Josh Pate's College Football Show Does CFB Need NFL Help? + Signing Day Reaction
Feb 6, 2026
They debate whether the NFL should step in to help college football with eligibility, calendar and governance problems. Recruiting takeaways from National Signing Day and how USC, Oregon and Notre Dame reshaped their classes are discussed. Early top-25 reactions and ACC schedule breakdowns highlight Miami’s favorable path and FSU’s tough slate. Career advice for breaking into sports media also appears.
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Nostalgia For Classic Signing Day
- Josh Pate reminisced that National Signing Day used to be a euphoric, season-like event akin to the NFL draft.
- He described the nail-biting rituals and message-board hustle that made signing day feel magical in past decades.
Top Talent Is Widely Distributed
- Five-star talent is more widely distributed this cycle, with 17 schools landing at least one five-star recruit.
- That spread makes retention the decisive factor for which teams actually benefit long-term from recruiting classes.
Different Paths To Recruiting Success
- USC and Oregon led the 2026 recruiting cycle with different strategies: USC signed many bodies while Oregon prioritized average grade.
- Recruiting success doesn't guarantee outcomes, but it's a strong indicator when sustained.
