Can Indiana Become a Dynasty? Plus, Scouting QB Josh Hoover.

Summary

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The McShay Show – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Can Indiana Become a Dynasty? Plus, Scouting QB Josh Hoover.
Host: Todd McShay, with cohost Steve Muench
Date: July 20, 2026
Podcast: The Ringer

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Overview of the Episode’s Main Theme

Todd McShay and Steve Muench devote this episode to two intertwined questions:

1. Can Indiana football, under coach Curt Cignetti, become college football’s next dynasty after a rapid rise from historical irrelevance?
2. What does new quarterback Josh Hoover (TCU transfer) bring to Indiana, and how does he fit into the Hoosiers’ system and pro prospect landscape?

The episode blends in-depth draft analysis (with the trademark McShay tape study breakdown), insider program-building observations, and a larger dialogue on what defines a college football "dynasty" in the modern era.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Josh Hoover’s Scouting Breakdown

Hoover’s Play Style & Strengths

• Point Guard Mentality:
  • “Really good point guard. I mean, he’s going to get the ball out quickly on RPOs, make good reads, you know, zip it, get it out there on time in rhythm.” (Co-host, 04:12)
• Underrated Athlete:
  • “I didn’t realize how good of a runner he was or how good of an athlete he was overall.” (Co-host, 04:21)
• Deep Ball Touch:
  • “I really like his touch on the deep ball…he’s a perfect fit for Indiana.” (Co-host, 04:43)

Perfect Scheme and Personnel Fit

• System Familiarity:
  • “From a system fit…You can make the argument it’s going to be more seamless for him…than even it was with Mendoza.” (McShay, 05:23)
• Cignetti’s Belichick Comparison:
  • “Signetti has become the Belichick of college football in that he maximizes every single minute for his coaching moments.” (McShay, 05:59)
• Quick Decisions & Aggressiveness:
  • “Quick hands, mesh point, quick decisions…he’s got some balls to him, and I love it about [him].” (McShay, 07:52)

Areas of Concern and Weaknesses

• Turnovers & Inconsistency:
  • “Hoover does…he does try to do, do, do too much on tape. There are times where…just [do less].” (Co-host, 12:47)
  • “Turnovers were, are a thing…41 turnovers in 31 starts.” (Co-host quoting Sonny Dykes, 11:10)
• Erratic Throws:
  • “There will be a throw that he makes eight out of ten times then, then two times, it’s like, where are we going with that?” (Co-host, 09:11)
• Physical Oversell:
  • “He’s also…5’11 and five eighths of an inch…he's not Mendoza.” (McShay, 10:31)

Developmental Outlook

• Coaching & Molding at Indiana:
  • “There’s some molding that goes on at IU that…is proven. And I want to see that with Hoover this year.” (McShay, 12:21)
• Projection and Draft Grade:
  • “72, 74 maybe…72 is what I get is what I’m giving him right now.” (Co-host, 14:56)
  • “I gave him a 65 but recognized that there could be some…I’m missing the special trait.” (McShay, 15:01)

Notable Quote

“I think Hoover’s awesome throwing those quick slants off the mesh, the crossers to his receivers, like the middle of the field…he’s got some balls to him, and I love it about [him].” (McShay, 07:52)

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2. Can Indiana Build a Dynasty Under Curt Cignetti?

Defining a Modern College Football Dynasty

• Historical Comparisons:
  • “Three that jump out to me…modern day dynasties: Alabama (2009-2023), Clemson (2015-2020), Georgia (2021- )…Ohio State and LSU in spurts.” (McShay, 17:39-19:53)
• Necessary Ingredients:
  • “Two national championships with sustained success. NFL producing and conference champion, like they’re an absolute nightmare. In a four or five year stretch.” (McShay, 21:18)

Indiana’s Recent Rise

• Draft Success as Benchmark:
  • “Indiana had eight players drafted…as many as this program had in the previous 10 years.” (McShay, 25:40)
• NIL Arms Race:
  • “Reported like 32 million NIL investment…now all of a sudden they’re spending with the big boys.” (McShay, 24:49)

Program Building Philosophy

• Transfer Portal Mastery:
  • “They’re hand-plucking guys that…fit the system. And we know…Signetti is up there with the best…figuring out…they gotta fit what we do.” (McShay, 27:17)
  • “He builds teams. He doesn’t collect talent.” (Co-host, 27:31)
• Elite Coaching Detail:
  • “His secret sauce is he teaches football better than just about any human being…with all the limitations and guys coming in from different schools…has this ability to teach football…as good, if not better than anyone.” (McShay, 27:35)

Personnel for 2026

• Key Incoming and Returning Players:
  • Charlie Becker, Nick Marsh (WRs), Turbo Richard (RB, transfer), Joe Bruner (OG, transfer), AJ Harris (CB, transfer from Penn State), a deeper OL and DL group.
• Cohesive Development Approach:
  • “If all those guys play to the level that…Signetti and staff think they can, they’re going to blow that number of eight players drafted from a year ago out of the water.” (McShay, 37:11)

Arguments For and Against Indiana’s Dynasty Bid

• FOR:
  • “Signetti shares with Saban…they handle success well with their teams.” (Co-host, 31:09)
  • “I think…top to bottom while they don’t have [NFL] stars…they might be more talented than…a year ago.” (McShay, 37:32)
• AGAINST:
  • “Still a lot of turnover. But…the biggest argument is that Hoover is not Mendoza…can Hoover be special [in crucial moments]?” (Co-host, 37:54–38:30)
  • “This is a very tough landscape to have the kind of run that Nick Saban had at Alabama…even tougher now.” (Co-host, 39:44)

