Josh Pate's Post-Spring College Football Top 20: Overrated & Underrated Teams

Josh Pate's Approach to Post-Spring Rankings

• 💡 Josh Pate admits his post-spring top 20 rankings were largely a gut feeling, with only about an hour of thought put into them.
• 🎯 He typically avoids rankings, preferring power ratings during the season to minimize criticism and focus on credit.
• ⚠️ The rankings generated significant criticism, particularly for placing Georgia at 11th.

Georgia's Ranking and Rationale

• ❓ Pate explains his hesitation with Georgia stems from a great talent roster but a lack of proven production, especially in the ground game.
• 📈 He questions the public's perception by asking what they would think if an unexpected team like Indiana was ranked highly, emphasizing that rankings don't need to align with popular opinion.
• 🗣️ He argues that comparing teams like Georgia's offensive line to Clemson's or their secondary to Alabama's requires deep analysis, which he undertakes for the show.

Ohio State and Penn State Placements

• 📌 Ohio State is ranked 8th, acknowledged as potentially too low, with the understanding that replacing draft picks and coordinators matters.
• 🚀 Penn State is ranked 3rd, primarily due to proven production and returning key players, including a quarterback with potential for growth.
• 🏈 Pate defends Penn State against criticism, highlighting their solid roster, offensive line, running backs, and new defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles.

Florida and Oklahoma Analysis

• 🌟 Florida is ranked 9th, with an expectation of a significant defensive leap and confidence in their quarterback situation.
• 🎯 Oklahoma is ranked 10th, considered underrated due to a poor record last year masking a strong defense and improved offensive firepower with new coordinators.
• ⚠️ Pate acknowledges that both Florida and Oklahoma have tough schedules and could still finish with multiple losses, even if his assessment of their caliber is correct.

Alabama's Ranking and Overall Philosophy

• 🏆 Alabama is ranked 4th, with many key players returning, similar to Ohio State's situation last year.
• 🧠 Pate believes the gap between elite teams and the rest has narrowed, making proven production and experience more valuable than sheer talent alone.
• 🏈 He suggests Alabama doesn't need elite quarterback play to compete nationally, provided they are solid at quarterback, running back, and have a strong pass rush, given their overall team strength.