Podcast Summary: The McShay Show – The Latest Intel on Lane to LSU, Golding at Ole Miss, Penn State’s Next Move, and DeBoer at Alabama
Host: Todd McShay
Date: December 1, 2025
Produced by: The Ringer
Episode Overview
This episode is a deep dive into the latest seismic coaching moves in college football, centered on Lane Kiffin’s dramatic departure from Ole Miss to become LSU’s new head coach. Todd McShay provides industry-insider context, unfiltered insights, and detailed analysis on why Kiffin made the move, the SEC domino effect (including Pete Golding at Ole Miss), and the powerful role of superagent Jimmy Sexton. The show also explores the repercussions for Penn State and touches on Kalen DeBoer's place at Alabama.
Main Themes and Topics
1. Why Lane Kiffin Left Ole Miss for LSU
- Historic Success at Ole Miss
- Kiffin’s six-year run (four 10-win seasons) was the best in program history.
- Question: Why Now?
- Main reason: high school recruiting foundation at LSU vs. reliance on transfer portal at Ole Miss.
- “[LSU] high school recruiting…creates a foundation like no other avenue in college football. If the goal is to become the next Nick Saban…LSU is the place to do it.” — McShay (06:10)
- Transfer Portal as Double-Edged Sword
- Ole Miss built success using the portal, but it’s “dangerous and inconsistent.”
- Kiffin wanted a more stable recruiting base: “At LSU, you have the state of Louisiana in your backyard…you can create a foundation of players who come in as 18 year old freshmen and develop them.” (07:58)
- Personal Growth and Readiness for the LSU Challenge
- Kiffin is now “more mature, more advanced as a coach and as a person than he's ever been before.” (09:23)
- Immediate Recruiting Impact
- Kiffin’s first move at LSU: photo with #1 national recruit, Lamar Brown.
- “Welcome home, Lane. Lane Kiffin. That's Lamar Brown, the number one recruit in the country.” (09:54)
- Kiffin’s first move at LSU: photo with #1 national recruit, Lamar Brown.
- NFL Talent Hotbed Context
- Louisiana’s per capita NFL production is among the highest in the nation.
- LSU as the sole SEC powerhouse in the state, giving Kiffin a unique recruiting advantage. (11:19)
2. The Business and Human Side of the Kiffin Move
- Money Was Not the Issue
- Ole Miss matched offers; it came down to long-term potential and “structure.”
- Mentor Advice
- Pete Carroll and Nick Saban both advised Kiffin to take the LSU job, emphasizing its unique possibilities. (18:08)
- Exit Drama and Ole Miss Fan Reaction
- Kiffin’s handling of the departure drew criticism for not being more discreet or sensitive.
- Steve: “I feel like there’s things he could have done to just, you know, keep your head down and get out of town.” (19:20)
- McShay: “LSU needed an answer 100%…They have to have stability and portal transfers need to know Kiffin’s there.” (20:34)
- Portal Window Timing
- Transfer portal dates forced schools to make urgent coaching decisions during the postseason—described as “the dumbest thing in the world” by McShay. (20:42)
- Coach/Staff Loyalty and Ultimatums
- Kiffin only offered staff spots at LSU to those who left with him immediately.
- Debate on whether this harmed Ole Miss players’ playoff hopes.
- Steve: “If I’m an Ole Miss fan, that leaves a real sour taste…feels like you’re hurting the program in ways you don’t need to on the way out.” (43:17)
3. The SEC Dominoes and Superagent Jimmy Sexton
- Sexton’s Unprecedented Power
- “Jimmy Sexton is the most powerful man in college football, maybe…the most powerful man in all college sports.” (27:24)
- Sexton represents most SEC head coaches and orchestrated multiple moves.
- Immediate Aftershocks
- Pete Golding promoted to full-time Ole Miss head coach.
- Player reaction was overwhelmingly positive, likened to the support Marcus Freeman received at Notre Dame. (48:54)
- Summerall to Florida, Dave Caldwell to Florida front office, Alex Golesh (USF) to Auburn, Bob Chesney (JMU) to UCLA, Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas.
- Pete Golding promoted to full-time Ole Miss head coach.
