Josh Pate is one of the foremost college football authorities nowadays and hosts an extremely popular weekly show on all things college football. On his show on Sunday night, Pate relented under immense pressure from viewers to share his Top 10 college football teams in a post-spring power ranking.
Pate's rankings have stirred up controversy with some surprising teams.
Pate was very complimentary of Alabama during his Pate State speaker series. He spent time in Tuscaloosa recently and came away impressed. That correlated with his rankings as he has the Crimson Tide slotted in at No. 4, behind Clemson, Texas, and Penn State.
Josh Pate’s Top 10 Post-Spring Rankings 👀
— Recruits Bama (@RecruitsBama) May 12, 2025
What are your thoughts on these rankings?? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/03oi8txOZR
Some might be surprised to see Clemson and Penn State in the Top 3, but both of those programs have received a lot of hype in the offseason and have returning veteran quarterbacks. Trusting a James Franklin coached team? What could go wrong?
Perhaps the most surprising inclusion in the Top 10 is at No. 9 and No. 10. Florida at 9 and Oklahoma at 10 are higher than those two teams are typically projected to be, but it isn't that difficult to rationalize someone believing they could make those kinds of leaps.
The Gators and Sooners are popular sleeper picks in the SEC. Florida's DJ Lagway is as talented as any QB in the country and Washington State transfer QB John Mateer should significantly raise Oklahoma's profile in 2025.
The biggest surprise in Pate's Top 10 is who isn't included. Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs are nowhere to be found.
Alabama is poised to be a prime contender in 2025
Alabama is flying under the radar a bit for most experts heading into 2025. Following a 9-4 season in Kalen DeBoer's debut in Tuscaloosa, some are waiting to see it on the field before putting the Tide back in the elite tier of college football contenders.
Top to bottom, however, you'd be hard pressed to find many rosters better than Alabama. The Tide has talent everywhere and can match up with any team. The big question mark - and what will ultimately be the deciding factor on how far Alabama goes - is at quarterback.
Ty Simpson is in the driver's seat. With as talented as Alabama is, though, he's unlikely to have a long leash if he's not performing. Not with a 5-star phenom in Keelon Russell waiting in the wings.
If Simpson - or Russell (or Mack) - can play at an above-average level, Alabama will be a legitimate contender for the National Championship.