Joel Klatt releases preseason Top 25, explains where the debates begin

Joel Klatt is out with his preseason Top 25 rankings, and said the No. 1 team is easy, Georgia, and if other pundits or analysts don’t, “you’re probably not good at this.”

“This is a team that, yes, is losing some pieces, just like everybody is in college football,” he said, and further explained that Georgia could be ripe to be beaten since it’s losing a quarterback and an offensive coordinator. “At no point in the last 2 years … did I think they were a quarterback or offensive-centric team. Kirby Smart has built something that is bigger than a quarterback.”

Klatt chose Michigan at No. 2, and admitted that it’s where the debates start among fans and media.

“Michigan has a lot going for it, Jim Harbaugh is returning what I think is going to be his best team,” Harbaugh said. “He’s got a quarterback back, he’s got the best running back tandem in the country. They’ve got an offensive line that is as good or better than any offensive line in the country … and they got a couple of really good transfers.”

The defense is solid, and may be better, he said.

Ohio State checks in at No. 3 for Klatt, and noted the big game in late November, “can’t get here soon enough.”

“This Ohio State team is excellent,” he said. “I see a team that is a little better than a year ago, except for quarterback, that’s the only unproven position. Everywhere else, I could make an argument that they are better.”

The question for Ohio State is if it can handle the physicality of Michigan and Georgia, Klatt said.

As for Alabama, Klatt said he’s not going to fall into the trap of the Crimson Tide falling off this season.

“Alabama has recruited at too high of a level,” he said, and noted that Alabama hasn’t finished outside the top 2 in recruiting in the last 5 years. “… What I get concerned about with Alabama, is not their roster, is not their defense taking a step back, it’s the fact that their quarterback is a concern, judging by the fact that after spring ball they had to bring in a transfer in Tyler Buchner. That tells me they weren’t ecstatic about what (Jalen) Milroe was able to do on the field against Texas A&M last year and in spring ball. … That tells me that they’re unsettled at the position.”

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. Alabama
5. Penn State
6. Washington
7. LSU
8. Southern Cal
9. Clemson
10. Florida State
11. Utah
12. Tennessee
13. Oregon
14. Texas
15. Oregon State
16. Oklahoma
17. Kansas State
18. Notre Dame
19. TCU
20. Ole Miss
21. North Carolina
22. Iowa
23. Wisconsin
24. Texas Tech
25. UCLA

Keith Farner

Keith Farner has written about college football for newspapers and web sites since 2005.