College Football

‘Say Something Completely Wild for Attention’ — Ex-NFL OL Rips CFB Analyst Josh Pate Over Florida–2019 LSU Comparison

October 4, 2026

Following a dominant four-game scoring streak, the Florida Gators suffered a humbling 45-17 defeat against the Missouri Tigers. Before the blowout, college football pundit Josh Pate suggested that another strong showing might prompt comparisons between Florida and the legendary 2019 LSU squad.

That premature prediction immediately triggered heavy fan backlash and a sarcastic critique from former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, who accused analysts of using sensational takes simply to generate online attention. Pate defended his remarks on social media by arguing he was merely summarizing a growing narrative rather than making a direct comparison himself.

On the field, the Gators struggled mightily to live up to any championship-level expectations as their offense sputtered out just 325 total yards. Tigers quarterback Austin Simmons carved up the Florida defense by completing 23 of 30 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns in the lopsided victory.

Florida attempted to shake up its passing attack by splitting quarterback duties between starter Aaron Philo and backup Tramell Jones Jr., but neither signal-caller managed to generate any substantial momentum.