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Josh Pate decries college football ‘leadership’ for using playoff expansion as ‘a bailout’

ESPN analyst Josh Pate delivered a scathing critique of college football’s push for a 24-team playoff expansion, calling it a desperate revenue grab rather than a fan-driven improvement. Speaking at a Front Office Sports conference in New York City, Pate argued that the move stems from flawed decision-making—particularly around the transfer portal and NIL—rather than genuine public demand.

He warned that the expansion dilutes the urgency of the regular season, turning it into a ‘safety net’ while creating artificial stakes for lower-ranked teams. Pate also dismissed the notion that fan opposition matters, accusing college football’s leadership of assuming viewers will tolerate a weakened product for financial gain.

Meanwhile, ESPN and the College Football Playoff remain close to finalizing the deal, despite widespread skepticism from fans and analysts alike.

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