Joel Klatt saw what the nation saw on Saturday night in Norman, and it made quite the impression on the FOX college football analyst.
Klatt was so impressed by Tennessee’s road takedown of Oklahoma that he said on his show on Monday that the Volunteers are “elite” and an absolute contender in 2024. Tennessee moved up 1 spot to No. 5 in Sunday’s new AP Poll following the 25-15 victory over the Sooners, giving head coach Josh Heupel a victorious return to Oklahoma, where he once starred at quarterback.
“Tennessee makes a huge statement. The only reason that’s a game is that Oklahoma has an elite defense,” said Klatt. “Folks, Tennessee is impressive. They lead 22-3 going into the fourth quarter. They’ve got a stifling defense, one of the best in the country, I think. I love their schematics, I love their gameplan.”
Klatt was willing to put the national title contender label on Tennessee after Saturday’s performance.
“Tennessee is an elite team,” continued Klatt. “I think it’s time to call Tennessee what they are, in reality. Tennessee is a national championship contender. Saturday was as impressive as you can get.”
That Volunteers defense that Klatt was raving about has only allowed a combined 28 points in the first 4 games of the 2024 season.
After a bye week, Tennessee will look to go 5-0 when it visits Arkansas on Oct. 5.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
