Josh Pate creates early 2026 College Football Playoff contender tiers

Josh Pate is launching an offseason project to create a "bubble" of college football teams he believes can win the national championship. This initiative will span from now until February, aiming to keep the list concise while ensuring the eventual College Football Playoff winner is included. Pate's project began on a recent episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, where he categorized teams into tiers based on their championship potential.

The top tier, labeled "no-brainers," features 12 teams including Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State, with nine of these teams having participated in last season’s College Football Playoff. These teams are considered strong contenders based on their roster talent.

The next tier, "teams with a small internal debate," includes Florida, Michigan, Ole Miss, and USC. These teams have promising rosters but face certain challenges, such as new coaching staff or pending player eligibility issues, like Ole Miss's Trinidad Chambliss.

A third tier, "teams with significant internal debate,"