Josh Pate Slams the 24‑Team Playoff Idea, Insists College Football Isn’t a Tournament Sport

Late last week, the college‑football universe got a buzz‑worthy headline: the power brokers who steer the sport apparently agreed to enlarge the College Football Playoff to 24 teams. Naturally, the news set off a wave of debate, with fans, coaches and pundits flooding social media with everything from excited memes to outright fury.

One of the louder voices in that chorus was longtime analyst Josh Pate. He hopped on the Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday and didn’t hold back. "College football is not a tournament sport," he said, his tone equal parts disbelief and frustration. He went on to compare the sport to college basketball, noting that he skips March Madness precisely because it’s a tournament first. "The tournament has taught me that I don’t need to watch it because it’s a tournament sport… I’m not saying a 24‑seed playoff destroys the regular season. No, it doesn’t. It cheapens it. It lowers the urgency on the biggest games," Pate added.

For Pate—and for many who grew up watching Saturdays soaked in tradition—that urgency is the lifeblood of college football. Every regular‑season matchup feels like a high‑stakes audition, a make‑or‑break moment that can swing a program’s destiny. The current 12‑team format already feels stretched; critics argue that expanding to 24 only magnifies the problem, turning what used to be a climactic finish into something more akin to a golf tournament’s cut‑line.

Fans have taken to Twitter, retweeting clips of Pate’s soundbite and adding their own two‑cents. One tweet from the official ESPN College Football account highlighted the moment: "College football is not a tournament sport. @JoshPateCFB sounds off on the 24‑team college football playoff 👀" The response was mixed—some agreeing that the regular season will become a bit of a warm‑up, others excited about giving more teams a shot at glory.

Underlying the debate is a simple question: what makes college football special? Many argue it’s the drama of a single‑game season finale, the stakes of each Saturday, and the lore that builds over months of gritty, hard‑fought contests. Diluting that with a larger playoff could, as Pate warns, lower the “urgency on the biggest games,” turning marquee matchups into just another step toward a bracket.

Of course, there are counter‑arguments. Proponents say a 24‑team field will reward more conferences, give deserving teams a chance they’d otherwise miss, and generate extra revenue for schools and broadcasters. Still, the emotional core of the sport—those hard‑won regular‑season battles—might get lost in the shuffle.

As the offseason rolls on, the CFP expansion will likely become a talking point at every press conference and fan forum. Whether the league decides to stick with 12, jump to 24, or land somewhere in between, Josh Pate’s blunt reminder will echo: college football thrives on the pressure of the regular season, not just the spectacle of a big tournament.