It's hard to argue with 'most' of Joel Klatt's playoff projections, including No. 1 Texas

Over the years former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Joel Klatt has emerged as perhaps the Inside Texas community’s favorite college football national pundit. His current ranking of Texas certainly won’t hurt that standing.

Klatt not only loves the sport but understands it at a very high level. Since Steve Sarkisian was hired, he’s been a buyer in UT stock. He bought low, but right now that stock is at a 15-year high.

I encourage you to watch the video if you have time, but if you don’t, you can read below. I offered a thought or two along the way.

1. TEXAS

Klatt believes the SEC Champion will earn the No. 1 seed, ergo, Klatt believes Texas will win the SEC. Of the teams in competition to win the conference, Texas does have the most favorable schedule.

“Because I believe that the SEC champ is almost assuredly going to get the No. 1 seed with the strength in that conference at the top,” Klatt said. “I think Texas wins the SEC and gets the No. 1 overall seed in the playoff.”

2. OHIO STATE

An easy argument could be made that Ohio State has a cleaner path to winning the Big Ten than Texas does the SEC. The Buckeyes do have to travel to Oregon and Penn State, however.

“Ohio State is still right up there at No. 2 in the country. I would still have them winning the national championship,” Klatt said.

My preseason pick was reluctantly Ohio State over Texas.

3. CLEMSON

If you only saw the Tigers’ opener you probably wrote them off. They certainly have flaws but they’re better than they showed against Georgia. Clemson benefits from playing in the downtrodden ACC. Its schedule is easy to very easy for any serious title contender.

“Again, the slow boil continues, folks. At this point, they’re 212 degrees. They’re a boiling pot of water that can power a locomotive,” Klatt said.

4. KANSAS STATE

Klatt’s human and therefore has no idea what to make of the Big 12. The scenarios to win the conference in the final few weeks will rival the number of ways you can get your Whataburger.

“That’s a little bit more murky,” Klatt said.

5. ALABAMA

The No. 5 seed is a coveted place. It might look like a fall from grace given the Tide are currently No. 1 after defeating Georgia at home but they have a tough schedule remaining.

“With Alabama’s win over Georgia, even if they were to lose the SEC Championship Game, Alabama would be No. 5,” Klatt said.

6. OREGON

College football is full of twists and turns but the Big Ten looks more like the interstate than mountain driving.

“Oregon, losing the Big Ten championship game, would be the No. 6 seed,” Klatt said.

7. GEORGIA

Klatt lays out a key dynamic in Georgia’s season, though I’d mention the Bulldogs have Ole Miss right before Tennessee. The Bulldog defense better be locked in.

“I think that Georgia beats Tennessee and gets that seven spot, even if they were to lose to Texas on the road,” Klatt said. “I see Georgia going 10-2. They lose to Texas on the road, but beat Tennessee, and a 10-2 Georgia team is easily No. 7.”

8. TENNESSEE

Klatt doesn’t seem to respect undefeated Tennessee’s road win over OU all that much.

“So now Tennessee is the eight seed — so you see how these start to fall into place and these dominoes start to fall into place,” Klatt said.

9. PENN STATE

Penn State’s schedule isn’t all that difficult. Games of interest are Big Ten stalwarts UCLA and USC in successive weeks and Ohio State at home.

“Penn State easily could be an 11-1 team, but let’s say they’re 10-2: This is a perfect spot to slot Penn State,” Klatt said.

This is one I’d fade, no offense Joel.

10. SOUTHERN CAL

The loss to Michigan hurt USC’s margin for error but Klatt still believes the Trojans have staying power.

“Even if they lose to Penn State, they can run the table, they can essentially have a play-in game against Notre Dame,” Klatt said.

I like the math here. USC, in my opinion, is better than they showed in Ann Arbor.

11. LSU

LSU’s next four games are versus Ole Miss, at Arkansas, at A&M, and versus Alabama. If the Bayou Bengals go 10-2 after a tough loss to USC in the opener, they’ll definitely be deserving of the playoffs.

“For me, LSU is a 10-2 team, 7-1 in the SEC. 7-1 in the SEC, to me, gets you in,” Klatt said.

I’m fading this one, too. There are still too many questions on defense.

12. BOISE STATE

Boise State seems to be the consensus pick from the Group of 5.

“I think that the Mountain West winner should go to the playoff which mean’s Boise State gets the No. 12 seed,” Klatt said.