The McShay Show: Todd’s College Football Power Rankings (10–12)

Episode Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Todd McShay (B), with co-host Mitch (A)

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, Todd McShay unveils his initial Power Rankings for the 2025 college football season, focusing on teams ranked 10 through 12: Oklahoma, Miami, and Florida. The episode’s purpose is to go deeper than the usual poll or list, examining each program’s personnel, offseason changes, incoming NFL prospects, and schedule outlook—offering insights for fans eager to track the playoff race and potential NFL Draft stars. Notably, the show launches a new “Renovated” segment (sponsored by Home Depot) to highlight programs that have transformed their rosters and fortunes, using Oklahoma as the lead example.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Format (00:25–04:00)

• Todd and Mitch announce a four-part Power Rankings series (three teams per episode).
• Emphasis on deeper dives rather than racing through a top 25.
• Reminder: These are power rankings—not playoff or win projections.

[Renovated segment]: #12 – Oklahoma Sooners (11:21–32:05)

Offseason Overhaul (“Renovated” theme)

• Oklahoma fits the "renovation" model after a disappointing 6–7 season.
  • Quote (Todd, 11:21): “When you talk about the theme of renovated, I want you to think back to a year ago. 6 and 7... Defense was a top 20 unit [but] the offense—self-admittedly—historically bad.”
• Major influx of transfers and 16 returning starters—8 on each side.
• Losing only two key defensive players (Danny Stutzman, Billy Bowman), both drafted in Round 4.
• Brent Venables' defensive acumen and newly hired General Manager Jim Nagy (former Senior Bowl exec) praised as “phenomenal” for portal strategy and pro-level talent acquisition.

NFL Draft Prospects & Talent Infusion (13:13–15:32)

• Quote (Todd, 13:15): “I think they have, right now, four players that I consider top 100 prospects in the NFL draft coming into the year. Minimum.”
  • QB John Mateer (Washington State transfer, brings OC Ben Arbuckle too)
  • RB Jaden Ott
  • WR Dion Burks
  • Edge R Mason Thomas
• OT Derek Simmons (W. Carolina transfer): “Moves really well…could be a difference-maker with Bill Bedenbaugh [OL coach] coaching him.” (Mitch, 14:47–15:33)

Offense: Key Additions & Storylines

• Quarterback: John Mateer, “the storyline in college football outside of Arch [Manning].” (Todd, 13:59)
  • Brings dynamic play and energy; “better than [Oklahoma] thought we were signing up for.”
  • Notable stat: 65% completion percentage, 29 TDs, 7 INTs last year (Washington State).
  • NFL scouts closely watching his SEC transition: “sit back and pop the popcorn” (Todd, 20:15).
• OL: Simmons and return of Jacob Sexton, plus “buzz” about two true freshman ready to play (Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fogy).
• WR: Overhauled room with 7 new transfers (including Dion Burks, Giovanni Gibson from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Isaiah Sategna from Arkansas).
• Kicking game: Major transfer upgrades, including “stud kicker” from UTSA.

Defense: Foundation & Depth

• “Top 20 nationally last year, and they think this is a top 10 defense now.” (Todd, 28:30)
• Interior and edge talent—“might actually be the best D-line group in the SEC” (Todd, 29:35).
• Secondary: “Might be their best overall position group.”
• Breakout players: Taylor Wein & Danny Okoye (edge), plus transfer Marvin Jones Jr. (from FSU)—“tape is better than the numbers.” (Mitch, 30:56–31:32)
• “Their depth on D-line is so critical in the SEC. That’s huge.” (Todd, 30:14)
• Coaching: Venables called “one of the best defense coordinators ever to put on the headset” (Mitch, 23:54).

