The McShay Show – Week 11 Reactions: Alabama Rolls, Oregon Escapes, & Heis-Mendoza!

Date: November 9, 2025
Host(s): Todd McShay with co-host "Mensch"
Podcast: The Ringer – The McShay Show

Quick Overview

This Week 11 Saturday night reaction show is a deep dive into the wild upsets, gritty wins, and evolving narratives shaping the 2025 college football season and its NFL Draft prospects. Todd McShay and Mensch offer their trademark blend of granular scouting, emotional fandom, inside stories, and chat interaction—covering Alabama’s resurgence, Oregon’s clutch escape, the rise of Indiana and Fernando Mendoza (Heis-Mendoza), the unique culture in high school and college football, and emergent NFL talent up and down the draft board.

Main Segments and Themes

1. Opening & High School Football Vibes

[00:00–08:00]

• McShay opens with gratitude for the show’s loyal chat community, recognizing football’s multi-level roots—from high school playoffs to the NFL flag tournaments.
• Heartfelt anecdote about his son's flag football experience, using tough days as life lessons:

  "I view tough days as the best days, man. As a dad, we didn’t talk a word about football on the ride home." — Todd [03:56]

• Spirited celebration of high school football’s quirks (coaches on rooftops, “Thick Six” linemen making plays).
• Shout-outs to the “crazies” in the community, recognizing their behind-the-scenes passion for the game.

2. Football Culture: College Towns, Coaches, and Chat

[08:00–14:15]

• Nostalgic stories about coaching legends, wild Texas Tech atmospheres, and the deep roots of college football culture.
• Discussion about tiebreakers at gas stations in West Texas, affectionately lampooned as “peak Friday Night Lights."

  “There’s just something so beautiful about a bunch of grown men sitting in a gas station late at night flipping a coin … I love it.” — Todd [11:14]

3. Alabama’s Rebirth & Ty Simpson’s Emergence

[14:16–30:51]

• Alabama navigates transition post-Nick Saban; early stumbles but rebounding in year two under Kalen DeBoer.
• McShay breaks down Ty Simpson’s play, expressing both hope and concern for Bama’s run game (only 56 rushing yards against LSU) and the maturation of their young defense.
• “Mechanically, he’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve evaluated in a long time. If not Joe Burrow, then Ty Simpson inside the pocket.” — Mensch [23:25]
• Discusses the overall offensive talent, receiver depth, and the need for more from the run game to be a true title contender.

4. Emerging NFL Draft Prospects and Mock Draft Philosophy

[30:52–43:06]

• Detailed evaluation of standout prospects, emphasizing process over hype:

  “While all the Twitter draft mafia stamp ‘number one overall,’…I care more about the process. I’m not going to stamp something until I see it.” — Todd [44:01]

• Commentary on NCAA transfer portal, NIL changes, and how they impact prospects’ pro decisions.
• Discussion of several QBs—Simpson, Mendoza, Sellers, Matier, Dante Moore—and prospects’ needs for further development.
• Debate on whether Mendoza and Simpson are the only true first-round QBs in this class.

5. Indiana’s Stunner at Penn State & the Rise of 'Heis-Mendoza'

[30:54–55:44]

• Breaks down Indiana’s victory over Penn State, hailing QB Fernando Mendoza’s clutch factor (despite average stats) and applauding his blend of refinement and improvisation.

  “It was an absolute roller coaster ride for Fernando Mendoza…his ugly wins have shown me the most.” — Todd [38:09]

• The “Heis-Mendoza” campaign is real, but McShay and Mensch remain cautiously optimistic, noting flaws (streakiness, turnovers) amid the hype.
• Highlights wideouts like Omar Cooper Jr. and Charlie Becker stepping up, crucial for Indiana’s historic win at Happy Valley.

6. Heisman Watch: Mendoza, Simpson, Sain, Love

[53:35–59:40]

• Updated odds from FanDuel:
  • Julian Sayin (Ohio State): +160
  • Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): +175
  • Ty Simpson (Alabama): +450
  • Others: Reed, Pavia, Stockton (long shots)
• McShay’s Heisman lean: Sain, Mendoza, Simpson as current top three; nod to Jeremiah Love (though unlikely as a RB to win).
• “There is a path [for Simpson], and there’s a path for [Love] to get to New York … but the quarterbacks just have the edge.” — Mensch [54:39]

7. Oregon’s Survival vs. Iowa & Run Game Revival

[59:46–76:07]

• Detailed breakdown of Oregon surviving at Iowa despite injuries to key skill players.
• Praise for OC Will Stein’s patience with the run game: Oregon racks up 261 rush yards on Iowa’s vaunted defense.
• Candid on injuries and the developmental curve for young stars (Dante Moore not ready for NFL; Decorian Moore’s flashes).
• Insider nugget: Tight end Kenyon Sadiq’s lack of targets attributed to effort/practice/perception issues, NOT talent.