The 2026 Schedule

• Favorable Early Season:
  • “They play North Texas, Howard and Western Kentucky their first three games…” (McShay, 39:55)
• Tough Conference Stretch:
  • “At Nebraska, then Ohio State, at Michigan, Maryland, at Penn State, UCLA, then Purdue.” (McShay, 40:44–41:10)
• Path to Playoff Remains Viable:
  • “Even if you have a hiccup or two, you’re probably still in it…The schedule is very, very favorable.” (McShay, 41:11)

Notable Quotes

“Signetti’s not fooling me, man. His secret sauce is he teaches football better than just about any human being in this great country.” (McShay, 27:35)

“I don’t see a scenario in which [Indiana’s] not getting in the College Football Playoff…so, yeah, the dynasty, they’re in the mix to make a run at this.” (McShay, 42:09)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Signetti has become the Belichick of college football…” (McShay, 05:59)
• “Turnovers were, are a thing…41 turnovers in 31 starts.” (Co-host quoting Sonny Dykes, 11:10)
• “He builds teams. He doesn’t collect talent.” (Co-host, 27:31)
• “They teach football with this coaching staff as good, if not better, than anyone in the country.” (McShay, 28:02)
• “I’m missing the special trait. But hopefully the special trait becomes just like the processing, like how consistent he is with that…A really good college quarterback and…a better college quarterback than pro prospect.” (McShay, 15:01)
• “It’s like climbing Everest. They have the skill and the talent and know-how…But a lot of things have to…break your way.” (Co-host, 23:15)
• “The Big Ten is the program to chase right now, and the SEC has got to chase it down…They’ve lost control at the top of college football.” (McShay, 42:09)

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:06 | Episode overview and intro promises: Hoover & Cignetti | | 04:12-10:31 | Josh Hoover film breakdown: strengths, fit, athleticism | | 11:04-13:10 | Turnover issues & coaching responses | | 14:56-15:12 | Draft grade for Hoover | | 16:42-19:54 | Defining a dynasty: Saban, Clemson/Georgia, others | | 24:49-27:17 | NIL investment, transfer portal, Indiana’s draft surge | | 27:35-29:17 | Signetti’s “secret sauce” and program-building style | | 31:09-34:41 | Indiana’s 2026 roster assessment, returning talent | | 34:41-37:11 | NFL-level prospects, offensive and defensive standouts | | 37:54-39:44 | Arguments for/against Indiana repeating elite success | | 39:55-41:10 | Schedule analysis; easy start, tough conference stretch | | 42:09 | Big Ten vs SEC; Indiana’s playoff pathway |

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Tone and Style

• Playful, bantering, and occasionally irreverent between longtime colleagues
• Deeply analytical and football-nerd friendly
• Candid about industry dynamics (NIL, transfers, “Belichick” references)
• Confident, sometimes blunt: “He’s not Mendoza,” “Builds teams, not talent”

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Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• Josh Hoover is a well-suited, athletic system QB, with touch and moxie but in need of consistency and ball security improvement before he’s a legit NFL early pick.
• Indiana under Curt Cignetti is an emerging, culture- and system-focused program, thriving in the transfer portal era, able to “coach up” players better than blue-bloods with more raw talent.
• Dynasty is within reach if Indiana sustains current levels with multiple playoff runs and a second national title, but the landscape is tougher than ever—and Hoover’s development is central to that bid.
• The Big Ten’s current power and Indiana’s easy early schedule set the stage for another high-stakes run, but the gauntlet remains for “becoming the next Alabama”—with the hosts both optimistic and circumspect about calling IU a dynasty just yet.

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For more detailed player reports and draft content, listeners are encouraged to visit The McShay NFL Draft Room or subscribe to the McShay Report newsletter.

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Transcript

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Todd McShay]

We got a fun one today. We're coming off a seven part series. Building the board. The 2027 quarterback class. But there's one name that everyone keeps asking us for and that's Josh Hoover. From TCU to Indiana, people are also starting to ask the question is Signetti building a dynasty in Bloomington, Indiana? And we get some today. 283 days until the NFL draft. You good men.

[Podcast Co-host]

I'm psyched, man.

[Todd McShay]

Roll that thing. Cut. This episode is presented by EA Sports College Football 27 where you can engineer your team the way you want. And if you want the full football experience, try the MVP bundle. I'm already getting pressured from the boys in this house. We got to get it. We got to get it right. Well, I'm going to cave. You Get College Football 27 Madden NFL 27 Deluxe Edition rewards in both games to help you go from campus legend to NFL superstar. Make your rise. With the MVP bundle available now, conditions and restrictions apply. CEA.com games EA Sports College Football College Football 27 game disclaimers for details. We're transitioning now. M. We had seven, seven parts, 14 quarterbacks done. We've, we've built the board but as I said in the open, Josh Hoover is a quarterback that a lot of people are excited about and understandably so. And I took the time to go break down his film and view it through the lens as we did with those other 14 quarterbacks starting with Dante Moore continuing with from C.J. carr to Julian say and Arch Manning and Lenora Sellers and all the others. Right. So I want to start with that but also let everyone know we're going to spend some time on what's, what's Coach Signetti building at iu? What's it look like this year with most. Indiana had as many players drafted last year in this year I guess in April 2026 draft as they had combined over 10 years. What's it going to look like for Indiana this year? Right, so we did, we did some deep diving into that as well. So we're, we're excited for this. Before we take a little bit of break. Listen, college football, everyone's take walking away for a minute. NFL training camp start in August this year we're going to take a little break with, with the football world if you will. But we're excited to bring the show today.

