Joel Klatt’s preseason top 25: Ohio State or Georgia at No. 1?-ZoomTech News

A brand new season of school soccer is upon us.

The season formally begins in lower than three weeks, and it should be a very nice 12 months of soccer. Try to be as excited as I’m about what we’re about to witness within the 2024 season of school soccer.

The modifications which have been made, the schedules which can be in entrance of us, the brand new playoff format with 12 groups slightly than 4, the quantity of high quality video games that shall be performed in November — for all these causes, I’m over the moon enthusiastic about this school soccer season. 

So let’s get to it. Here is my preseason high 25:

Here is a workforce that I’ve given quite a lot of grief to through the years, nevertheless it’s a workforce I do imagine in, and I just like the path they are going. Mike Elko begins his period there after the six seasons underneath Jimbo Fisher. What did six seasons and $76 million in buy-out cash get you? A top-25 spot. Good job, that is cash nicely spent.

Elko is accustomed to School Station. I like him long-term — I query what they are going to be this 12 months, however they nonetheless have expertise, even with all of the departures they’ve had within the switch portal. 

One massive addition that I actually like: their new offensive coordinator. This was an amazing rent, Collin Klein, coming from Kansas State, and I actually like him as a coach.

Iowa is simply so regular. If you take a better look, you notice it should be rock stable on protection once more — surprising to no person — and it ought to be higher on offense. I stated it, publicly right here and right into a microphone. We’ll see if that occurs.

I am a giant believer in Kirk Ferentz. It is a workforce that gained 10 video games final 12 months and has 17 starters returning. By the way in which, Iowa had the worst offense within the nation. So if the Hawkeyes are in a position to pair a veteran protection with what must be an improved offense, and taking a look at a really favorable schedule, be careful.

I am excessive on this program. Matt Rhule informed us on “Large Midday Conversations” that he seems like he is forward of schedule at Nebraska. It is a workforce that went 5-7 final 12 months. On its face, that does not encourage quite a lot of confidence. Nonetheless, when you dig a little bit bit, you will see that the Cornhuskers misplaced 4 of these video games by precisely three factors, and so they turned it over 15 occasions in these video games. These may simply develop into wins, and then you definately’re speaking about an eight-win workforce in its first 12 months, and do not you are feeling an entire lot totally different about that? 

[Related: Best of ‘The Joel Klatt Show: Big Noon Conversations’ Season 2]

By the way in which, 13 of these 15 turnovers had been by the quarterback. So now they’re getting a brand new quarterback, and perhaps that is Dylan Raiola. I do know he is a real freshman, and also you by no means know precisely how he will play, however this man is gifted. He appears to be like like Patrick Mahomes. I do not know if he is gonna play like that, however he is a clone of Mahomes. The way in which he strikes jogs my memory of Mahomes in school when he was at Texas Tech. If he performs like that in any respect, be careful for Nebraska.

I perceive this may look like a low rating for Clemson, nevertheless it’s been trending within the mistaken path. Cade Klubnik has acquired to step up. Garrett Riley’s offense has acquired to step up. I take a look at this schedule and I do not prefer it. It is not what it was 4 years in the past, and taking a look at its schedule, there’s a actual probability that this workforce could possibly be 2-3 of their first 5 video games. It is only a unhealthy schedule for them. You are telling me they will have to upset Georgia or Florida State to be thought-about in an at-large state of affairs and even get to the ACC championship sport? I do not know that the Tigers acquired that in them this 12 months.

This can be a workforce I am excessive on. What a 12 months the Wildcats had final 12 months. After the exodus of their head coach, you may suppose there can be an exodus of gamers, however that did not occur. They may have the most effective quarterback-wide receiver mixture within the nation with Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan. I am a giant fan of Brent Brennan, their new head coach. 

Arizona may make some waves within the new Large 12. Now, the Wildcats do should play at Kansas State and at Utah throughout the first 4 video games of the 12 months. They’re going to have to win a type of video games. In the event that they try this, the remainder of the schedule could be very manageable. 

I feel all of us have to be ready for the truth that if Kansas has its quarterback, Jalon Daniels, wholesome all 12 months, then it couldn’t solely have the Large 12 Participant of the Yr, nevertheless it could possibly be competing for a Large 12 championship sport spot. Which implies if Kansas wins that, the Jayhawks can be competing for a playoff spot. I do not suppose that is out of the query.

