Josh Pate’s College Football Show – Week 13 Reaction: Lane Kiffin Rumors & AP Poll vs CFP Rankings

Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Josh Pate (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview

In this action-packed Week 13 Reaction episode, Josh Pate delivers rapid-fire insights on pivotal college football games, rampant coaching rumors (with in-depth focus on the Lane Kiffin saga), and a keen dissection of the just-released AP Poll versus the CFP committee’s forthcoming rankings. Pate blends game analysis and behind-the-scenes coaching search intel with his signature dry humor and directness, keeping college football diehards up to speed as rivalry week and Thanksgiving holiday converge with coaching carousel mania.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Setting the Stage: Rivalry Week, Coaching Searches, and the Week Ahead

[01:54 – 05:30]

• Josh opens by highlighting the collision of rivalry week, Thanksgiving, and coaching searches:

  “We are about to embark on one of the most memorable weeks in the history of college football… rivalry week smacked up in the middle of Thanksgiving week, smacked up in the middle of everyone trying to figure out who their head coach is going to be next year.” (03:28)

• Describes the upcoming travel plans and lighter show schedule due to the holiday.
• Sets up the show's structure: game breakdowns, coaching rumors (not just Lane Kiffin), and AP poll analysis.

2. Oregon 42, USC 27: Culture, Special Teams, and Program Trajectories

[05:31 – 14:40]

• Heavy Emphasis on Special Teams:

  “If you believe that special teams is a third of the game, then there is no game that bears that out better than this one.” (07:57)

  • Praises Oregon’s Joe Lorig and the special teams unit for game-changing plays, especially the pivotal Malik Benson punt return TD that shifted momentum when the score was tied.
• Culture Battle:
  • Notes the irony of Oregon (a smaller market) out-recruiting the iconic USC for years.
  • “There’s one place that used to be the place on the West Coast and that's USC. But now, there's another place that is, and that’s Oregon. One is trying to get back to where the other currently is.” (10:05)
• Resilience and Depth:
  • Oregon’s depth shines through despite injuries, echoing Pate’s “next man up” philosophy.

  “You don't know a whole lot about Oregon… you just say, yep, that’s an Oregon offensive day. Dude, they're beat to death.” (11:23)

• Lincoln Riley’s Trajectory:
  • Despite criticism, Pate insists Lincoln Riley isn’t done as an elite coach and remains optimistic about his long-term fit at USC if he fully commits to program-changing moves.
  • “I still think really highly of him… but he’s not yet [a top coach] and he hasn't fully been yet. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be.” (12:56)

3. Lane Kiffin Coaching Search Circus: Rumors, Realities, and Message Board Mania

[24:49 – 33:42]

• On Social Media Sarcasm Gone Awry:
  • Explains his widely-misunderstood tweet about “knowing where Lane will be in 2026” was pure message board trolling/sarcasm.
• Current State of the Search:

  “I have spoken to Lane Kiffin every day for the past week. I don’t know where he’s going, so you guys may have better sourcing than me. I have no idea.” (27:34)

• Breaks down the options: Stay at Ole Miss (a “ready-made playoff destination”), go to Florida (infrastructure “massively reinvested”), or to LSU (“don't need to describe…you can win big at LSU”).
• Highlights how coaching searches work (“taking offers from party to party”), and the uncertainty (“I actually think [Lane] doesn't know his decision yet”).
• Warns fans about self-proclaimed insiders and “e-cred” chasers:

  “They weren't inside anything. They guessed right, had wrong information, right outcome. Be careful, be wary.” (32:42)

• Notes Florida might be quieter but still in the running: “Do not confuse silence with inaction… I still think they got a shot.” (33:40)

4. Game Reacts: Oklahoma, Missouri & Team Identities

[36:09 – 42:24]

• Oklahoma 17, Missouri 6:
  • Pate details Oklahoma’s evolving team identity as a “defense-first” operation, winning games despite offensive struggles.
  • “If you play high-level defense, you don't have to light the world on fire. This is not the Big 12 anymore.” (36:51)
  • Missouri’s offense forced to pass—“not how they want to win.”
  • Praises Brent Venables for stabilizing the program and keeping playoff hopes alive despite adversity.
• Discusses how small moments (e.g., injury at Vanderbilt game) changed Missouri’s season trajectory.

5. Coaching Carousel Updates: Auburn and Penn State

[67:21 – 88:08]

Auburn

• Process & Possible Hires:
  • Auburn’s search described as a “well-oiled machine,” a rarity in their recent history.
  • “I think they've zeroed in on the handful of qualified candidates… could be John Sumrall, and you could get that thing done immediately.” (67:58)
  • DJ Durkin is “very much in play” and could generate momentum if Iron Bowl goes his way.
  • Emphasizes Auburn is a highly underrated gig—resources, self-selling campus, and the right leadership could yield strong retention and success.
  • “Auburn job gets painted with this broad brush from past stereotypes… I think the Auburn job’s really a job where you’re set up to succeed.” (70:23)

Penn State

• Interim or Outside Hire?
  • Large groundswell for interim Terry Smith, but Pate questions whether short-term success is sustainable long-term: “That’s like a sugar high. Sugar highs don’t last forever, but they’re really powerful in the moments…” (90:36)
  • Bob Chesney (James Madison) identified as a strong candidate.
  • Cautions on the risk of “falling in love with interims” and the unique challenges of hiring someone external given internal roster/recruiting volatility.

