The college football season is coming. Before we know it, practice will be carried out, and the Saturday of autumn will soon be filled with action. Excitement is already being established, and fans across the country are counting down.

Late spring and early summer have always caused a new buzz in college football, and this year is no exception. Between the moves of the portal, the coaching changes and uninterrupted speculation, the headlines keep coming.

CBS Sports' Josh Pate added fuel to the offseason fire, his top 20 rugby rankings. While some teams and their locations sparked a healthy debate, one thing quickly became clear - many fans were shocked and, in some cases, completely angry.

Whether it’s surprising omissions, overrated competitors or confusing rankings, Pate’s roster has sparked enthusiastic reactions from every corner of the college football environment.

If I have to rank now pic.twitter.com/bemwcs5hsv

— Josh Patt (@joshpatecfb) May 12, 2025

A fan named Lamar quickly supported Georgia: "@JoshPatecfb doubts @kirbysmartuga is amazing. There is no turning back. I'm excited about this season."

This fan has a valid question: "Clemson #1..?"

A big USC fan had this to say: "Josh, with all due respect, I think it's worth considering that USC went to overtime with Penn State, beat LSU and Texas A&M, and put up more points and a better fight against Notre Dame than Penn State did in the playoffs. USC has most of their team coming back and added a few strong transfers portal players. I would appreciate your feedback on this."

SEC Mike agrees: “I think it’s a football ranking until I see Oklahoma in Georgia.”

"It's such a time for the Sun Devils! Georgia fans may come to your head," the fan said.

Ohio State fans said: "I'm sorry, Mr. Pate, but I'm afraid you'll eat Crows in Fall!"

Perhaps the most surprising decision was to get Clemson to No. 1. Despite finishing 10-4 last season and losing in Texas’s college football playoffs, Dabo Sweeney’s Tigers won Pate’s number one. Clemson remains an ACC favorite, with Miami and Georgia Tech also in the top 20.

Texas will feature quarterback Arches this season, but the road is not easy, starting with the non-conference season opener against Ohio State on August 30 and continuing through the bruised SEC Slate. Pate's roster includes nine SEC teams, which proves the depth of the meeting.

Defending national champion Ohio State fell to 8th place. Penn State and Oregon both rank ahead of the top 10 teams. The top 8 are Alabama, Louisiana State University and Notre Dame. Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia and Miami will put together locations from 9 to 12.

The 2025 college football season will begin on Saturday, August 23. One of the election showdowns on the day was a 12 big showdown between Iowa State and Kansas State.

Love or hate it, Pate's ranking stirs up the pot and triggers a lot of conversation. As the kickoff gets closer, fans will soon have the chance to see which teams live up to the hype and which teams are flat.

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