Josh Pate forecasts a high-stakes showdown between the Oregon Ducks and Texas Longhorns, pitting Dan Lanning against Steve Sarkisian in a battle to silence doubters and crown champions.
The Oregon Ducks received an odd ranking from USA TODAY, putting head coach Dan Lanning's team at No. 8.
With quarterback Dante Moore returning, Oregon is receiving a lot of predictions to win or make it to the College Football Playoff national championship game.
During his show on Sunday, Josh Pate had a couple of big predictions for the Ducks. He thinks the team should be ranked No. 3 in the country. He believes its their year to win the title.
“And I also think that Oregon kind of as a program, they sort of built to (win) this year," Pate said. "That doesn't mean that they were incapable of winning before, but it's like you put yourself in range of playoff and title contention every year. But some years you'll be closer than other years.
"Like Ohio State in 2024, that was their year. They're still going to be close enough every other year. Texas, this is their year. Well, Oregon, this is one of those years. Speaking of Texas, got them at number two. This is the year.”
Pate does think it'll be Texas' year to prove doubters wrong. He believes the Longhorns will play the Ducks for the national championship in January, a title game that will be between two teams that have been doubted (for good reason) in recent seasons.
"Because for everyone who tells me (Texas head coach) Steve Sarkisian cannot win a national championship game, I've got someone over here on the other side of the fence that tells me, oh yeah, well, what about Dan (Lanning)?" Pate said.
"He can't win one either. And it is a fact that if they play each other, unless there's like a white flag parlay situation early fourth quarter, someone's got to win a national title.”
That national championship scenario would be intriguing for another reason: Quarterback.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Moore are expected to be competing for the Heisman Trophy and to be the first quarterback taken in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Manning and Moore have much to prove after some shaky starts in 2025. Manning, obviously has the name to be taken before Moore. Moore would need to greatly outplay Manning this season (or in the CFP) to became the first quarterback taken in the draft.
That matchup would probably generate the most pre-draft buzz for the national title game.