Joel Klatt Lists Texas and Ohio State Among Post-Spring Top 5 Teams, Signaling High Expectations for 2025 College Football Season
The college football offseason is a time for reflection, development, and prediction, and few do the latter better than Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt. As one of the more trusted voices in the sport, Klatt recently released his post-spring Top 5 teams on The Joel Klatt Show, and two programs with rich traditions and high ceilings found themselves firmly entrenched in his elite group: the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes. With spring practices in the books and the long road to the 2025 season underway, Klatt’s inclusion of these two teams isn’t just about history or brand recognition—it’s about talent, trajectory, and the potential to win it all.
For Texas, Klatt’s ranking is a nod to the momentum that head coach Steve Sarkisian has cultivated in Austin. After a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance in the 2024 season and the program’s first-ever berth in the new 12-team playoff format, expectations for the Longhorns have never been higher in the Sarkisian era. This spring gave fans and analysts alike a deeper look at a program teeming with elite talent and depth at key positions. Texas enters its first year in the Southeastern Conference with confidence, boosted by the return of starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, who bypassed the NFL Draft to finish what he started.
Klatt lauded Ewers’ maturity, arm talent, and leadership, emphasizing that his experience and performance will be vital in navigating the SEC gauntlet. In an offense that’s replacing big names like Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, the emergence of new weapons was a key storyline this spring. Wide receivers Johntay Cook II and Isaiah Bond, along with Georgia transfer tight end Oscar Delp, drew praise from coaches for their explosiveness and route-running. On the ground, the Longhorns are deep, with CJ Baxter poised for a breakout sophomore campaign behind a veteran offensive line that may be the best in the country.
Defensively, Texas made a statement in the spring. Klatt emphasized the importance of returning leaders like linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, both of whom are on track to be first-round NFL Draft picks in 2026. The secondary, anchored by Jahdae Barron and transfer reinforcements, showed cohesion and ball-hawking instincts throughout the spring game. Under defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, Texas has taken noticeable steps forward in physicality, speed, and discipline—qualities they’ll need with Alabama, Georgia, and LSU now on the schedule.
Ohio State, meanwhile, enters 2025 with the kind of roster that screams national championship or bust. Klatt’s high ranking of the Buckeyes wasn’t surprising, especially given the blockbuster transfer portal haul that included Kansas State quarterback Will Howard and Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins. But it’s not just the newcomers that make Ohio State dangerous—it’s the return of NFL-caliber talent at nearly every level of the team.
The Buckeyes finished the 2024 season with a bitter taste in their mouths after another loss to Michigan and a narrow playoff miss. However, spring practices indicated a program locked in and motivated to reclaim its place atop the Big Ten—and to do it before USC, Oregon, Washington, and UCLA fully acclimate to their new conference surroundings. Under Ryan Day’s guidance, Ohio State looks as complete as it has in years.
Howard, who beat out Devin Brown in a closely watched quarterback battle, brings poise, decision-making, and underrated mobility to the Buckeyes’ offense. While he may not have the same ceiling as former OSU quarterbacks like C.J. Stroud or Justin Fields, his fit within the scheme and ability to run a balanced attack were clear this spring. He’ll have one of the best supporting casts in America, starting with wideout Emeka Egbuka, who passed on the 2025 NFL Draft to chase a title. The offensive line, bolstered by key returners and freshmen stepping up, showed cohesiveness throughout the spring period.
Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the Buckeyes’ spring was their defense. Under the direction of coordinator Jim Knowles, the unit looked faster, more aggressive, and more polished than at any point last season. J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer return to lead a ferocious defensive front, while linebacker C.J. Hicks, a former five-star recruit, has finally emerged as the kind of sideline-to-sideline playmaker Ohio State fans envisioned. In the secondary, Denzel Burke and Lathan Ransom give the Buckeyes stability and experience, critical for a team with playoff aspirations.
Klatt spoke at length about Ohio State’s ability to dominate games on both sides of the ball and praised their depth, particularly on defense. He cited their performance in the spring game as a prime example of a team that doesn’t just look good on paper but plays with discipline, execution, and a chip on its shoulder. With Michigan facing significant turnover and a new head coach, Klatt believes Ohio State is poised to reclaim Big Ten supremacy—though USC and Penn State will have something to say about it.
While both programs come from different conferences, cultures, and coaching philosophies, they share key similarities that explain their place in Klatt’s post-spring top five. Both have veteran quarterbacks, game-breaking athletes, and strong offensive and defensive lines. Both have coaches who’ve been to the brink of greatness and are determined to get over the hump. Most importantly, both have fan bases and administrations that expect nothing less than a College Football Playoff berth and a realistic shot at the national championship.
Klatt’s rankings carry weight because they’re not reactionary. He doesn’t fall into the trap of overhyping spring game performances or inflating programs based on recruiting alone. Instead, he evaluates roster construction, scheme continuity, and real development over the spring calendar. In Texas and Ohio State, Klatt sees two teams that not only aced spring practice but also addressed their vulnerabilities from the previous year. For Texas, it’s about taking that next step and proving it can win consistently in the SEC. For Ohio State, it’s about redemption, rivalry revenge, and finally finishing the job.
With the college football season still months away, Klatt’s post-spring rankings serve as a roadmap for what to watch this summer and fall. Texas will need to survive a grueling SEC slate that includes road trips to Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Georgia. Ohio State, while bolstered by favorable early matchups, will have to prove itself in November when the stakes are highest. Their paths to the playoff will be different, but their destination is the same: Atlanta, site of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship.
If either team is going to live up to the billing, the margins will be razor-thin. For Texas, it will depend on whether Ewers can elevate a new crop of receivers and stay healthy. For Ohio State, it hinges on whether Howard can lead in the spotlight and if the defense can live up to its lofty potential. But if spring was any indication, both teams are right where they need to be. Klatt’s top five is not a prediction—it’s a reflection of the work already done and a warning to the rest of college football.
So as the long summer grind begins, the spotlight is squarely on Austin and Columbus. The pressure is immense, but the opportunity is greater. In Klatt’s eyes, Texas and Ohio State are not just in the conversation—they are at the center of it. And come fall, the college football world will be watching to see if these two powerhouses can make good on their spring promise.
