The initial coaches’ poll for the 2024 college football season was released on Monday, naming the Georgia Bulldogs as the preseason No. 1 team. Georgia secured 46 out of 55 first-place votes, indicating strong consensus among coaches.
However, Fox Sports’ top college football analyst Joel Klatt diverges from this majority opinion. On the same day, Klatt published his own preseason top 25 rankings, placing Georgia at No. 2 and ranking the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 1. Klatt anticipated that his ranking would upset Georgia supporters and addressed this by providing a rationale for his decision.
Klatt acknowledged on “The Joel Klatt Show” that Georgia fans might view his ranking as a slight. Nevertheless, he stressed that both Georgia and Ohio State are elite teams. He expressed excitement about the potential matchup between the two in the national championship, which he believes would be a thrilling contest.
Klatt’s concerns about Georgia center on uncertainties regarding their offensive strategy, particularly with Carson Beck as quarterback, and the challenges posed by their tough 2024 schedule. Despite these reservations, Klatt commended Ohio State’s impressive recruiting efforts and their “best transfer class in the country,” which, combined with returning talent, made them his top pick.
Ohio State’s ability to attract top talent was notably bolstered by the departure of Nick Saban from Alabama. However, questions remain about how well these new recruits will perform under head coach Ryan Day, who has faced scrutiny for not maximizing the potential of some previous teams.
While the coaches’ poll reflects a clear preference for Georgia, Klatt’s choice of Ohio State as the No. 1 team represents a minority view but is a well-reasoned stance given the factors he considered.
