Joel Klatt unveils post-spring top 25, dark horse CFP contender

It is very early in the buildup to the 2025 college football season, but FOX analyst Joel Klatt is ready to name his top teams entering the summer.

Coming out of the spring, Klatt released his full top 25 via his podcast on Monday. It includes a Big Ten team in the No. 1 spot, but it is not reigning national champion Ohio State or defending B1G champ Oregon.

Instead, it is Penn State, led by James Franklin and a host of returning players:

“They’re following the blueprint of the teams that have just won the national championship (Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024)… Both of those teams had a core group of veteran players stay,” said Klatt in describing the Nittany Lions.

In regards to the SEC, Klatt’s top spot is going to Steve Sarkisian and Texas at No. 2 overall on his list. He pointed to the incoming reign of Arch Manning as the starter for the Longhorns, a player who is likely his preseason Heisman contender.

“It’s officially the Arch Manning era,” proclaimed Klatt. “I was looking at these last 3 teams as the teams I have in this bunch… I believe he is going to be my Heisman frontrunner to begin the year. I believe he can have that type of a season.”

Klatt also identified he team he feels could be a darkhorse contender for the College Football Playoff in Illinois. Bret Bielema returns several starters to a team that won 10 games and has a manageable schedule this fall.

“Illinois, sneaky, sneaky good team… watch out for Illinois,” warned Klatt. “They’ve got the experience in the right places to be a very good football team, and they have a schedule that’s going to land them probably in the College Football Playoff… they could be the non-traditional power in the Big Ten that makes the Playoff, I really believe that.”

Overall, Klatt is not too far off when it comes to the odds to win the 2025 national championship. Ohio State currently leads the odds at DraftKings with the usual suspects of Georgia, Texas, Oregon and Penn State also in the mix near the top.

Here is the full post-spring top 25 from Klatt:

1. Penn State
2. Texas
3. Ohio State
4. Oregon
5. Clemson
6. Notre Dame
7. LSU
8. Georgia
9. Alabama
10. Illinois
11. South Carolina
12. Michigan
13. Florida
14. BYU
15. Arizona State
16. Kansas State
17. Iowa State
18. Miami
19. Texas A&M
20. Ole Miss
21. Indiana
22. Auburn
23. Iowa
24. Baylor
25. Oklahoma

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.