“If they don’t hate you, you’re irrelevant”: Josh Pate opens up about Texas hate heading into 2025 season

“If They Don’t Hate You, You’re Irrelevant”: Josh Pate Opens Up About Texas Hate Heading Into 2025 Season

In the world of college football, the importance of national perception cannot be overstated. The programs that consistently receive attention, whether for their success, their failures, or simply their larger-than-life presence, are often the ones that become the most powerful forces in the sport. For Texas Longhorns football, this is a truth that rings especially clear heading into the 2025 season. The program’s history, its ups and downs, and the rise of new rivalries have contributed to Texas becoming a target of both love and hate in equal measure.

Among the voices in the world of college football, Josh Pate, the highly respected sports analyst and host of Late Kick with Josh Pate, is one of the most outspoken when it comes to discussing the dynamics of program perception. Recently, Pate opened up about Texas’s position in college football and the strong reactions the Longhorns generate. In a candid conversation, Pate offered insight into why the Texas hate is so prevalent in the sport and how this hate can actually be an indicator of the program’s relevance in the modern college football landscape. For Pate, it’s simple: If they don’t hate you, you’re irrelevant.

This perspective on Texas—and the program’s broader influence—is one that encapsulates both the allure and the animosity surrounding the school as it heads into a pivotal season in 2025. For Texas, the combination of historic success, high-profile recruits, an expansive fanbase, and the looming SEC transition makes it one of the most scrutinized teams in the nation. In this article, we’ll dive into Josh Pate’s comments on Texas football, exploring what makes the program so polarizing, why “hate” is a sign of relevance in college football, and what the 2025 season holds for the Longhorns as they navigate these dynamics.

Josh Pate’s Perspective: “If They Don’t Hate You, You’re Irrelevant”

Josh Pate’s quote, “If they don’t hate you, you’re irrelevant,” strikes at the core of college football’s intense tribalism and the rivalries that make the sport so uniquely passionate. This statement speaks to the concept of programs that stir strong emotions, whether positive or negative. Texas is a team that, whether by design or by circumstance, evokes strong reactions from fans across the country. For many, Texas is the team they love to hate.

As Pate explained in his commentary, programs like Texas—those that have a history of dominance, a massive fanbase, and a high profile—are often the ones who garner the most hate. That’s because success, particularly when it comes with a sense of entitlement, invites criticism. Teams like Texas, who consistently recruit top talent, make bold statements on social media, and receive frequent media coverage, are seen as high stakes targets for fans and analysts alike. This “hate” is largely the result of the perceived arrogance and perceived self-importance that can come with being a blue-blood program, and Texas is one of the most prominent offenders in this respect.

Pate suggests that this kind of hate, while unpleasant to some, is also a sign that a program is relevant—it means people are paying attention, whether they’re rooting for you or against you. In this way, Texas’s position in the college football universe is more of a compliment than an insult. If people don’t care enough to hate you, that’s a sign that your program isn’t making a real impact. For Texas, as one of the biggest names in college football, the hate is almost a badge of honor—proof that they matter.

The Hate Surrounding Texas: The Long History

The roots of the Texas hate run deep in college football. While many of the Longhorns’ rivals, especially within the Big 12 (and soon-to-be SEC), have been shaped by decades of competition and regional pride, there are other forces at work that have fueled resentment from the broader football community. Here are several reasons why Texas has been and continues to be one of the most polarizing programs in the country:

Success and Expectations

Texas is a program with one of the most storied histories in college football. The Longhorns are known for their tradition, which includes multiple national championships, Heisman Trophy winners, and countless NFL prospects. This historic success creates high expectations, and when the program falls short, it often leads to frustration. The combination of immense success in the past and inconsistent performances in recent years has made Texas an easy target for critics who view the Longhorns as a team that underachieves relative to its resources and talent.

As a result, many fans and analysts alike grow frustrated when Texas doesn’t live up to its potential. This frustration often turns to resentment, as fans of rival teams believe Texas is a program that simply expects to be great without fully earning it in the modern era. It’s a perception that continues to drive much of the “hate” surrounding the program.