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[Todd McShay]

Josh Hoover, Quarterback, TCU I think everyone, those who didn't know Josh Hoover got a little bit of a crash course and how much fun he is to watch on that. Remember that the Bill Belichick coming out party wasn't much, wasn't a long lived party. Head coach game day sends everyone down. It's this huge celebration. Teddy Bruskies and you know, Chapel Hill. And then TC comes in with, with Josh Hoover and ruins the night. Right?

[Podcast Co-host]

Yep.

[Todd McShay]

So, so that was kind of the, the, the breakout moment nationally for Josh Hoover. But you and I went back and we watched the tape the same way we have for all those other top quarterback prospects.

[Sponsor Announcer]

So.

[Todd McShay]

And we don't have to do the deep dive that we did in everyone, but I want to throw it to you and say what, like, what stood out? What's the biggest takeaway you had when you were done with Josh Hoover's tape?

[Podcast Co-host]

Really good point guard. I mean, he's going to get the ball out quickly on RPOs, make good reads, you know, zip it, get it out there on time in rhythm. I think he's a good athlete. I think he moves around really well. I think he can extend plays. I think he can scramble. I didn't realize how good of a runner he was or how good of an athlete he was overall. And I really, I like his touch on the deep ball. I think we can get in. I don't know if you want to wait to get in the negatives for a second here, but he is a perfect fit for Indiana.

[Todd McShay]

That was my biggest, that was my biggest takeaway.

[Podcast Co-host]

It's like he's a perfect fit.

[Todd McShay]

Like, follow me here because it's going to sound crazy. We studied in depth Fernando Mendoza and we're really high on him. Like I told you, Pete Thamel and people were texting like, yo, it caught my eye that you're saying that Mendoza is a first rounder. Nobody's talking about him like that. Like, we really dug in on Mendoza last year coming from Cal to Indiana and kind of gave the path to how he could become a really high draft pick. He did that and quite frankly kind of exceeded expectations. Right. Especially as the season Progressed from a system fit transition from one program to the next. You can make the argument he's. It could. It's going to be more seamless for him as an individual coming from what they were doing at TCU with the shotgun mesh. And I just. He's the trigger. Signetti's. As we've all learned, as intentional as there is, Signetti knows exactly what he's trying to find in a football player at every single position. Signetti has become the Belichick of college football in that he maximizes every single minute for his coaching moments. And the discipline you see from offensive line hat on hat to defensive gaps, sound zone discipline, all those things. So he has an exact feel for what he's looking for. And I'm guessing Indiana could have probably taken or taken a stab at or got maybe a higher profile guy or someone maybe was a little bit more physically gifted. This cat fits Indiana perfectly because it's quick hands, mesh point, quick decisions. No, I think it's going to be easier on Signetti and Mike Shanahan, the offensive coordinator, to kind of get him in line with what they're trying to do than even it was with Mendoza. And I think for, for Hoover, it's going to be kind of an easier learning curve coming in. Be like, oh yeah, we do this stuff. I'm comfortable with this stuff. Know exactly what you need from me, Coach, let's run it now. The difference is Mendoza's upside was up here and Hoover's is here, right? There's a one six foot five, 220 plus pounds. Got to 236. One is it kind of takes off running into the long, you know, has that long striding pursuit angle killing in Mendoza. And is this pinpoint repetitive motion, like almost maniacal in his mechanics and delivery, where it's just going to be delivered where. Where he wants it to go. Hoover's more college quarterback, you know, but he's got a little bit of suddenness, as you said. He's got this, I think in rhythm. When it's mesh, make that first read. Cornerbacks leverage this. I'm going here or I'm going there, ball out. He, I think. And I'm transitioning into strengths now. I think Hoover's awesome throwing those, those, those quick slants off the mesh, the crossers to his receivers like the middle of the field. All. All those things happening at once. The mesh point the read ball out quick. And I think he's got some balls to him. And I love it about, you know,

[Podcast Co-host]

he's an Onion get him into trouble a little bit.

[Todd McShay]

They do, and we'll get to that in a minute.

[Podcast Co-host]

So. Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

But my biggest takeaway was that the, the fit in India, not only scheme

[Podcast Co-host]

wise, though, which I think is very true, but I think personnel wise. When you look at the two guys they got out on the outside and Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, who are big boys, and you think about those back shoulder throws that, that, that Mendoza was throwing to Elijah Surratt all last year and that was really a staple of that offense. I really like Hoover's touch on the downfield throw and his ability to give guys a chance to make a play on a 50, 50 ball. And he's got receivers I think now that are better suited to come down with those passes. That's like, when you look at the personnel fit as well as the scheme fit, you know, it's intriguing.

[Todd McShay]

Now, the touch throws and what you're referencing, I agree with some of the outside the numbers thing or like at the numbers outside of that, I thought he was a little less consistent than he was with the over the middle stuff.

[Podcast Co-host]

I also gets erratic and he just kind of. He misses throws that generally he makes. There will be a throw that he makes eight out of ten times then, then two times, it's like, where are we going with that? It just is. It's a mission.

[Todd McShay]

And so I'm excited to see because we saw when we watched Mendoza at Cal, it was not the same repetitive like ocd, you know, I'm excited to see with Shanahan, Signetti and that staff, you know, is. Hoover's not at the Manning Passing Academy. He's going through that like whatever program that, that Mendoza, who like loved being the Manning Passing Academy, loved doing things in the off season. And he was. And then Signetti was like, sorry, Archie, like he's, you know, he's going to be here. I've got too much to teach. And so I'm excited to see where that progression comes. But as it currently is constituted, like he's not the consistent, almost robotic and I mean that in a positive way, like process, footwork, delivery, all that stuff that Mendoza was. But Mendoza wasn't that at Cal. So are we going to see strides in that area? He's also as mentioned, five, five, eleven and five eighths of an inch. That's what he measured in for the NFL scouts in the off season. He's 200 listed.

