The McShay Show — Week 7 Reactions: Indiana Is Legit, James Franklin Is Finished, and SEC Squeakers

Podcast: The McShay Show | The Ringer
Host(s): Todd McShay and Steve Mensch
Episode Date: October 12, 2025

Episode Overview

In this jam-packed Week 7 reaction episode, Todd McShay and co-host Steve Mensch tackle the wildest outcomes and upheavals across college football. The show centers on a resurgent Indiana program, the unraveling at Penn State (and the fate of James Franklin), and the close calls and statement games throughout the SEC. The episode delivers sharp draft-related insight, real-time chat engagement, and trademark in-the-trenches perspective.

The duo begin with lighter viral moments from around college football before diving into heavier analysis: coaching leadership (good and bad), Indiana’s Cinderella story under Kurt Signetti, quarterback stock updates, and the domino effect of the latest upsets on their evolving Top 12. The tone is candid, passionate, and at times blunt—delivering exactly the kind of Sunday-morning clarity college football fanatics crave.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Viral & Fun Moments to Kick It Off

• [03:06] "The Thick Kicker": McShay highlights Iowa State's Carson Rhodes, a 6'8", 310lb freshman O-lineman forced to kick off as the emergency 4th-stringer.

  "Just another example of a big man being an athlete...We can play offensive line and kick and kick off in an emergency." (Steve, 03:06)

• [05:00] Oklahoma State Fans Go Shirtless: Despite losing and midseason turmoil, students created a viral shirtless section, rallying together for the team.

  "They created a new student section...It just became their thing. Like, if you're gonna be there on a hot Saturday—might as well have some fun." (McShay, 05:00)

• [06:20] Indiana Fan Video Goes Viral: A video skewers James Franklin’s top-10 win record, setting up the night’s main theme.

  "Signetti has more top 10 wins in a month at Indiana than James Franklin has in 10 years." (McShay referencing meme, 06:20)

The Penn State Meltdown & The Case Against James Franklin

[07:20–16:35] – McShay’s Leadership Theory and Franklin’s Detractors

• McShay draws a parallel between "selfish leadership" in the military and college football:

  "Selfish leadership always gets found out. When things don't go right...there could be a mutiny on a ship or a locker room." (McShay, 09:09)

• Cites Mack Brown’s quote on coaching philosophy:

  “Be fair, be consistent, and do the right thing…Oftentimes, the right thing may not be the best thing for you.” (Mack Brown via McShay, 10:45)

• McShay’s bottom line:

  "Fire James Franklin tonight. Don't let him back in the building.” (McShay, 16:19)

• Discussion on ripple effects for Penn State’s top NFL prospects and the draft process, as well as how Franklin’s excuse-making and talent decisions undermined locker room trust.

Leadership Spotlight: Indiana’s Remarkable Turnaround

[19:25–26:39] – Kurt Signetti's Impact and NFL-Ready Culture

• Indiana averaged just over 4 wins per season in the 30 years before Signetti—he is now 17-2, with only losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame.

• “But you know what I needed to see from Signetti? What I saw today. Not just to beat Oregon…they won because of the program. Indiana is run by a leader who, deep in his soul, believes in what he's doing.” (McShay, 21:22)

• Mensch adds on Signetti’s FCS-to-FBS leap at JMU, and the instant culture shift at IU.

• Both hosts confirm: If Penn State moves on from Franklin, Signetti should be at the top of their list—though he seems deeply rooted with Indiana’s mission.

• “He wants to take this Indiana program and shove it up everyone’s ass.” (McShay, 23:56)

• IU’s newfound physicality and player belief draws praise.

• "This Indiana team is freaking for real. I can't wait to talk at the end of the show where they are." (Mensch, 29:03)

• Memorable moment: LB Aiden Fisher says postgame, "This is why you come to Indiana," stunning the hosts as a seismic shift in program culture.

  "That is so alien to me. The idea that an Indiana football player is talking about this is why you come to Indiana." (Mensch, 25:38)

Deep Dive: Indiana’s Upset at Oregon

[29:02–42:41] – Xs and Os, Player Performances, QB Discourse

• The hosts analyze what made Indiana’s victory over Oregon so legit:

  • Indiana’s discipline and increasing physical dominance in the trenches:

    “They're just more physically gifted and physical…They’re better than they were a year ago. And I'm talking trench stuff.” (McShay, 30:37)

  • Credit to DC Brian Haynes and Indiana’s defense for holding Oregon’s high-powered offense to just 13 offensive points.
  • Elijah Surratt and Omar Cooper—an underrated WR duo.

    “They're the most underrated wide receiver tandem in college football.” (McShay, 34:23)

  • Mendoza’s maturity at QB is apparent, but both hosts pump brakes on NFL Draft #1 pick hype.

• “He’s kind of giving me Kirk Cousins vibes…not a bad thing, but I can't stamp number one overall pick on this guy yet.” (Mensch & McShay, 39:10–39:19)

• Both praise Mendoza’s resilience after a rough INT and his growth, but note he still has “Mendoza moments” (careless turnovers) that IU's coaches are working hard to minimize.

Dante Moore and the Cautionary Tale of Overhype

[45:55–48:14]

• Dante Moore is universally acknowledged as supremely talented, but his youth showed vs Indiana’s confusion-based defense.

