“Showtime!” is right! Week 1 of the 2026 college football season kicks off big on Thursday night, and FOX Sports’ top analyst, Joel Klatt, just dropped his picks for the wildest matchups on “The Joel Klatt Podcast.” He’s not holding back, especially with LSU set to clash with Clemson, predicting a 31-14 beatdown in favor of LSU.
Why Klatt Thinks LSU’s Defense Is Going To Feast
Klatt is all-in on LSU’s defense, and honestly, the details he’s spilling make a ton of sense. He says this LSU defense “really should be able to shut down Clemson” in their matchup. Why? Defensive coordinator Blake Baker is back in the fold, and you’ve got Princewill Umanmielen, an “excellent defensive end,” transferring in with Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss. Plus, linebacker Whit Weeks is there, making this unit super talented. On offense, they’ve got Sam Leavitt, an experienced quarterback, and Klatt noted that Lane Kiffin “always has a good offense.” Klatt believes this team “should be good” and “ready to go,” emphasizing it comes down to execution. With Baker’s experience, he doesn’t think it’ll take long for the defense to click. That’s why he predicts they’ll “dominate this game” in that environment with all that energy.
Trinidad Chambliss Is a Problem for Louisville’s New Look
Another game Klatt is eyeing is Ole Miss taking on Louisville. He admits it “could look sloppy, at times,” and Louisville is definitely a team that knows how to pull off upsets. Head coach Jeff Brohm was literally nicknamed the “Spoilermaker” at Purdue, and Louisville has “constantly defeated really good opponents like Miami and JMU.” But here’s the kicker: Klatt thinks Ole Miss still has too much firepower because Trinidad Chambliss is “the most unique quarterback in the country.” This dude is “the most threatening both outside of the pocket and inside the pocket.” That kind of dynamism is “going to be very difficult” for Louisville’s new co-defensive coordinators, Mark Ivey and Steve Ellis, to handle. Klatt likes Ole Miss to win that one, 30-21.
Oregon’s Dual Threat Is Ready To Roll
Moving West, Klatt believes Oregon is “further along in its build under Dan Lanning” than Boise State. The Ducks have “more purpose and more urgency” with their returning players, including an experienced quarterback in Dante Moore. Klatt sees them being “explosive on offense” and “absolutely suffocating on defense.” The one question mark for him is offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, who was promoted from within to replace Will Stein. He wants to see how that offense works, similar to his thoughts on Ole Miss. Boise State might have had a great pass defense last year, but they lost four of their five defensive backs, which is a HUGE hit. Klatt feels Oregon “should really control this game” with both their offense and, specifically, their defensive line. He expects Oregon to go out there with purpose and urgency, not to “struggle against Boise State.”
Week 1 is about to be a blast, and Klatt just gave us the lowdown on some must-watch games. Get your snacks ready, because college football is officially back!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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