Podcast Summary

Overview

Podcast: Bussin' With The Boys
Episode: Josh Pate Is Partnering With Bussin With The Boys + BOLD College Football Playoff Predictions
Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: Josh Pate ("future college football commissioner", host of Late Kick Live)

This episode marks the kickoff to college football season, celebrating media personality Josh Pate’s new full-time role on the Bussin’ With The Boys college football show, “The Locker Room.” The Boys and Pate dive deep into bold college football playoff predictions—especially for Nebraska—big changes in sports media, Pate’s unique career path, and meaningful insights around success, competition, and finding purpose in the ever-changing landscape of football and digital media.

Major Themes

• The evolving college football landscape and bold predictions (notably Nebraska’s breakout potential)
• Josh Pate’s unusual career path into sports media and advice for aspiring content creators
• The transition of college football coverage from traditional networks ("the suits") to authentic digital voices
• The culture and emotional rollercoaster of preseason hype, preparation, and the pressure on teams, players, and coaches
• Reflections on success, setbacks, and staying true to one's individual brand and values

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kickoff to College Football Season

• The Locker Room, the new weekly show with the Boys and Pate, is launching for the college season (06:05)
• Week 0 sees football returning with high expectations and fresh optimism from every fanbase (12:35)
• "Everyone's hopes and dreams are alive right now. Now get to October. We're going to start separating from the pack." – Taylor Lewan (13:35)
• Upcoming big games include Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (Aug 28), Texas vs. Ohio State, and Bustin’ Bowl (Michigan vs. Nebraska, Sept. 20)

2. Nebraska Mania: Bold Playoff Predictions

• The Boys, especially Will, are extremely bullish on Nebraska’s potential this season with Matt Rhule entering his third year and Dana Holgorsen taking over as OC.
• Josh Pate boldly predicts a 10-2 regular season for Nebraska, possibly making the College Football Playoff (137:13, 140:21).
  • "There’s such a path to 10-2 and I think 10-2 gets them in. I’m asking, does anyone believe in Nebraska more than me?" – Josh Pate (138:09)
• Will Compton goes even further: “I can see us going 11-1.” (141:13)
• The discussion walks through Nebraska's schedule, identifying "trap games" and their chances against Michigan, USC, Penn State.

3. The Locker Room Show Collaboration

• Josh Pate is officially joining Bussin’ With The Boys every week for the new Locker Room show, bringing his deep passion and expertise for college football.
  • "I am of my audience. I go eat barbecue on Tuesday afternoon with my audience... that's exactly who I tailored my show towards." – Josh Pate (98:26)
• The collaborative goal is to marry the authentic, fan-driven coverage and deep football analysis that’s missing from traditional media.

4. Pressure, Potential, and Preseason Hype Culture

• Lively debate on teams' preseason potential vs. proven performance:
  • “Potential means you haven’t done sh*t yet, but you have an opportunity to.” – Taylor Lewan (08:06)
  • “Now it’s your job to build the ladder.” – Taylor Lewan (08:24)
• Pressure analysis: Who has more pressure in Texas vs. Ohio State, Week 1? Consensus: Texas.
  • “Texas does [have more pressure], because they have an insanely talented roster. Sark, they've been building... And Ohio State, even though they are defending national champions, you got a new quarterback, lost a lot of pieces...” – Will Compton (14:49)
• Discussion on how preseason optimism is inevitable—but only October reveals which teams are “for real” (13:35).

5. Josh Pate’s Unorthodox Journey & Philosophy

• Pate shares his story of how he went from a warehouse worker simulating sports talk in his steering wheel to one of college football’s most respected digital voices:
  • “I was listening to [talk] radio all day, every day, telling myself, that's what I want to do. But also telling myself, I've got no way in.” – Pate (108:34)
  • Took a bet on himself, started a YouTube show (after being laughed out of local TV for it), and ultimately landed with CBS.
• Central advice to content creators: keep chopping wood—consistency and identity matter far more than luck or a single “big break.”
  • “The big break doesn't come because you actually may not be ready for the big break when you're praying for it.” – Josh Pate (64:52)
  • "If you’re not getting the reward you think you’re owed... you’ll never lay in bed at night wondering ‘what would have happened if I hadn’t quit?’” – Josh Pate (67:23)
• The importance of knowing who you are and building for your audience, not for “the suits” (134:12).

