College football and the NFL have long been staples of American football. Both enjoy immense popularity but have different ways of scheduling games. This has led to fans and analysts debating whether college football should resemble a schedule similar to that of the NFL.
Josh Pate Not on Board for College Football To Resemble NFL Schedule
Schedule change talks came after it was revealed that Super Bowl LIX was enjoyed by around 127.7 million viewers, the highest ratings in television history.
On the other hand, the College Football Playoff National Championship could only draw 22.1 million, down from the 2023 title game (25 million). This has led to a debate being revived about whether the College Football Playoff needs to shorten its format so that blowout games don’t take place in the playoffs.
During a recent episode of his podcast, college football insider Josh Pate argued that college football risks losing its special elements in the quest to maximize ratings and streamline operations.
“We play this game in smaller towns,” Pate said. “It’s a little more difficult to get nine figures’ worth of people to care about your game when your biggest brands are in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, instead of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
While the NFL model is more driven by valuation, Pate feels college football is more than just about national TV numbers. It’s about the atmosphere, the culture, and the emotional connection fans have with their respective schools.
Pate argued that college football doesn’t need to measure itself against the NFL or chase bigger TV ratings if that means getting away from the culture.
“At some point, you reach a critical tipping point where, for the sake of bigger ratings, you sacrifice a lot of what makes your game great,” he said. “We’d love for more people to watch. But not at the expense of bending our sport to fit their viewership interests.”
However, Pate does need to refine their existing calendar structure. They can do so by scheduling consistency, player rest periods, and better-defined offseasons.
Pate Believes College Football Is Head Coach-Centric, Unlike NFL, Which Is Star-Centric
The stars and idols they look up to are at the center and heart of any sport. In the NFL, the star players derive the most value for the league. However, when it comes to college football, Pate argues that the head coaches are permanent.
“If you believe this sport is at its best when it’s star-driven, well, you don’t have a ton of stars in college football,” Pate said.
“The stars are the head coaches. I’ve always believed that. I will always believe that. NIL will never change that. We just had Travis Hunter come through—a huge name, one of the biggest names in college football in a long time. He’s already gone. Three years — gone. Tebow? Four-year career — gone.
“Urban Meyer? Around forever. Nick Saban? Around forever. Mack Brown? Around forever. Kirby Smart? Around forever—relative to the players. The head coaches are the stars.”
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
As the 2025 season approaches, discussions about the future of college football’s structure will only intensify.
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