The McShay Show: CFP First Round Live Reactions

Podcast: The McShay Show, The Ringer
Date: December 21, 2025
Host: Todd McShay
Episode: CFP First Round Live Reactions: Miami, Alabama, Ole Miss and Oregon Advance

Overview:

This episode captures Todd McShay and co-host Steve’s immediate, in-depth reactions to the opening round of the College Football Playoff. The hosts break down a lopsided day of action, analyze Miami’s upset in College Station, Alabama’s wild comeback in Norman, and provide draft nuggets and rapid-fire power rankings for the remaining playoff teams. Their signature sharp, energetic banter blends analysis, draft buzz, and inside jokes, making the hour-long discussion both insightful and entertaining for college football diehards.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Quick Recaps: Ole Miss & Oregon Routs

• Both Ole Miss (41-10 over Tulane) and Oregon (eventually 48-20 over JMU) dominated, echoing similar regular season results.
  • Todd McShay: "It’s a home game, as it should be… but it’s boring football and you don’t take much away from it." [03:29]
  • Both analysts agree: nothing from these games meaningfully shapes their playoff outlook.

Notable Incident:

• Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy and teammate Trinidad Chambers both left briefly with injuries, but returned.
  • Todd: “Thank goodness they both came back. Lacy does have a shoulder injury. It seems like Chambers is going to be good to go.” [05:11]

Draft Note:

• Steve highlights Oregon’s Kenyan Sadiq: despite drop issues down the left sideline in-season, he made a tough catch on a deep ball today.

2. Miami’s Slugfest Win at Texas A&M (10-3)

Game Analysis:

• Gritty, defensive battle in brutal wind conditions; both teams showed flaws but fought hard.
• McShay loved how Miami committed to the run and won the turnover battle.
  • Todd: “Mark Fletcher had 172 yards on 17 carries… halfway through the game I was like, I don't understand why they're not running the ball.” [13:04]
  • Steve: “Miami's defense... that defense is outrageous. I think they got players on all three levels.” [19:30]

Key Storylines:

• QB Play:

  • Todd heavily critiques Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed, calling his turnovers the fatal difference.
    • “Three turnovers from Marcel Reed…he has been, for an A&M team that was undefeated…always tenuous.” [11:09]
    • Reed’s inexperience and mistakes cost Texas A&M a shot at advancing.
  • Miami QB Carson Beck:
    • Did little statistically (14-20 for 102 yards, 1 TD), but avoided major errors and kept Miami in winning position.
    • Todd: “He did absolutely nothing. He’s not wrong… but the absolutely nothing was he didn’t turn the ball over.” [16:32]
    • Steve: “That was a big part of it. He took care of the football, he avoided the mistakes.” [14:49]

• Freshman Performers:

  • Steve: “Miami’s freshman, I mean, Malachi Tony... was awesome... and then the safety, Bryce Fitzgerald, another freshman, two picks in this game.” [14:49]
  • Tony’s clutch play, including the winning catch, stood out despite an earlier fumble.

• Coaching/GAME MANAGEMENT Question:

  • Did Malachi Tony do the right thing scoring late, rather than kneeling and running clock for a field goal?
    • Steve: “Would you feel about Crystal Ball's game management there? My feeling is they told Tony to score.”
    • Both agree: given Miami’s shaky kicker and windy conditions, scoring was correct. [22:54]

3. Alabama’s Comeback at Oklahoma (34-24)

Momentum Swings & Mental Toughness:

• Oklahoma jumped out 17-0, but Alabama capitalized on a muffed punt and a pick-six to claw back.
  • Steve: “It was this big swing in momentum…Oklahoma, that had been so mentally tough all year, all of a sudden just…it wasn’t there anymore.” [33:01]

QB Analysis:

• Oklahoma’s John Matier:
  • Showed improved health and arm strength after a midseason injury. “Matier throws for 307 in a loss...I was thrilled to see Matier back up and running.” [42:40]
• Alabama's Ty Simpson:
  • McShay defends Simpson’s “encouraging” performance given lack of run game/weapons.
    • Todd: “Ty Simpson without a run game, without a star wide receiver against that defense. Now go ahead and tell me he was just average.” [45:14]
    • Steve: “I thought he played better…I just think that earlier in the year he was surgical…he sets the bar so high…” [47:19]

