The McShay Show – Week 8 Reaction: Gunner's Growth, Pavia Prevails, and Alabama's Assassin

Date: October 19, 2025 | Host: Todd McShay et al. | Podcast: The Ringer

Main Theme & Episode Purpose

Week 8 of the college football season delivered upsets, breakout performances, and significant shifts in the college football landscape. Todd McShay and team provide immediate, informed reactions to the week’s biggest games, analyze draft stock trends, and debate the evolution of top contenders. The show focuses on the emergence of several key players, analyzes coaching storylines, and breaks down the changing hierarchy in college football’s playoff race.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Best & Worst Things We Saw (00:00–10:30)

• Lane Kiffin’s Social Media & Trolling
  The crew discusses Lane Kiffin’s hot yoga trolling, his dynamic with Kirby Smart, and the human side of coaching personalities.

  • "I love that he leans into it… He knows what the reputation is and doesn’t run from that stuff." – McShay (03:59)

• Performance of Key Figures Off the Field

  • Importance of never throwing teammates under the bus, referencing Carson Beck’s post-loss comments after Georgia’s defeat:
    "You learn that in football—day one—you don’t do it. The quarterback has a different level of responsibility." – McShay (10:44)

2. Quarterback Performances & Comps (07:15–27:00)

• Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
  Compared to Johnny Manziel for his moxie and improvisational skills; Pavia provides the Commodores with legitimate punch vs. blue bloods like Alabama and LSU.

  • "He’s become the most exciting player… watching him brings me back to watching Johnny Manziel." – McShay (07:08)
  • "Pavia's got some swagger to him… he's not afraid to say things, not afraid to say, 'If we play our game, we're gonna route Alabama.'" – Co-host (07:44)

• Ty Simpson, Alabama ("Alabama’s Assassin")
  Simpson is lauded for rapid development and NFL-caliber poise, checking protections, reading defenses, and operating at an unprecedented level for a first-year starter.

  • "He is the best quarterback in college football right now. And it’s not close." – McShay (24:41)
  • Simpsons’s background, family coaching tree, and possible future at Alabama discussed in depth.

• Julian Sayin, Ohio State
  Identified as quietly transforming from liability to asset as a high-efficiency quarterback—with a "historically good" Buckeye defense behind him.

  • "Don't look now, but he's developing into an asset… this offense is opening up." (18:07)

3. Changing College Football Landscape (15:00–23:00)

• Scheduling & Conference Depth Debate
  • McShay’s hypothetical scenario: imagine a college season where top teams face brutal conference crossovers every week.
    • "Wouldn't it be nice... if you and I and everyone else who loves this great sport got to see Ohio State play LSU, then Tennessee, then Ole Miss... just a gauntlet." (15:03)
  • The Big Ten’s lack of depth is discussed, with Ohio State’s dominance and lack of high-leverage games heading toward the postseason.
    • "They might end up with a schedule that does not have a ranked opponent on it right now." – Co-host (20:47)

4. Game Reactions: Massive Wins, Major Concerns (30:00–63:00)

Alabama’s Domination of Tennessee (32:07–36:54)

• Alabama’s balanced, businesslike handling of Tennessee; Ty Simpson’s consistency; Daniel Hill emerges as a key contributor.
  • "That’s a pretty good Tennessee team… Alabama just handled their business. It just never felt like it was really close." (33:19)
  • Ty Simpson: 16 TD/1 INT, barely a turnover-worthy play; the case for him as top Heisman candidate.

Notre Dame vs. USC (39:57–44:40)

• Jeremiah Love’s breakout: 24 carries, 228 yds, 1 TD (avg. 9.5 ypc), 5 rec, 37 yds—totaling ~260 total yards.
  • "He was absolutely possessed… after every run, he was getting in someone’s face. It’s like someone stole his girlfriend from the UFC." – McShay (39:46)
• Notre Dame wins comfortably despite kicker struggles and injuries.
• Kickoff return TD from Jadarian Price pivotal, and Christian Gray's limitations at CB noted.

