Josh Pate’s College Football Show – Episode Summary

Episode: Michigan Fires Sherrone Moore + Mega-CFP Thoughts & Cole Cubelic Joins
Air Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Josh Pate
Guest: Cole Cubelic

Episode Overview

In this high-energy episode, Josh Pate gives his rapid analysis of the breaking news about Michigan firing head coach Sherrone Moore, explores the state of Michigan’s football program, and dives deep into the upcoming College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape—including thoughts on contenders, pretenders, and the controversial topic of further CFP expansion. He wraps up with co-host/guest Cole Cubelic, dissecting SEC schedules, Michigan’s job stature, top matchups, and the general health—and anxiety—of college football in 2025.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michigan Fires Sherrone Moore: Fallout & Forward-Looking Questions

[01:51–16:39]

• Breaking the News:

  • Michigan fired Sherrone Moore abruptly following behind-the-scenes turbulence and a recent real-world incident.
    • "This was a really, really wild thing that happened Wednesday... I want to address something." (Josh Pate, 03:03)

• Why Josh Didn’t Break the Story Early:

  • Not an investigative journalist—waited for confirmation.
  • Much of what’s heard is unsubstantiated or given off-record.
    • "If you just ran your mouth about everything you heard, the show wouldn’t exist because the courts would have sucked us dry..." (03:31)
    • "A lot of times information is given to you on the condition that you shut up about it." (05:04)

• Moore’s Position—Why Michigan Was Ready to Move On:

  • He was seen as a "bridge head coach" after the Harbaugh era amid NCAA scrutiny.
  • Not viewed as the long-term solution, even after a 9–3 season.
    • “If he was just on the open market right now, how desirable would he be?" (06:14)

• Michigan’s Messy Situation:

  • Football entangled with off-field incidents.
  • Athletic department in flux: Interim president, possible changes at AD (Ward Manuel) who’s faced scandals.
  • Real uncertainty over who leads the search and sets the direction for the program.
    • "These guys want certainty and these guys want alignment. And you can't promise me you’ve got it right now at Michigan." (09:27)

• Coaching Hot Board Speculation is Premature:

  • Popular names: Kalen DeBoer, Brian Kelly, Lincoln Riley, Jesse Minter, Eli Drinkwitz, Jed Fisch, Clark Lea, Kenny Dillingham, Tommy Rees, Willie Fritz.
  • But instability may delay any major decision until Michigan sorts out its own leadership.
    • “They got to decide: is Ward [Manuel] making this call? Is it a search committee, or a combination?” (10:47)

2. CFP Field: Who’s a Real Contender?

[16:39–33:29]

• Redefining “Going on a Run”:

  • Dismisses NCAA-style “run” talk—if you’re not winning it all, does it matter?

• Eliminating Longshots:

  • “James Madison's not winning the national title. Tulane's not winning...” (16:59)
  • Of the ten remaining, most could win if enough breaks go their way: Talent is more evenly dispersed; even “top” teams are less dominant than in past CFPs.

• Breakdown by Team, Path, and Odds:

  • Ohio State: The favorite, but "mortal" this year.
  • Miami: Has the toughest path, but gets a title-game home-field advantage if they survive.
    • “If they can survive all that... the title game is in Hard Rock Stadium.” (17:40)
  • Oregon: “I think Oregon has the best path of all the playoff teams... more so than any other spot in the bracket.” (18:13)
  • Texas A&M: Versatile, with true game-wreckers on defense; path is tough.
  • Alabama: Looked like a pretender based on late play, but injuries healing could make them dangerous again.
    • “If Parker Brailsford...is back to 90-plus percent...Alabama can still beat a lot of teams.” (19:43)
  • Oklahoma: Defense-focused; unlikely to survive four straight games needing to hold teams under 20.
  • Texas Tech: Intriguing defensively, questions about how their game translates outside the Big 12.
  • Ole Miss: “Wild card.” May have the most draftable QB.
  • Indiana, Georgia: Both strong contenders; Georgia has experience and the best odds among SEC teams.