The “Country Club” Culture

Another aspect that fuels Texas hate is the perception that the program has a “country club” culture—one where entitlement runs high. Texas is often viewed as a program that has access to top-tier resources, facilities, and financial backing, but has been unable to turn that advantage into consistent championships. In contrast to programs like Alabama, Ohio State, or Clemson, who are often associated with blue-collar toughness and a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality, Texas sometimes gets labeled as soft or complacent, relying too heavily on its resources rather than its on-field grit.

This perceived sense of entitlement has led to criticism from fans of other programs who feel that Texas’ success is more about the program’s status than its actual work ethic on the field. The reputation of self-importance and a “sky’s the limit” mentality adds fuel to the fire when fans see Texas struggle or fail to meet expectations.

The Rivalry with Oklahoma

Perhaps no rivalry stirs up more hatred than Texas’ annual clash with Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. This heated, cross-state rivalry has been defined by decades of emotional matchups, and it remains one of the most anticipated games of the season every year. As both programs have had periods of dominance, the animosity between the two teams is intense.

Oklahoma fans, in particular, have always carried a deep-seated rivalry with Texas, and the hate between the two fanbases has only grown over time. The Big 12 Championship matchups, the recruiting battles, and the constant bickering between Texas and Oklahoma have solidified the rivalry as one of the most contentious in college football. Texas hate among Oklahoma fans, and vice versa, is not just limited to a single game—it permeates the entire season and fuels the narrative of “who is the true king of the Southwest.”

The SEC Transition

As Texas prepares to transition to the SEC in 2025, the hate for the Longhorns has only increased. The SEC is widely considered the most dominant and competitive conference in college football, and the prospect of Texas joining its ranks is a cause for concern for many rival programs. SEC fans view Texas as an outsider, trying to infiltrate their territory, and the resentment towards Texas’s “arrival” in the league has created a wave of hate from both fans and analysts.

The SEC’s powerhouse programs, including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and others, have been the epitome of college football excellence in recent years, and adding Texas to the mix raises the stakes. Many rival fans already dislike Texas for its perceived arrogance, and adding the Longhorns to an already crowded, competitive conference is only going to intensify that animosity.

The Impact of Texas’s Haters on the 2025 Season

Heading into the 2025 season, the presence of haters will only amplify Texas’s desire to prove itself. This is the year Texas must show that it belongs among the elite, especially as it enters the SEC. Whether it’s fans of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, or SEC stalwarts like Alabama, the Longhorns will face intense scrutiny from rivals eager to see them falter.

For head coach Steve Sarkisian and his team, the pressure to perform will be immense. Texas’s ability to navigate through the SEC and come out as a competitive force will be pivotal not only for the program’s future success but also for shedding some of the negative perception it has built over the years. Many of these so-called “haters” will be waiting for Texas to fall short, hoping that the Longhorns will finally face the music in one of the most unforgiving football conferences in the country.

The flip side of this, however, is that the Texas hate offers the Longhorns something of a rallying cry. For players like Quinn Ewers, Xavier Worthy, and Bijan Robinson, proving their critics wrong and showing that Texas belongs in the SEC is more than just an opportunity—it’s personal. The underdog mentality that comes with being despised is something that could fuel Texas’s fire as they prepare to make their mark.

Conclusion

Josh Pate’s comment, “If they don’t hate you, you’re irrelevant,” rings particularly true when discussing Texas Longhorns football. The program’s massive profile, its rich history, and its tumultuous relationship with rivals have positioned Texas as one of the most polarizing programs in all of college football. For Texas, the hate is a sign of relevance—a signal that they are still one of the most talked-about, analyzed, and scrutinized teams in the sport.

As the 2025 season approaches, Texas will be under immense pressure to prove that it can live up to the hype and compete at the highest levels in the SEC. The program’s ability to navigate the growing animosity toward them and use that hate as motivation will likely play a major role in how successful they are this season.

Whether you love Texas or you hate them, one thing is clear: The Longhorns are here to stay, and their presence on the national stage is undeniable. For all the animosity, Texas football is still a force to be reckoned with—and in the world of college football, that’s all that truly matters.