• “That was a bare-knuckle football game until the last two drives.” — Gary Danielson, cited by McShay [70:30]

8. Texas Tech Home Field & Defensive Dominance

[76:08–91:08]

• Texas Tech lauded for building a true “home field advantage” (with help from NIL—$7M defensive line), led by elite pass rusher David Bailey.
• Hilarious aside on tortilla-throwing traditions facing penalties:

  “Only in college football, only in West Texas, could a tortilla affect a national championship run.” — Mensch [80:07]

• High praise for Bailey’s hustle, pass rush, and teammate Jacob Rodriguez (“He pops the Heisman pose. It’s just awesome.” [82:15]).
• Concerns raised about QB health (Baron Morton’s hairline fracture, Will Hammond out).
• Discussion on steady offensive output despite perception.

9. More Draft Stock Talk: Edge Rushers and Defensive Prospects

[85:46–88:30]

• Debate: Is David Bailey worthy of being the first EDGE off the 2026 draft board? Mensch stands by Bane being slightly ahead, but consensus that all three—Bane, Falk, Bailey—are top-10-caliber talents.

10. Missouri, Texas A&M, and New Names to Watch

[93:25–100:53]

• Marcel Reed commended for mistake-free performance; McShay notes A&M’s shift toward “real” culture under Elko.
• “Black Unicorn” — RB Reuben Owens of A&M emerges as a must-watch nickname and prospect.

  “Black Unicorn is my new favorite nickname.” — Todd [99:04]

• Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love recognized for excellence even if overshadowed at RB.

11. Georgia’s Statement & Team Development

[100:53–106:16]

• Georgia’s big win over Mississippi State cements its best form late in the season.
• Praise for Gunner Stockton’s improvement, WR trio (Branch, Thomas, Dope).
• High praise for Kirby Smart’s ability to develop players and teams:

  “You cannot tell me that this Georgia team is not way better than they were at the beginning of the year.” — Mensch [101:42]

12. Cultural Bits, Chat Shoutouts, and CFP Top 12 Discussion

[106:19–116:28]

• Whimsical engagement with active listeners in the live chat (shoutouts to the community and contributors).
• Analysis of the upcoming CFP rankings, top-12 playoff structure, and why Texas Tech is "the team that could shock someone."
• Talk of committee’s (and “TMS Top 12’s”) improvement, with minor quibbles over lower slots.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Ty Simpson (Alabama):

  “Mechanically, he’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve evaluated in a long time. His base, the footwork within the pocket…when he gets outside, if he has time, he resets his feet. If he doesn’t, his upper body is always square to the target.” — Mensch [22:41–23:25]

• On Fernando Mendoza:

  “I saw more shit today and I’m excited. His ugly wins have shown me the most.” — Todd [38:09–44:47]

• On Texas Tech’s Tortilla Penalty:

  “Only in college football, only in West Texas, could a tortilla affect a national championship run.” — Mensch [80:07]

• On Home Field Advantage:

  “If you think creating a home field advantage isn’t important, why don’t you go to Lubbock, Texas?” — Todd [77:17]

• On Nicknames:

  “Black Unicorn is my new favorite nickname.” — Todd [99:04]

• Gary Danielson’s Iowa-Oregon summation:

  “That was a bare-knuckle football game until the last two drives.” — Gary Danielson via McShay [70:30]

• On Kirby Smart:

  “What goes under the radar is how good he is at developing players and, at large, developing teams.” — Mensch [101:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening, Community, High School Shoutouts: [00:00–08:00]
• Alabama’s Win & Ty Simpson Analysis: [14:16–30:51]
• Penn State-Indiana ‘Heis-Mendoza’ Breakdown: [30:54–38:09]
• QB Draft Class Assessment: [38:09–44:47]
• Heisman Watch Segment: [53:35–59:40]
• Oregon-Iowa Deep Dive: [59:46–76:07]
• Texas Tech Home Field/Defensive Dominance: [76:08–91:08]
• EDGE/Pass Rusher Draft Talk: [85:46–88:30]
• Missouri, Texas A&M, and RB 'Black Unicorn': [93:25–100:53]
• Georgia’s Statement & Team Development: [100:53–106:16]
• CFP Top-12, Chat Shoutouts, Wrap: [106:19–116:28]

Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Informal, knowledgeable, passionate, and at times irreverent—full of banter, inside jokes, “off the rails” energy, and personal stories.
• Takeaways:
  • The 2025 college football landscape is full of parity and dramatic storylines, with emerging stars and future NFL talent at every turn.
  • Alabama and Georgia have re-tooled better than national narratives suggest; Indiana (via Mendoza) is the nation’s bold new storyline.
  • NFL Draft analysis remains a central thread, but McShay refuses simple hype, continually referencing real process/scouting rigor.
  • Unique football culture, from high schools to college towns like Lubbock, enriches the season’s flavor.
  • The Heisman and playoff landscape remain wide open, with a few true contenders separating from the pack.

For First-Time Listeners

If you didn’t catch this episode, expect a raucous, detail-rich, tape-eval-heavy ride through the weekend’s college football action, with McShay’s trademark scouting insights, memorable tangents, and plenty of banter. The show balances humor, expertise, and genuine affection for the game at every level, and makes room for its thriving digital community alongside the on-field (and NFL Draft) drama.