• “We saw today why he's not ready. If we rush these young men into something they're not ready for…not their own fault, just lack of experience, that’s where you see mistakes.” (McShay, 47:25)

• Still:

  “Dante Moore is the most talented passer of the football probably in the entire country…But let him get the amount of starts of a Jayden Daniels or Bo Nix before you anoint him.” (McShay, 46:31)

Red River Showdown: Texas 20, Oklahoma 0 (Second Half)

[54:02–66:45] – Arch Manning’s Emergence & John Mateer’s Courage

• Arch Manning shakes off the weight of expectations and a brutal Week 1 to post a poised performance against Oklahoma.

• “Not so fast... 8-for-9 on third down. So 21-for-27 when they needed. And he's spreading the ball around.” (McShay, 58:27–58:33)

• Human-interest focus: John Mateer’s courageous (but turnover-prone) return from a fractured thumb has both hosts questioning the medical decision process and his trajectory for the rest of the season.

• "Do you think all the picks today were mental more than physical? I saw a guy looking down at his hand, flexing, every throw." (Mensch, 67:03)

• Fascinating live debate about handling injured QBs: is it better to play a star QB at less than 100%, or take short-term pain for long-term gain?

• “The person, the competitor, is the least equipped to make a smart decision when it comes to this stuff.” (McShay, 72:13)

SEC Squeakers & Other Notables

[75:00–88:44]

• Alabama-Missouri: Alabama survives a rugged, physical Missouri team. Ty Simpson is hailed as rising to top-QB status:

  “Ty Simpson is emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in the country...doing next-level stuff.” (McShay, 76:26)

• Missouri's near-miss: Hosts lament the lack of replay tech that cost Mizzou a key fake punt conversion.

• "What really screwed them is they didn't have the technology in that game or the number of cameras for that crucial play." (McShay, 77:20)

• Freshman standouts: Alabama’s wide receiver room gets a shout for incredible depth (Lt Brooks making 4-for-58 as a freshman).

• Texas A&M & Mike Elko:

  “Texas A&M is a team now...Some guys are just program builders, and Elko is one of them.” (McShay, 85:25)

• Texas A&M's balance, culture, and ability to adjust in-game earns 'Top 5 Team' nod.

• Quick fire on QB injuries and struggles: Sellers under pressure (and his supporting cast), Nussmeyer injury and arm strength drop-off, the fluidity of 'Golden Era' QB prospects.

• USC bounces back vs Michigan:

  "I'm not saying USC is back to Pete Carroll glory...but this is the first time I got a glimpse they're heading in the right direction." (McShay, 95:01)

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments w/ Timestamps

• [09:09] “Selfish leadership always gets found out. When things don't go right…there could be a mutiny on a ship.” —McShay
• [10:45] “Be fair, be consistent and do the right thing…” —Mack Brown (via McShay)
• [16:19] "Fire James Franklin tonight. Don't let him back in the building next week." —McShay
• [21:22] "They won because of the program. Indiana is run by a leader who, deep in his soul, believes in what he's doing.” —McShay
• [23:56] “He wants to take this Indiana program and shove it up everyone’s ass.” —McShay
• [25:38] "This is why you come to Indiana...that's so alien to me." —Mensch
• [34:23] “They're the most underrated wide receiver tandem in college football.” —McShay
• [39:10–39:19] "He's kind of giving me Kirk Cousins vibes...I can't stamp number one overall pick on this guy yet." —Mensch/McShay
• [47:25] “We saw today why [Dante Moore]'s not ready…that’s where you see mistakes." —McShay
• [58:27–58:33] “Not so fast... 8-for-9 on third downs...he's spreading the ball around." —McShay on Arch Manning
• [72:13] “The person, the competitor, is the least equipped to make a smart decision when it comes to this stuff.” —McShay
• [76:26] "Ty Simpson is emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in the country." —McShay
• [85:25] "Texas A&M is a team...Some guys are just program builders, and Elko is one." —McShay
• [95:01] “I'm not saying USC is back to Pete Carroll glory...but this is the first time I got a glimpse they're heading in the right direction.” —McShay

The McShay/Mensch Top 12 Rankings Update

[99:01–106:28]

• Top 3 (Tier 1):

  1. Ohio State
  2. Miami
  3. Indiana

• Next tier (4-7):

  • Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama, Texas Tech (debate on order, strong on this four as the next batch)
  • “Ole Miss and A&M have to be the next two for me. Then I’m going Bama, even with one loss, ahead of Texas Tech.” (McShay, 102:25)

• Remaining Top 12 (mix and muddle):

  • Oregon, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, and honorable mentions for USC, Notre Dame, and Texas.
  • Michigan drops out after third straight loss.

Community Interaction Highlights

• Hosts frequently engage and joke with their growing live chat, reading off fan poll results, top commenters, and even dishing Cape Cod anniversary dinner recommendations!

  “If you got that, Jeremy...go to Chatham.” (McShay, 98:13)

• The show’s informal "give us five stars" outro signals, alongside their running gags about football’s quirks (“making up my own words,” the “Twitter mafia’s” obsession with early QB draft rankings).

Episode Summary

This episode is a classic for fans who love both the strategic and messy human sides of college football. McShay and Mensch blend direct draft talk, cultural moments, and honest (sometimes tough) character assessments—including a cutting take on James Franklin’s future and a celebration of Indiana’s sudden relevance. Nuanced QB evaluations, program-building philosophies, and plenty of playful back-and-forth with listeners make this a must-listen for anyone who missed the weekend’s action.