The McShay Show – College Football Week 5 Takeaways: The Mighty Oregon Ducks, Bama Back On Track, and Lane Kiffin’s Last Laugh
The Ringer | Host: Todd McShay | Date: September 28, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode delivers a spirited, in-depth Saturday night recap of a pivotal College Football Week 5. NFL Draft and College Football Analyst Todd McShay and co-host ("Mensch") break down dramatic top-25 matchups, dissect QB performances, examine coaching decisions, spotlight rising prospects, and celebrate the wild, narrative-driven world of college football. Special attention is given to Oregon’s statement win, Alabama’s resurgence under a new quarterback, and the theatrical antics and coaching wizardry of Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Oregon Ducks Outlast Penn State in Double OT
(03:00–18:00)
- McShay credits Oregon’s defensive gameplan: “Dan Lanning came in with a great plan. I said, make ‘em beat you on the outside, make ‘em throw downfield and they did that.” [03:13]
- Penn State’s vaunted running game stifled: “You hold the best running back tandem in the country to 75 yards on 23 carries… have a night.” [05:11]
- Drew Aller’s struggles under scrutiny:
- Aller's running was a surprise storyline, but limitations as a passer were glaring.
- “Make him beat us on the perimeter, down the field. He can’t do it.” [13:11]
- Oregon’s freshman QB Dante Moore’s emergence:
- “The tape is speaking to me… this guy’s the best pure passer in college football.” [06:40]
- “Dante Moore is must-watch TV… he’s calm, exciting, doesn’t flinch in these moments.” [08:11–09:10]
- Decorion Moore and other playmakers making a difference for Oregon’s future.
Notable Quotes
- On Lanning’s motivation: “It’s like the perfect blend of 300, The Gladiator, Patriot, Braveheart… he presses every emotional button correctly.” – McShay [18:05]
- Memorable moment: Only Dante Moore went out for the overtime coin toss for Oregon, signaling his leadership. [17:42]
Alabama Is Back: Ty Simpson Shines at Quarterback
(23:01–32:10)
- Alabama takes down Georgia in a hostile Athens environment.
- Simpson’s readiness and command: “Ty Simpson is more than up to the task. This guy’s a player, he’s the leader… 24 of 38, 276 yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions.” [25:43]
- Simpson’s leadership and poise highlighted (“Did you see his pregame speech?” [27:16]), and ability to spread the ball (“Eight receivers with two catches or more.” [26:28])
- Georgia’s defense not at typical Kirby Smart levels: “I don’t see the relentless pressure… it feels a little different.” [31:24]
Notable Moments & Critiques
- “Kirby make a mistake by not kicking a field goal?” (Reflecting on Georgia’s 4th quarter decisions.) [29:10–30:40]
- “Every time Georgia tried, Alabama kind of nudged them out… and held their spot.” – McShay [24:28]
Lane Kiffin’s Last Laugh: The Circus in Oxford
(56:17–73:17)
- Off-field drama: Lane Kiffin’s daughter and LSU linebacker Wit Weeks go “insta-official,” adding to the pregame storyline. [56:18]
- Lane’s “evolutionary” coaching praised: “He keeps evolving… doing it differently. He was the analytics/tempo guy, now he runs it old-school, adapts to his players.” [58:14]
- Trinidad Chambliss shines at QB for Ole Miss: “Transfer from Ferris State, supposed to be backup, nearly 400 yards offense vs. LSU.” [60:32]
- LSU returns to frustrating old patterns—can’t run, injuries, defense melts down.
- The viral postgame content, trolling, and showmanship from the Kiffin family (Juice and Landry Kiffin) exemplify college football as theater.
Notable Quotes/Moments
- “Lane can peddle in all this nonsense while still putting together a game plan.” – McShay [67:45]
- “Landry committed espionage… she probably got signals from them!” [68:25]
- “We're a Lane show now.” [64:59]
Rapid Fire Hits
Ohio State Defense: Dominant Again
(48:51–54:33)
- “It doesn’t make sense… lose eight guys to the draft and be this good? That’s Belichick stuff.” [49:00]
- “Kaden Curry: 11 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 TFLs… a whole new set of draft problems.” [54:09]
USC, Notre Dame, and Top 12 Debates (83:06–98:39)
- USC’s no-show and Illinois' cold-blooded late win noted.
- Notre Dame blows out Boise State; freshman C.J. Carr throws for 354 and four TDs. “Carr deserves his shine too.” [85:14]
- The hosts’ “believability” Top 12:
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Miami
- Ole Miss (“We’re the Lane show now!” [91:08])
- Oklahoma
- Texas A&M
- Texas Tech
- Alabama
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas
- (Mix: Tennessee, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Iowa State, Notre Dame)
QB/Draft Prospect Takeaways (21:52–22:45 & elsewhere)
- Drew Aller’s limitations as an NFL prospect further exposed on a big stage. More analysis promised after Monday tape review.
- “He didn’t do anything to help himself as an NFL prospect tonight.” – Mensch [22:45]
- “Dante Moore is just scratching the surface… super impressive.” [08:11]
Memorable Quotes & Signature Banter
- On Oregon’s moment: “We got to see for the first time in this young man’s career, in the moments, grinding out the big throws, extending drives.” [16:41]
- On College Football’s volatility: “Name me a team outside Ohio State you really feel confident about? There’s a lot of volatility in college football this year, man.” [45:50]
- On Bama’s return: “Kind of a void in college football when Alabama’s not at the level… but now they show, we got an actual quarterback.” [39:01–40:26]
- On Lane Kiffin: “He’s arrived at this point in his career where he’s like, guys, this is supposed to be fun, we’re supposed to talk shit. We’re supposed to have fun with this.” [65:09]
- On Penn State/QB Drew Aller: “I'm not doing it. You can't win big games. You don't have the quarterback. You don't have the head coach. I'm out.” [92:58]
Notable Timestamps
| Time | Topic/Quote | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:13 | “Dan Lanning came in with a great plan…” (Oregon D) | | 06:40 | “The tape is speaking to me… the best pure passer…” (Dante Moore) | | 08:11 | “Dante Moore is must-watch TV…” | | 13:11 | “Make him beat us on the perimeter, down the field. He can’t do it.” (On Penn State’s game plan) | | 17:42 | “Did you see who they sent out for the OT toss? Just Dante Moore.” | | 25:43 | “Ty Simpson... is up to the task.” | | 29:10–30:40 | Kirby Smart decision-making on field goal | | 39:01 | “There’s kind of a void in CFB when Bama’s not at the level… now they show…” (Bama’s resurgence) | | 49:00 | “It doesn’t make sense… lose eight guys to the draft and be this good?” (Ohio State D) | | 54:09 | “Kaden Curry: 11 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 TFLs... a whole new set of draft problems” | | 58:14 | “He just keeps evolving, positively and with his talent…” (On Lane Kiffin) | | 67:45 | “He can peddle in all this nonsense while still putting together that game plan...” (Lane Kiffin) | | 90:13 | “Oregon goes to No. 2 for me… Ducks went into Happy Valley, 10th start for its QB and got it done.” | | 92:58 | “I’m not doing it. You can’t win big games... I’m out.” (On Penn State in Top 12) |
Conclusion & Tone
The episode is a boisterous, insightful, and sometimes irreverent live hangout for die-hards who crave both X’s and O’s and the drama of college football’s ongoing soap opera. McShay and co bring a sharp eye to quarterback play, openly own their pre-season takes, and revel in the chaos and characters of the sport. Lane Kiffin’s antics, Oregon’s rise, and Alabama’s bounce-back take center stage in a college football season with few safe assumptions.