohio State looming, to the NFL and UFC both beginning their new seasons with major stakes.