The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his Top 10 players in College Football going into the 2025 Season. Klatt reveals where Ohio State stars Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs land on the list and considers whether Texas’ Arch Manning deserves a spot in the Top 10 despite limited time on the field during his first 2 seasons in Austin. He reveals which Alabama teammates cracked the list as well as which team landed 3 players inside his Top 10.

0:00-1:18 Intro
1:19-2:00 Klatt’s top 10 players for 2025 season
2:01-3:57 Peter Woods
3:58-4:55 Kadyn Proctor
4:56-6:40 TJ Parker
6:41-8:29 Anthony Hill
8:30-11:06 Jeremiyah Love
11:07-14:13 Ryan Williams
14:14-18:13 Arch Manning
18:14-19:56 Cade Klubnik
19:57-21:49 Caleb Downs
21:50-27:13 Jeremiah Smith

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FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt lists 5 teams he is buying for this upcoming season and 5 teams that he is selling for 2025. Klatt evaluates programs like Michigan, Clemson and Tennessee and gives his analysis on whether things are about to go up for the programs or now is the time to sell their stock before things go downward. He considers what to do with Utah, Washington and Wisconsin following down seasons a year ago as well as one of the biggest question marks heading into the season: North Carolina in Bill Belichick’s first season in charge.

0:00-1:40 Intro
1:41-2:42 Who Klatt is buying and selling for 2025
2:43-4:42 Clemson Tigers
4:43-7:08 Tennessee Volunteers
7:09-11:02 Michigan Wolverines
11:03-14:18 Wisconsin Badgers
14:19-19:11 Utah Utes
19:12-21:44 Syracuse Orange
21:45-25:40 Washington Huskies
25:41-27:45 BYU Cougars
27:46-31:12 UNC Tar Heels
31:13-33:25 Cal Bears

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FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt dives into the mailbag to answer your questions! Klatt reminisces on some of the favorite performances he's ever called from the booth including fan favorites like Aidan Hutchinson, Travis Hunter, Baker Mayfield and more. Klatt also answers why playing at home is such an advantage and explains the purpose of college GMs in the athletic department. Lastly, Klatt addresses a fan's disappointment in Lincoln Riley's last few seasons at USC and shares why he's optimistic in Riley's ability to turn things around.

0:00-1:46 Intro
1:47-15:30 Best performances in a game Klatt has called
15:31-24:21 Why is homefield advantage so important?
24:22-30:06 Where do GM’s fit in college athletic departments?
30:07-33:47 Could Lincoln Riley find himself on the hot seat if this season doesn’t go well?
33:48-38:00 What have you learned about yourself since becoming a father?

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After last season’s expanded Playoff saw 6 teams make their first College Football Playoff appearance, FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ranks the 10 teams most likely to make their first CFP appearance in this upcoming season – including a surprise team at #1. He evaluates which teams have the pieces to get through difficult schedules in the SEC like Florida and South Carolina. He also makes the case why this could be the year for Lincoln Riley and USC to make a breakthrough after a couple up-and-down seasons. Klatt also includes a Nebraska team returning their QB and looking to make a jump in Year 3 under Matt Rhule.

0:00-1:40 Intro
1:41-2:52 Which teams are most likely to make their first CFP appearance in 2025?
2:53-6:33 Nebraska Cornhuskers
6:34-9:16 Florida Gators
9:17-11:49 Kansas State Wildcats
11:50-15:20 USC Trojans
15:21-18:27 Missouri Tigers
18:28-21:26 Iowa Hawkeyes
21:27-23:55 Miami Hurricanes
23:56-26:39 South Carolina Gamecocks
26:40-29:59 Ole Miss Rebels
30:00-34:11 Illinois Fighting Ilini

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FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt sits down with the Commissioner of the Big Ten, Tony Petitti, to discuss what he would like the College Football Playoff to look like in the future and where things stand as the Power Conferences try to reach an agreement on a new format. Petitti states what he believes the new format should try to accomplish for the sport and lays out why the Big Ten is in favor of a 16-team format with 4 Automatic Qualifiers for both the Big Ten and the SEC. He also gives his opinion of the “5+11” model put forward by the SEC and whether it is a format that the Big Ten would consider.

