Latest news with #JoshPate
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lincoln Riley and USC not lacking in confidence despite recent records
The vibe around USC football this offseason has certainly been an interesting one. On one hand, with new general manager Chad Bowden at the helm, the Trojans are dominating on the recruiting trail, and currently hold the No. 1 class in the country for the 2026 cycle. On the other hand, however, USC has a record of just 14-11 over the past two seasons, which is far from what the expectation was when Lincoln Riley was hired. Last month, college football analyst Josh Pate of CBS Sports paid a visit to Los Angeles and spent some time with Riley and Bowden. During his visit, Pate took note of the confidence around the program. Advertisement "If you walked in that building right now, but you didn't know what the record had been last year, you would think they're coming off a playoff appearance," Pate said on a recent episode of his popular Josh Pate's College Football Show. "You would think that they are regularly expected to compete for the national championship. "And that's because they do expect that. But it's not baseless . . . they just believe in the moves they've made. "They walk around like they've already ordered something, and they know it's arriving in the mail tomorrow. They have that kind of confidence . . . the vibe was that of a place where the internal feeling is so totally detached from the outside world." USC fans are certainly excited about the moves that the Trojans have made this offseason. At the end of the day, however, that only does so much if the team is not winning on the field. After consecutive seasons of five or more losses, USC fans are expecting significant improvement from the Trojans in 2025. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lincoln Riley and USC football are trying to turn the page in 2025
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Josh Pate explains why he ranks Georgia football outside his top 10
College football expert Josh Pate of 247Sports explains why he ranked the Georgia Bulldogs No. 11 in his top 20. Across the board, Georgia's preseason expectations are a bit lower in 2025. Following spring practice, experts are all over the place on where they rank Georgia. The Bulldogs are commonly ranked anywhere from No. 3 to No. 12. Pate explained why he ranks Georgia lower than most experts after the spring. Advertisement "Georgia's got to be able to run the ball," said Pate. "At least much better than they did last year. Now, like I said with other teams, any proud program that's struggled to do something that they are typically able to do spends the entire winter and spring and summer figuring out how to do that thing. So that is one of the main things they've been focused on there." In 2024, Georgia finished the season with the second-worst rushing offense in the SEC (124.4 yards per game). The Bulldogs could run the ball against Texas, who had one of the nation's best defenses, but Georgia's rushing offense was never dominant against a stout schedule. To make matters more difficult, Georgia had three offensive linemen picked in the first three rounds of the draft. Tackle Xavier Truss went undrafted. Georgia's offensive front will have quite a new look in 2025. "Will they be able to (run the ball)? While also starting a new quarterback and trying to re-establish their identity defensively," Pate added. Georgia lost three defensive first-round picks to the 2025 NFL draft and had 13 total players drafted. Four Bulldogs also signed undrafted free agent deals. "There's a lot of baked in benefit of the doubt that that 'G' logo buys you," said Pate. "And that works for me as well. If you get in fall camp and you start to hear good thing about them, much like Ohio State, that's another team that I'll probably bump up the ladder." Advertisement "If they are (what Georgia needs to be running the ball), Georgia is once again a national title contender, but we're talking about post-spring right now, so there's still a lot of questions about that," continued Pate. Josh Pate's top 20 college football rankings Clemson Tigers Texas Longhorns Penn State Nittany Lions Alabama Crimson Tide LSU Tigers Notre Dame Fighting Irish Oregon Ducks Ohio State Buckeyes Florida Gators Oklahoma Sooners Georgia Bulldogs Miami Hurricanes Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies Illinois Fighting Illini Ole Miss Rebels Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets South Carolina Gamecocks Michigan Wolverines Texas Tech Red Raiders This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: CFB expert details why he ranks Georgia outside the top 10
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC football seeks a stronger start in 2025 after 2024 September stumbles
After back-to-back seasons of five or more losses, USC football is looking to turn things around in 2025. However, doing so will not be easy, as the Trojans play a schedule that includes Oregon, Notre Dame, and Michigan. One thing USC does have going for it, however, is the start. The Trojans open with four games that by all means, they absolutely should win. It will not be until a month into the season when USC faces its first true test. Advertisement College football analyst Josh Pate of CBS Sports has taken note of this. On a recent episode of his national college football show, Pate named USC as a "hot-start candidate" for 2025. "Which teams could really start fast this year?" Pate said. "USC's one of them . . . USC will be, I think, solidly favored in their first four games. "They're gonna win their first two games [vs. Missouri State and Georgia Southern]. And then they're on the road in the Big Ten, but it's Purdue . . . they should win that game. Michigan State, at home, they should win that game. "It won't be until at Illinois . . . their fifth game, where the country may watch them. And then you'll really get your first look at them nationally week seven—it's their sixth game—when Michigan comes to town. Advertisement "Honestly they could be 5-0 when they play Michigan. And they play Michigan at home. They could be 6-0 when they go to Notre Dame [the following week], they could be 5-1 even when they go to Notre Dame. That would still be a huge game." USC fans are certainly hoping that this indeed comes to fruition, and that the Trojans start the year off hot. However, as 2023—when USC started off 6-0 but then lost five of its final six regular season games—showed, just starting off hot is not enough. The Trojans will need to continue to play winning football throughout the season if they want to convince people that the program truly is turning around for the better. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football needs to rise where last season's team stalled
