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Josh Pate predicts Texas over Ohio State due to coaching continuity

Published

4 months ago

August 25, 2025

All eyes will be on Texas and Ohio State to kick off the 2025 college football season. The Longhorns and Buckeyes enter this year expected to be two of the country’s top teams, coming in at No. 1 and No. 3 in the preseason AP poll, respectively.

It’s also a rematch of a 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal game, which Ohio State won before going on to claim the national championship. But as college football analyst Josh Pate pointed out, these teams look a lot different than they did a year ago.

Both the Buckeyes and Longhorns have new players across their roster, albeit highly rated ones. Pate spoke on his latest episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show about how that will impact Saturday’s matchup.

“I know a lot of times in preview magazine culture, you can sort of get lost in the sauce, so to speak, and you can think all returning starters are created equal and all new starters are created equal,” he said. “All I can tell you is, watch warm ups. I know most of you don’t have access to practice, but if you could go watch these teams practice, you’d look at Texas’ guys, you’d look at Ohio State’s guys, and you’d say, ‘Who’s that?’ And they’d say, ‘Oh, that’s a new starter.’ And the reason you asked who’s that is because he looks like a second, third-year NFL guy. They’re everywhere.

“So not all new starters are created equal, which means a game like this with this blend of raw talent and this blend of uncertainty means you could have any outcome imaginable. It could be 21-19 either way. It could be 38-20 either way. There is probably no result outside of like, 50-10, that would shock me in this game.”

One of the key areas where Texas feels like it improved in the offseason is on the interior defensive line. The Longhorns added transfers Cole Brevard, Maraad Watson and others who are expected to step in and make an impact right away.

However, Pate acknowledged that area is still an unknown despite the talent on paper. He argued that Ohio State should challenge Texas early by looking to establish the run, while also acknowledging the Buckeyes have new faces in the backfield as well.

“I think Ohio State needs to find out, though,” he said. “There’s gonna be a lot of talk about Arch Manning here. A lot of talk about Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs. There should be. But fundamentally, the key to this game is Ohio State’s gotta find out. What they gotta find out is, did Texas really rebuild the interior of that defensive line like everyone says they did? Because you can talk in spring. You can talk in fall camp. But what happens if you run it between the tackles and you’re running it for six-and-a-half, seven yards per carry in the first quarter and midway through the second quarter?

“You start to realize, ‘Wow, the easiest way to ease Julian Sayin into a season is second-and-three after second-and-three after second-and-three.’ That’s really favorable to ease a new quarterback into a season. Now, I say that and you need to understand, yes, we’ve got two Ohio State tailbacks that departed to the NFL as well. So (James) Peoples and (CJ) Donaldson, we don’t know what we’re gonna get from them. I can tell you that staff thinks a lot of them. But Florida State thought a lot of its players last year and they were dead in the water. I don’t think that’s gonna be Ohio State this year, but the point is, you don’t know. You don’t know until live bullets start flying and it’s those guys’ turn. Well, it’s their turn now. Just like on the other side of the ball. It’s Texas’ interior defensive line, it’s their turn now.”

Both Texas and Ohio State will also have new quarterbacks and a host of new weapons at receiver. That will likely steal most of the headlines going into the game with Arch Manning and Julian Sayin both entering the year with high expectations.

“It’ll be the question on most people’s minds. It’s the quarterback question,” Pate said. But the way I think about the quarterback matchup here is I think about the QB1/WR1 pairings. So I’ve got Julian Sayin and I’ve got Jeremiah Smith, who’s the best player in America to me. I got Arch Manning and I got Ryan Wingo, who doesn’t take a backseat to many besides this dude at Ohio State. Is there a huge gap between those? If that’s a wash, shouldn’t I expect Ohio State to own this side of the matchup card?

“Because I look at Ohio State beyond Jeremiah Smith, and I’ve got Tate, I’ve got Ennis and I’ve got Klare, the tight end transfer from Purdue. They’ve got pass catchers there that you won’t even hear about this Saturday that would start many places that are expected to compete for playoff spots. …But this is Texas. It’s Steve Sarkisian. So they grow those guys on trees there to the point where one way this game could get crooked in a way that I don’t expect it is — Arch has already got 275 passing yards late in the third quarter and I’ve got three or four different guys with 60-plus on the board. That’s the kind of thing that could happen. It’s a variable.”

One thing that won’t change, however is the head coaches on both sides of the ball. Steve Sarkisian returns to lead Texas while Ryan Day is on the sidelines for Ohio State.

However, the Buckeyes will have new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Pate believes that could ultimately be the difference, predicting Texas to win.