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FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reveals 10 games that he believes will shape the 2025 season. From a potential #1 vs #2 matchup between Ohio State and Texas in Columbus to kick off the season to games that could propel unexpected teams to the Playoff, Klatt looks at where the most impactful results will come from in the upcoming season. He explains why LSU’s trip to Clemson and Michigan’s game at Oklahoma could set the trajectories for those programs and impact the Playoff discussions later in the year. Klatt explains where Penn State can show the country they are ready to take the next step towards a National Championship. The second season in the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama will be defined by winning or losing certain games on their schedule, Klatt explains which particular results will have a significant ripple effect through the rest of the SEC. And of course, “The Game” between Ohio State and Michigan will have huge ramifications as the Wolverines look to beat the Buckeyes for a 5th straight season.

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FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt sits down with Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman to discuss the Fighting Irish’s run to the National Championship Game and how the program builds on that success. They talk about Notre Dame’s independence in the sport and whether that is something that will always make sense in the future with the changing landscape in college football. The two also get into the nature of scheduling in the sport and why Freeman wants the USC rivalry to continue on a yearly basis. Coach opens up about what he’s learned in his first 3 full seasons as the leader of one of the most prestigious programs in the country and much more in the first episode of Big Noon Conversations in 2025.

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FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt looks at 10 Head Coaches and breaks down how much pressure each is under heading into the upcoming season. He also points out which games in the schedule the temperature could really ratchet up on them. He discusses coaches with big expectations like Penn State’s James Franklin and LSU’s Brian Kelly as well as HC’s like USC’s Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma’s Brent Venables who are trying to convince their fanbases that they are the right coaches for the jobs. What level of pressure is Kalen DeBoer under to perform in Year 2 at Alabama? How has Nico Iamaleava’s departure affected the need for a big season for Josh Heupel at Tennessee? How comfortable are Billy Napier and Mike Norvell in the battle with Miami for supremacy in the state of Florida? It’s been an eventful start at North Carolina for Bill Belichick – has he brought pressure on himself to perform in Year 1? Klatt also discusses the situation Luke Fickell finds himself in at Wisconsin as he tries to bring the Badgers back to the top half of the Big Ten while staring at one of the toughest schedules in the country.

0:00-1:45 Intro
1:46-3:04 Klatt’s coaching pressure index
3:05-6:52 Kalen DeBoer
6:53-10:16 James Franklin
10:17-13:49 Lincoln Riley
13:50-17:35 Brent Venables
17:36-21:04 Brian Kelly
21:05-25:07 Josh Heupel
25:08-27:43 Bill Belichick
27:44-30:06 Mike Norvell
30:07-31:56 Billy Napier
31:57-37:17 Luke Fickell

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FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reacts to the growing interest in a 5+11 College Football Playoff model. Klatt reacts to Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark voicing his support for the model and analyzes if this model is even good for the Big 12 or the sport overall. Klatt presents an alternative playoff option that gives the Big 12 and ACC a chance to battle each other for a 3rd CFP spot. Lastly, Klatt lists what he thinks should be the objectives of the College Football Playoff and debates whether the proposed 5+11 model meets his criteria.

0:00-1:49 Intro
1:50-5:29 What will the future college football playoff format look like?
5:30-7:37 Does the 5+11 CFP format make more sense for the sport?
7:38-12:04 What are the disadvantages of the 5+11 CFP format?
12:05-15:17 Surprised the Big 12 is In favor of the 5+11 CFP format?
15:18-18:09 Should Big 12 and ACC consider a model with “2.5” automatic qualifiers for those 2 conferences?
18:10-24:47 Klatt’s Objectives for the CFP
24:48-26:52 Should Big 12 and ACC consider a model with “2.5” automatic qualifiers for those 2 conferences?

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FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reacts to the news that the College Football Playoff is changing the seeding model for the upcoming season. He lays out the advantages and disadvantages of the change. He then discusses the growing momentum behind a 16-team Playoff model for 2026 and beyond. Klatt explains what options are on the table and how it would all look in the proposed structure before weighing in with his opinion on whether it’s the right way for the sport to move forward.

0:00-1:40 intro
1:41-5:17 CFP moving to straight seeding model for 2025 season
5:18-8:13 What the new seeding model means for the playoff in 2025
8:14-12:12 Will the CFP move to a 16-team format in 2026?
12:13-17:50 What are the options for a 16-team playoff format?
17:51-19:20 16-team CFP format example
19:21-21:16 Top 2 seeds receive byes into quarterfinals
21:17-33:04 Is a 16-team format the best model for the CFP?

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