Love him or hate him, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt is one of the most respected analysts in all of college football.
In an anticipated reveal, Klatt announced his preseason top-25 rankings for the upcoming college football season, placing Ohio State in the coveted No. 1 spot, edging out the perennial powerhouse, Georgia.
Klatt provided detailed reasoning for his rankings during his show, clarifying why the SEC giants settled for the No. 2 position behind the Buckeyes.
“I understand Bulldogs fans might see this as a slight, but I assure you, these two teams are in a league of their own. They are my top favorites,” Klatt stated.
“I foresee these teams clashing in the National Championship Game, and that’s a matchup I would love to witness.”
Highlighting Georgia’s strength and overall depth, Klatt described the Bulldogs as “legit” and praised Carson Beck, deeming him a “Heisman-caliber quarterback.”
He also emphasized that Georgia’s defense, brimming with former five-star recruits, will maintain its elite status, placing pressure on the offense to fill the void left by departed-stars Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey.
“They’ve achieved an incredible record, winning 46 of their last 48 games,” Klatt remarked. “At this moment, Kirby Smart is the best coach in college football. With Nick Saban (retired), Smart has taken the mantle.”
Klatt acknowledged Georgia’s challenging schedule, expressing concerns about the Bulldogs’ away games against dangerous opponents such as Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss. (Not to mention that “neutral-site” clash against Clemson.)
These tough matchups could hinder Georgia’s chances of winning the SEC and securing a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
“But make no mistake, this is definitely a playoff team,” Klatt affirmed. “Even if they lose three games, they could still make the playoffs. However, I don’t see them losing three games.”
Ultimately, Klatt awarded the top ranking to Ohio State, citing the Buckeyes’ loaded roster, which he said mirrors that of the 2023 Michigan Wolverines.
“Considering the experienced talent on the roster, it’s evident to me that the No. 1 team in the preseason is Ohio State,” Klatt concluded.
Most analysts agree that the top-four teams entering the season are Ohio State, Georgia, Texas and Oregon. Taking it a step further, most agree that there’s a gap between the Buckeyes and Bulldogs and everyone else.
As far as who’s the top team, it seems like opinion is split pretty evenly. Having said that, some people are accusing Klatt of an anti-SEC bias due to his deep ties to the Big Ten.
There are some analysts who are biased – but Klatt doesn’t seem like one of them. Despite his FOX ties to the Big Ten, he always calls it like he sees it … But don’t tell that to ticked off SEC (and Georgia) fans!
Who do YOU think is the best team in the country???