The Pate State / Playoffs
The Playoffs
The playoff picture, four ways: the bracket as it stands, Josh's bracket, the machine's — and a predictor to run your own season.
If the Season Ended Today
Two Brackets. One January.
The full 12-team field, seeded from the JP Poll — both sides of the bracket funneling to the champion in the middle. First the AI Predictor's path, then Josh's. Both are locked and graded publicly.
The AI Predictor's Bracket
First Round
Notre Dame
LSU
Indiana
TexasQuarterfinals
GeorgiaLSU
Boise StateTexasSemifinal
GeorgiaTexasNational Championship
Texas
Ohio StateSemifinal
Ohio State
OregonQuarterfinals
Ohio State
Penn State
ClemsonOregonFirst Round
AlabamaPenn State
MiamiOregonJosh's Bracket
First Round
Notre DameLSUIndianaTexasQuarterfinals
GeorgiaLSUBoise StateIndianaSemifinal
GeorgiaIndianaNational Championship
GeorgiaOhio StateSemifinal
Ohio StateOregonQuarterfinals
Ohio StatePenn StateClemsonOregonFirst Round
AlabamaPenn StateMiamiOregonThe Committee of the Citizens
Current Playoff Rankings
Preseason preview — live data arrives with the season| SEED | TEAM | NOTE |
|---|---|---|
| 01 |  Georgia | SEC champ · bye |
| 02 |  Ohio State | Big Ten champ · bye |
| 03 |  Clemson | ACC champ · bye |
| 04 |  Boise State | G5 champ · bye |
| 05 |  Texas | Hosts first round |
| 06 |  Oregon | Hosts first round |
| SEED | TEAM | NOTE |
|---|---|---|
| 07 |  Penn State | Hosts first round |
| 08 |  LSU | Hosts first round |
| 09 |  Notre Dame | At No. 8 |
| 10 |  Alabama | At No. 7 |
| 11 |  Miami | At No. 6 |
| 12 |  Indiana | At No. 5 |
FIRST FOUR OUT: Michigan · Utah · Tennessee · Texas Tech — SEEDED FROM THE JP POLL + CONFERENCE STANDINGS · UPDATES SUNDAY NIGHTS
Free for Every Citizen · Two Windows, One Champion
Build Yours. Beat Everybody.
Call the field before anyone kicks off, then prove it again when the real bracket drops. Scored all season, standings live on the porch, receipts forever.
Window 1 — August
The Preseason Bracket
Pick your 12, seed your byes, crown a champion — locked at Week 1 kickoff. +10 for every team that makes the field, +25 for an exact seed, +100 if your champ wins it all.
Window 2 — December
The Real Bracket
Selection Sunday, the field is set — fill out the actual bracket, round by round. Points double as you go: 10 · 20 · 40 · 80. Your August foresight plus your December nerve, one combined score.
The Payout
Real Prizes
Monthly leaders: merch + a shoutout on the show. Top 10 combined: signed Pate Report. The champion watches the National Championship with Josh — and goes on the Wall of Champions, forever.
Start Now — 30 Seconds
Josh's Playoff Picks
Where Josh Has It
Josh's bracket, on the record since August: Georgia over Ohio State in the final — with Indiana winning at Texas in the first round and crashing all the way to the Cotton Bowl semifinal.
Hear the Full ArgumentThe AI Predictor's Board
Where the AI Predictor Has It
The AI Predictor has Texas upsetting Georgia in the Cotton Bowl semifinal and beating Ohio State for the title. Josh vs. the AI Predictor gets settled in January — both brackets are locked and graded publicly.
Run Your Own Projection ↓Your Turn
Run the AI Playoff Predictor
Set the Scene
Predictor arrives with the season.
The Field, Ranked by Odds
Playoff Predictor
Preseason preview — live data arrives with the seasonEvery team still alive for the 12-team field, seeded from the JP Poll, with the machine's current chance to make it.
Georgia97%
Ohio State95%
Clemson91%
Boise State88%
Texas82%
Oregon79%
Penn State74%
LSU68%
Notre Dame61%
Alabama54%
Miami47%
Indiana41%
Michigan34%
Utah27%
Tennessee21%
Texas Tech16%Read the Room
More on the Bracket
Preseason preview — live data arrives with the season
Who's In? See the Playoff Picture.
THE BRACKET, THE RANKINGS, JOSH'S PICKS — AND AN AI TO RUN YOUR OWN