Joel Klatt makes College Football Playoff case for Oklahoma

FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has been critical of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee for the better part of two weeks now, including their placement of Oklahoma. He continued his rant against the 13-person group Wednesday with a case for Oklahoma to move from No. 8 to No. 2 in the CFP rankings.

 “As we saw last week – and we have seen proven out during the course of the year, and years of evidence – it’s hard to win every game,” Klatt explained. “It’s just hard. Oklahoma is doing that, ok folks. So they’re struggling in games just like Alabama or Ohio State or any number of these teams. And yet they’re winning them. They’ve got the nation’s longest win streak. Folks, should be given more love than what the playoff committee is giving them. And they’re backloaded in their schedule by the way, I’ve got them this week as they take on Baylor.”

Despite his desire to move Oklahoma up the board, Joel Klatt does recognize the unenviable task the top teams have put on the committee with their inconsistent play. There is very little separating No. 2 and No. 8, making Klatt’s Oklahoma take closer to reality than it appears on paper.

“From two on, it’s just like a crapshoot. And that’s where I will admit – hey, listen playoff committee – you have a very tough job,” said Klatt. “So I’m not suggesting that it’s not tough, and I don’t think there’s a great answer at No. 2. You happen to be going with Alabama, I happen to be going with Oklahoma.”

Gary Barta on Oklahoma

CFP Selection Committee chairman Gary Barta met with the national media shortly after ESPN’s live rankings reveal. After leaving 9-0 Oklahoma on the doorstep again, he faced another line of questions surrounding the Sooners CFP chances.

“The quarterback change to Caleb Williams has changed that team,” Barta told reporters, via Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger. “(We are) looking to see if that continues.”

Oklahoma has one of the most interesting resumes in college football. Its undefeated record carries plenty of asterisks, but is an undefeated record, nonetheless. A quarterback swap from preseason Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler to freshman star Caleb Williams shocked the college football world but could provide the Sooners with their best chance at a national championship.

Unconvincing results leave their place within the pecking order up for debate, but they cannot be ruled out until someone capitalizing on the opportunity. Five of the Sooners’ nine victories have come by a touchdown or less. They also had a scare in Lawrence against a Kansas team that is currently winless in Big 12 play.