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James Morgan

Joel Klatt ranks college football’s preseason top 25

Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his top 25 college football teams ahead of the 2023 season. Klatt thinks there are a lot of teams with the talent to make the College Football Playoff.

He, like most other college football experts, views Georgia as the No. 1 team in the country. In fact, Klatt thinks that Georgia is the only team you can justifiably rank at No. 1.

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Interestingly, Klatt puts more Pac-12 schools (six) in his top 25 than any other conference. The SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 all have five teams in Klatt’s top 25.

What teams are in Joel Klatt’s preseason top 25?

25
UCLA

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 9-4

Week 1: Coastal Carolina (home)

24
Texas Tech

Austin American-Statesman

2022 record: 8-5

Week 1: at Wyoming

23
Wisconsin

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 7-6

Week 1: vs. Buffalo (home)

Badgers Wire

22
Iowa

The Des Moines Register

2022 record: 8-5

Week 1: vs. Utah State (home)

Hawkeyes Wire

21
North Carolina

(Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

2022 record: 9-5

Week 1: vs. South Carolina (neutral)

Tar Heels Wire

20
Ole Miss

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 8-5

Week 1: vs. Mercer (home)

19
TCU

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 13-2

Week 1: vs. Colorado (home)

18
Notre Dame

Notre Dame Insider

2022 record: 9-4

Week 0: Navy (neutral)

Fighting Irish Wire

17
Kansas State

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 10-4

Week 1: vs. SE Missouri State (home)

16
Oklahoma

The Oklahoman

2022 record:

Week 1: vs. Arkansas State (home)

Sooners Wire

15
Oregon State

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 10-3

Week 1: at San Jose State

14
Texas

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 8-5

Week 1: vs. Rice (home)

Longhorns Wire

13
Oregon

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 10-3

Week 1: Portland State (home)

Ducks Wire

12
Tennessee

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

2022 record: 11-2

Week 1: vs. Virginia (neutral)

Vols Wire

11
Utah

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

2022 record: 10-4

Week 1: vs. Florida (home)

10
Florida State

Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Klatt does not like Florida State’s chances at Clemson and against LSU. He does not trust fully Florida State’s program after several rough seasons, but acknowledges that the Seminoles return a lot of talent.

2022 record: 10-3

Week 1: (neutral) vs. LSU

9
Clemson

Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Klatt thinks Clemson could be another team to make the CFP. He believes in Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik. The Tigers have a good defense. Klatt has Clemson over Florida State in the ACC.

2022 record: 11-3

Week 1: at Duke

Get more Clemson news on Clemson Wire

8
USC

(Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)

Caleb Williams is Joel Klatt’s Heisman favorite. He thinks Williams is a generational talent, but still has questions about USC’s defense.

2022 record: 11-3

Week 0: San Jose State (home)

Get more USC news on Trojans Wire

7
LSU

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Klatt considered ranking LSU as high as No. 5. The Tigers return a lot on the offensive line. He likes what the Tigers did in 2022, but thinks LSU could do even better in 2023. Klatt is picking LSU over Florida State in Week 1.

2022 record: 10-4

Week 1: (neutral) Florida State

Get more LSU analysis on LSU Tigers Wire

6
Washington

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Klatt thinks the Huskies have one of the best offenses in the country. Washington quarterback Michael Penix is capable of winning the Heisman.

2022 record: 11-2

Week 1: (home) Boise State

5
Penn State

York Daily Record

The Nittany Lions need to beat Ohio State or Michigan to have a big year. Penn State has a strong defense at all three levels and a solid offensive line.

2022 record: 11-2

Week 1: West Virginia (home)

Get more Penn State opinions on Nittany Lions Wire

4
Alabama

(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Klatt is not giving up on Alabama’s program. The Crimson Tide return a slew of talented players in 2023, but he questions Alabama’s quarterback situation and the Crimson Tide’s receiving core.

2022 record: 11-2

Week 1: Middle Tennessee (home)

Get more Alabama news on Roll Tide Wire

3
Ohio State

Doral Chenoweth-The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State lost to the two top teams in Klatt’s preseason rankings. The Buckeyes should be strong again in 2023, but will face tough games against Michigan and Penn State.

2022 record: 11-2

Week 1: at Indiana

Get more Ohio State news on Buckeyes Wire

2
Michigan

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Can Michigan make a third consecutive CFP appearance? Klatt likes the Wolverines’ offensive line and defense.

2022 record: 13-1

Week 1: East Carolina (home)

Wolverines Wire

1
Georgia

Joshua L Jones/Online Athens

Joel Klatt considers Georgia to be his top team and thinks everyone else should have Georgia as their top team. Klatt loves Georgia’s returning roster and thinks it gives the Dawgs a realistic chance at winning a third consecutive national championship.

Georgia has some uncertainty at the quarterback position, but has a manageable schedule (Klatt acknowledges Georgia would have a tough schedule if the Dawgs faced Oklahoma) and should be able to return to the SEC championship game and make the CFP.

2022 record: 15-0

Week 1: Tennessee-Martin (home)

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