[Podcast Co-host]

Listed at 6, 2.

[Todd McShay]

Right. But that's why, that's why it's important to get these lists in the Preseason. So we actually have a feel and they're not going to be perfect. And maybe he checks in at 6 foot, you know, at the combine or maybe he's 5, 11 and, and 2, you know, 28 of an inch, a quarter inch. But it provides a little bit closer feel for what he's. He actually is balls B down at the line of scrimmage. Saw some of that stuff. Like he, he's. He's not Mendoza. Right. He's not. We got it.

[Podcast Co-host]

We got to get into the back and forth between Signetti and TCU head coach Sonny Dykes though. I mean, and there's.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

It's.

[Podcast Co-host]

I thought it was funny because Dykes made the comment and the number is accurate that Hoover had 41 turnovers and 31 starts or 33 starts. I think that's the right number. So the turnovers were, are a thing. And of course Ignetti fired back with. He just, you know, he didn't have the running game and the defense that he's going to have in Indiana. Those are his new best friends. He's going to be just fine. In fairness to Dykes, by the way, he did say that a lot of that fell on the coaching staff and all that, but it's just great that. I love that Signetti's still salty. He's got to find something to say during the offseason and the back and forth. And of course the truth is a little bit somewhere in between. Right. I am actually optimistic that he will cut down on those interceptions.

[Todd McShay]

Our biggest knock on Mendoza coming out of Cal was the dude just either turns the ball over too much or has the quote unquote turnover worthy plays, throws, decisions. Right.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

And so again, the two areas where I think he, he. I don't think I know he has to improve as we talk about him as a pro prospect. And, and even in Indiana's offense are the two areas where Mendoza made the most improvement. From Cal in 2024 to IU in 2025. So that to me is like great. You take this clay and, and, and it was a more beautiful piece of clay, maybe a bigger, bigger, taller piece of clay in Mendoza than it is in Hoover. But, but there's some molding that goes on at IU that I'm. That is proven. And I want to see that with Hoover this year.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, they have a, they have a proven system of bringing in guys who are experienced, who maybe other programs don't value as much and getting them to be highly competitive winners in their program. But Hoover does. He does try to do, do, do too much on tape. There are times where he's just, it's like just.

[Todd McShay]

And I guarantee you that's going to be the biggest area of improvement we see in his game.

[Podcast Co-host]

It better be or he's going to have significant so far up his ass all fall. It's not going to be fun to watch.

[Todd McShay]

I agree. I agree. Quickly, a grade as we gave out 14 grades starting with Dante Moore the highest 95 and sellers right behind him 94 all the way down to for me it was messed up. We had a if you haven't watched our episode last Thursday, you got to go back and watch like mentioned I've been outside of Sam Levitt from Arizona State transfer to lsu. We were kind of weirdly lockstep and just about the first 12 quarterbacks we did, he was the one outlier. So 11 of 12 we were like weirdly we're never that close in terms of grades. And then we got to Demond Williams from Washington and Drew Mestemaker from now Oklahoma State and we were like off by like 20 spots on on those polar opposites. So when I for me Mess Maker was the lowest grade for you, I'm guessing maybe Matier was the lowest grade or Damon Will. No, Damon Williams.

[Podcast Co-host]

Williams was yeah, yeah.

[Todd McShay]

And I had an. I had an 89 and I'm still like I had a weird weekend. The only two times I've been kind of frustrated with you have been after Levitt and after the debon Williams and Mester Maker discussion.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

Good.

[Todd McShay]

Anyway, it's good for us.

[Podcast Co-host]

It's healthy.

[Todd McShay]

Where would you grade him? Knowing our lowest grade came in around 60 between like 60 and 70 on all 12 of those quarterbacks which by the way is absolutely remarkable and it is equivalent of 60 in the 60s is usually like a fourth round. I'm talking about a certain backup in my opinion 70s more like can develop into a starter for us but typically like a third round range.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

Where.

[Todd McShay]

Where would you grade Hoover?

[Podcast Co-host]

72, 74 maybe 72 is what I get is what I'm giving him right now.

[Todd McShay]

I gave him a 65 but recognized that there could be some I'm anticipating I'm missing the special trait. Like where's the special trait? But hopefully the special trait becomes just like the processing like how how like consistent he is with that still enough aggressiveness in his game. Okay, so we're talking about a quarterback who is potentially day three or day two, early day three. The worst. Right. A really good quarterback and quite frankly for me at least a better college quarterback than pro prospect. Agree if you, if you read everything online or if you've dialed in at all about college football, it's one of the biggest question marks this year and I want to now transition to Indiana because what we witnessed is absolutely special and I want to get into what a dynasty is and is Signetti able to turn this program from arguably the worst college football program in the country into a modern day dynasty? All right, now for a special part of today's episode, Modern Dynasty Architect brought to you by EA Sports College Football 27. With all new dynasty blueprint features, you can build your program and run it your way from the roster to the playbook. Want to go even further? Make your rise with the MVP bundle and get Both College Football 27 and Madden NFL 27 Deluxe Edition rewards in both games available now. All right, so the question is dynasty. Right?

[Podcast Co-host]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

And before we get to Indiana, I kind of want to give a little historical view and it's not like I'm not going to sit back with a smoking jacket and a pip hand and with a fire over my right side talking to my grandkids here. But just like recently, what. Because as we, we knew we're doing this with EA Sports, like there's so much excitement about the college football 27 out and, and Madden getting ready to release and the dyn, like the ability to build a dynasty and, and, and the functionality of all of it. And I remember back to Tech Mobile and Nintendo when I was a kid and when, when Madden first came out, how my mind was and literally it's gotten better every year which still is like to me. Right. And what you're able to do like to going from high school star to college to draft to the NFL, like it's my dream. The whole thing is a dream of mine. It's what got me into all this. Like just that ability to build a roster.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

So cool. Let's look back in recent years. I would say the three that jump out to me and jump in wherever you want. The three that jump out to me where I'm like, those are modern day dynasties.

