From Eviction to ESPN: Josh Pate’s College Football Media Empire

Josh Pate, the voice behind a leading college football podcast, has achieved a remarkable turnaround, transforming from a period of financial hardship that included eviction to the helm of a burgeoning media enterprise. His journey is marked by a recent deal with ESPN to co-host a television program this fall, alongside Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, known for their “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast. Pate now strategically navigates sponsorship opportunities, deliberately declining offers to avoid overexposure and maintain the integrity of his brand.

A Humble Beginning and a Strategic Pivot

Less than a decade ago, Pate’s professional life was starkly different. Working in Columbus, Georgia, he earned just over $27,000 annually, relying heavily on YouTube and Google AdSense revenue to make ends meet. This precarious financial situation culminated in his eviction. “I was counting on YouTube revenue, Google AdSense revenue at that point. So I’m barely, I’m barely getting by. In fact, I got evicted. I didn’t get by. So we fell below the get-by line for a little while,” Pate recounted.

The trajectory began to shift in 2020. While his initial move to CBS that year, signing for $75,000, felt like hitting the jackpot compared to his previous struggles—his goal had been to reach $50,000 a year—it was the foundation for something much larger. It was during this period, amidst the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, that Pate began cultivating the show that would ultimately grant him ownership of his content.

Building an Audience During Uncertain Times

Pate joined 247Sports in 2020, embarking on a new venture with a clean slate. Pre-COVID, he initiated a YouTube channel that would soon host his burgeoning show. “We started a YouTube channel before the show I was going to do, and so we started doing the show. Boom, COVID sets in, and I’m working for CBS. I’m working out of the 247Sports office down in Brentwood, Tennessee,” he explained.

A key strategic decision during this time was Pate’s commitment to focusing solely on college football. He observed other sports media outlets venturing into broader topics, areas he felt they lacked the expertise or audience connection to explore effectively. “The key was I was smart enough, I guess strategic logic enough, whatever you want to call it, to just talk college football,” Pate stated. This laser focus proved prescient.

As other shows potentially alienated their fan bases by diversifying too broadly, Pate’s dedicated college football content attracted a growing audience. “What we found is because we did that simultaneous to so many other shows alienating their audiences, people flocked to the show and our numbers scaled really hard and really quick,” he noted. By the time the college football season commenced, his show had already established itself as a success, operating profitably and largely untouched by network executives who returned to offices to find a proven product.

The Crucial Decision: IP Ownership

By 2022, CBS presented Pate with a significant contract offer, a testament to his show’s success. However, the terms, while lucrative, did not include ownership of the intellectual property. Pate recognized the long-term implications of such a deal. “They wanted to put a long-term, really, really lucrative deal in front of me. But it would not have included IP ownership, asset ownership,” he recalled.

Consulting with trusted industry veterans, Pate was advised that the future of media lay in owning one’s assets. “The future of this business is IP ownership, asset ownership. If you’re ever going to get it, you’ve got to get it now because you get one more step down the road and that franchise is going to be way too profitable for them to ever hand over the keys to,” he was told.

This insight led Pate to a critical juncture. He faced a choice: accept the lucrative but restrictive deal or counter with a less financially rewarding offer that secured IP ownership. After considerable back-and-forth negotiations, a breakthrough occurred late one Friday night. “There was one night, it was about 10:30 Friday night, for whatever reason, I was in the office all by myself, and I got a call from CBS and they said, all right, we’re going to do it,” Pate said.

From $27K to Owning the Empire

The agreement allowed Pate to retain ownership of the show’s intellectual property, including the YouTube channel and podcast feeds. This pivotal negotiation meant he owned the company and produced the show himself. Reflecting on the astronomical salary offered by CBS, especially after earning a mere $27,000 annually just a few years prior in Columbus, Georgia, underscores the magnitude of his achievement. His journey from eviction to becoming a respected figure in college football media, now collaborating with ESPN, exemplifies a successful gamble on content ownership and strategic brand building.

Pate’s current position allows him to turn down substantial sponsorship deals, a conscious choice to manage his public presence and prevent oversaturation. “The truth of it is I leave a lot on the table because I don’t want to overextend myself,” he stated. “A lot of these, you know, influencer marketing deals and stuff like that, I appreciate the offers. But I think there’s a limit to how much of me the public should have to consume.” This disciplined approach ensures the sustained value and appeal of his media brand.