The McShay Show – CFP Championship Reactions: Indiana Wins the 2026 CFP

Podcast: The McShay Show (The Ringer)
Date: January 20, 2026
Featured: Daniel Jeremiah & Chris Simms
(Notes: Todd McShay, nominal host, is absent. Jeremiah and Simms lead this show. Summary skips ads and non-content intros/outros)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers an in-depth breakdown of the stunning 2026 College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship, which saw the Indiana Hoosiers complete a perfect season with a win over Miami. The conversation covers the game’s pivotal moments, standout players, the improbable Indiana football turnaround engineered by Kurt Signetti, implications for NFL draft prospects, and key takeaways on scheme, coaching, and player evaluation.

The hosts also pivot to early NFL Draft talk, Senior Bowl intrigue, and audience Q&A on players, positional value, and scouting philosophy, maintaining a mix of sharp analysis, light-hearted rapport, and authentic industry insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Indiana’s Miraculous Turnaround and Victory

• Historic Context:

  • Indiana, previously one of college football’s perennial cellar-dwellers, posts an undefeated season and wins a national title.
  • Kurt Signetti’s transformation of the program within two years is dubbed “the greatest turnaround we’ve ever seen.”
  • Comparable to LSU’s 2019 run and Joe Burrow’s iconic single-season play.
  • Daniel Jeremiah (02:09):

    “One of, if not the worst programs in all of college football… in two years, Kurt Signetti comes in and turns this whole thing around.”

• Quarterback Play: Fernando Mendoza

  • Transfers in, exceeding all expectations; plays with poise, precision, and delivers clutch performances all season.
  • Grew up close to Miami campus. The personal stakes (Miami alum family, spurned by Miami) raise the drama of beating them in the title.
  • Daniel Jeremiah (04:19):

    “All he wanted to do was be the Miami quarterback…”

• Defensive Mastery and Scheme

  • Indiana deftly mixes personnel, relies on a core 13 defenders, emphasizes discipline and technique.
  • Scheme built for control, exploiting offensive tendencies, and keeping their best players on the field.
  • Jeremiah (17:31):

    “Only 13 guys playing on the defensive side consistently… That was part of their brilliance… gives us a schematic advantage.”

2. Miami’s Resilience and Key Storylines

• Carson Beck’s Performance: A Mixed Bag

  • Miami’s QB, a high-profile transfer, had a hot-and-cold game, showing flashes but failing in key moments.
  • The hosts dissect Beck’s body language and pocket performance, noting NFL-level concerns.
  • Beck’s struggles against Indiana’s zones and lack of vertical-passing threats were exposed.
  • Chris Simms (10:32):

    “His body language tonight sucked. Sucked.”

  • Simms (11:38):

    “The reason Miami’s in this game is Mark Fletcher, the offensive line, that outstanding defense… Carson Beck didn’t do enough.”

• Mark Fletcher & Miami’s O-Line

  • Running back Mark Fletcher and the physical right side of Miami’s O-line (Maui Noah at RT, Inez Cooper at RG) were pivotal.

• Coaching Decisions

  • Critical 4th-down calls, aggressive strategy, and adaptability under pressure gain praise for both coaching staffs.

3. Critical Game Moments and Tactical Analysis

• Momentum Swings & Play Calling

  • Indiana opens with a rarely-seen, pass-heavy drive to “loosen up” Miami’s defense.
  • Key sequence: Indiana’s block punt, bold 4th-and-5 conversions, and Mendoza’s late-game heroics.
  • Jeremiah (27:35, 31:30):

    “They came out… 7 of the first 10 plays from scrimmage for Indiana, they threw the ball... Sig comes out… pluck him inside run. Brilliant enough because… we get two plays.”

• Physicality Decides Title

  • Both agree the more physical team wins in the CFP—this year, Indiana.
  • Simms (43:59):

    “Physicality is a thing. The most physical team… seems to win the playoffs.”

• Turning Points

  • Miami’s blocked punt gave Indiana the edge, but Miami kept counter-punching.
  • A “sneaky brilliant” call on a crucial run against Miami’s front (33:36) became the game’s most pivotal tactical moment.

4. NFL Draft Implications & Senior Bowl Buzz

• Rising Prospects

  • D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana CB) – physical, undersized but “most helped by playoff run.”
  • Riley Nowakowski (Indiana TE), Messador and Bain (Miami defenders), Keonte Scott – multiple Senior Bowl invites.
  • Jeremiah (21:40):

    “I don’t think a single player benefited more from the College Football Playoff draft wise than D’Angelo Ponds… every time we come on, it’s like he had a bigger receiver, he was physically matched up... always competitive as hell.”

• Players Drawing Critique or Debate

  • Carson Beck’s draft status (QB3/4), the importance of taking Senior Bowl invites, and mixed evaluations for some defensive prospects.
  • Miami’s Reuben Bain: concerns about length, but production and playoff performance may quiet doubters.

