Josh Pate Admits He Was Wrong About LSU, FSU, Alabama & More After Week 1 College Football Surprises

Re-evaluating Preseason College Football Beliefs

• 💡 The speaker acknowledges being wrong about certain college football teams and expectations after week one, deviating from his usual stance of never being wrong.
• 🎯 Preseason rankings and beliefs are encouraged, but with the caveat that they should be written in pencil to allow for adjustments based on actual game results.

LSU's Stronger-Than-Expected Performance

• 🚀 LSU's offensive line played significantly better than anticipated on the road against Clemson, suggesting they may be underestimated.
• 📈 If LSU can maintain this level of offensive balance and execution against strong defenses, they could be a national title contender, contrary to preseason predictions.

Notre Dame's Resilience and Margin for Error

• 🧠 Despite a loss, Notre Dame showed encouraging signs, keeping a close game on the road with a new quarterback and in a turnover-negative situation.
• ⚠️ Notre Dame has a lower margin for error this season, with several tough games ahead, but their overall talent level means they were not necessarily overrated preseason.

Texas and Arch Manning Hype

• 🏈 The speaker notes the reactive bubble around Arch Manning, where outrage over the hype has potentially overshadowed the hype itself.
• 🔍 While acknowledging potential misjudgments on expectations for Arch Manning and the Texas wide receiver separation, the show maintains it did not participate in excessive hype.

Florida State and Alabama Surprises

• 💯 Florida State was a complete miss in preseason expectations, performing at a high level in week one against Alabama, a win considered significant for the coach.
• 📊 The outcome of the Alabama vs. FSU game provides context that will be re-evaluated later, as both teams could still prove to be very good or reveal weaknesses.
• 📉 Alabama's performance was also a significant miss, with the speaker admitting it hurt and is being deferred for later discussion.

Clemson's Offensive Struggles

• ⚠️ Clemson's inability to run the ball effectively in week one is a major concern, potentially putting too much pressure on quarterback Cade Klubnik.
• 🧐 The speaker believes he may have underestimated the extent of Clemson's struggles in establishing a run game.

Tennessee's Impressive Week 1 Showing

• ⚡ Tennessee's offensive line looked incredible against Syracuse, and the quarterback appeared to be playing at a high level within the system.
• 📈 If Tennessee's offensive line and overall team performance are as strong as they appeared, they could be SEC championship contenders rather than in a rebuilding year, fundamentally changing the SEC picture.