The college football season is still months away, but the debate over who deserves the top spot is already heating up. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt has dropped his personal preseason Top 25, and it's already sparking plenty of conversation among fans and analysts alike.
Klatt, who will be calling games alongside Gus Johnson in Fox's No. 1 booth, didn't shy away from making bold statements. He slotted Oregon at No. 1, followed by Notre Dame, Ohio State, Miami, and Indiana to round out the top five. But the most intriguing pick might be Georgia at No. 6.
Georgia's Ranking Raises Eyebrows
Klatt had high praise for the Bulldogs, calling them the "class" of the SEC. "Georgia's still the class of the SEC," he said. "The roster is great. Kirby Smart is a great coach. You can't kill Georgia, either, because quarterback Gunner Stockton is a gamer who is tough as nails and absolutely tough as nails. He's an elite fourth quarter quarterback."
However, Klatt expressed concerns about Georgia's ability to keep up with the top-tier teams. "But here's the problem: Georgia hasn't played at the same level as the teams in the top five. Can Georgia score at the level that some of the top teams in the nation can? I'm not sure."
That uncertainty led him to place the Bulldogs behind five other programs, a decision that has fans divided.
Full Top 25 Rankings
Here's Klatt's complete list:
- 1. Oregon
- 2. Notre Dame
- 3. Ohio State
- 4. Miami
- 5. Indiana
- 6. Georgia
- 7. Texas
- 8. LSU
- 9. Oklahoma
- 10. Michigan
- 11. Texas Tech
- 12. USC
- 13. Texas A&M
- 14. BYU
- 15. Alabama
- 16. Ole Miss
- 17. Penn State
- 18. SMU
- 19. Louisville
- 20. Washington
- 21. Houston
- 22. Iowa
- 23. Tennessee
- 24. Arizona
- 25. Oklahoma State
Klatt's rankings diverge from the upcoming AP poll, which is set to be released on August 17. His choices reflect a mix of proven programs and rising contenders, with several teams like LSU and Oklahoma State getting notable placements despite shaky recent seasons.
Fan Reactions Pour In
Unsurprisingly, the rankings drew immediate responses from college football fans on social media. One fan wrote, "Outstanding Top 25 poll from Joel Klatt! My thoughts are Michigan and Oklahoma State both ranked too high and Georgia and (especially) Ole Miss too low. I get the love for Ok State, but the Cowboys are stepping up in class and couldn’t even stop anybody in the American!"
Another fan questioned the inclusion of certain teams, saying, "I don’t like vaulting teams without them proving they deserve it on the field first. LSU went 7-6 last year. I know they had a big offseason, but they shouldn’t start top 10. Oklahoma State went 1-11. They brought in UNT’s guys, sure, but don’t deserve to start ranked."
Not everyone was critical, though. One fan praised the list, saying, "Honestly this is a solid list. IU should be #1 until proven otherwise though."
Klatt's rankings come at a time when high school prospects are already making waves, and college programs are looking to bolster their rosters with experienced talent. With the season still ahead, expect more debates as the AP poll approaches.