[Podcast Co-host]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

Would be Alabama first to like go 2009 to 2023. Six national championships under Nick Saban. Right. Nine SEC titles. Like the, the amount of NFL talent that was produced, like one year it's 12, the next year it's 14. It's like six first rounders, four first round. Oh, they had a bad year. They only had 10 guys drafted. Three first rounders. Right. The other Program that had this run for like five years was Dabo Sweeney at Clemson. It was 2015 to 2020 or six years, I guess. Six ACC championships, two national titles, six straight College Football Playoff appearances. And these were not 12 team appearances. You know, we're talking about like BCS, I think in the beginning or was it already CFP? It doesn't matter.

[Podcast Co-host]

My point was BCS in the beginning.

[Todd McShay]

I believe it was in the very beginning. Right?

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

So we had all that. Georgia 2021 to would you still say is kind of in the mix? Like is it still present? You could argue that. But back to back National Championships 2021, 2022, third straight playoff appearance in 2023. The draft stuff that they have produced, especially in that like three year span around those national championships was unbelievable. Then the other programs, I would say that like you could make an argument. And I'm only mentioning these because I think if we're chasing a modern day dynasty, Ohio state, like since 2002, they've won multiple national championships. They had Urban, they had Ryan Day. Before that it was trestle. Theirs is kind of a longevity thing. I don't know if you want to call it a dynasty over. But they are one of the premier programs. Right. LSU had these little spurts. National championship with Saban. Saban's gone to Miami. National championship with Les Miles falls apart. Orgeron 2019, one of the May, you could argue the best program in the history of college football that year. 2020, the funnest team ever.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

Joe Burrow and the Gang. So. And then Florida State under Jimbo Fisher. 2012, 2014, Pete Carroll. I would absolutely put it in 2002-2008. So I've mentioned all those things.

[Podcast Co-host]

How many did Carol win? Did he win? 2.

[Todd McShay]

He had that run. Carson Palmer to Matt Leiner with Reggie Bush, seven straight. Two national championships with Carol. Seven straight top four finishes in the AP poll.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, look man, it's, it's interesting because the, it speaks kind of disparity.

[Todd McShay]

All I want to program.

[Podcast Co-host]

So it's good.

[Todd McShay]

I just like so for Indiana, three year, a three year stretch won't make none of those were three year stretches. They were over like five or.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

Two decades. What will it take for Indiana this year to does it require another national championship? Is it a college football playoff run? But then get back to a national championship game. Like what is it that you're looking for from Indiana for us to be like not just oh, Signetti came in and what a turnaround. Greatest turnaround maybe in sports history to. This is a modern day dynasty we're witnessing.

[Podcast Co-host]

So we're considering. It sounds like you're considering two national championships a dynasty to me.

[Todd McShay]

You need with, with sustained success.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

NFL producing and conference champion, like they're an absolute nightmare. And they've won in a four or five year stretch. They've won two national championships, but they're in the playoff. And you know.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

That to me is kind of what the modern day dynasty. And you got to also include this thing as wild, Wild west with Portal and, and it's, it's made it more challenging, I think to have sustained success. And we'll talk about Indiana and how they're doing, but that makes it more challenging. So to me, like even if it's not this year, but they make the playoff, they have another great season and in within the next two years after they won another national championship, then I think you're lumping them in with the Clemsons and the Georgia and the runs that they had in this like five year span, which is wild.

[Podcast Co-host]

But I agree with you. I think that's exactly what you're looking for. I don't think they, you know, if they have an off year, it's not the end of the world if they, you know, if they somehow don't make the playoff or whatever it's about. To me it's about the championships more than anything else. If they win another championship in the next three seasons or actually the next. Man, it's tough because I think three.

[Todd McShay]

But if they're, if they're in the College football playoff the next two years and then, and then in 2028 when a national championship. I think we're looking back at this and we're putting it in a similar regard to what Dabo did in that six year stretch with Clemson.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right. So this is the thing that's hard for me and I don't want to get caught up in this, but you know how my brain works. All those programs you mentioned are great, but there's only one and that's Saban at Alabama. Are we talking about him reaching Saban at Alabama levels? Which is, I mean that is, that's just different. That's on a whole standard. Yeah, that's the gold standard, but it's not even close. It's not. All those other programs are great. Clemson had a great run. Kirby's had a great run. It's not close. So are we talking about that kind of a dynasty or. I don't know. Either way, I'll say This I had. There's a lot of reasons to believe that they can do it, but it's like climbing Everest. Like you, they have, they, they have the skill and the talent and all that and the know how to do it. But a lot of things have to kind of break your way too.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

