{
  "id": 1289967,
  "title": "College football expert Joel Klatt releases his top 25 rankings",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/college-football-expert-joel-klatt-releases-his-top-25-rankings",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-16T15:00:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/college-football-expert-joel-klatt-150038695.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Joel Klatt, a Fox Sports college football analyst, has released his preseason top 25 rankings. Georgia Bulldogs are the highest-ranked team in Klatt's list, currently at the sixth position. The Bulldogs outrank Texas (No. 7), LSU (No. 8), and Oklahoma (No. 9). However, Klatt did not place Georgia in the top five.\n\nKlatt believes Georgia is the \"class of the SEC\" and points to the strength of the roster and the coaching abilities of Kirby Smart. The quarterback Gunner Stockton is described as an \"elite fourth quarter quarterback\" who is \"tough as nails.\" Despite this, Klatt questions whether Georgia can consistently score at the level of the top teams in the nation.\n\nThe Oregon Ducks are ranked No. 1 in Klatt's rankings, despite not reaching a national championship in the College Football Playoff era. Klatt emphasizes the Ducks' roster as a reason for their high ranking. Over the past two years, the Ducks have only lost three games, all to the eventual national champion. Klatt believes Oregon could eventually get over the hump.\n\nNotre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively. Notably, Notre Dame did not make it to the College Football Playoff, while Ohio State lost to Miami (No. 4) in the Cotton Bowl. Indiana Hoosiers fall to No. 5, with Klatt noting that the schedule might be too tough for them to stay at this rank.",
  "summary": "Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt released his preseason top 25, and he put the Georgia Bulldogs at No. 6, just outside of the top five.",
  "key_points": [
    "Georgia Bulldogs ranked sixth by Joel Klatt, ahead of Texas, LSU, and Oklahoma",
    "Oregon Ducks placed at No. 1 despite no national championship in College Football Playoff era",
    "Notre Dame and Ohio State ranked second and third, respectively, despite postseason failures"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}