Do not be shocked if this workforce is 7-0 in October, because the schedule units up fairly nicely for the Jayhawks early.

This is perhaps low in some rankings, however take a look at every little thing the Tigers misplaced from a 12 months in the past. In some methods, this rating is me believing in Brian Kelly, that he can exchange that. They misplaced the Heisman-winning quarterback (Jayden Daniels), one other top-10 decide (Malik Nabers) and one other first-rounder (Brian Thomas Jr.). That is so much to beat.

So, what do I imagine in? I imagine they will have a very good offensive line, and I imagine in Coach Kelly. He’s nearly as good as they arrive in school soccer. 

They’ve to enhance on protection. Even when they’ll keep their firepower on offense, they nonetheless have to enhance on protection. They had been 108th in whole protection. They introduced in Blake Baker, who did an amazing job because the defensive coordinator at Missouri. In addition they want extra from Harold Perkins.

Some folks have the Volunteers larger, and that is superb. However I do not love their schedule, and so they’re a little bit of a query mark for me. Admittedly, I feel this can be a high-ceiling, low-floor workforce. They might lose 4 to 5 video games, or they might lose two video games and compete. A whole lot of their season will go as their quarterback goes. Nico Iamaleava could possibly be a star. I really like the way in which that he performed within the bowl sport.

Like I stated, excessive ceiling, low ground. I like Tennessee, however I do not understand how a lot I really like Tennessee.

This workforce is tailored for the trendy age of school soccer as a result of it is acquired a ton of veteran gamers. Oklahoma State has 18 starters again, 9 on either side of the ball. Its offense returns its quarterback, working again (reigning Doak Walker award winner Ollie Gordon II), high two vast receivers and its whole offensive line. The final time it had a veteran workforce, it gained the Large 12. 

The Cowboys’ protection this 12 months is the massive query mark. Final 12 months, they had been 89th within the nation in scoring protection — that has to enhance. That is the massive query for me.

Kansas State is hard as nails. The Wildcats are creating this popularity that they will be tough to beat. This 12 months, they’ve quite a lot of expertise. Pair up the toughness and the expertise, and Chris Klieman’s acquired a workforce that may compete for and doubtlessly win the Large 12, after which they’d be within the playoff.

The Wildcats are going to go together with Avery Johnson at quarterback to exchange Will Howard. I feel the run sport goes to be dynamic for Kansas State this 12 months. The protection has been within the high three within the Large 12 every of the final two seasons, and Kansas State goes to be an element.

I actually love OU. So why are the Sooners fifteenth? 

Brent Venables enters Yr 3 and made a pleasant soar final 12 months with 10 wins. Going to the SEC, the protection has veteran expertise. I feel that the protection may be higher, and it must be higher. It gave up far too many massive performs a 12 months in the past. Jackson Arnold goes to take over at quarterback, however just like Kansas State, now we have to begin trusting these packages. I imagine in Arnold as a result of Oklahoma was keen to maneuver on from Dillon Gabriel with a purpose to make him its beginning quarterback. I feel Arnold’s additionally a greater schematic match with what Oklahoma does and with its receivers.

I feel that the Sooners could possibly be and must be significantly better than what they had been, even a 12 months in the past. So what’s the primary level? Their schedule is brutal. Brutal. They’ll face Tennessee, Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama and LSU. The schedule does them no favors. 

I feel USC goes to be actually good. I feel USC goes to shock some folks. That is the proper sort of workforce for Lincoln Riley. 

The Trojans must be higher on protection. Riley introduced in D’Anton Lynn, Matt Entz and Eric Henderson to assist coach the protection. They had been terrible on protection final 12 months, and it wasn’t simply the gamers’ fault — the scheme, the hole soundness of their entrance was atrocious. They need to be higher simply by taking part in essentially sound from a structural standpoint. If that is all they do, they will be higher on protection.

[Read more: USC QB Miller Moss ready to lead Trojans after bucking trend in transfer portal era]

Florida State is changing so much from that workforce that was undefeated and neglected of the playoffs. It continued to hit the switch portal exhausting. This workforce goes to be good, it simply has to exchange so much.