That part of today's episode was brought to you by College Football 27 from Campus Legend to NFL superstar, make your rise. With the MVP bundle available now, visit go EA.com MVP Bundle 27 conditions and restrictions apply. See EA.com games EA sports-college-football/college-football-27/game-disclaimers for details. I want to start with this. I just mentioned like it's reported like 32 million nil investment which isn't as nearly as much as like LSU and maybe Ohio State. I haven't like studied it, but like there's some programs that are spending more but they're now all of a sudden they're spending with the big boys. Right? So that's important to note. I want to note this, and I mentioned it earlier, they had eight players drafted last year and it's again, cute. Todd, we're making the comparison here. If you're watching on Netflix, if you're watching on Spotify, we appreciate it. You see the graphic that Tucker just threw up, starting with Mendoza in the first round and Omar Cooper Jr. The wide receiver in the first round and then bleeding in the second round with D' Angelo Ponds. Kaylin Black, the running back goes in round three. Elijah Surat, the other wide receiver goes in the fourth round and then beyond that. So Indiana had eight, eight players drafted, which is as many as this program had in the previous 10 years and in the last decade. That's wild. But it's also like it wasn't Signetti. So what? Like that doesn't really matter. Todd, we're talking about, okay, how do they re. How do they kind of reload this year, right? And this is a different Indiana. So the past doesn't matter. We're here in the present and in the present we start looking at, okay, who are the draft prospects that they have. And I think it's important to. Let's throw up the transfer portal additions. We talked about Josh Hoover off the top, massive. Like that's all the talk about Indiana this year. But don't overlook Nick Marsh coming in and opposite Charlie Baker, who, who by the way, we'll get to in August when we start talking about some of the other positions and pre draft process. Baker's up there with some of the biggest names at wide receiver. Obviously behind your Becker. I'm sorry.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, that's fine.

[Todd McShay]

Charlie Becker. I'm thinking Charlie Baker's a mass. Former Massachusetts governor. Yeah, Governor and now ncaa. How's that going? So let's not, let's not get those two names twisted, Todd. But Nick Marsh with Becker at wide receiver going to be critical. As you mentioned, Turbo Richard comes in at running back. Joe Bruner comes in at. From Wisconsin.

[Podcast Co-host]

Joe guard.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, Wisconsin guard.

[Podcast Co-host]

Big Joe Bruner.

[Todd McShay]

You got a tight end from my. So we're like o line, you Wisconsin. Let's go get an offensive lineman, tight end, you Miami. Someone argue Iowa. I get it. In some other programs we got a defensive lineman from Notre Dame. We got another defensive line, a defensive end. And Kansas State's always produced good ones and get another defensive lineman from Kansas State as well. So they're hand plucking guys that they, that they believe in and fit the system. And we know that there's very few we've seen the last two years. Signetti is up there with all like the best of the best in terms of figuring out. And they don't have to be former five stars. Most of them aren't. They don't have to be the greatest draft prospects. A lot of them aren't. Even though that number's rising. They gotta fit what we do.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. He builds teams. He doesn't collect talent. Builds teams, collect talent.

[Todd McShay]

Signetti's not fooling me, man. His secret, everyone's. What's the secret Sauce. His secret sauce is he teaches football better than just about any human being in this great country. And with all the limitations and with guys coming in from different, different schools and the money that's involved and everything else. Has this ability to teach football with his coaching staff as good, if not better than anyone in the country. And I've never like when I started trying to figure out two years ago what like what is in Indiana that only has like four or five draft prospects. Why are they so good? Because every offensive lineman takes the right step out of their stance, puts their hands properly, gets their hips around and has a hat on. Hat with this almost like watching a ballet. Like the coordination of it. The defensive lineman rush with discipline. If you're supposed to drop into a certain zone, you are there discipline eyes where they're supposed to be like they have taught the game. And it reminds me of Saban and how, how detailed. And Belichick in the NFL detailed. Right. So that's the sauce that allows them to do what they've done the last two years. But the hard part in today's, today's world is now we're paying these guys more money to come do it. And with that money comes like, can we get them motivated and get them dialed in? Now I got a million bucks in my pocket. I'm 21 years old, but I gotta go listen to Coach tell me every single detail and that my hands aren't placed properly, you know what I mean? So that's gonna be interesting to watch as this, as this whole thing progresses.

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[Todd McShay]

Where are you with Indiana this year? Let's start with this argument. Okay, you're arguing for them. And by for them, I mean they are going, let's even say in the national championship game. Maybe they don't win it, but like they're going to be every bit as good as last year's football team or I guess even close to that team that was sensational a year ago. They're going to make a legitimate run in a national championship. Where's the argument for I think this

[Podcast Co-host]

is a quality that Signetti shares with Saban is that they deal with, they handle success well with their teams and that's a big, big hurdle for a lot of teams that have done well not to start thinking, hey, man, we're so good. We don't have to go out. Like, we're not going to have to worry about the first half of the schedule because it's going to be a cakewalk for us. Signetti won't allow that. Then you retain both of your coordinators and you know, Mike Shahnan. Shanahan is a great offensive coordinator, but Brian Haynes is maybe the best defense coordinator in the country and bringing him back is a massive deal. You can nitpick and we can argue the overall roster here. This roster is pretty damn good. Yes, they lost a lot of wide receiver, but the guys that they still have, they're really good. They've reloaded at running back. The offensive line is going to be really good. Defensively, I think the guys they got from Kansas State, I think they may be better. They might be better on the edge than they've ever been or they were with Signetti in his first two years, at least at Indiana. And they get those guys to play hard. They lost Aiden Fish at linebacker. The two guys that they bring back, Hans and Fisher.

[Todd McShay]

Hans and Fisher are the two.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yes.

[Sponsor Announcer 3]

Right.

[Podcast Co-host]

Fisher's tongue because he's. I get it. Aiden Fisher was so good. But the two linebackers that they have coming back and Jones and Hardy were also outstanding. And Ponds, you're not going to replace. I'm sorry, like, you're. That's. That you're. That's a hit.

[Todd McShay]

They hope AJ Harris is that guy coming from Penn State and skill wise, he has the tools to develop. He has never been the player that NFL scouts have kind of projected.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yes.