Gunner Stockton’s Breakout vs. Ole Miss (49:45–57:36)

• "Spotlight Player of the Day": Georgia QB Gunner Stockton rallies Dawgs from 10 down in 4th, going 12-for-12 in second half (80% passing, 289 yds, 4 TDs, 0 INT).
  • "My opinion changed today. My opinion changed on Gunner Stockton." – McShay (51:49)
  • "Lane Kiffin was in his bag today," but Georgia found answers late through Stockton’s “next snap” mentality and TE-heavy attack.
  • Noted concern: Georgia’s defense susceptible, no first-half stops for first time under Kirby.

Vanderbilt’s Rise & Home Field Advantage (60:00–67:16)

• Discussion: "Is Vandy becoming a place you don’t want to play?"
  • Diego Pavia infects program with swagger, making Vandy competitive vs. bluebloods.
  • "They test your discipline all three levels for four quarters and eventually they find something or you better just be so damn disciplined. That was the thing with Alabama that surprised me the most…" (64:55)
• Vanderbilt’s remaining schedule analyzed—predicted to be competitive in every game.

5. Playoff Rankings, Heisman Talk, & Big Picture (72:00–103:45)

Heisman/National Player Race (46:49–49:15)

• Front-runners named:
  • Ty Simpson (Alabama)
  • Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame)
  • Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
  • Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)
  • Gunner Stockton (Georgia, surging fast)
  • "It's the Love-Mendoza-Simpson race." – Co-host (49:23)

Playoff Top 12 & Shifting Tiers

• Ohio State penciled in at No. 1, with Indiana and Alabama forming a new power trio after upsets to Miami, Ole Miss, and Texas Tech.
• Texas A&M’s defense called into question after giving up 42 to Arkansas.
• The field rounds out with Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech—including Vanderbilt and BYU on the cusp of the Top 12.

Coaching Carousel / Penn State Opening

• Talk swirls around James Franklin’s firing, image-driven leadership at Penn State, and candidates (Pat Fitzgerald, Urban Meyer, Marcus Freeman, Matt Rhule).
  • "You shouldn't be hiring for 2026… you should expect this guy to be there for the next 10 to 20 years and make you a national championship contender." (86:56)
• Broader critique of college football admin strategies and leadership culture.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ty Simpson’s ascent:
  “We’re watching something that is so special, man. The level at which he's playing the quarterback position… it doesn't happen. He is the best quarterback in college football right now.” – McShay (24:41)

• On Diego Pavia’s impact at Vandy:
  "He’s become the most exciting player… everyone in that locker room believes, and there’s a value to that.” – McShay (08:15)

• On Gunner Stockton’s growth:
  “There are certain games that you always look back on for players… my opinion changed on Gunner Stockton.” – McShay (51:49)

• On Alabama's transition:
  "It just feels like there’s something going on there, too… Alabama feels like something’s happening right now." – Co-host (33:19)

• On coaching hires:
  "You gotta have some onions… and pull the trigger on the right human being and not worry about what’s going to happen in the next two months." – Co-host (88:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Best/Worst of the Week: 00:00–10:30
• QBs: Pavia, Simpson, Sayin: 07:15–27:00
• Scheduling & Conference Realignment: 15:00–23:00
• Alabama-Tennessee Reaction: 32:07–36:54
• Notre Dame-USC Postmortem: 39:57–44:40
• Gunner Stockton & Georgia-Ole Miss: 49:45–57:36
• Vanderbilt’s Home Field Advantage: 60:00–67:16
• Playoff/Heisman Race: 72:00–103:45
• Coaching Carousel & Penn State: 76:13–93:08
• Top 12 Rankings Debate: 93:32–103:45

Tone & Language

The episode retains a conversational, irreverent, and analytical style, with McShay and the panel offering a blend of expert insight, banter, and passionate takes—enlivened by honest, sometimes raw reactions to the latest happenings in college football.

Summary for New Listeners

This week’s McShay Show is a comprehensive, high-energy deep dive into a wild week of college football—balancing sharp draft analysis, player evals, and real-time reactions. Listeners receive a clear sense of which teams and players are rising (Ty Simpson, Diego Pavia, Gunner Stockton, Jeremiah Love), which programs face questions (Georgia’s defense, Texas Tech’s viability), and the turmoil/turnover as the playoff and coaching landscapes shift heading into November.