Overview of PMS 2.0 1465 — Pat McAfee Show
This episode (Pat McAfee Show, hosted from Indianapolis with AJ Hawk filling in for Pat) previews a massive Championship Weekend (college + NFL Week 14), recaps Thursday Night Football (Lions vs Cowboys), features high-profile guests (Kirk & Peter Herbstreit, Notre Dame AD Pete Bavacqua, Nick Saban, Stanford Steve), and breaks big college football news (Chris Henry Jr. re-commits to Ohio State; Matt Campbell linked to Penn State). The show mixes analysis, interviews, recruiting/recruiting‑decision coverage, and weekly NFL betting/picks.
Key segments & takeaways
College football — Championship weekend preview
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SEC Championship (Georgia vs Alabama)
- Guests emphasize the SEC game’s atmosphere and importance despite playoff-era changes.
- Nick Saban: SEC Championship still “a really significant accomplishment”; warns about third‑down issues and the importance of run game and depth late in the season.
- Debate: Alabama’s Ty Simpson (arm and perimeter weapons) vs Georgia’s improved defense and third‑down play.
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Big Ten Championship (Ohio State vs Indiana — 1 vs 2)
- Consensus: elite matchup — Ohio State is experienced, deep, dominant; Indiana is legit, battle‑tested, and confident under Coach Mike Schottenheimer/Signitti.
- Key chess match points: Indiana’s D‑line/pressures (Mikael Kamara, Aiden Fisher, D’Angelo Ponds) vs Ohio State’s offensive weapons (Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Bo Jackson).
- Atmosphere expected to be electric in Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium).
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12‑team CFP / expansion debate
- Notre Dame AD Pete Bavacqua publicly supports expanding to 16 teams (5 auto + 11 at‑large).
- Notre Dame argues they are the “hottest team” since early loss and that head‑to‑head (Miami beat ND) is not always the fairest measure given team growth.
- Miami/Notre Dame debate: close/resolved by committee metrics; many think current top 9/10 are locked and the final spot(s) will be hotly contested.
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Big 12 Championship (Texas Tech vs BYU)
- Texas Tech is heavily favored; BYU has momentum but traveling to a neutral site and Texas Tech’s trenches are major factors.
- If BYU wins, it complicates the CFP picture — it’s literally “one spot, three teams” territory.
Recruiting & commitments
- Chris Henry Jr. commits (re‑commits) to Ohio State
- Big segment: Henry Jr. announced live, reaffirmed he’s staying with Ohio State despite wide speculation after WR coach Brian Hartline left for USF.
- Henry: credited fit, development and his relationship with the program — "it wasn't about the money" — he'll enroll at Ohio State.
- Hosts and guests see his commitment as a major win for Ohio State’s receiver pipeline and a message that the program remains elite under Ryan Day.
Penn State coaching story
- Matt Campbell widely reported to be closing in on Penn State job (multiple steps remain: agree terms, approvals, etc.)
- Guests considered Campbell “a winner” — proven culture builder at Iowa State and an attractive hire for a resources‑rich Penn State.
Guest highlights / notable quotes
- Kirk & Peter Herbstreit: praise for Big Ten matchup and analysis of Ohio State/Indiana strengths; admiration for both programs.
- Pete Bavacqua (Notre Dame AD): "We're the hottest team in the country" — argues Notre Dame deserves higher CFP placement; reiterated support for CFP expansion to 16 teams (5 autos + 11 at‑large).
- Nick Saban:
- On byes/practices: sometimes “less is more” — managing time off can be critical.
- On coaches/loyalty: offers advice but doesn’t tell others what to do; noted the difficulty of coaching decisions and the no‑win nature of some coaching switches.
- Anecdotes: fond memories of SEC Championship atmosphere; light moments (accordion/holiday card stories).
- Chris Henry Jr.: expressed gratitude, reaffirmed commitment to Ohio State and development goals (NFL aspirations).
TNF recap — Lions 27, Cowboys 9
- Takeaways:
- Detroit played with desperation/attitude; Jared Goff efficient; Amon‑Ra St. Brown played through injury and was a difference maker.
- Lions defense: Jack Campbell (Iowa alum) and others forced turnovers and pressured Dallas.
- Cowboys: big plays expected from stars didn’t materialize (George Pickens analogy for Cowboys’ struggles); Dak/Cooper K issue with concussion noted.
- Special teams: Tom Kennedy’s big return helped set up a late score.
