Oct 28, 2026 · 1h 19m
Pate Reworks the Playoff Field as Week 9 Tests Contenders
Week 9 Predictions + New JP Poll & Updated CFP Picks
The episode shows how shifting rankings, marquee matchups, and recent upsets can reshape the College Football Playoff picture.
- 1Ohio State’s quarterback situation adds uncertainty to its road test against USC in Week 9.
- 2Pate compares Notre Dame, Georgia, and Indiana using consistent evidence rather than isolated schedule arguments.
- 3The closing betting discussion selects Tulane and Kansas State while cautioning against panic-driven reactions to new results.
Don't miss
Pate uses the image of honey sliding off a plate to argue that rankings should respond gradually to evidence rather than panic.
The brief
Josh Pate opens from Nashville with a Week 9 slate led by Ohio State’s trip to USC, framing the show around both immediate matchups and a changing playoff race.
The Ohio State–USC preview centers on the Buckeyes’ quarterback situation, with Julian Sayin among the names in the discussion and Jaden Maiava representing USC’s side of the matchup.
Pate updates his College Football Playoff field after recent upsets and ranking changes, then explains why Notre Dame, Georgia, and Indiana must be compared through consistent evidence.
The episode’s clearest argument arrives in its warning against market panic: opinions should slide gradually as evidence accumulates, though major developments can still change the outlook.
Pate closes with betting discussion and picks Tulane and Kansas State for the Ramen Noodle Express, ending a ranking debate with concrete Week 9 choices.
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