Can USC, Utah Make The CFP? Joel Klatt Names 10 Teams Outside Top 10 To Make CFP

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After weeks of “College Football Playoff or bust” for groups like USC, who are the sleeper College Football Playoff groups that nobody’s discussing?In year 3 of the 12-team CFP format, the possibilities of making a playoff quote continue to grow. While powerhouses like Texas and Ohio State look like a playoff lock after Week 3, there’s a lot of time for programs like UCLA or Florida to make its very first CFP.Here are FOX Sports ‘Joel Klatt’s leading 10 groups outside the leading 10 to reach the CFP, as exposed on “The Joel Klatt Show” .

FIFA No. 12 USC Trojans

Klatt’s ideas: ” Of the 10 groups, I’m going to be genuine sincere. I’m having a more difficult time with USC, particularly since of how their defense has actually played. I’m formally worried about the defense. They quit 30 indicate Louisiana, 35 to Rutgers … it’s the middle of that protective line, their taking on was bad.

It’s all the exact same issues that we’ve regreted for a variety of years with Lincoln Riley’s groups at USC, and even returning to Oklahoma. It appears like they’re simply going to need to sit there and outscore groups, once again. Now, can they do that? Most likely. Can they do that versus leading 10 challengers? Most likely not.

“They lost their star freshman Trent Mosley … and they’re banged up at secondary. The offense looks truly excellent. I do not believe that you can take a look at this group and believe to yourself’ yeah, they’re absolutely going to do it,’however they

‘re beyond the leading 10 today. They’ve got the skill if they can support some things on the protective side. They have a beast video game today versus Oregon.

They’ve got Washington. They’ve got to go to Penn State. Host Ohio State. They’ve got to go to Indiana … I believe that they require to be a 10-2 group.”

FIFA No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers

Klatt’s ideas:”Tennessee is functioning. They have not played anyone, and you understand how I feel about groups that have not played anyone, however they’ve done what they ought to versus the groups they’ve played. They beat Georgia Tech by 3 goals, and they’ve been running the football. This isn’t simply Tennessee tossing deep and being a pass-first group.https://i0.wp.com/media.pmnsports.co.uk/2026/09/localimages/Utah.vresize.200.200.medium.3.png” alt=”Utah Utes” height=”60″ width=”60″> “They

‘ve secured their real freshman quarterback, Faizon Brandon, and done it well. They’re primary in the Power Four in hurrying the football at almost 300 lawns per video game. I believe that’s precisely what you need to be finishing with a guy like Faizon Brandon– you’re not putting all of it on his shoulders early. It’s hard to win as an unskilled gamer at quarterback, however when you have a run video game, you can place yourself into the operation, and it can do a lot.

Klatt’s ideas: ” I’ve had Utah in my leading 10 each of the last 2 weeks. There’s a great deal of individuals stating Utah’s challengers are weak. Is Georgia’s. No one’s playing quality challengers today beyond the Texas– Ole Miss video game. It’s not a reason, and I ‘d rather see much better video games, however what should you do if you’re a terrific group playing a schedule like that? You must be dominant, which’s precisely what Utah has actually done.

They’ve been the most excellent group in the Big 12 so far , by far.” If you do not like their challengers, go take a look at the information on how they manage video games and their total effectiveness.” Utah’s leading 10 in the nation in scoring offense and scoring defense. We’ve got a skilled quarterback in Devon Dampier, who’s undoubtedly talented. The Big 12 is large open. I no longer seem like Texas Tech is head and shoulders above everyone after seeing them versus Houston. I believe they’re skilled, however I do not believe they’re above a Utah or a BYU. Utah just has 2 ranked challengers left: home versus Houston, then the Holy War versus BYU. The winner of that video game is most likely in the Big 12 national championship.

“

FIFA No. 18 Michigan Wolverines

Klatt’s ideas: “Michigan is 18th in the nation today, and I understand all of us sort of tossed them off the cliff after the Western Michigan video game. They won that video game, and Western Michigan isn’t a bad challenger– they beat Oklahoma. They messed around in the very first half recently and had a fantastic 2nd half, and what I’m beginning to see from Michigan is a group that improves and discovers its own identity every quarter.

“What I liked about recently’s video game: they got Andrew Marsh going. He’s now a sophomore, and I believed he was impressive as a real freshman.

For Bryce Underwood, having those targets he trusts, the JJ Buchanans and Andrew Marshes of the world, is a huge offer. Marsh went 10 catches for 105 backyards and a goal.

“Now they’ve got a genuine one-two punch to toss to, so you can constantly include the quarterback into the run video game, which they didn’t require to do recently. Their defense is impressive, among the very best in the nation– they permitted just 2 goals recently, and both were circumstantial: a short-yardage play-fake and a fumble that provided UTEP the ball at a loss zone. The opportunities a group simply drives the length of the field on Michigan are quite low. If they can play that field-position design of video game and Bryce Underwood continues to enhance like he has, Michigan might be among those groups that makes a run.”

FIFA No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes

Klatt’s ideas: “Let’s not forget Iowa beat everyone’s beloved in 2015 in Vanderbilt in the championship game. This is a great program. They’re constant. They understand their approach. They do not require remarkable quarterback play. They understand they can win with defense and the run video game, which’s precisely what they’re doing. It was Northern Iowa, however they scored 55 points recently, and 55 points is 55 points.”Their defense is primary in the nation so

far, enabling just one goal through 3 video games. They’re running the rock at 268 backyards per video game, which is primary in the nation, at 7.5 lawns per bring.

“Iowa plays Michigan on Saturday. The winner of that video game gets thrust into the discussion of a non-top-10 group that might make a go to the playoff. They likewise play Ohio State right after that, plus a journey to Washington. If they go 2-1 in those 3 video games, even splitting Michigan and Ohio State in some way, they’re right there. Their last 6 are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois and Nebraska– they might win all of those. Look out for Iowa.”

FIFA No. 21 Florida Gators

Klatt’s ideas: “I understand everyone were seeing LSU and Ole Miss, and appropriately so– that was an excellent video game. Florida is off to an extremely excellent start, and the offense looks outstanding. Buster Faulkner, the OC, has Aaron Philo at quarterback and 2 truly great receivers in Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson. The factor I like this group today is Jadan Baugh. Who wishes to bet Jadan Baugh? He’s one of the very best backs in the nation, and he’s impressive.

Klatt’s ideas: “Oregon is this year’s Clemson, everybody’s tossing that out there. I’m not prepared to go that far.

Klatt’s ideas: “Jeff Brohm is among the very best coaches out there in America. We yap about guys who do the most with the most– we do not talk sufficient about

guys who get the most out of less. Brohm is among those guys. He did it at Purdue, and he’s beginning to do it at Louisville.

” They made it through the Ole Miss– SMU stretch, the difficult part of their schedule, and divided those video games– particularly beating SMU, so now they’re on a clash with Miami in the ACC national championship. Lincoln Kienholz is playing truly well, and I like the run video game– they got it breaking SMU. Isaac Brown, together with Keyjuan Brown, integrated for 230 lawns on 20 brings and 3 goals. That was exceptional.https://i0.wp.com/media.pmnsports.co.uk/2026/09/localimages/MississippiState.vresize.200.200.medium.1.png” alt=”Mississippi State Bulldogs” height=”60″ width=”60″> “They do not need to play Miami once again, and there’s no ranked challenger left on their schedule– Wake Forest, NC State, Florida State, Syracuse, Stanford, Georgia Tech, UNC, Pitt and Kentucky to end up. Kentucky in fact appears like their hardest staying video game. If I needed to select one group from this list that’s nearly absolutely making a run, it’s Louisville. ”

FIFA No. 24 Mississippi State Bulldogs

Klatt’s ideas: 640″ height=”427″ loading=”lazy”> “If we weren’t discussing Trinidad Chambliss, we ‘d be speaking about Kamario Taylor. Have you viewed him play? He’s impressive. I do not wish to see him if I’m a challenger.”I believe their schedule is difficult, and I do not have a high degree of self-confidence they run the table and enter into the playoff, however it’s possible when you’ve got a quarterback like that. They decreased 16-0 at South Carolina and roared back, they’re now 3-0. Mississippi State had actually lost 9 of their last 10 SEC roadway video games before that.

[https://bfsstacom/uploads/application/college/team-logos/UCLAvresize200200medium0png” alt=”UCLA Bruins” height=”60″width=”60″> 19659011]Kamario Taylor tossed for 251 lawns and 4 goals versus South Carolina in Week 3. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

“Their quarterback provides not simply an opportunity, however belief, which is a huge part of what these groups require to make a playoff push. Taylor’s the genuine offer– 12 overall goals currently in simply 3 video games. The schedule is really difficult, however– they deal with 3 top-10 groups in their next 5 video games. With Taylor, who understands?”

Klatt’s ideas:[https://bfsstacom/uploads/application/leagues/logos/NCAAFootballvresize200200medium2png” alt=”College Football” height=”42″ width=”42″> “Watch out for UCLA. We discussed this in the preseason– this was a group all of us had our eye on, due to the fact that their coach is genuine, their quarterback is genuine, and a few of the gamers who included them from James Madison are genuine gamers.

“Bob Chesney is a heck of a football coach, and they’re off to a three-zero start. They beat Cal, San Diego State and Purdue, all by a minimum of 2 ownerships. It wasn’t constantly quite, however you’re attempting to turn a whole program into a winning one, and this is the Chesney-at-JMU mold.

“Nico Iamaleava has actually been excellent– he tossed for 275 backyards and ran for 50 recently, and they ran for 369 lawns as a group versus Purdue. UCLA is second in the Power Four in hurrying this season at 287 lawns per video game. That’s genuine.

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p use-external-image=”false” data-v-4d988373>”UCLA goes to Eugene in three weeks, and I believe in Oregon, but what’s the state of Oregon’s roster with these injuries? Could UCLA go up there and knock them off? Even if they don’t, with the way they’ve played and the way they run the football, there’s a good chance they could be looking at their last two games — at Michigan and home against USC — as a 9-1 team. Win one of those, and you’re 10-2 and likely going to the playoff.”