Josh Pate has unveiled his latest college football ratings for Week 3, and the headline is clear: his No. 1 team just lost, but he's not budging. The sports media personality, known for his analytical approach, released his updated top 25 on Tuesday, and it's causing quite a stir.
Pate has always stressed that his ratings are not traditional rankings. Instead, he grades teams based on how they would perform on a neutral field in future matchups. That philosophy is why Ohio State remains at the top spot despite a stunning 24-23 loss to Texas, where the Buckeyes blew a 20-point lead in the final quarter. Texas, meanwhile, stays at No. 3, behind Georgia.
The top six remain unchanged, with LSU, Miami, and Indiana holding steady at Nos. 4, 5, and 6. The first notable shift comes at No. 7, where Ole Miss jumps two spots, leapfrogging Notre Dame and Oregon. The Ducks dropped from eighth to 12th after a 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State.
USC continues to climb, rising three spots to No. 9 after a dominant 49-30 win over Louisiana. Alabama stays put at No. 10, and Oklahoma remains at No. 13 despite a loss to Michigan. The Wolverines, who jumped to No. 19 in the AP poll, are conspicuously absent from Pate's top 25 entirely.
Pate did add Florida to his ratings at No. 23, replacing Nebraska. His full Week 3 ratings are as follows: 1. Ohio State, 2. Georgia, 3. Texas, 4. LSU, 5. Miami, 6. Indiana, 7. Ole Miss, 8. Notre Dame, 9. USC, 10. Alabama, 11. Penn State, 12. Oregon, 13. Oklahoma, 14. Clemson, 15. Tennessee, 16. Missouri, 17. Utah, 18. Kansas State, 19. Louisville, 20. Arizona, 21. NC State, 22. Iowa, 23. Florida, 24. SMU, 25. Boise State.
Pate's decision to keep Ohio State on top will likely raise eyebrows, but he's sticking to his system. The Buckeyes outgained Texas on the road, and Arch Manning's late heroics were the difference. Pate believes Ohio State would win a rematch on a neutral field, and he also has more faith in Georgia, LSU, and Ole Miss than the AP voters do.
One key matchup to watch is Ole Miss's return to Oxford, where Lane Kiffin will face his former team. Pate's ratings suggest he favors the Rebels, but a narrow home win might not be enough to change his mind about LSU. It's a test of his system, and fans will be watching closely.
For more on how Pate's ratings compare to other metrics, check out why ratings surges matter to fans and how record viewership is shaking up sports media.