“For all the respect I have for Matt Patricia, he hasn’t done this,” he said. “For all the respect I have for Brian Hartline, he hasn’t done this. Texas has got one of the best staffs in the country and they’ve got continuity on that staff and I trust them to go on the road here. I actually don’t have a ton of trust in anything in this game, but I’m gonna lean Texas to win the game outright Saturday. I think Sark needs the game more, by the way. I just envision a world where Texas goes in there and wins. That’s all right. Ohio State just won a national title. Lick your wounds, regroup. You may see them again down the road.

“…Nothing would be ruined for Texas either, but here’s the difference, If they go in and lose this game, they’ve still got the rest of their season to play but it becomes this little bullet in the chamber and it’s still in the holster. You’re not ready to fire on anyone yet, but you start to get yourself ready to say, if he loses another game in the regular season, ‘now hold on a second. You got beat by (Kalen) DeBoer in the playoff and then you had two shots against Kirby (Smart) last year and you went 0-2 there. We lost to Ryan Day in the playoff last year and now we got another shot at him. That should’ve been the revenge game. They’ve got everything new up there, new coaches, and we couldn’t get the job done against them? We’re having trouble against big-time coaches.’ They start questioning Steve Sarkisian. I think Sark needs the game more.”

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College football’s leading passer linked to two programs in transfer portal

Published

27 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

North Texas posted a school-record 12-win season in 2025 behind a high-octane offense led by redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who finished the year as the nation’s leading passer.

The Mean Green advanced to the American Conference championship game, lost to College Football Playoff participant Tulane, and capped the season with a 49-47 New Mexico Bowl win over San Diego State.

North Texas led FBS in scoring (45.1 points per game) and total offense (512.4 yards per game), operating one of the country’s most prolific attacks under head coach Eric Morris.

However, shortly after the Mean Green’s season came to an end, Mestemaker announced he will enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens, placing one of college football’s most productive quarterbacks on the market.

On Wednesday, On3’s J.D. PicKell specifically named Oklahoma State, where Mestemaker’s former head coach at North Texas, Eric Morris, is now the head coach, and Miami, whose desire for a passer who can stretch the field aligns with Mestemaker’s skill set.

“If I’m making a prediction, I would tell you Drew Mestemaker is following his head coach, Eric Morris, from North Texas to Oklahoma State. That’s my prediction,” PicKell said. “That’s not this segment. This segment is where’s the best fit for Drew Mestemaker. I think Miami’s the best fit for Mestemaker.”

“He fits exactly who I believe Miami wants to be offensively. Like, Miami and Shannon Dawson, what do they want to do? Spin the freaking rock, push the ball down the field, have vertical shot plays, score points, spread you out.”

“Yes, they still want to run the football, they still want to stay true to the Mario Cristobal genes of being an offensive linemen-driven program, but at the same time, I think they want to air it out and score a lot of points in the process.”

“Think more of what you saw from Cam Ward his year there than what you’ve seen this year with Carson Beck,” PicKell added.

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal. — Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal reacts beside linebacker Cameron Pruitt (22) | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Mestemaker, a 6-4, 211-lb redshirt freshman and former walk-on, finished 2025 as the FBS passing leader with 4,379 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 68.9% completion rate over 14 games.

He also earned first-team All-American honors, was named The American Offensive Player of the Year, and won the Burlsworth Trophy, now entering the portal with three years of eligibility remaining.

Morris was hired as Oklahoma State’s head coach following the 2025 season, and he previously coached Mestemaker while rebuilding North Texas’ offense, creating a clear path to immediate continuity in Stillwater.

Miami also makes sense stylistically, as offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s system emphasizes spacing, vertical shots, and tempo; traits that align with Mestemaker’s accuracy and downfield passing ability.

Mestemaker is set to enter the transfer portal when the early January window opens on Friday, at which point Power Four programs can contact him unless he applies a no-contact tag.

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No. 1 ranked transfer portal QB expected to make $3.5 million annually

Published

1 hour ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The financial landscape of college football has shifted dramatically as teams navigate the first full cycle under new revenue-sharing models. General managers and talent evaluators initially expected a spending downturn at the quarterback position due to these caps, but the market has reacted in the opposite direction.

Programs are now finding creative ways to structure contracts that exceed revenue-share limits, often using marketing deals to bridge the gap for high-profile talent.

This aggressive spending surge has established a new price tier for the sport’s most valuable position, according to CBS Sports reporting from Chris Hummer and John Talty. The top quarterbacks in the transfer portal are now expected to command annual salaries exceeding $3.5 million, a figure that mirrors the NFL salary cap allocation for starting quarterbacks relative to total roster spending.

One ACC general manager noted that just six weeks ago, such numbers seemed impossible, but schools have since found ways to combine multiple deals to meet the $4 million threshold.

A specific veteran signal-caller has emerged as the primary beneficiary of this market explosion following a standout season and a surprising entry into the portal. This player brings a proven track record, including a playoff berth and extensive experience, making him an immediate upgrade for rosters across the country. His availability has triggered a bidding war among powerhouse programs desperate to secure a proven leader who can navigate the complexities of modern college offenses.