I feel we have to begin believing in what Mike Norvell is constructing and what his technique is on a yearly foundation, as a result of it has labored. He is going into Yr 5, and he is improved yearly by way of whole wins. Now the check is whether or not the Seminoles can keep at that top-10 degree. 

Why do I’ve Miami above Florida State? Nicely, the Canes did not lose as a lot, and so they did work within the offseason. This roster is gifted. I like what Mario Cristobal has constructed — cease me when you’ve heard that earlier than. 

Now it turns into execution. That is all the time been the query for Miami. Cam Ward was an amazing addition at quarterback, however arguably the most important distinction maker and one of many largest wins within the switch portal is working again Damien Martinez. 

Miami’s schedule is constructed for them to be proper within the combine within the ACC and doubtlessly the playoff. With this roster and this schedule, that is an 11-1 workforce all day lengthy. 

This system has acquired momentum. It brings again quarterback Brady Prepare dinner and top-of-the-line vast receivers within the nation in Luther Burden III. Working again Marcus Carroll could possibly be one other small-school-to-the-SEC star, identical to All-American Cody Schrader was for Missouri final 12 months. 

That was a giant win for Eli Drinkwitz’s program over Ohio State within the Cotton Bowl final 12 months. They’ve an advantageous schedule. They miss quite a lot of the massive boys. They keep away from Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and LSU, so their hardest video games are Alabama and Oklahoma.

The dialog with Penn State is just like what it’s with Missouri. The Nittany Lions have a brand new offensive coordinator, which ought to pay dividends as a result of their offense was not superb and was far too predictable a 12 months in the past. They’ve a protection that also must be very aggressive and superb, even with Tom Allen changing Manny Diaz. Edge rusher Abdul Carter is without doubt one of the greatest gamers within the nation.

Like Missouri, the schedule units up favorably for Penn State within the Large Ten. It avoids Michigan and Oregon. That is a workforce to be careful for.

Loss of life, taxes and Utah soccer. That is my decide to win the Large 12. Utah is admittedly good, actually powerful, and I do know the Large 12 groups aren’t going to need to hear this, however Salt Lake Metropolis is now the hardest place to play within the Large 12. Interval. That home-field benefit is actual; the Utes are unbelievable at dwelling. And when wholesome, this is without doubt one of the greatest groups within the nation. They gained the Pac-12 the final two occasions they had been wholesome. It should not be totally different within the Large 12.

The Utes are aggressive, they have an amazing dwelling area, they have a veteran quarterback. Be careful for Utah. They’re my decide within the Large 12.

Clearly, we count on so much out of Alabama. It went on a run underneath Nick Saban that was completely unprecedented, and now it modified head coaches to a man that I firmly imagine in. Kalen DeBoer will work in Tuscaloosa. This man is a star.

This can be a workforce that has quite a lot of expertise, however the Crimson Tide are altering. That is an outdoor tradition. That is going to be tough. This can be a schedule that does not favor them. I am very to see how this all performs out.

Michigan acquired a slight edge over Alabama as a result of it promoted from inside at head coach and is not altering its tradition. It additionally simply beat Alabama.

[Related: With renewed sense of purpose, Michigan’s Donovan Edwards ready to seize opportunity]

The Wolverines are going to have to determine the quarterback place, and there isn’t any doubt that is the most important query mark. However, they are going to have the ability to run the soccer rather well underneath Sherrone Moore. The protection goes to be excellent, and it must be one of many two or three greatest within the nation. Their inside defensive position is the highest within the county, palms down. So that may give them quite a lot of runway to deliver alongside a quarterback.

The extra I studied for the upcoming season, the extra I preferred Notre Dame. I in all probability ought to have put Notre Dame at No. 5, however I did not. 

I am simply satisfied that Notre Dame goes to be actually robust. It will have a dominant protection, which you count on underneath Marcus Freeman. However it returns a number of star gamers on that aspect of the ball, together with final 12 months’s Nagurski Award winner, security Xavier Watts. 

Notre Dame solely has three true highway video games this season, with solely a type of video games going down between the regular-season opener and finale. I do know folks will roll their eyes, however be careful for Notre Dame. It feels prefer it could possibly be this 12 months’s model of Washington.

The Lane Prepare entered the switch portal like an absolute freight practice. 

