The McShay Show — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Todd’s College Football Power Rankings (7-9): Expectations for LSU, Oregon, and Georgia in 2025
Date: August 22, 2025
Host: Todd McShay (with co-host “Mensch”)
Podcast: The Ringer

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights Todd McShay’s 2025 college football power rankings for teams ranked #7–#9: LSU, Oregon, and Georgia. With Week Zero of college football looming, Todd and Mensch deliver candid analysis on roster strengths, the impact of coaching changes, draft potential, and transfer portal maneuvering. They debate whether these perennial powers can overcome question marks and mount national title runs this season.

Power Rankings Focus

• #9: LSU Tigers
• #8: Oregon Ducks
• #7: Georgia Bulldogs

LSU: Urgency in Baton Rouge

Segment Start: 01:29

Why LSU at #9?

• High Potential for a National Title Run
  • “I could actually…see them in the College Football Championship game at the end.” — Todd (01:40)
• Pressure on Brian Kelly
  • “29 and 11…three and 0 in bowl games…But zero SEC titles, zero College Football Playoff appearances. That doesn’t please the faithful.” — Todd (03:11)
• Portal Spending and Talent Investment
  • “Had to open some really big piggy banks and back up some Brinks trucks? Because that’s exactly what happened.” — Todd (01:57)

Talent & NFL Prospects

• 14 LSU players in the Senior Bowl Top 300, most among teams ranked 7–12 (08:03)
  • “[LSU’s portal moves]…they clearly understood what was necessary.” — Todd (06:48)
• Key Players:
  • QB Garrett Nussmeier: poised for a breakout, “I’m expecting a big jump from Nussmeier.” (04:03)
  • LB Harold Perkins: position switch to “star” (nickel/rover), “This is a guy…that’s a top 10 pick in two years” — Todd (29:50)
  • WRs: Chris Hilton, Nick Anderson, Aaron Anderson, Barry and Brown, Trey’dez Green (“one of the best receiving groups in the country” — Todd, 13:34)

Roster Turnover and Concerns

• 7 players drafted, incl. four O-linemen (05:47)
• O-line uncertainty and run game woes remain
  • “You still got two positions…you’re still trying to figure out…Can they run the ball this year?” — Mensch (15:18)
  • “107th nationally in yards per carry last year.” — Todd (17:37)
  • Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan gets mixed reviews; Alex Atkins brought in as run-game coordinator (20:24)

Depth & Breakout Candidates

• Depth issues at running back: only 3 healthy scholarship RBs after suspensions/legal trouble (18:56, 20:01)
• RB Kaden Durham named as the “clear cut, number one back” (20:24); Harlem Berry, a 5-star true freshman, “could see a little more and more…as the season progresses.” (20:44)

Defense: Reasons for Optimism?

• Blake Baker’s second year as DC — “This will be the best LSU defense we’ve seen during the Brian Kelly regime.” — Todd (24:05)
  • Major additions via portal on defensive front and secondary
  • Starters and Depth:
    • DT Bernard Gooden, “starter immediately, high motor” (26:14)
    • Edge: Jack Pyburn (from Florida), Patrick Payton (“2024 tape not as good”) and Gabe Ralford
    • Wit and West Weeks (linebackers), strong safety A.J. Halsey: “Guy hits people and picks the ball off.” — Mensch (23:18)
  • Secondary: Mansoor Delane “emerging as a standout,” competition at other CB and S spots (31:10)

Skepticism & Remaining Questions

• Run game and O-line — ongoing skepticism
• Defense “still has a long way to go” (28:29)
• Week 1 test vs Clemson’s defense a huge early barometer (21:53)
• Mensch: “Organizational trauma” — concern over previous season’s opening losses and late-year collapses (31:37)

Oregon Ducks: Transfer Portal Reload

Segment Start: 41:11

Why Oregon at #8?

• “They were the best team in college football for a long, long time last year, man.” — Todd (41:40)
• Dan Lanning: “35 and 6” over three seasons and “only lost to two teams” in last two years — Mensch (41:48)
• “Heavy is the crown…They get 14 returning starters, lost 10 picks to the NFL.” — Todd (44:17)

Transfer Portal Strategy

• Thrived in portal despite losing 10 draft picks, six in first three rounds (44:30)
• Four key positions refilled: OT (Isaiah World), OL (Emmanuel Pregnon), DT (Bear Alexander), WR (Evan Stewart, injury), TE (Kenyon Sidi)

Key Players and Units

• QB Situation:
  • Dante Moore (ex-UCLA, former 5-star): “Expected to be starter…watch out for Novosad (Austin) as well.” — Todd (49:34)
  • Mensch believes Moore will be better than last year’s options: “They’re going to be better at quarterback. Will Stein [OC] has these two kids in the building…watch out.” (51:56)
• Offensive Line:
  • “I think that offensive line will be better this year.” — Mensch (50:54)
  • OL deep with portal additions and returning star center Ayapani Lalolu (47:54)
• Defensive Line:
  • “Watch out for that Oregon defensive line” — Mensch (51:12)
  • Names: Bear Alexander, Amari Washington, Aiden Breland
• Skill Positions:
  • WR group dinged by Evan Stewart’s injury, but five-star freshman De Corian Moore expected to make an impact (52:54)
  • TE Kenyon Sidi hyped as “the worst kept secret in college football” — Mensch (47:21)

Mensch’s Bold Take

• “You are way too low on the Ducks. This is going to be the year. Fly, Ducks, fly.” (50:32)
• “Dan Lanning ain’t one of them, man. This guy is the real deal.” (53:21)

Skepticism

• Todd: “There’s no Bo Nix or Dylan Gabriel walking in that building, bro.” (48:03)
• Mensch: “Watch out for Oregon.” (53:21)

Georgia Bulldogs: Uncertainty on Offense, Stability on D?

