Josh Pate Picks Ole Miss, 3 Others as Likeliest First Year College Football Playoff Teams For 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Mar 6, 2025 12:47 AM ET

The first ever College Football Playoff brought plenty of opinions, controversy and excitement to the table as is often the case in one of America's favorite sports.

While some fans, players and coaches shouted to the rooftops that the playoff had been watered down, others touted the virtues of expanding the number of participants in college football's second season.

On Wednesday, college football pundit Josh Pate shared his thoughts on four teams that he believes have the best chance to become first year College Football Playoff teams, especially now that the field has been expanded.

Pate selected two teams from the SEC and two from the ACC as he made his preseason picks known.

Pate selected the Ole Miss Rebels as his first most likely first year playoff team out of the SEC Conference.

Coach Lane Kiffin's team went 10-3 last season including a 5-3 record in the SEC, but will have to replace quarterback Jaxson Dart, who's headed to the NFL.

Pate selected the Rebels on the strength of the third easiest schedule in the conference, cautioning that the team's September 6 matchup against Kentucky in Lexington could be a trap game.

Pate also selected the Miami Hurricanes, noting the transfer of star quarterback Carson Beck to the Hurricanes this offseason.

He also chose the Texas A&M Aggies as his third team on the list.

"I think Texas A&M's a candidate," Pate added. "The areas where they lost a lot of guys...They did a great job in the portal," Pate said.

Finally, Pate chose the Louisville Cardinals as his fourth team.

"Louisville's also another team that I would think, if we have two new playoff appearances this year, maybe Louisville's one of them.

"You know I think extremely highly of (head coach) Jeff Brohm...They went and got Miller Moss out of the portal...They've hit in the portal every year, without the big dip.

"Isaac Brown, best running back in the country most of you don't know," Pate concluded.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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