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could National Buzz Be Pushing Clemson Into Drinking the Kool-Aid
The 2025 Clemson Tigers are being talked about like a team that could soon hoist the College Football Playoff trophy. With a majority of their roster returning, including a young but talented wide receiver group, a revamped offensive line, and a defense littered with top-tier NFL draft prospects, it's easy to see why optimism is sky-high in Death Valley. But with that comes the question: Could Clemson be buying too much into the hype surrounding their national championship hopes? Advertisement National names like Josh Pate, Joel Klatt, Matt Barrie from ESPN, and David Pollack have all expressed their belief that Clemson is on the brink of a return to glory. Add in the fact that Paul Finebaum, a vocal critic of Dabo Swinney and the Tigers, has even been forced to give the team its due credit this year—something that rarely happens—and it's clear that the spotlight on Clemson is brighter than ever before. But amid the rising expectations, there's a lot to consider before buying into the hype. Let's start with the offense. The return of a solid quarterback in Cade Klubnik, along with a deep and promising group of wide receivers, gives Clemson a foundation to build on. That group, headlined by emerging stars and under-the-radar playmakers, will be key in taking the Tigers to the next level. If they can develop the chemistry needed to break out in the high-flying college football scene, Clemson could be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Advertisement Then, there's the offensive line, which has been an area of concern in recent seasons. The Tigers appear to have made strides here, bringing in key talent to shore up a unit that needed more consistency. With better protection for Klubnik and improved run blocking for their stable of talented backs, Clemson could be a major force offensively. Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates with the national championship trophy after beating the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2019 College Football Playoff Championship game at Levi's Stadium.© Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images However, it's on the defensive side where the Tigers have the most intrigue. While they've always been known for producing top-notch talent on defense, this year's unit features several players who are considered potential top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the addition of defensive coordinator Tom Allen, there's an expectation of an even more dynamic and aggressive approach to their defensive schemes. If Allen can unlock the full potential of his players, Clemson's defense could be one of the best in the nation. Advertisement But here's the catch: Clemson's success isn't solely tied to its own improvements. The college football landscape is as competitive as ever. Plus, there's the unpredictable nature of the sport—anything can happen when it comes to key injuries, breakout performances, or teams getting hot at the right time. The hype surrounding Clemson is palpable, and they've earned some of it based on their talent and track record. But with so much attention on them, one has to wonder if the Tigers are risking becoming a victim of their own hype. Are they truly ready to meet the massive expectations, or will they fall short like other teams before them who got caught in the wave of preseason praise? Advertisement Dabo Swinney has long been a master motivator, but he'll need more than just his usual coaching acumen to keep the pressure from building too high. Clemson is undeniably talented, but only time will tell if they can live up to the national championship hype, or if they'll end up drinking the Kool-Aid and crashing down to earth. Related: Dabo Swinney Opens Up About Rare Death Valley Moment Related: Dabo Swinney Looks to Add to Brian Kelly's Week 1 Misery in Clemson-LSU Clash Related: Even Paul Finebaum Thinks Clemson Can Win It All—Yes, Really
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football seeks a stronger start in 2025 after 2024 September stumbles
USC football seeks a stronger start in 2025 after 2024 September stumbles USC needs to be unbeaten at the end of September this football season. After back-to-back seasons of five or more losses, USC football is looking to turn things around in 2025. However, doing so will not be easy, as the Trojans play a schedule that includes Oregon, Notre Dame, and Michigan. One thing USC does have going for it, however, is the start. The Trojans open with four games that by all means, they absolutely should win. It will not be until a month into the season when USC faces its first true test. College football analyst Josh Pate of CBS Sports has taken note of this. On a recent episode of his national college football show, Pate named USC as a "hot-start candidate" for 2025. "Which teams could really start fast this year?" Pate said. "USC's one of them . . . USC will be, I think, solidly favored in their first four games. "They're gonna win their first two games [vs. Missouri State and Georgia Southern]. And then they're on the road in the Big Ten, but it's Purdue . . . they should win that game. Michigan State, at home, they should win that game. "It won't be until at Illinois . . . their fifth game, where the country may watch them. And then you'll really get your first look at them nationally week seven—it's their sixth game—when Michigan comes to town. "Honestly they could be 5-0 when they play Michigan. And they play Michigan at home. They could be 6-0 when they go to Notre Dame [the following week], they could be 5-1 even when they go to Notre Dame. That would still be a huge game." USC fans are certainly hoping that this indeed comes to fruition, and that the Trojans start the year off hot. However, as 2023—when USC started off 6-0 but then lost five of its final six regular season games—showed, just starting off hot is not enough. The Trojans will need to continue to play winning football throughout the season if they want to convince people that the program truly is turning around for the better.