6. AP Poll vs. CFP Rankings: Playoff Math and Conference Narratives

[55:54 – 61:12]

• Breaking Down the AP Poll:
  • Calls out inconsistencies (e.g., Georgia Tech ranked ahead of Pitt despite defeat) and highlights drama building for the ACC’s playoff chances.
• G5 Conference Champs & Playoff Access:
  • Explains how five highest-ranked conference champions get in; warns about scenarios where a league champ (e.g., ACC) could be left out depending on G5 rankings.

Key Quotes

“SMU controls its College Football Playoff destiny. Now, I can’t 100% guarantee that, but I can pretty much guarantee that.” (55:59)
“Do the playoff rankings reflect the AP, especially with those G5 teams? We haven’t seen it yet.” (58:38)

7. Added Takeaways & “Sarah McLachlan Special”: Week 13’s Wild Results

[77:36 – 85:38]

• Utah vs. Kansas State: “Insane Box Score”

  “Kansas State had 47 points, 472 yards rushing… in a losing effort. Runs of 44, 37, 66, 33, 58, 80, 33, and 24 and they lost the game. Utah found a way.” (79:01)

• Vanderbilt Crushes Kentucky:
  • End-of-season fatigue, Diego Pavia Heisman momentum.
• Notre Dame 77, Syracuse 7 – The “Sarah McLachlan Special”
  • “They were up 21–0 before their offense ever took the field… Notre Dame had 31 more points than they had plays run… The most inexplicable, unimaginable TVMA Sarah McLachlan Special of the modern era.” (84:20)

8. Florida State & Mike Norvell Retention: Buyouts and Portal Pitfalls

[43:15 – 50:14]

• “No one wanted to retain Mike Norvell there. It cost too much to fire him. That’s just the way it is.” (43:32)
• Analyzes FSU’s reliance on the transfer portal, lack of high school recruiting foundation, and how an enormous buyout (negotiated at peak leverage) prevents firing.
• Laments challenges for staff recruitment (“who wants to come knowing it’s a one-year gig?”) and raises flags about apathy vs. anger among fans—the danger of a half-full stadium.

9. The Road Ahead: Odds, Rivalry Week, and Closing Advice

[94:08 – end]

• Promo for Missouri listeners: FanDuel launching in-state; tips on snagging bonus bets.
• “Ramen Noodle Express” Picks: Laments a 5-8 record, vows a comeback for Rivalry Week.
• Community Engagement:
  • “If you haven’t subscribed yet, please subscribe on your way out and recruit friends and family…” (97:06)
• Closing: Reminders about show scheduling, gratitude to the audience, and good wishes for Thanksgiving.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “We are about to embark on one of the most memorable weeks in the history of college football…” (03:28)
• “If you believe that special teams is a third of the game… there is no game that bears that out better than this one.” (07:57)
• “Do not confuse silence with inaction… I still think [Florida’s] in it.” (33:40)
• “If you play high-level defense, you don’t have to light the world on fire… This is not the Big 12 anymore.” (36:51)
• “Auburn job gets painted with this broad brush from past stereotypes… I think the Auburn job’s really a job where you’re set up to succeed.” (70:23)
• “That’s like a sugar high. Sugar highs don’t last forever, but they’re really powerful in the moments…” (90:36)
• “Notre Dame had more points than their quarterback had passing yards.” (84:23)
• “No one wanted to retain Mike Norvell there. It cost too much to fire him. That’s just the way it is.” (43:32)

Segment Timestamps

• Opening, Week Overview: [01:54 – 05:30]
• Oregon vs. USC Analysis: [05:31 – 14:40]
• Lane Kiffin Search Deep Dive: [24:49 – 33:42]
• Oklahoma–Missouri Breakdown: [36:09 – 42:24]
• Florida State / Mike Norvell Buyout: [43:15 – 50:14]
• AP Poll/CFP Rankings: [55:54 – 61:12]
• Auburn Coaching Search: [67:21 – 74:59]
• Penn State Coaching Search: [85:51 – 94:08]
• Week 13 “Sarah McLachlan Special” Results: [83:47 – 85:38]
• Wrap Up & Ramen Noodle Express: [96:11 – End]

Tone and Style

Josh Pate keeps the vibe conversational, sharp, and lightly irreverent while remaining grounded in solid reporting and clear-eyed analysis. He frequently jokes about message board culture, his own sleep deprivation, and the sometimes irrational nature of college football fandom—always bringing discussions back to plausible scenarios and the realities behind the scenes.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

Expect in-depth, real-time analysis of both X’s and O’s and off-field drama—especially surrounding coaching searches. Josh’s ability to contextualize game outcomes and rumors in the wider landscape (from playoff implications to athletic department politics) makes this a must-listen every Sunday night, never shying away from nuance or tough questions.