- “Puppeteer” Analogy
- Steve: “The puppeteer. And also…his biggest client is Lane Kiffin.” (35:08)
- Alabama Rumor
- Discussion that, had Alabama lost the Iron Bowl, the job might have come open and Kiffin could have been involved.
4. Penn State’s Predicament
- Franklin’s Firing and Sexton’s “Grudge”
- Sexton reps Franklin; firing strained Sexton’s relationship with Penn State’s AD Pat Kraft.
- Coaching Search Challenges
- Non-Sexton candidates are being targeted but keep getting extensions—often managed by Sexton.
- Notable: “If Sexton is Boris (Scott Boris of college football), you better get in bed with him whether you like it or not.” (56:34)
- Hints at Next Moves
- “If you’re a flight tracker person, there may or may not have been a plane from Happy Valley to Provo in the last 48 hours…Kalani Sitake someone you might want to keep an eye on.” (57:57)
- Many at Penn State want interim Terry Smith to stay for stability and to avoid major buyouts given stadium debt.
5. College Football’s New “Mercenary” Era
- NIL and Transfer Portal
- The system now creates “mercenaries”—players and coaches chasing best offers.
- McShay: “What this current system has done…is it’s created a bunch of mercenaries. Pay for play.” (44:59)
- Unregulated Chaos
- Repeated calls for a governing body or commissioner for college football, but skepticism it will happen soon.
- Until then, chaos and power consolidation (esp. by agents) will likely continue.
6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “At LSU, you have the state of Louisiana in your backyard…you can create a foundation of players who come in as 18 year old freshmen and develop them and if they’re not ready right away, you can wait till their sophomore year.” — McShay (07:58)
- “Jimmy Sexton is the most powerful man in college football, maybe the most powerful man in all of college sports.” — McShay (27:24)
- “The most successful, biggest names in college football are not the biggest stars. The biggest star in all of college sports is Lane Kiffin, 100%.” — McShay (23:19)
- “What this [NIL/transfer portal] system has done in college football…is it has created a bunch of mercenaries.” — McShay (44:59)
- “If Sexton is Boris (Scott Boris of college football), you better get in bed with him whether you like it or not.” — McShay (56:34)
- Steve on Kiffin’s departure: “If I’m an Ole Miss fan, that leaves a real sour taste in my mouth…feels like you’re hurting the program in ways you don’t need to on the way out.” (43:17)
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:05 | Lane Kiffin career at Ole Miss and “why leave” context | | 06:10 | High school recruiting foundation at LSU as the key motivator | | 09:54 | Kiffin’s first recruiting room move: photo with Lamar Brown | | 11:19 | Recruiting NFL hotbeds: why Louisiana is unique | | 18:08 | Advice from Pete Carroll & Nick Saban; personal dimensions of Kiffin’s transition | | 20:34 | Portal window urgency and effect on coaching moves | | 23:19 | Kiffin as “the face of college athletics right now” | | 27:24 | Jimmy Sexton dubbed “the most powerful man in college football” | | 35:08 | SEC dominoes orchestrated by Sexton (“the puppeteer”) | | 39:15 | Coaching staff ultimatums and impact on Ole Miss player morale | | 43:17 | Steve on the ethical and emotional impact of Kiffin’s exit on Ole Miss | | 44:59 | Mercenary culture: Players, NIL, and system chaos | | 48:54 | Player jubilation when Pete Golding is announced as new head coach at Ole Miss | | 56:34 | Penn State’s difficulties replacing Franklin: Sexton’s influence, Kalani Sitake speculation |
Conclusion
This episode captures the intensity and complexity of college football’s coaching carousel through Todd McShay’s signature blend of reporting, sourcing, and relaxed “insider” delivery. Listeners gain a clear, detailed understanding of the power dynamics, motivations, and fallout from Lane Kiffin’s move to LSU, the SEC’s agent-driven dominoes, and the tremors it sends across programs like Ole Miss and Penn State. The show ends emphasizing the unrivaled power of agents like Sexton and the unregulated, chaotic future of college football’s NIL and transfer epoch.
This summary captures all essential topics, core arguments, and memorable quotes in McShay’s and Steve’s authentic conversational style, providing a thorough yet engaging run-through for listeners and non-listeners alike.