6. The Changing Landscape of Sports Media

• Lively discussion about how sports content has moved away from traditional TV suits towards authenticity:
  • “I can talk about Alabama vs. Georgia Saturday in a T-shirt and I promise you, the audience we're trying to reach will consume it just fine.” – Josh Pate (105:04)
• Pat McAfee (as a “Roger Bannister” figure) proved authenticity outpaces formality, opening the door for a new generation of creators (124:54).

7. Insightful Takes on Competition and Collaboration

• In the digital age, competition is no longer zero-sum—everybody can win and grow:
  • “The competition’s with a standard, it’s not with anybody else in the space.” – Pate (70:58)
• High tide raises all boats: rooting for others in your space can only bring more eyes and opportunity for the entire community.
  • “If you do good, and I have my head on straight, it actually helps me.” – Josh Pate (71:18)

8. Philosophy, Balance, and Purpose

• Repeated theme: What are you doing outside of family and faith that gets you out of bed? For the Boys and Pate, college football plays that role:
  • “I've got God in my life. I got family in my life and then I got college football six months out of the year in my life.” – Josh Pate (61:47)
• Advice to his younger self and listeners: Know who you are before trying to build anything meaningful (134:12).

9. Playoff Format and Commissioner Daydreams

• Debate on playoff expansion—16 teams, 12, 28, etc. Most agree 12-16 feels optimal (18:44, 200:10).
• Josh Pate’s “If I were Commissioner” ideas:
  • Centralized media rights
  • Private equity to preserve tradition rivalries (e.g. not moving home games for cash)
  • Popular votes for key rules/changes (“pure democracy” on some things!)
  • Closer cooperation between CFB and the NFL over schedule and postseason (197:23)

10. Favorite Memorable Moments / Quotes

• On building a career in media: “I’d rather go broke doing this than escalate up through middle management... I would have never known.” – Pate (67:23)
• On the “V” physique: “[On Google saying he’s 55] I’m in my 30s. Google’s got me mixed up with that other Josh Pate.” – Pate (57:12)
• On nontraditional competition: “You get to the point where competition is no longer about beating someone else but constantly raising your own standard.” – group discussion (129:36)
• On the pressure of the first pitch: “If you’ll pop three NyQuil 30 minutes before you throw out this first pitch, you will be fine... You’ll hardly even remember the experience, but you’ll have the film!” – Pate (80:20)
• On taking big swings: “You celebrate for 10 minutes... and then you’re on to the next.” (130:44)

Notable Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |-------------|------------------------------------------| | 06:05 | Josh Pate joins as permanent co-host | | 12:35 | Preseason optimism & the word “potential”| | 14:49 | Debating pressure: Texas vs. Ohio State | | 64:53 | Pate’s "keep chopping wood" career speech| | 71:18 | Why competition is now about standards | | 98:26 | Why being authentic trumps “the suits” | | 124:54 | How McAfee and others changed media | | 134:12 | “Who are you?” — the most important Q | | 137:13 | 10-2 Nebraska: bold playoff predictions | | 141:13 | Will’s 11-1 vision for Nebraska | | 147:22 | “I’d pick Nebraska over Michigan.” | | 199:55 | If Pate were CFB commissioner | | 200:10 | Playoff format: don’t be tricked by 28 |

Conversation Tone

• Energetic, passionate, authentic, humorous
• Strong camaraderie among hosts/guest, with friendly jabs and lots of laughter
• Insightful, often philosophical, with motivational advice
• Confident football takes, bold (sometimes outlandish) predictions
• Candid, occasionally irreverent, and highly fan-focused

Perfect For

• CFB fans wanting weekly, honest, in-depth preseason and in-season talk
• Aspiring sports media creators seeking lessons on authenticity and “betting on yourself”
• Fans interested in where college football and sports media go next

Final Words

“Big hugs, tiny kisses. We love you.”
– The Boys (201:50)

The Locker Room with Josh Pate kicks off Wednesday nights for unfiltered college football talk and bold predictions all season.

For the full football, life, and sports media ride, subscribe to Bussin’ With The Boys and follow The Locker Room series—with Josh Pate's authentic voice in the mix, the 2025 season's already off to a legendary start.