Quarterbacks commanding larger NIL deals

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt has officially entered the transfer portal and is expected to command a salary that reflects the new market reality.

High-end transfer quarterbacks like Leavitt, along with Brendan Sorsby from the Cincinnati Bearcats and Josh Hoover from the TCU Horned Frogs, are now valued at more than $3.5 million annually. This contradicts earlier assumptions that revenue-sharing caps would depress player wages.

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) played in just seven games this season, missing much of the year because of a foot injury. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

General managers are discovering that the demand for quality passing requires ignoring previous budget constraints. An ACC executive explained that programs are constructing contracts that consist of up to 15 separate deals to reach the $4 million mark. This strategy allows schools to technically adhere to revenue-sharing limits while still paying market rates for top talent.

The willingness to spend such a large percentage of the cap is a matter of intense debate among front-office personnel. A Big Ten general manager questioned whether it is prudent to allocate 20 percent of a program’s resources to a single player.

The executive warned that unless a quarterback performs at an elite level, the heavy investment could prove detrimental to the overall roster construction.

Prices for mid-tier options have also seen a significant increase. Quality starters who previously cost in the high six figures are now commanding between $1.5 million and $2.5 million. Even unproven backups with high upside are requesting salaries near the $2 million mark as the market resets.

No. 1 transfer portal QB clearly linked to two major college football programs

Published

2 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Arizona State finished the 2025 season 8–5 (6–3 Big 12) and closed with a narrow 42–39 Sun Bowl loss to Duke, capping a year that followed the program’s breakthrough 2024 run, which included an 11–3 finish and a College Football Playoff appearance.

Head coach Kenny Dillingham returned an offense built around quarterback Sam Leavitt, who appeared in just seven games before a lingering foot/leg injury required season-ending surgery on October 31, abruptly ending his second season in Tempe.

Through those seven games, he completed 145-of-239 passes (60.7%) for 1,628 passing yards, 10 TDs, and three INTs (129.2 passer rating) and added 73 rushes for 306 yards and five rushing TDs.

Leavitt originally committed to Michigan State in 2023 as a four-star prospect and the No. 21 quarterback in the 2023 class per the 247Sports Composite, spending one season with the Spartans before transferring to Arizona State ahead of the 2024 campaign.

He quickly established himself as the Sun Devils’ starter, throwing for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions during his first full season in 2024, adding 443 rushing yards and five rushing scores.

However, Leavitt informed Arizona State of his intention to enter the transfer portal on December 15 and is widely viewed as the top quarterback expected to hit the market when the window opens, classified as a redshirt sophomore with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

On Wednesday, On3 analyst J.D. PicKell identified Oregon and LSU as the two programs generating the most “buzz” around Leavitt, framing the decision as a balance between a homecoming and scheme fit at Oregon and an SEC, development-first opportunity under Lane Kiffin at LSU.

“The intel from Pete Nakos is pointing to two horses being in the race for Sam Leavitt right now, and that’s Oregon and LSU… I personally am under the belief that Dante Moore will go back to Oregon for another season, which then points to Sam Leavitt ending up at LSU. That to me makes the most sense from a fit perspective.”

“He (Leavitt) thrived in an RPO offense at Arizona State. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You don’t need to go prove something drastically different and go seek out an NFL offense. Just go play against better competition in the SEC. Go play for a guy in Lane Kiffin who has specialized in bringing in transfer players and elevating them at a really high level.”

“If I’m Lane Kiffin, this is my number one guy. I am calling him as soon as the transfer portal opens for business,” PicKell added.

LSU new head coach Lane Kiffin. — LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, left, and LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry greet each other | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Leavitt is an Oregon native and would be returning to a program that runs a high-tempo, RPO/shot-yardage offense that can incorporate his dual-threat skillset, though uncertainty surrounding Dante Moore clouds an immediate starting opportunity.

Meanwhile, at LSU, Lane Kiffin has a proven track record of maximizing transfer quarterbacks, most notably Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and current NFL QB Jaxson Dart, while consistently producing pro-level film against elite SEC competition, an appealing path for Leavitt as he returns from injury seeking development and exposure.

LSU also presents a clear roster need: starter Garrett Nussmeier is expected to depart after five seasons in the program, and backup Michael Van Buren Jr. has limited game experience, creating an immediate starting opportunity for Leavitt.

As the process unfolds, Leavitt’s decision is shaping up to be a choice between immediate SEC exposure and an opportunity at LSU, or a regional and schematic fit at Oregon that could offer greater continuity.

The transfer portal window opens Friday and runs through January 16, with Leavitt rumored to command up to $5 million in NIL compensation, a valuation that would rank among the highest in college football.