• On “Run Quality”:

  • Slighted “run” talk: “Could Florida Gulf Coast go on a run?...They went on a run. But Ole Miss? Winning two games? Not a run for me.” (16:56)

3. Playoff Expansion: The Never-Ending March

[33:29–36:15]

• More, More, More—Is 12 Enough?

  • Questions if expansion is inevitable after recent outcry by “left out” teams.
    • “If someone's upset, they just cry hard enough and they're going to get their way.” (27:07)
  • Cites Ross Dellinger (Yahoo) surveying ADs and commissioners: Consensus is moving to 16, 20, or more is next.
    • “A move to 16 teams is seen by some as the next step in the evolution of the playoff... to more than 20 teams.” (Ross Dellinger, quoted at 31:18)

• Expansion’s Cost: The Value of Regular Season:

  • Every expansion weakens what made college football unique—regular season drama.
    • “I think the most precious commodity in this sport is the regular season. And every time you expand the playoff, it's done at the expense of the value of regular season games.” (31:59)

• Anger is Unavoidable—and in Some Ways, Necessary:

  • “Anger at the end of the year is not evidence that the model is broken... If you’ve expanded the playoff to the point where no one's upset, you expanded the thing way too far.” (30:28)

4. Listener Prediction Busts: A December Tradition

[36:15–41:11]

• Reviewing Wild, Wrong Preseason Fan Predictions:
  • Penn State’s (failed) 1,000-yard receivers prediction.
  • Five "Tiger" mascots in the playoff (zero made it).
  • Fran Brown leading Syracuse to the playoff (Syracuse nose-dived).
• Good-natured ribbing: “Penn State did not even have a 500-yard receiver this season... Welcome to my life.” (36:56)

5. SEC Schedule Details & Impact (w/ Cole Cubelic)

[41:55–69:00]

• Long SEC Game Stretches:

  • 2026 SEC schedules will see 6–8 straight conference games—a “daunting task” (42:41, Cubelic).

• Michigan Job—Still an Elite Draw?

  • Both Pate & Cubelic emphasize its enduring prestige, even with scandal fallout.
  • “There will be candidates that we don't hear about that are highly interested in taking this job... the drama that has been around it... but make no mistake, it's the Michigan job—and that will hold clout.” (Cole Cubelic, 47:00)

• Most Intriguing Playoff Matchup:

  • A&M–Miami is the game to watch for physical, elite D-lines, athletic secondaries, “takeover” players.
    • “There are so many, I guess, takeover players that are going to see legitimate matchup issues in this game.” (Cubelic, 49:30)

• Oregon’s Favorable Setup:

  • Oregon’s bracket position gives them “the best path”—if healthy—to the title game, avoiding the “blue blood side” (51:24)

• Indiana’s Team Play:

  • “I think Indiana has a better football team.” (Cubelic, 55:31)
    —Not always the most talented, but the best unit.

• Alabama’s Title Hopes—What Has to Happen:

  • Health up front, cleaner O-line play. Ryan Williams has to be “first half of the SEC championship game Ryan Williams.” (Cubelic, 56:40–59:00)
    • “If they're going to be wasting plays...these games are too big to...miss multiple times in a game.” (58:40)

6. The State of College Football: Are We Still Okay?

[59:16–69:00]

• General Complaints & Worries:

  • “Everyone has their list of things that are wrong with college football” (Pate, 61:58).
  • TV ratings and interest are soaring—evidence overall health is strong.
    • “We're doing more than okay... If the sport didn't have the popularity that it did, I don't think those individuals would be able to survive or thrive.” (Cubelic, 64:19)
  • Some complaints (who's the starter, officiating, etc.) are never going away.

• What’s Worth Complaining About?