Alabama’s Run Game:

• Remains a major concern; outside of one late 30-yard run, production was minimal.
  • Todd: “They had 25 carries for 28 yards against Oklahoma.” [43:35]
  • “People after the game: well, the run game, it seemed like they started to get the run game going. I’m like, no, it didn’t.” [44:01]

4. Looking Ahead: Power Rankings, Spreads, and Draft Watch

• The hosts riff on potential point spreads for upcoming games, with Oregon vs. Texas Tech and Ohio State vs. Miami featured.

  • Todd: “Ohio State is minus nine and a half… Miami certainly talented enough but…did the conditions lead to all the passing game troubles or is that a problem that’s going to rear its ugly head…?” [28:52]
  • Both agree Miami’s defense gives it a puncher’s chance vs. Ohio State, but see the Buckeyes as clear favorites.

• Notable subplot:

  • Playoff could feature mano-a-mano matchups between top draft QBs Ty Simpson, Fernando Mendoza, and potentially Dante Moore.
    • Todd: “Three quarterbacks could wind up…like play-in situations…Ty Simpson, Fernando Mendoza, and who would have ever guessed, Mendoza.” [48:46]

• Draft Watch:

  • Both hosts stress that Simpson and Moore have not yet decided on the NFL Draft—playoff run could impact their choices.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Thank goodness they both came back. Lacy does have a shoulder injury. It seems like Chambers is going to be good to go.” – Todd McShay on Ole Miss RB injuries [05:11]

• “Three turnovers from Marcel Reed... he has been, for an A&M team that was undefeated…always tenuous. And it came down to that final play.” – Todd McShay [11:09]

• “Miami’s defense... that defense is outrageous. I think they got players on all three levels.” – Steve [19:30]

• “He did absolutely nothing. He’s not wrong… but the absolutely nothing was he didn’t turn the ball over.” – Todd (on Miami QB Carson Beck) [16:32]

• “Oklahoma…mentally tough all year, all of a sudden just… it wasn’t there anymore.” – Steve [33:01]

• “Ty Simpson without a run game, without a star wide receiver against that defense. Now go ahead and tell me he was just average.” – Todd [45:14]

• “Three quarterbacks could wind up...like play-in situations...Ty Simpson, Fernando Mendoza, and...Dante Moore.” – Todd [48:46]

Important Timestamps

• Ole Miss & Oregon Recaps: [01:54]–[06:00]
• Miami–Texas A&M Reaction: [07:22]–[23:45]
• Game Management Debate (Malachi Tony): [19:30]–[23:45]
• Previewing Ohio State–Miami, Spreads: [25:00]–[29:30]
• Alabama–Oklahoma Deep Dive: [32:51]–[48:46]
• Quarterbacks Playoff Subplot / Draft Decisions: [48:46]–[52:10]
• TMS Final 8 Power Rankings: [54:16]–[58:31]

TMS Final 8 Power Ranking (Live On-Air Consensus)

1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Georgia
4. Oregon
5. Alabama
6. Texas Tech
7. Miami
8. Ole Miss
   (Argument over Indiana/Ohio State order; hosts agree any of the top 4–5 could win it all.)

Tone/Style:

Fast-paced, candid, and sharp—heavy on inside references, playful barbs, and an expertly informal breakdown of both X’s and O’s and the sport’s storylines. The mood shifts from dry sarcasm about the early blowouts to animated debate regarding playoff coaching decisions and QB draft stock.

For New Listeners:

• The show excels at blending instant live analysis with draft implications and college football narratives.
• Deep dives on quarterback play, coaching moves, and playoff scenarios are a signature.
• The chat and community (referenced throughout) provide a lively backdrop, mirroring the sport’s online culture.

Next Up

• The Monday episode will feature the “All-TMS Team”—the hosts' picks for the best performers by position—plus deeper playoff previews and more draft insights as the playoff narrows.

“Things are getting really interesting with these quarterbacks … and we have an opportunity … the three quarterbacks could wind up almost like a play-in situation. Welcome to 2025. I love it.” – Todd McShay [48:46]