Joel Klatt releases preseason top 25 rankings ahead of 2024 college football season
The 2024 college football season is right around the corner, which means preseason polls are starting to be released. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt recently revealed his top 25 teams in the country on the Joel Klatt Show.
Klatt has Ohio State at No. 1 in his preseason poll, followed by Georgia at No. 2. While there are several college football analysts who have those two teams as the two best in the country, the rest of Klatt’s poll has plenty of surprises.
Here’s a look at the full preseason college football top 25 from Joel Klatt:
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State is as motivated as ever to win the Big Ten and get back to the College Football Playoff after three straight losses to Michigan. Head coach Ryan Day made staff changes after last season, including bringing in Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator.
Not only that, but the Buckeyes also made some noise in the transfer portal in order to shore up their roster. You can make the argument that Ohio State has the most talented team in college football and it’s clear Joel Klatt feels that way.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
Kirby Smart has built a juggernaut in Athens as his Georgia football program has won two of the past three national titles. The Bulldogs just missed out on the College Football Playoff last season but are expected to compete for a national title once again in 2024.
Georgia lost a lot of talent off of last year’s team, but the Bulldogs return Carson Beck at quarterback, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Georgia is 43-2 (24-0) over the past three seasons and is once again loaded on both sides of the ball.
3. Texas Longhorns
Joel Klatt expects Texas to perform just fine in its first season in the SEC. He has the Longhorns as the No. 3 team in the country ahead of the 2024 college football season.
The Longhorns have been getting better and better each year under Steve Sarkisian. Texas seems to be a true national title contender for this season, especially if quarterback Quinn Ewers can take his game to another level.
4. Oregon Ducks
Speaking of teams moving into a new conference, Oregon enters its first year in the Big Ten with high expectations. The Ducks lost several talented players off of last year’s roster, including star quarterback Bo Nix.
However, they replenished their roster with excellent high school and transfer portal recruiting classes. If quarterback Dillon Gabriel can perform at a high level, the Ducks could contend for the Big Ten title and a national championship in Year 1 in the Big Ten.
5. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin has done an impressive job at Ole Miss and had his best year yet in 2023 as the Rebels topped Penn State in the Peach Bowl. The Rebels could be ready to compete for a national title this season after going 11-2 a year ago.
Ole Miss returns star quarterback Jaxson Dart, who will have plenty of talent around him. Klatt expects Kiffin’s team to end up in the College Football Playoff for the first time.
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Marcus Freeman has done an excellent job at Notre Dame since taking over for Brian Kelly. The 38-year-old won nine games in Year 1 in South Bend and reached the 10-win mark last season.
If Freeman and the Irish can continue that positive momentum into 2024, they should be in the College Football Playoff. A lot will depend on the play of Duke transfer Riley Leonard, who is taking over at quarterback for Sam Hartman.
7. Michigan Wolverines
Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is gone, as is plenty of talent from last year’s national title team. Still, even with no JJ McCarthy or Blake Corum, Klatt expects the Wolverines to be really, really good this fall.
Michigan is still loaded on the defensive side of the ball. If the Wolverines can get consistent quarterback play, they could once again be a College Football Playoff contender.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
Another College Football Playoff team that was forced to replace its head coach after last season was Alabama. Nick Saban retired following the 2023 season and was replaced by Kalen DeBoer.
The former Washington head coach has won everywhere he has been during his career. There is still plenty of talent left in Tuscaloosa, and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see Alabama back in the CFP in DeBoer’s first season.
9. Utah Utes
The first Big 12 team to appear on Klatt’s preseason college football top 25 is Utah. The Utes were consistently contenders in the Pac-12 and are expected to carry that over into the Big 12.
It was a bit of a disappointing season for Kyle Whittingham‘s club in 2023 as Utah had inconsistent quarterback play and finished the year 8-5. However, with QB Cam Rising now back healthy, they are the favorites in the Big 12 heading into the 2024 season.
10. Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State has consistently been really good under James Franklin. However, the Nittany Lions have struggled against the top two teams in the Big Ten in Michigan and Ohio State.
The hope in Happy Valley is that Penn State will finally be able to get over the hump this year, compete with the top teams in the Big Ten and reach the College Football Playoff. If quarterback Drew Allar can improve on his play from a season ago the Nittany Lions should have a chance to do just that.
Joel Klatt ranks college football teams from 11-25
11. Missouri Tigers
12. Miami Hurricanes
13. Florida State Seminoles
14. USC Trojans
15. Oklahoma Sooners
16. Kansas State Wildcats
17. Oklahoma State Cowboys
18. Tennessee Volunteers
19. LSU Tigers
20. Kansas Jayhawks
21. Arizona Wildcats
22. Clemson Tigers
23. Nebraska Cornhuskers
24. Iowa Hawkeyes
25. Texas A&M Aggies