  • Recent major decisions (portal, redshirt rule, NIL, conference realignment) often lacked foresight.
    • “The decision making and lack of thought that seemingly goes into massive decisions within this sport.” (Cubelic, 65:53)
    • Redshirt rule “volunteer to practice... but don’t want to play football anymore." (66:24)
  • Some traditions—like SEC fans complaining about the QB—are part of the fun.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Michigan Firing Moore:
  • "He was not viewed as the long-term solution at Michigan... Then this whole scandal gets dropped in their lap." (Josh Pate, 06:14)
• On Playoff Expansion:
  • “I don't support expansion because I don't think it’ll ever stop... They just make it as big as they want at the expense of—well, they really don't care what at the expense of.” (Josh Pate, 31:39)
  • "Anger at the end of the year is not evidence that the model is broken... Anger may be evidence that 12 teams is just right." (30:28)
• Cole Cubelic on Michigan’s job appeal:
  • "...the Big House itself, the stadium alone, the atmosphere alone—this is one of those jobs...There will be candidates...that are highly interested in taking this job." (47:00)
• Cole Cubelic on NIL and Transfer Portal:
  • “Floodgates open and teams can't keep rosters together...Here we go, we get to week four and head coaches are telling us...‘They don't want to play football anymore because they're trying to save their redshirt.’” (66:24)
• On Indiana & Oregon:
  • “I haven't seen a group play collectively as good a football more times this year than I have Indiana.” (Cubelic, 55:31)
  • “I think Oregon has the best path of all playoff teams...” (Pate, 18:13)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:51] – Michigan fires Sherrone Moore: Fallout, rumors, and inside reporting
• [06:14] – Moore as "bridge head coach," future speculation
• [09:27] – Michigan’s leadership and administrative instability
• [16:39] – Who are true contenders in the expanded CFP field? Team-by-team breakdown
• [27:07] – Why CFP expansion never ends (and why that’s a problem)
• [30:28] – Anger, selection, and the nature of the playoff bubble
• [36:15] – Listener prediction fails—a December tradition
• [41:55] – Cole Cubelic joins: SEC schedules, Michigan job status
• [49:11] – A&M–Miami: The playoff matchup with the most intrigue
• [53:38] – Oregon’s advantageous bracket, Indiana’s “best team not most talent”
• [56:40] – Alabama’s must-happen factors for a national championship run
• [64:19] – The health of college football today: Are we actually “okay”?
• [65:43] – The real complaint: Reckless decision-making in college football
• [68:36] – Playoff expansion versus YouTube subscriber expansion (lighthearted analogy)

Tone, Language, and Appeal

Josh Pate’s tone remains direct, informed, and a bit wry—delivering news and big-picture perspective without hot takes or bombast. Cole Cubelic brings deep SEC knowledge but recognizes national context, quickly connecting practical on-field realities with big-picture program and sport direction. Both are insiders but relate as fans—detailing complexities, uncertainties, and ironies with a signature blend of inside info and relatable humor.

This episode is ideal for:

• College football fans wanting insight into headline news (Michigan’s firing), playoff dynamics, and the ongoing “arms race” that is the modern sport.
• Listeners who enjoy honest analysis over clickbait or gossip—Pate says what he knows, and what he doesn’t, openly.
• Anyone concerned or curious about where the future of the playoff, and the sport itself, is headed.

Quick Recap / Takeaways

• Michigan’s program is at a crossroads with major leadership uncertainty; don’t trust “hot boards” yet.
• Most of the top 10 CFP teams are true contenders in an era of “compressed excellence.”
• Playoff expansion is again in the wind—be careful what you wish for, as the regular season could become collateral damage.
• College football is thriving in ratings and interest, but recent high-level decisions (portal, NIL, expansion) have sometimes lacked vision and led to new problems.
• Despite flaws and vocal discontent, the sport’s core remains strong and beloved. Fans, coaches, and analysts will just keep debating—and probably enjoying—it.

End of summary.