NIL

College Football GMs Became Must-Have in 2025

Published

3 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

College Football GMs Became Must-Have in 2025

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$4 million price tag projected if college football WR makes transfer portal decision

Published

4 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The finances of the transfer portal are constantly shifting and adjusting. Before the institution of the revenue sharing cap, some massive numbers circulated: Darian Mensah’s $4 million per year deal at Duke was one of the more notable deals. But even in the current portal cycle, there are potential game changers.

A pair of CBS Sports writers, Chris Hummer and John Talty, surveyed the portal world and tried to define the financial grind of acquiring new players. While Hummer and Talty ultimately defined the wide receiver position, one of the higher priced groups, at a high end value of $1 million to $2 million for a top player, they did not include one potential contingency.

Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith is widely considered the top player in college football heading into the 2026 season. For that matter, Smith was arguably the best player in 2025. Hummer and Talty spoke with one Big Ten general manager who said that Smith, were he in the portal, “could command up to $4 million for one year of his services should he transfer.”

Before any Buckeye backers lose sanity, Hummer and Talty were careful to note that the issue is hypothetical– there has been no indication that Smith is even considering entering the portal. The writers noted that the gap of approximately $2 million between Smith and the top value for a portal receiver (at this point, Auburn transfer Cam Coleman). “Smith is a cut above the rest of the sport,” they wrote.

Even in CFP defeat to Miami, Smith was indeed standing alone atop college football. After a brilliant 2024 season as a freshman, he ends 2025 with 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. He finished the year with his sixth 100+ yard game, with a season-best 157 yards on seven catches. He will likely finish re-writing the Ohio State record book in 2026.

On3Sports ranks Smith third in college sports with a $4.2 million estimated NIL valuation. That’s more than $1 million ahead of fourth-place Carson Beck (the two players ahead of Smith are Texas QB Arch Manning and college hoops star AJ Dybantsa). On3 ranks Cam Coleman as the second-leading wide receiver in its valuation rankings at $1.8 million.

Among the massive entities that Smith has NIL deals with are Nintendo, adidas, American Eagle, and 7-Eleven. He would likely be the projected top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he’s still a year young to be able to enter the Draft. Accordingly, he’s the presumptive 2027 top pick and will have a banner NIL year in college– although perhaps not as big of a year as he might have on the open market as the potential biggest transfer star ever.

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Joel Klatt reveals his take on Kyle Whittingham hire by Michigan

Published

5 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

FOX analyst Joel Klatt admitted the hiring of Kyle Whittingham by Michigan caught even the most plugged-in voices in college football by surprise. Still, he believes it may ultimately prove to be a program-defining move.

Speaking on The Joel Klatt Show, Klatt described the hire as both unexpected and masterful. He credited Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel for keeping the process quiet during a turbulent stretch for the program.

“This was massive, and I got to tell you, a little bit out of left field,” Klatt said. “I had not heard his name. It was very quiet. It was below the surface. Give Warde Manuel a lot of credit on this one.”

Alas, Michigan moved quickly after firing Sherrone Moore earlier this month following an investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. In Whittingham, the Wolverines landed one of the most respected and stable figures in the sport after a coaching search that came with significant challenges.

Klatt made it clear his enthusiasm for the hire goes beyond Whittingham’s on-field résumé: “I love this hire not just because I’m very fond of Kyle Whittingham and his style of coaching,” Klatt added. “But because of what Michigan was facing in this entire ordeal. There were many challenges.”

Moreover, Whittingham spent 22 seasons at Utah, becoming one of the longest-tenured head coaches in college football. Many assumed his resignation signaled retirement, but instead, he opted for a new challenge in Ann Arbor. Now, he’ll be stepping into a program just two years removed from a national championship in 2023.

Continuing, Klatt repeatedly emphasized Whittingham’s integrity and player-first approach, offering perhaps the highest praise a coach can receive: “My highest compliment that I can ever repay is that I would love my sons, if they ever played college football, to go play for Kyle Whittingham,” Klatt explained. “He’s a winner. He’s going to go to the Hall of Fame.”

At Utah, Whittingham compiled a 177–88 record, won two Pac-12 championships, posted eight double-digit win seasons and famously went 13–0 in 2008, capped by a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama. His teams were defined by physicality, discipline and consistency. Those are traits Michigan is eager to restore.

Now, with Big Ten resources, elite recruiting infrastructure and a roster still stocked with high-level talent, Whittingham views Michigan as more than a late-career stop: “He looks at this as an opportunity to actually go out there and compete for a national championship,” Klatt concluded.

After weeks of uncertainty, Michigan found exactly what it needed, hiring a proven winner, a steady hand and a coach capable of restoring trust. All while keeping the Wolverines firmly in the national title conversation.

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