Joel Klatt ranks top 10 teams in college football with new No. 1 after Week 5
Week 5 delivered in a major way and could potentially be the strongest weekend of the 2024 college football season when the year is all said and done. Featuring upset wins, incredible individual performances, and a game that many are tabbing as the best in recent college football history.
Big wins come with big reactions and new perspectives on the nation’s top team. With the AP Top 25 Poll seeing some changes along with the rankings of several of the biggest voices in the college football landscape.
FOX college football analyst Joel Klatt made some major changes to his Top 10 rankings following Week 5’s electric weekend of action. Check out his updated rankings below.
1. Alabama
Alabama jumps up from No. 5 to the top of Klatt’s rankings following the most impressive win of the college football season so far. Getting up 28 points on Georgia before giving up their lead and regaining it in dramatic fashion to seal a signature 41-34 win.
“Incredible win over Georgia, everything I love about college football happened that game,” Klatt said. “The environment was incredible, the individual performances were incredible, and we got two teams I think could win the national championship. And by the way, if they play the way they did when they weren’t playing well in that game, they could each get beat on any given Saturday.”
2. Texas
Texas loses their top spot in both Klatt and the AP Top 25 rankings thanks to Alabama’s impressive win. Taking care of business in a 35-13 win over Mississippi State to get their first SEC win as new members of the conference and remain undefeated this season.
The Longhorns still look like one of the top teams in the nation and a surefire national championship contender even without starting quarterback Quinn Ewers. Who’s missed the last two games with an injury and given Arch Manning the chance to show he can live up to his namesake.
3. Ohio State
The Buckeyes still remain firm in the No. 3 spot of the rankings after yet again posting a dominant performance against a lesser opponent. Defeating Michigan State in their Big Ten opener 38-7 in a game where freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith impressed again with five receptions (several with one hand), 83 yards, and a touchdown.
“Just Google Jeremiah Smith and watch him play,” Klatt said. “I think he’s probably the most talented player in college football. Absolute show, it’s a show and I’m here for it and I love it.”
4. Tennessee
The Volunteers had a bye week last weekend but are still one of the top five teams in the country following their strong showing on the road against Oklahoma. An undefeated SEC squad that Klatt believes can give the Bulldogs a run for their money in November after what he saw this weekend.
“This Tennessee team is very good. And if Georgia plays the way that they did in the first half against Alabama, then Tennessee could beat Georgia,” Klatt said.
5. Georgia
Unlike most, Klatt actually had Georgia ranked No. 5 in his rankings last week. Keeping the Bulldogs in the same spot after showing what they look like at their best and their worst on the road against Tuscaloosa.
Slow starts have become a theme for Georgia this season, highlighted by giving up 28 unanswered points to start Saturday’s game before storming back, taking, and giving up a late lead. Something they’ll definitely want to clean up heading into one of the hardest remaining schedules in the country.
6. Penn State
Penn State continues to climb up the rankings and benefits from teams like Ole Miss and Miami not having strong showings in Week 5. Defeating No. 19 Illinois 21-7 in a game that they controlled the entirety of after giving up an early touchdown.
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“Impressive performance against Illinois, handled Illinois,” Klatt said. “Illinois is a better team than you all think, certainly Penn State is gonna be a team to be reckoned with at the top of the Big Ten.”
7. Oregon
Following a slow start to the season, Oregon has looked better and better week after week. Continuing to rise in favor nationally and regain the respect of most rankings following a 34-13 win over UCLA this weekend.
After narrowly winning over Idaho and Boise State to start the season, the Ducks have been dominant in their last two games. Outscoring Oregon State and the Bruins a combined 83-27 heading into their second Big Ten game against Michigan State.
8. Miami
Miami takes a massive fall in Klatt’s rankings, dropping from No. 3 to No. 8 after narrowly beating Virginia Tech 38-34 in their ACC opener. A game where quarterback Cam Ward continued to look dominant and a controversial Hail Mary nearly handed the Hurricanes their first loss of the season.
“Miami drops way back for me … Because their defensive line did not play well against Virginia Tech. You could argue they shouldn’t have even won that game if it weren’t for the officials kind of botching that Hail Mary at the end of the game,” Klatt said.
9. Missouri
Missouri benefits from not playing in Week 5 following an undefeated start heading into their bye week. Facing their tallest task of the season in an SEC opener against No. 25 Texas A&M this weekend on the road at Kyle Field.
The Tigers won their last two games in dramatic fashion, beating Boston College by a touchdown followed by a three-point double-overtime win against Vanderbilt. Now presented with an opportunity to raise their rank this weekend in College Station.
10. Clemson
Clemson rounds out Klatt’s Top 10 and reemerges after suffering a lopsided loss to Georgia to start off that season. Looking like their old selves the last three times they’ve taken the field ahead of their matchup on the road against Florida State this weekend.
“We left them for dead after that Week 1 loss to Georgia,” Klatt said. “They’ve been like a little engine that could, a little slow boil. Yeah, they weren’t boiling early but now they might be boiling. They’ve actually had the number one scoring offense in the country since that Week 1 loss to Georgia, so watch out for Clemson.”