[Todd McShay]

Going to take the next step. He's the next Penn State corner. He's going to fall in Porter's footsteps. I guess not next. They haven't had a great run, but Porter kind of broke that mold and it just wasn't working at Penn State. That whole program gets turned turned upside down. They see opportunity, Signetti and the staff see opportunity. Let's go get Harris to come over here. Same confere conference, super talented. We see how we can coach him. Best decision Harris probably ever made was to go and listen. I have the utmost respect for Matt Campbell. I'm fired up to see what Matt Campbell does at Penn State. It was a disaster of a coaching hiring cycle and they've got all sorts of problems above the head coach of football at Penn State that I'm aware of and have shared a lot of them here. But they wound up with the right guy there. But talking about, I got one year left, I want to chase the national championship. And probably just as importantly, individually, I want to be the best version of myself so I can get the best opportunity to go play in the NFL. He picked the right spot.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, I agree. And I don't think he will be Pawns. I mean I think that's, that's not. That bar is too high there with how well Pawns played last year. I mean that would be, I mean that would be a dream scenario for Indiana and Harris, but I think he could play really well. When you have Jamari Sharp as your other corner, you're really good at corner and they've just done a good job. They've recruited better, they've developed players and then they've just continue to fill these gaps with these transfers like AJ Harris, like Big Joe Bruner at offensive guard. Like these are just players that are come in and immediately play roles. And then again, Hoover is not Mendoza, but he's a really good fit for their system. And I'm not worried about him coming over and adjusting because this is what Indiana has done or this is what Signetti Tim's teams have done, you know, dating back throughout his head coaching career. They get transfer quarterbacks and they get them to play at a high level.

[Todd McShay]

So you lose Mendoza, Cooper Ponds, Kalin Black, Surat at wide receiver, Nowakowski at tight end, Coogan at center and Aiden Fisher from a year ago.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

So yeah. So those are the guys you lost in the draft. Let's now throw up, tuck the prospects for this year. And while maybe there's not going to have the number one overall pick, I promise you. Okay, if it's, if it's not a quarterback, it's Jeremiah Smith and it's probably going to be a quarterback. And Jeremiah Smith goes the first team that needs anything but a quarterback. But they've got Charlie Becker who's one of the top three or four wide receiver prospects as you see down the. If you're watching on Netflix, if you're watching on Spotify, look down the bottom of that, that graphic. Nick Marsh we already mentioned standout for Michigan State transfers here. That's going to be an awesome wide receiver duo, man. One of the best in the country. I would put it up there. I mean, I don't know, let's see how it plays out. But everyone's talking about that, that duo at Texas with Cam Coleman and, and, and Wingo on the opposite side. And then I guess Jeremiah Smith with, with, with the freshman Henry, right? Yeah. I'm fired up to see they're one of the top three or four duos coming into the year. And it wouldn't be surprising at the end of the year if they were maybe the top two most productive receiving tandems in the country. But you got Turbo Richard, by the way, all name team for a running back.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Turbo.

[Todd McShay]

I love it.

[Podcast Co-host]

Coming over from bc. They get some good runners at bc,

[Todd McShay]

man, but they did a really nice job. They already got Charlie Carter Smith at offensive tackle.

[Podcast Co-host]

They did a nice job in the year last year. Yep.

[Todd McShay]

With Evans, lynch and Bruner in the offensive line. Okay. So they're bringing in guys who have experience who, you know, who fit what they're trying to do. And then you go to the defensive side and it's not star studded, but you got a. It's Aaron Joseph, Joshua Harris. I don't think we have to call him that this year, but maybe he's asking us to. But it's A.J. harris or Aaron Joshua Harris. And then you got a bunch of front seven. A couple, a few front seven guys with Jones, Burnham and Osun Sami. Right. And then, and then a couple more DBs after AJ Harris and feral and Sharp. And so again they've got the coaching staff to coach these guys up. And my guess is where they get drafted is going to be higher than where they're kind of considered regarded coming into the year. And if all those guys play to the level that they, that Signetti and staff think they can, they're going to blow that number of eight players drafted from a year ago out of the water.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

So that's my argument is they might top to bottom while they don't have ponds and they don't have certainly Mendoza top to bottom. They might be more talented than they were even a year ago. But can they get them all coached up? And the answer is probably yes. Right. What's your argument against.

[Podcast Co-host]

Still a lot of turnover. But the biggest argument is that Hoover is not Mendoza. And as good as that team was last year and that defense, the more it's funny watching tape on prospects and watching the Indiana defense and guys have to go against it. Just like Miami last year. That Indiana defense was outrageously good and Ken Hoover step, even though with that as good as the team was last year, there were still moments they, they needed Mendoza to be special. And can Hoover be special? Can he be, can he step up in those moments? We're on the road, they're down like at Iowa.

[Todd McShay]

Oregon had him beat. Iowa had 10. Penn State.

[Podcast Co-host]

Can he, can he make enough plays? Because I think there will be, you know, maybe not as many times, but. But there will be times where Hoover's going to have to make a play and will he make that play? And then the obvious answer is this, man. I mean, I think Sark thinks he's got a pretty good team down there in Austin. I think that Kirby feels pretty good about his squad in Georgia. And Ryan Day likes, like, some of the talent he has at Ohio State. Last time I checked. I mean, they're still around. And then you start to look, I'm

[Todd McShay]

not allowed to say the LSU coach, head coach's name, but I think he feels pretty good about where they. Feel pretty good about that squad.

[Podcast Co-host]

Where, where they. They might be Oregon. How am I not mentioning Oregon and how they might. How they might feel about it.

[Todd McShay]

They got a pretty good quarterback coming back. Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

And then you have these other programs and I think that not so much this year because of what happened with Sorsby, but Lubbock, there's a. There's a certain program down in Lubbock that is now got money, that is now aggressively taking advantage of the new model in college football. And you're going to see, I think, more programs like Texas Tech that pop up, that aren't the traditional blue bloods that are going to go after players are going to make runs. This is a. This is a very tough landscape to have the kind of run that Nick Saban had at Alabama. It is. It was difficult then. It's even tougher now.