Segment Start: 53:27

Why Georgia at #7?

• “…They lost 13 players to the NFL draft…But, like, they’re kind of used to it.” — Todd (54:13)
• “Georgia had an undefeated season, won the national championship the next year.” (55:00)
• Only 11 returning starters; annual high turnover but “talent always emerges” (55:08)

Quarterback Change

• Gunner Stockton inherits the starting role from Carson Beck, who transferred after injury/ineffective play — “Not the fastest or twitchiest, but…dual threat runner. He brings a run element to this offense.” — Todd (56:54)
• Debate over QB downgrade: “You’re taking a step back at quarterback.” — Mensch (61:44)

Offensive Weapons

• Deep, potentially elite WR group (Zachariah Branch, Dylan Bell, Noah Thomas, Colby Young, London Humphreys)
• Running backs: Nate Frazier (star freshman), Roderick Robinson, Josh McRae — “three big time dudes that could start at most programs.” — Todd (59:48)
• Offensive line: lost three NFL draft picks, “not great last year and they just lost three guys.” — Mensch (60:48)

Lingering Questions

• Running game: “15th out of 16 teams in rushing yards per game? Georgia. And that was with Nate Frazier.” — Mensch (61:08)
• Mensch skeptical offensive line and RB issues got fixed without major portal adds (62:33)
• Wide receiver talent influx, but uncertainty if Stockton can maximize it
  • “Is Stockton good enough, accurate enough, decisive enough to maximize the talent?” — Todd (57:36)

Defense: Slippage or Reload?

• “Wasn’t elite last year.” — Mensch (64:18)
• Dropped from top 16 to #30 in national defense, 329.9 yards/game allowed (64:41)
• “Defense is going to be elite” — Todd (64:02)
• Key names: C.J. Allen (LB), Elo Medozi (DL), Elijah Griffin (freshman DT), CJ Bolden (CB)
• Secondary retains talent; transfers Sion Branch and Jaden Harris “having really good camps.” (65:53)

Mensch’s Big Picture

• “I love Kirby Smart. He is my favorite coach in all the land…I don’t live in that world. I don’t live in could be.” (63:45, 60:41)
• Todd cautions not to count Georgia out: “Don’t count out Kirby.” (55:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I honestly could [see LSU in the championship]. You got to understand, you’ve been to the bayou, man. It’s different down there when they decide this is the year.” — Todd (01:40)
• “This offense is supremely, supremely better skill-wise than it was a year ago.” — Todd on LSU (11:50)
• “If this wide receiver core sniffs what the Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase…received core is, wow, what a home run.” — Mensch on LSU wideouts (15:37)
• “You still got two positions…you’re still trying to figure out. You got a couple guys come in that are transfers but not offensive tackles. There’s a center and a guard — worried about that.” — Mensch (15:18)
• “I think Bear Alexander and Amari Washington on the inside…really different. Watch out for that Oregon defensive line.“ — Mensch (51:12)
• “There’s no Bo Nix or Dylan Gabriel walking in that building, bro.” — Todd (48:03)
• “You’re taking a step back at quarterback…that offensive line…could be solved…But I haven’t seen it yet.” — Mensch on Georgia (61:44)
• “Don’t count out Kirby.” — Todd (55:00)
• “This group’s going to be a lot better [on defense].” — Todd (31:24)

Key Timestamps

• 01:29 — LSU deep dive begins
• 11:50 — LSU offense: weapons and O-line worries
• 20:24 — LSU: Run game coordinator, RB depth issues
• 24:05 — LSU defense analysis
• 41:11 — Oregon deep dive begins
• 48:03 — Oregon’s QB transition dilemma
• 50:32 — Mensch’s pro-Oregon rant
• 53:27 — Georgia deep dive begins
• 55:00 — Georgia’s draft loss history and reload
• 56:54 — Gunner Stockton’s evaluation
• 61:08 — Georgia’s run game and offensive line skepticism
• 64:18 — Debating Georgia’s defensive staying power

Episode Tone & Style

• Todd: measured, bullish on team upside, analytical, plugged-in with industry sources
• Mensch: skeptical, calls out “could be” optimism, insistent on proof and concrete concerns, humorous jabs at Todd’s optimism

Bottom Line Takeaways

• LSU rides immense stakes for Brian Kelly — QB Nussmeier, upgraded weapons, and a new run focus must overcome O-line/running back depth and prove they can run the ball and defend at a championship level.
• Oregon has rebuilt on the fly via the portal. Mensch thinks they’re under-ranked; Todd awaits proof with new QBs, but lines and DL could be best in the country.
• Georgia is “used to” reloading, but new QB Gunner Stockton is a clear step down in experience. Defense should be good, but was not elite last year; offense only as good as the rebuilt O-line allows.
• All three programs have championship-level expectations but big unanswered questions heading into 2025.

(This summary omits all ad reads and promotional content to focus fully on substantive discussion.)