• Major Senior Bowl Notes

  • Several players from the championship game (Bain, Messador, Scott, Surratt, Ponds) committed to the Senior Bowl—a sign of competitiveness and hunger.
  • Debates over those opting out; praise for those embracing competition.

5. Coaching, Leadership, and the “Indiana Model”

• Culture Change
  • Indiana’s rise attributed to Signetti’s culture, consistent accountability, and maximizing limited resources.
  • Discussion of whether other programs can copy this blueprint, with skepticism (“Signetti might be one of one”).
  • Chris Simms (65:41):

    “If you’re another program and you’re smart, you’re looking at any way you can duplicate that. And I’m not sure you can.”

6. Listener Engagement, Scouting Philosophy & Draft Process

• Trade-back Philosophy

  • Lively interactive poll about taking Reuben Bain or Arvell Reese, invoking “always trade back unless it’s an elite QB” as a guiding team-building philosophy.

• Talent vs Traits – Big Board Talk

  • Pledge to create a “Top 50 best football players” board, focusing on play over measurables.

• NFL Draft Preview

  • Speculation on top picks (Mendoza consensus #1), edge rusher evaluations, positional scarcity (tackle, edge, corner), and a look ahead to the upcoming draft cycle.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Indiana’s Transformation:

  “It’s the greatest turnaround we’ve ever seen in a college football program, period.”
  — Daniel Jeremiah (02:09)

• On Scheme Versatility:

  “These 13 guys are going to play because if we can keep them all on the field… it gives us a schematic advantage.”
  — Daniel Jeremiah (17:31)

• On Carson Beck’s Struggles:

  “His body language tonight sucked. Sucked… I can’t imagine an NFL QB at a playoff doing that.”
  — Chris Simms (10:32/11:07)

• On D’Angelo Ponds’ Draft Surge:

  “I don’t think a single player benefited more from the College Football Playoff draft wise than D’Angelo Ponds.”
  — Daniel Jeremiah (21:40)

• On Signetti’s Approaches:

  “Signetti’s brilliantly gone off-script… we got one shot to have this unbelievable culmination to the greatest story in college football.”
  — Daniel Jeremiah (27:35)

• On the Clinical 4th-Down Play:

  “It was the sneaky, brilliant call of the entire game. They used the defense’s aggression against them and popped one.”
  — Daniel Jeremiah (33:29)

• On NFL Front Office Mentality:

  “If I’ve got an opportunity to get above-market value to trade out of a spot — with the exception of quarterback — almost always I’m trading out of that spot.”
  — Daniel Jeremiah (70:34)

• On Tom Brady Scouting Mendoza:

  “Tom Brady on the sideline watching you and deciding whether or not they’re going to make you the first overall pick. That is unbelievable pressure.”
  — Chris Simms (50:19)

• On College Football’s Most Physical Wins:

  “The most physical team in the playoffs seems to win the playoffs. That’s just the thing.”
  — Chris Simms (43:59)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Indiana’s Championship Legacy & Signetti’s Impact: 02:09 – 05:00
• Mendoza Backstory & Miami Recruitment Drama: 04:19 – 05:49
• Carson Beck Critique & Miami Offense Analysis: 09:31 – 15:46
• Indiana Defensive Identity & NFL Prospects: 15:46 – 23:28
• Senior Bowl Invites & Draft Stock Discussion: 14:54 – 29:42
• Game-Changing Tactical Moments (crucial run, 4th down): 31:03 – 33:29
• Halftime & Momentum Shifts: 34:46 – 41:00
• Fourth Quarter Drama & Resilience: 41:00 – 44:29
• Draft Philosophy / ATB Q&A (trade-back, positional scarcity): 68:12 – 75:07
• Senior Bowl and Class Evaluations: 81:26 – 84:47

Tone & Style

The episode is candid, lively, and insightful, blending deep analytical football discussion with locker room banter and genuine appreciation for the game’s underdog storylines. Both hosts show respect for the grind—from coaching to player development to front-office scouting. Listener contributions are embraced, and the show’s community vibe is strong.

Takeaways

• The 2026 Indiana Hoosiers title run will define college football “turnarounds” for years.
• Individual player reputations—Mendoza’s poise, Ponds’ draft rise, Beck’s inconsistency—are evolving fast in this draft cycle.
• The Senior Bowl’s value is reinforced; some prospects are making money by competing, others risk stalling by opting out.
• Scouting wisdom: covet elite QB play, trade back whenever possible otherwise, but above all, focus on football players over athletic “outliers.”
• Looking ahead, NFL teams and fans should track which seemingly “undersized” or positionally “imperfect” players—like Ponds—might be Sunday difference-makers.

For Listeners

If you missed the live show, this episode offers the smartest look you’ll find at the national championship’s tactical story, Indiana’s incredible rise, candid player evaluations, and the start of NFL Draft season—all captured with humor, respect, and a love for the game’s unpredictable magic.