Schedule and Season Outlook (21:35–22:59)

• Brutal schedule: Michigan, Auburn, South Carolina, Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, LSU.
• “If you told me this team ends up not being bowl-eligible because of the schedule, it wouldn’t be the craziest thing. And if you told me they made the playoff? Wow.” (Mitch, 22:16)
• “Might be the most underrated from a personnel standpoint in the country.” (Todd, 31:32)

#11 – Miami Hurricanes (35:18–52:49)

2024 Recap & NFL Talent

• 10–3 last year; seven players drafted but only two in first four rounds (including #1 overall Cam Ward).
• Key losses: QB Cam Ward, TE Elijah Arroyo, OL Jalen Rivers, LB Francisco Mauigoa, DE Tyler Baron, K Andres Borregales, RB Damian Martinez.

NFL Prospects

• Francis Mauigoa (OT), Reuben Bain (Edge), Carson Beck (QB) are top 100 caliber.

2025 Roster: Offensive Focus

• Headline (Todd, 37:55): “The story is Carson Beck.”
  • Beck (Georgia transfer) described as “here and grinding…decisive in practice…the system likes him.” (Todd, 39:53)
  • “Maybe a top-10 pick” at best (Todd, 39:53).
• Receivers: Overhaul with “young cats”:
  • JoJo Trader (“great camp”), NY Car, Ray Ray Joseph, Malachi Tony (freshman standout), Keenan Marriott, C.J. Daniels (Liberty/LSU transfer).
• Tight end: Loss of Arroyo, but Elijah Lofton (freshman) having “really good camp”; “this is tight end U.” (43:08)
• O-line: Three returning starters, “the strength.” Alex Mirabal (OL coach) gets shoutout; emphasis on Beck’s protection and play-action prowess.

Miami Offensive Identity

• “The heart of this team is going to be run game, strong OL play, and the defense is going to be good too.” (Mitch, 44:26)
• Mark Fletcher (RB) expected to be a key contributor.

Defensive Rebuild & Coordinator Hire

• New DC Corey Heatherman (Minnesota/JMU/Maine lineage): “Brings new mentality…may be bursting onto the scene nationally.” (Todd, 45:47–46:54)
• Talent infusion: Five-star DTs Justin Scott, Armando Blount; DE Reuben Bain (“top five defensive prospect heading into the season”); transfer depth; secondary renovated via six DBs from portal.
• LB: Added Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Mohamed Toure (Rutgers); return of #2 tackler Wesley Bissainthe.
• Quote (Mitch, 48:12): “Maybe I shouldn't be jumping to the conclusion... but I look at that talent, that coordinator, and who they brought in, and I feel good about this defense.”
• DBs: “Maybe their best group”; CB Jabari Antoine is a camp standout (Todd, 48:41–48:56).

Schedule & Wildcard

• Quote (Todd, 49:02): “This is manageable with all this talent and Carson Beck coming in.”
  • Key games: Notre Dame (Aug 31), Florida (Sep 20), Florida State (Oct 4), Louisville (Oct 17), SMU (Nov 1), then a November stretch of winnable ACC games.
• Coaching question (Mitch, 51:28): “Are we worried about Mario Cristobal’s game management at all?” Concern expressed over past late-game decisions potentially costing big moments.
  • Todd agrees: “If Miami fans have a complaint, that would be it.” (52:49)

#10 – Florida Gators (52:49–67:11)

2024 Recap & Turning the Corner

• Last season: Rocky start (4–5), “on the chopping block,” then won four straight (including Gasparilla Bowl).
  • “Not a more inspiring coaching job than the one done by Billy Napier in Gainesville last year.” (Todd, 54:00)
• Mitch: “Momentum is a thing, especially with young players.”

Roster & Prospects

• Key losses: Seven players drafted, but “none in first three rounds”—not decimated.
• NFL Prospects: Caleb Banks (DL—could be “most disruptive three-technique in the country”), Austin Barber (OT), Jake Slaughter (C), Tyreek Sapp (Edge).
• Four returning starters on offensive line; Napier’s philosophy: rotate three running backs and rely on ground game.
• Running game: Jaden Jackson, John Ball – “both over five yards per carry…and both had seven rushing touchdowns” (Todd, 63:45).

