Updated Preseason Top 25 Rankings + Brendan Sorsby Latest

Josh Pate delivers a bold, unfiltered post-spring top 25 college football rankings, placing Notre Dame at No. 1 despite a lack of preseason hype, citing C.J. Carr’s quarterback stability and a defense loaded with urgency after last year’s heartbreak. The rankings are built on roster integrity, coaching continuity, and the reality that some teams—like Texas Tech—must accept the consequences of a star quarterback’s suspension for illegal gambling, even if it feels unfair. Pate argues against special exceptions for Texas Tech, calling the idea 'insane' and emphasizing that college football’s transfer portal system is designed to be fair, not forgiving of misfortune. He then dives into a science-backed prediction: based on first-round mock drafts, Texas and Oregon are the only two teams with a realistic shot at the national championship, with Texas averaging 4.25 first-round picks and Oregon at 3.75. The episode closes with a deep dive into Lane Kiffin’s controversial move from Ole Miss to LSU, where Pate argues that Kiffin’s decision was purely personal and logical—despite fan outrage—because the jump to LSU represented a significant career upgrade, regardless of the optics. The core message: in college football, the only thing that matters is what the decision-maker believes, not what the fans think.