Joel Klatt releases final College Football Playoff Top 4, first 2 out prediction

Just ahead of the actual College Football Playoff reveal, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt tweeted out his CFP field of four plus his full top 10 rankings following championship weekend.

Klatt gives undefeated ACC champ Florida State the snub here and goes with Michigan and Washington along with Texas and Alabama to round out his own CFP field. You can see those rankings plus who he left just on the outside right here:

Joel Klatt’s College Football Playoff Rankings

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Alabama

That would set up semifinal matchups of Michigan vs. Alabama and Texas vs. Washington ahead of the national title game. As for those who just missed the cut and the rest of Klatt’s top 10, take a look below:

5. Georgia
6. Ohio State
7. Florida State
8. Oregon
9. Penn State
10. Ole Miss

Klatt says Michigan is better equipped to win it all this year

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt loves Michigan’s chances in the postseason this year compared to the last two seasons.

Michigan won the Big Ten the last two years but fell in the College Football Playoff semifinals to Georgia and TCU, respectively. But this time, Michigan could be the No. 2, if not the No. 1 overall team in the CFP with a win and some help.

One thing is for sure, the Wolverines are better prepared in 2023.

“I think that they’re better suited this year than either of the two previous years they went to the playoff,” Klatt said on his podcast. “They obviously still have to beat Iowa, but they’ll be favored to do so in the conference championship game, but this is a better team, I think, more well rounded, than either of the previous two. Even though they don’t quite have the pass rush that the ‘21 team did and maybe, you know, last year’s team.”

Klatt reeled off what Michigan has this season compared to the last couple.

“This one has elements of everything that can throw the ball … they can run the football when they need to and want to,” Klatt said. “Saw that against Penn State. You saw that at times against Ohio State. The defense can put pressure on the quarterback. We saw that each of the last two weeks when Maryland and Ohio State started to get some rhythm in the passing game.

“They’ve got guys that can make plays on the outside. They’re terrific and special teams. Their coaching staff is legit and they make aggressive decisions and they put their team in the best chance to win the game.”