Snubbing the usual suspects, Joel Klatt puts a surprise team at No. 1

On the "Joel Klatt Show" Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt was pretty emphatic about his post spring choice for No. 1 in college football.

"I look at the blueprint of the teams that have won the last two national championships," he said. "Really, the last three national championships, and Oregon fits that blueprint to a T."

"They are going to be a veteran-led team with talent coming back everywhere. They're going to be the best defensive line in the country. They're going to have an experienced quarterback. They're going to have the ability to be explosive."

"They're going to have the ability to run the football. They've been getting closer every single year."

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has 20 career starts now, and in 2025 he threw for 3500 yards and 30 touchdowns. With the return of Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore from injury, the Ducks could have the most explosive passing attack in the nation, especially with tight end Jamari Johnson running down the seams.

As a backup to first-round draft pick Kenyon Sadiq Johnson had 10 catches of over 20 yards last season, four of over 30, with 32 total receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns.

The schedule is testing, but that's exactly what fans would want

Klatt notes that Oregon's only losses over the last two seasons have come to the eventual national champion, and they started 2022 with a loss to national champion Georgia. In 2023 they lost twice to Washington by a field goal each time, with the Huskies going on to play in the final.

This year's defensive line is a certain strength with A'Mauri Washington, Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti and Bear Alexander all returning. In the Spring Game, reserves Aydin Breland and Matthew Johnson were throwing blockers out of the way.

It's one thing when Oregon honks are touting this team as a national championship favorite, but when the foremost voices in college football join in, it gains credibility.

Of course, preseason hype often vaporizes like LaMichael James in the A gap. The Ducks have one of the toughest schedules in the country with road games at Klatt's No. 3 Ohio State in November, No. 10 USC on September 26, home matchups with No. 12 Michigan and No. 19 Washington.

If the Ducks sit No. 1 in December, they will have earned it. But it only matters if you survive to be No. 1 in the end. Anything else goes down as a disappointment in Year 5.

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