Jaxson Dart returns at quarterback for a workforce that gained 11 video games. I do know Ole Miss has to exchange Quinshon Judkins, however Ole Miss feels actually good. Now, it would not should win the convention and beat the most effective groups with a purpose to make the playoff. This workforce has an affordable schedule by SEC requirements, with two of their hardest three video games being performed at dwelling. 

Everybody’s going to have the identical high 4, simply in a distinct order. Oregon’s on the backside of the highest 4 for me.

I’ve stated it many occasions: If I had to purchase inventory in a younger head coach, it could be Dan Lanning. I am actually bullish on what he is doing in Eugene. He is acquired the tradition and sources to win at Oregon. I imagine he’ll win a nationwide championship there sooner or later. 

Will it’s this 12 months? I am undecided. However this Geese workforce is rattling good. They’re bodily on the line of scrimmage. Of the brand new Pac-12 groups, Oregon goes to be that workforce that the remainder of the Large Ten is shocked by with its physicality.  

I do know Oregon struggled to recover from the hump final 12 months, however this roster is unbelievable. Gabriel’s a superb match with Oregon’s offense and I feel he’ll be higher in Eugene than he was at Oklahoma. 

[Related: Lamborghinis, Uncle Phil and inflatable ducks: Inside Oregon’s induction into the Big Ten]

We are able to cease with the “Texas is again” stuff. Texas is without doubt one of the greatest groups within the nation. We noticed that final 12 months. 

Steve Sarkisian has constructed a top-tier workforce, no matter convention. The Longhorns are going to be simply superb within the SEC. Did you not see them beat the Tide in Tuscaloosa final 12 months? 

Texas has improved every season underneath Sarkisian. It ought to proceed. Quinn Ewers returns at quarterback for a workforce that ought to make the playoff and presumably win the SEC. He may win the Heisman if he performs nicely, too.

The protection is the query mark with the Longhorns. They acquired the worst potential matchup for them within the semifinal final 12 months due to their secondary. They misplaced a few of their beef on the defensive position from final 12 months. 

Everybody is aware of who the highest two groups are getting into the season: Georgia and Ohio State. Each groups are coming off disappointing finishes to the tip of the 2023 season, however are returning quite a lot of starters. Georgia returns 12 starters this 12 months. The Bulldogs’ power of schedule (third-toughest) is a bit harder than Ohio State’s (Sixteenth-toughest).

I do know Bulldogs followers will view this as a slight, however these two groups are my favorites to win all of it and I really feel that they play one another for the title. I hope they do. That is a sport I might like to see.

Georgia’s glorious. Carson Beck’s such an amazing participant. The Bulldogs have gained 46 of their final 48 video games. Kirby Sensible is the most effective coach in school soccer. Their protection must be actually good once more to pair with a Heisman-caliber quarterback. The roster has 16 former five-star recruits. There are some questions on offense, reminiscent of how will the Bulldogs exchange Brock Bowers, and so they’ve acquired a harder schedule this 12 months. But, if there is a workforce that may roll by means of it, it is Georgia. 

Whereas Georgia has barely higher odds to win the nationwide title, I’ve acquired Ohio State at No. 1 due to its roster development. You possibly can say it is all about expertise, however within the final couple of years, it is shifted from expertise to veteran expertise. That is why TCU, Washington and Michigan have made deep runs just lately. Ohio State has the sting in that space. 

Ohio State has signed 5 straight top-five recruiting courses. It additionally introduced in the most effective switch class within the nation with security Caleb Downs, quarterback Julian Sayin, Howard and Judkins. 

However the Buckeyes additionally introduced again quite a lot of expertise. This feels eerily just like what Michigan did final 12 months, with almost all of its high contributors deciding to carry off the NFL for another probability at a title. That is the veteran expertise I am speaking about. Chip Kelly was additionally introduced in to run the offense, in order that run sport must be even stronger with Howard and TreVeyon Henderson. 

[Related: ‘All chips in’ for Ohio State after unprecedented offseason of acquisition, retention]

I feel Ohio State can also be going to have the most effective protection within the nation. It has an amazing entrance 4 to go together with athletic linebackers and the most effective secondary in all of school soccer. Not many groups are scoring on Ohio State. 

Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ lead school soccer sport analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Show.” Observe him on X/Twitter at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Show” on YouTube.

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