- Hosts praised Dan Campbell’s game management and play calling adjustments.
NFL Week 14: injuries, notes & picks (high‑level)
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Injury/availability notes:
- Justin Herbert (Chargers) practiced/took snaps after hand surgery — considered tough and likely to play (big for Chargers vs Eagles on Monday).
- Jaden Daniels (Commanders) cleared to play; JJ McCarthy reportedly passed protocol.
- Lamar Jackson reportedly had a scare (stepped on), but practiced afterward.
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Chargers vs Eagles (Monday Night): framed as a huge litmus test for both teams — Chargers need Herbert healthy for tough upcoming slate (Eagles, KC, DAL, Texans, Broncos).
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Hosts' discussed/predicted games (mix of opinions; here are the main calls voiced on-air):
- Colts vs Jaguars — AJ Hawk & Pat leaned Colts (favored at Indy); other hosts split.
- Bills vs Bengals — debate; both teams hot; hosts talked both ways (line movement discussed).
- Bucs vs Saints — hosts leaned Buccaneers (home favorite).
- Steelers vs Ravens — divisional rivalry; Tony leaned Ravens; AJ leaned Steelers; close/contrasting takes.
- Seahawks vs Falcons — Seahawks favored on road; AJ liked Seahawks.
- Dolphins vs Jets — split debate; some favor Jets +3 (weather/road cold), others lean Dolphins.
- Browns vs Titans — hosts liked Browns at home.
- Broncos heavy favorite in their game (several hosts liked Broncos -7).
- Packers vs Bears — hosts leaned Packers (home, Lambeau advantage).
- Rams vs Cardinals — Rams favored; hosts leaned Rams.
- Chiefs vs Texans — hosts discussed Chiefs, but some favored Texans +3.5 (CJ Stroud + Houston defense).
Note: the show featured back‑and‑forth picks with multiple hosts sometimes on different sides; these were discussed as opinions rather than firm consensus picks.
Notable analysis & betting insights
- Betting/stats highlights:
- Reverse line movement example on Cowboys/Lions: public money vs late sharp action and books adjusting — hosts flagged how reverse movement can indicate hidden value.
- Historical stats about underdog performance in conference championships (double‑digit underdogs rarely win).
- Ramifications of playoff byes: coaches differ — bye can hurt momentum if team was hot; can help injured teams recover.
Fun & cultural bits
- Pat’s music (“Dookie”, “Oops”) and promotion — Pat discussed music release, collaborators, and encouragement to stream/get creative.
- Nick Saban played into lighter moments (accordion anecdote, holiday card).
- U‑Ball recap / office competition (walk‑offs, drama).
- Misc: Modelo, Grainger, PrizePix ad spots and promos during the show.
Action items / what to watch
- Saturday (Championship Saturday): SEC title (UGA vs Bama), Big Ten title (OSU vs Indiana) — considered the weekend’s biggest TV events.
- Monday Night Football: Chargers vs Eagles — major litmus test for both teams' playoff hopes.
- Follow Penn State/Matt Campbell developments and any formal announcements.
- Watch Chris Henry Jr. enroll and watch Ohio State’s WR room next season — major recruiting/roster impact.
- Tune in to Pat’s social/music channels for new releases and fan interactions (hosts encouraged creative engagement).
Memorable quotes
- Chris Henry Jr.: “It wasn’t about the money… Ohio State has always been in my heart.”
- Pete Bavacqua: “I think there’s almost unanimity in that room that we should be at 16 teams.”
- Nick Saban: “Sometimes less is more” (re: practice/bowl prep) and on coaching decisions: “I never tell them what to do. I just try to offer the best advice I can.”
Quick episode snapshot (who appeared)
- Hosts: Pat McAfee (remote), AJ Hawk (in studio)
- Guests: Kirk Herbstreit, Peter Herbstreit, Chris Henry Jr., Pete Bavacqua (Notre Dame AD), Nick Saban, Stanford Steve
- Topics: TNF recap (Lions beat Cowboys), Big Ten & SEC championship previews, CFP talk (Notre Dame vs Miami), Chris Henry Jr. commitment to Ohio State, Matt Campbell‑Penn State buzz, Nick Saban interview, NFL Week 14 previews & picks
If you want, I can produce a one‑page “watchlist” for tonight/tomorrow’s top games (key things to watch by quarter/half), or a compact cheat‑sheet of the hosts’ clearest picks.