[Todd McShay]

I want to finish on this with the schedule because I can't stand Indiana's schedule. I don't like it. I don't, you know, I don't like

[Podcast Co-host]

how you not stand the schedule like they.

[Todd McShay]

Just because they play North Texas Howard and Western Kentucky their first three games. However, I can't argue with it, man. And I want to say it's smart. Quietly.

[Podcast Co-host]

Remember, Mendoza wasn't great at the beginning

[Todd McShay]

socks for college football, but like, until we start, really, really like Texas played Ohio State and some, you know, but we're. But we kind of forget about all that and we look at the wins and losses sometimes at the end of the year. My only point in this, we can have another schedule conversation one day and we never will, thankfully, with all these new individuals being brought in, it's kind of nice to go out and play some scrimmages and to learn and have coaching moments.

[Podcast Co-host]

He's losing his mind right now. Scrimmages.

[Todd McShay]

Fine. And I want to have Kurt on before the start of the season. I really do. I want to talk to him. And we're kind of. We're talking behind the scenes. Maybe have a few coaches on before the season, but I haven't decided. I go back and forth on that. Maybe send us some at McShay 13. And he's at you good mensch. I want to do something, really dive in on some of the quarterbacks with some of these coaches that are head coaches with them and also try to like, I just don't like the coach speak or they're going to 15 different interviews and like, like SEC media day type thing where they, you know. But we'll see. Give us our thoughts there on social. North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Northwestern and Rutgers. They're five, zero. Ear muffs. Earmuffs, Sig. And notice some of the schools, they don't have to play when I tell you the rest of the schedule. But October 10, it starts to heat up and then it gets really aggressive. It's at Nebraska, October 10, Ohio State the following week, and at Michigan the following week. Okay, okay. Then they've got Maryland on November 7th after. After a. By week, if you will. Then at Penn state on the 14th. Matt Campbell might have those guys raring to go by. Then UCLA at home with Nico Chesney.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, I'm not buying it yet.

[Todd McShay]

I'm not either. And then finish with Purdue. So you look at that schedule and, like, even if you have a hiccup or two, you're probably still in it. I don't know. We'll see how it all plays out. But the schedule is very, very favorable. Favorable in what? I'm the biggest SEC guy in the whole world, and I grew up a Big Ten guy. My grandfather, Marshall Brown, got me into all this madness in football. He worked with Bo Schembechler. And I grew up around Michigan football and the. In the game, Ohio State, Michigan, my whole life. But I've been in as a scout and the talent evaluator and SEC guy forever. I'm saying all this to say the Big Ten is the most is the program to chase right now, and the SEC has got to chase it down because they've lost control at the top of college football. And go ahead and argue me, argue me on that. And as just as recently as last year, I was still hanging on the sec. It's the Big Ten right now. And so with that schedule within the powerful Big Ten, like, I don't see a scenario in which they're not getting in the College Football Playoff and thus comes off the rails. So it's important to keep a perspective on that. So, yeah, the dynasty, they're in the mix to make a run of this dynasty. Let's just say that. All right, mensch. I might be flying out to Montana to see you, brother. Tell me a little bit about what it could look like.

[Podcast Co-host]

I can't. I can't do it justice. I've grown up in New England in my entire life and said I would never move anywhere other than New England. And then I got to Montana and the mountains are. I know you've been a little. You've spent some time in Colorado. I've never seen mountains like this. And it's. It's beautiful. There's no one out there. Like, it's so, it's, it's incredible. Like almost untouched. How crazy it is out there. And then you get to like, you head down the Yellowstone, go fly.

[Todd McShay]

Are you gonna have me, like, are you gonna have me fly fishing and

[Podcast Co-host]

I would love to. We'll see if we.

[Sponsor Announcer]

I don't know if we're gonna be

[Podcast Co-host]

able to get you in because I don't know how long you're gonna be

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

there, but I will.

[Podcast Co-host]

I'm going twice.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Twice.

[Podcast Co-host]

I'll be fly fishing twice. So it's just, it's. It's incredible. Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

Marissa and I are working aggressively right now to get all the kids schedules and everything worked out. We're trying. We have a trip to make to la, so we're going to try to all tie it in when we're out in the West Coast. So I'm only bringing this up because a, I'm, I'm fired up. I've been. I've been to Montana. I have never spent time in Montana, let's put it that way. So hopefully we will have a story to report and I'm sure something ridiculous will happen if you and me and Iris and Marissa are out in Montana. I can't imagine we won't have a story.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

We.

[Todd McShay]

I'm saying all this because today is Monday. We're going to take a little bit of a break as college football and the NFL are all taking a break right now. We're going to take it with them next week as well. And then we will be back in early August and we'll just. @mcshay13. As I said, at you good mensch. We will preview of what's. What's coming. We really appreciate EA Sports for sponsoring our show this month couldn't be a big I'm a lifer and I you know I did some did voice voiceovers down in Orlando and as part of the Match Madden series for a long time to have them to be back working with them and have them sponsor our show for a month. I, I love where we're growing. I love the fact that they recognize where we're growing and the tie in is beautiful this time of year as we're, we're trying to build dynasties and also build these quarterbacks and it was just, it was awesome to have them a part of it. And we will be back very shortly in just a couple short weeks and rearing up then it's time to go. College football season, NFL. We got a bunch of fun stuff excited and we might have exciting news for you about what we're doing this fall too. Men 5 stars and hopefully I'll see you in Montana, brother.

[Podcast Co-host]

Thanks, man.

[Todd McShay]

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