QB Situation: DJ Lagway

• The season rides on his health and development.
  • “If you don’t have the guy at quarterback, nothing else matters.” (Todd, 59:39)
  • Missed time early in camp (calf strain), all reports suggest he’ll be ready for opener.

Schedule Outlook

• Warmup: LIU, USF to start, then “the gauntlet”:
  • LSU (7:30pm, Baton Rouge), Miami (on the road), Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia (Nov 4), Ole Miss, Tennessee, Florida State.
• “That’s why people are cowards and don’t rank them top 15... Don’t tell me a team with this much talent and a healthy Lagway isn’t a top 10-15 team.” (Todd, 61:57)

Defense

• “Built where it matters—one of the best teams in the country along the line of scrimmage, both sides.”
• Defensive depth: Caleb Banks & Tyreek Sapp (Sapp: “about to go off”), George Gumbs, L.J. McCray, Jamari Lyons (healthy after injury, could be a breakout).
• LB: Miles Graham, Aaron Childs; DBs: Devin Moore (corner), Dijon Johnson (corner), Bryce Thornton and Jordan Castell (both safeties).
  • “They feel good about the linebacker core and they think this defensive back group could be even better than it was last year.” (Todd, 65:17)
• WR room: True freshman Dallas Wilson “going to be a stud” but currently banged up; J. Michael Sturdivant (UCLA transfer) is a key pickup.

Overall Tone

• Mitch on the challenge: “If you’ve got a fresh 231-pound Jaden Ball coming at you at the end of the game and that OL’s been leaning on you, have fun.” (63:32)
• High praise for Napier’s leadership and roster development despite adversity (“Culture is the most overused word…but Florida showed it last year”). (Todd, 55:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Todd on Oklahoma’s potential (31:32):
  • “This team might be the most underrated from a personnel standpoint in all of the country.”
• Mitch, about Oklahoma’s wide receiver haul (24:01):
  • “Giovanni Gibson…pretty good route runner. What was he doing at Arkansas-Pine Bluff? He could be one of those small-school kids that surprise people.”
• Mitch’s blunt take on Miami’s identity (44:26):
  • “The identity of that team is going to be the ground game and good defense.”
• Todd, on Florida’s defense (65:14):
  • “I think [Jamari Lyons] could be a guy that you watch, along with obviously Banks and Sapp, but all of those guys... It’s a deeper rotation, inexperienced in some spots, but they’ve got talent.”
• Mitch, pointing out realities for Florida’s schedule (62:19):
  • “If you’ve got a fresh 231-pound Jaden Ball coming at you at the end of the game and he’s got some juice and that offensive line’s been leaning on you... good luck.”
• Game management concern for Cristobal (51:28):
  • “If you’re going to be a team that’s this competitive, you’re going to find yourself…in close games where that stuff matters.”

Important Timestamps

• Renovated segment & Oklahoma deep-dive – 11:21–32:05
• Miami discussion starts – 35:18
  • Offensive outlook: 37:55–45:25
  • Defensive overhaul: 45:25–49:02
• Florida deep-dive begins – 52:49
  • QB discussion: 58:36–59:39
  • Schedule breakdown: 60:12–62:00
  • Defense and roster depth: 63:32–65:14

Tone & Style

• Witty, conversational, and packed with inside info from both Todd and Mitch.
• Both hosts blend analysis with real talk, using analogies (home renovation, swampland/pea gravel) and humor.
• High energy, especially as college football season approaches.

Summary

This episode offers a comprehensive, inside-out breakdown of three potential playoff sleepers—Oklahoma, Miami, and Florida—spotlighting roster construction, NFL talent pipelines, coaching impacts, and the intangible power of momentum and chemistry. The “Renovated” theme spotlights the wild new era of program-building in the transfer/NIL era. For fans wanting a true behind-the-scenes sense of why these teams matter in 2025, this is essential listening—and now, an essential read.