MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — College football analyst Josh Pate stirred debate Sunday night by posting his 2025 College Football Playoff predictions on X from his account @JoshPateCFB.
Pate projects Penn State as the No. 1 overall seed, Alabama at No. 2, Texas at No. 3 and Oregon at No. 4, granting each a first-round bye in the expanded 12-team format. He fills the remaining spots with Clemson at No. 5, Notre Dame at No. 6, Ohio State at No. 7, Florida at No. 8, Georgia at No. 9, Arizona State at No. 10, Nebraska at No. 11 and Boise State at No. 12.
Pate’s selections build on his recent conference championship forecasts, emphasizing the Southeastern Conference’s unparalleled depth and talent. “The SEC remains the deepest league, with loaded rosters top to bottom that breed playoff contenders,” Pate noted, highlighting how the conference’s elite recruiting and transfer portal activity position multiple teams for national runs. He recently visited practices in Tuscaloosa and Eugene, praising Alabama’s revamped roster under coach Kalen DeBoer as “explosive and disciplined.” This marks a shift from last year’s pick, when Pate favored Ohio State over Alabama for the national title—a prediction that slightly missed.
Penn State tops Pate’s bracket as Big Ten champions, aligning with preseason polls that rank the Nittany Lions No. 2 nationally. The Associated Press preseason Top 25, released last week, places Penn State at No. 2 with 1,547 points and 23 first-place votes, trailing only Texas. ESPN’s coverage notes Penn State’s balanced attack, led by quarterback Drew Allar and a defense returning nine starters, projecting them as the Big Ten’s best by a slim margin over Ohio State at No. 3. Vegas odds list Penn State at +1200 to win the national championship, reflecting confidence in their playoff potential amid an expanded field.
Alabama secures the No. 2 seed in Pate’s eyes as SEC winners, despite preseason rankings slotting them lower. Alabama debuts at No. 8 in the AP poll with 1,179 points, behind SEC peers Texas (No. 1), Georgia (No. 5) and others, making Pate’s choice the third-best SEC team by polls. FanDuel gives the Crimson Tide +1100 odds for the title, tied with Clemson and underscoring their reloaded secondary and offensive line after key transfers. Pate’s affinity for Alabama stems from his Tuscaloosa visit, where he lauded the team’s speed and physicality.
Clemson earns the No. 3 spot as ACC champions, matching their status as the conference’s top preseason team. The AP poll ranks the Tigers No. 4 overall with 1,398 points and four first-place votes, powered by quarterback Cade Klubnik and a veteran defense. On3’s preseason analysis highlights Clemson’s recruiting edge, with their 2025 class ranked top-five nationally, fueling +1100 championship odds.
The Sun Devils sit at No. 11 in the AP Top 25, per ESPN, with 791 points, ahead of league rivals like Iowa State (No. 21) and BYU (No. 25). On3 notes Arizona State’s momentum under coach Kenny Dillingham, despite the departure running back Cam Skattebo and portal additions bolstering the line. Championship odds hover at +4000, per Vegas Insider, but Pate sees upset potential in a wide-open Big 12.
Pate’s popularity continues to climb, with his “Late Kick” podcast surpassing 600,000 downloads per episode and YouTube views tripling year-over-year for his relatable, data-driven takes. As Week 0 approaches, his bracket adds fuel to preseason hype, challenging poll consensus while betting on proven talent and coaching.
Josh Pate predicts the conference championship games:
