Breaking The Huddle With Joel Klatt

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reveals 10 games that he believes will shape the 2025 season. From a potential #1 vs #2 matchup between Ohio State and Texas in Columbus to kick off the season to games that could propel unexpected teams to the Playoff, Klatt looks at where the most impactful results will come from in the upcoming season. He explains why LSU’s trip to Clemson and Michigan’s game at Oklahoma could set the trajectories for those programs and impact the Playoff discussions later in the year. Klatt explains where Penn State can show the country they are ready to take the next step towards a National Championship. The second season in the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama will be defined by winning or losing certain games on their schedule, Klatt explains which particular results will have a significant ripple effect through the rest of the SEC. And of course, “The Game” between Ohio State and Michigan will have huge ramifications as the Wolverines look to beat the Buckeyes for a 5th

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt sits down with Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman to discuss the Fighting Irish’s run to the National Championship Game and how the program builds on that success. They talk about Notre Dame’s independence in the sport and whether that is something that will always make sense in the future with the changing landscape in college football. The two also get into the nature of scheduling in the sport and why Freeman wants the USC rivalry to continue on a yearly basis. Coach opens up about what he’s learned in his first 3 full seasons as the leader of one of the most prestigious programs in the country and much more in the first episode of Big Noon Conversations in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt looks at 10 Head Coaches and breaks down how much pressure each is under heading into the upcoming season. He also points out which games in the schedule the temperature could really ratchet up on them. He discusses coaches with big expectations like Penn State’s James Franklin and LSU’s Brian Kelly as well as HC’s like USC’s Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma’s Brent Venables who are trying to convince their fanbases that they are the right coaches for the jobs. What level of pressure is Kalen DeBoer under to perform in Year 2 at Alabama? How has Nico Iamaleava’s departure affected the need for a big season for Josh Heupel at Tennessee? How comfortable are Billy Napier and Mike Norvell in the battle with Miami for supremacy in the state of Florida? It’s been an eventful start at North Carolina for Bill Belichick – has he brought pressure on himself to perform in Year 1? Klatt also discusses the situation Luke Fickell finds himself in at Wisconsin as he tries to br

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reacts to the growing interest in a 5+11 College Football Playoff model. Klatt reacts to Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark voicing his support for the model and analyzes if this model is even good for the Big 12 or the sport overall. Klatt presents an alternative playoff option that gives the Big 12 and ACC a chance to battle each other for a 3rd CFP spot. Lastly, Klatt lists what he thinks should be the objectives of the College Football Playoff and debates whether the proposed 5+11 model meets his criteria. 0:00-1:49 Intro1:50-5:29 What will the future college football playoff format look like?5:30-7:37 Does the 5+11 CFP format make more sense for the sport?7:38-12:04 What are the disadvantages of the 5+11 CFP format?12:05-15:17 Surprised the Big 12 is In favor of the 5+11 CFP format?15:18-18:09 Should Big 12 and ACC consider a model with “2.5” automatic qualifiers for those 2 conferences?18:10-24:47 Klatt’s Objectives for the CFP24:48-26:52 Should Big

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reacts to the news that the College Football Playoff is changing the seeding model for the upcoming season. He lays out the advantages and disadvantages of the change. He then discusses the growing momentum behind a 16-team Playoff model for 2026 and beyond. Klatt explains what options are on the table and how it would all look in the proposed structure before weighing in with his opinion on whether it’s the right way for the sport to move forward. 0:00-1:40 intro1:41-5:17 CFP moving to straight seeding model for 2025 season5:18-8:13 What the new seeding model means for the playoff in 20258:14-12:12 Will the CFP move to a 16-team format in 2026?12:13-17:50 What are the options for a 16-team playoff format?17:51-19:20 16-team CFP format example19:21-21:16 Top 2 seeds receive byes into quarterfinals21:17-33:04 Is a 16-team format the best model for the CFP? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his Top 10 Quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season. He explains his rankings when evaluating up-and-coming QBs like Texas’ Arch Manning and Florida’s D.J. Lagway against experienced veterans like Penn State’s Drew Allar and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. Klatt also reveals two transfer Quarterbacks in his Top 10 that will both be trying to follow Cam Ward’s blueprint from a year ago. He explains why he has some reservations about one player while the other got the nod inside his Top 5. 0:00-1:23 Intro1:24-2:07 Top 10 qbs2:08-4:28 Carson Beck4:29-6:31 Luke Altmyer6:32-7:50 LaNorris Sellers7:51-9:07 DJ Lagway9:08-10:17 Garrett Nussmeier10:18-14:19 Drew Allar14:20-16:11 Sam Leavitt16:12-19:38 John Mateer19:39-24:05 Arch Manning24:06-28:24 Cade Klubnik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reacts to the news that Michigan is going to self-impose a 2-game suspension on Head Coach Sherrone Moore for deleting text messages with Connor Stallions. He discusses whether that penalty and whether the Wolverines should still expect further punishment from the NCAA. He also applauds the news of Notre Dame and Clemson announcing a long-term scheduling agreement while pointing out the motivations for the move. He also lists rivalry games that are no longer played on an annual basis that need to be brought back on the schedule every single season. Klatt also considers the pros and cons of individual schools controlling their own schedule every season before proposing a model that can ensure an equal playing field while also providing fans the best games possible. 0:00-1:42 Intro1:43-11:03  Sherrone Moore Suspension11:04-13:17  Michigan President Santa Ono’s move to Florida13:18- 17:22 Joel Klatt’s thoughts on Clemson & Notre Dame scheduling agreement17:23

With Spring Practice and the Transfer Portal window now in the past, Fox Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his Post-Spring Top 25 for the upcoming season. He reveals his #1 team and breaks down how he made his choice out of teams like the defending National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes, an Arch Manning-led Texas Longhorns team and a Penn State squad returning loads of talent on both sides of the ball. He explains how he separated SEC teams like Alabama, Georgia and LSU and includes a surprise pick in his Top 10 that he feels could be this season’s Indiana on the way to a Playoff run. Klatt explains why he has confidence in Michigan this season despite the high-end talent that they lost off of last year’s roster. He also finds a place for Oklahoma in his Top 25 after the Sooners made some offseason additions that will instantly improve Brent Venables’ group. Chapters: 0:00-1:10 Intro1:11-2:33 Joel Klatt’s way too early top 252:34-4:08 Oklahoma Sooners4:09-5:14 Baylor Bears5:15-8:11 Iowa

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt dives into Shedeur Sanders’ slide all the way to the 5th round of the NFL Draft, explaining why it happened to a player many believed would be selected in the Top 10. Klatt shares feedback he heard from people within the league and explains how things went from bad to worse as the picks continued to roll off the board (and why Shedeur landed in the perfect spot to prove people wrong). He also lists which teams were the biggest winners from the Draft before unveiling his Way-Too-Early Top 10 Prospects for next year’s Draft. Klatt wraps up the show by discussing the recent news around Madden Iamaleava - younger brother of Nico - as an NIL collective attempts to reclaim money paid out to him before he decided to transfer from Arkansas. He also points out why Tennessee can't have it both ways with how they've handled the Nico situation. 0:00-2:19 Intro2:20-5:34 Klatt’s 2025 NFL draft recap5:35-18:14 Why did Shedeur Sanders slide to the fifth round?18:15-21:10

Draft Week is finally here and FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt has his final Mock Draft ahead of the First Round on Thursday. His Mock opens with a shake-up at the top of the Draft with a surprise player move up into the Top 5. He reveals whether he believes the Browns or Giants will opt for a Quarterback or who ends up with blue chip prospects like Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. He also projects where Shedeur Sanders lands and which team will select Jaxson Dart. He has the Dallas Cowboys making a splashy selection that will bolster Dak Prescott’s offense next season while Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs add a crucial piece to their offense. 0:00-2:10 Intro 2:11-3:05 Tennessee Titans 3:06-4:09 Cleveland Browns 4:10-5:28 New York Giants 5:29-6:47 New England Patriots 6:48-8:29 Jacksonville Jaguars 8:30-9:23 Las Vegas Raiders 9:24-10:29 New York Jets 10:30-11:10 Carolina Panthers 11:11-13:03 New Orleans Saints 13:04-14:17 Chicago Bears 14:18-15:29 San Franciso 49ers 15:30-16:42 Dallas Cowb

NFL Network’s lead Draft Analyst Daniel Jeremiah joins FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ahead of next week’s NFL Draft in Green Bay. The two discuss the Quarterbacks at the top of the draft, where Shedeur Sanders could land and how they each evaluate Jaxson Dart as a prospect. They debate the gap between Ashton Jeanty and other Running Backs in the class including Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. They also make their picks for the strongest positions in this Draft Class and which player’s tape has been the most fun to break down during this process. The duo also discuss what makes the top Tight Ends in this draft, Michigan’s Colston Loveland and Penn State’s Tyler Warren, such elite prospects and how to separate them. 0:00-2:07 Intro 2:08-4:01 Daniel Jeremiah joins the show! 4:02-8:07 Is Cam Ward the clear No. 1 QB in this draft? 8:08-11:22 Evaluating Shedeur Sanders 11:23-12:29 Evaluating Jaxson Dart 12:30-17:36 Is Jaxson Dart challenging Shedeur Sanders for QB2? 17

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt breaks down Tennessee starting QB Nico Iamaleava’s decision to enter the Transfer Portal after reportedly attempting to re-negotiate his NIL package to $4 million for next season. Klatt lays out why we shouldn’t be surprised that this is happening or that a football program is trying to take a stand in the NIL landscape after the pendulum had swung heavily in favor of the players. He explains why this situation is reminiscent of coaches negotiating larger and larger salaries except for one key difference. He also provides the fix to keep situations like this from getting out of control. Klatt wraps up the show by marveling at the final round of The Masters and Rory McIlroy’s dramatic win to complete the career Grand Slam. 0:00-1:48 Intro 1:49-8:09 Nico Iamaleava plans to enter the transfer portal after attempting to renegotiate NIL deal 8:10-18:09 Will we see more “hold-outs” in college football going forward? 18:10-21:09 What changes are needed for NIL t

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reveals his Top 50 prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. Klatt breaks down which player ended up #1 on his list as players like Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter vie for the top spot. He considers whether Quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders should both be ranked in the Top 10 while also examining how close the 3rd best QB is to them. Klatt believes the two premier Tight Ends in the Class (Penn State's Tyler Warren and Michigan's Colston Loveland) are 2 of the best players in the entire Draft which is reflected in his ranking. Ohio State lands 6 players inside his Top 50 but are any above the 4 Michigan players also in the list? The Joel Klatt Show: Big Noon Conversations was nominated for a Webby Award in the “Podcasts – Limited Series & Specials” Category! And we need our fans to vote at:  https://vote.webbyawards.com/publicvoting#/2025/podcasts/limited-series-specials/interviewtalk-show All you need is an email account and it takes less than two minute

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reacts to the news that Deion Sanders has reached a 5-year extension with Colorado. Klatt breaks down why making Coach Prime one of the highest paid coaches in the sport is actually a bargain deal for Colorado. He also lays out the reasons why Colorado makes sense for Sanders and what they offer that most programs wouldn’t. Klatt also considers the newly available head coach opening at Stanford and whether that is a program that can get back to the glory days with Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw under new GM Andrew Luck. He wraps up the show by ranking his Top 10 Defensive Players in the NFL Draft including players like Penn State's Abdul Carter, Michigan's Will Johnson and Colorado's Travis Hunter. 0:00-2:02 Intro 2:03-14:30 Deion Sanders signs an extension with Colorado 14:31-21:17 Stanford is searching for a new coach 21:18-21:38 Joel Klatt’s top defensive players 21:39-22:29 Kenneth Grant 22:30-23:33 Mike Green 23:34-24:17 Jihaad Campbell 24:18-25:20 Myke

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his top skill position players in the 2025 NFL Draft. Klatt reveals the running backs he has ranked behind Ashton Jeanty and decides who gets the #1 TE spot between Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland. Klatt defends Travis Hunter's ability as a wide receiver and explains where and why he has him ranked on his list. Finally, Klatt comments on Coach Prime's desire to play against another program for the Colorado Spring Game and whether this is possible in today's college football calendar. 0:00-2:27 Intro 2:28-11:02 Top Running Backs in the Draft 11:03-11:36 Potential RB steal 11:37-18:43 Top Tight Ends in the Draft 18:44-19:26 Potential TE Steal 19:27-27:35 Top Wide Receivers in the Draft 27:36-28:30 Potential WR Steal 28:31-37:25 Coach Prime looking to play another program in spring game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel takes stock of the Free Agency moves in the NFL and reveals his latest Mock Draft for the 2025 NFL Draft. He explains where he believes the top prospects like Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter and Mason Graham will land on Draft Day and whether Shedeur Sanders will be selected in the Top 3 or slide down in the First Round. Ohio State, Michigan, Texas and Georgia’s programs are all well-represented with multiple selections in the First Round including former Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh selecting one of his former players. Klatt has the Dallas Cowboys adding a dynamic playmaker on Offense while the Super Bowl Champion Eagles find another potential game-wrecker on Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt welcomes in Hall of Famer and NFL Network Analyst Kurt Warner to the show! The two discuss the top Quarterbacks in this year’s NFL Draft and Kurt reveals who he has as his #1 QB in this year’s class. He also breaks down why playing quarterback in the college game is so different than the NFL and the challenges that presents for Draft day and beyond. They discuss some of their favorite QBs in the league from Joe Burrow to Jayden Daniels and what makes them so special. Klatt wraps the show with his thoughts on the last Head Coaching hire of the CFB offseason after Heisman Trophy-winner Eddie George was hired by Bowling Green. 0:00-1:52 Intro 1:53-3:31 Kurt Warner joins the show! 3:32-5:22 Evaluating top QBs in NFL Draft 5:23-7:09 Has Cam Ward separated himself as the clear No. 1 QB in the draft? 7:10-10:00 Evaluating the top QBs in the NFL Draft 10:01-14:24 Best landing spots for QBs in the NFL Draft 14:25-19:03 How high should Shedeur Sanders go in April’s

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt gives his biggest takeaways from the NFL Combine over the weekend including which players improved their draft stock. He also reacts to Travis Hunter’s comments when he was asked to compare his two-way feats to the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani. Klatt dives into the debate of whether it’s more impressive to play both ways in football or baseball. He also discusses the recent College Football news and lays out why the Big Ten and SEC’s emergence as the two power brokers in the sport can lead to an improved Playoff along with other secondary benefits for the sport as a whole. He also weighs in on several programs electing to cancel Spring Games this season and why the fans are the ones getting the short end of the deal. Klatt wraps up the pod by discussing recent GM hires in CFB and how that’s the latest evolution in a sport that is going through a lot of change. 0:00 Intro 2:00 NFL Combine Takeaways 3:40 Texas WR Matthew Golden 6:30 Jalen Milroe's Draft Stock 8:5

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his Top 5 Quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. He begins by discussing the two QB’s that could go as high as #1 in the entire draft: Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders and explains why he ranked one over the other. He dives into the question of who the #3 QB in this Draft is and whether a player like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart could sneak into the back-end of the First Round. Klatt then takes a look at 5 more potential candidates to get the last spot on his list out of a group of QB’s which includes Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Ohio State’s Will Howard. 0:00-2:03 Intro 2:04-5:52 Shedeur Sanders 5:53-9:04 Cam Ward 9:05-12:03 Draft discussion 12:04-15:56 Jaxson Dart 15:57-19:34 Jalen Milroe 19:35-32:26 Kyle McCord, Quinn Ewers, Kurtis Rourke, Will Howard or Dillon Gabriel at #5? 32:27-33:08 Will Howard 33:09-33:57 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt opens up the mailbag to answer questions submitted by fans of the show. This episode goes all over the place from Klatt’s most underrated venues in College Football to his go-to snacks for a road trip (along with a hard definition of what constitutes a road trip). He also answers questions about the best golf courses he’s ever played and whether NIL is actually changing the product on the field that much. He also addresses more serious topics like balancing work and family as well as dealing with doubt in our lives. 0:00-2:13 intro 2:14-7:07 Favorite snack/drink at a gas station 7:08-9:58 Running back role in modern cfb offenses 9:59-14:19 Who will have an SMU type season and an FSU type season in 2025? 14:20-18:53 Top 3 favorite golf courses Klatt has played 18:54-22:18 Is NIL the end of competition in CFB? 22:19-24:27 Top 5 underrated venues/environments in CFB 24:28-26:36 Balancing life on the road during CFB season & family 26:37-30:20 Dealing with fr