The 10 teams most likely to make their first 12-Team College Football Playoff this season

The 10 teams most likely to make their first 12-Team College Football Playoff this season

Author: FOX Sports July 20, 2026 Duration: 39:57
The expanded playoff has allowed 20 different teams to make it to a 12-team College Football Playoff over the last 2 years but which programs are most likely to make it to their first appearance this season? Fox Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt tackles that question as he ranks his favorite candidates including teams that made the 4-team Playoff but have yet to make it into the 12-team format like Michigan and LSU as well as programs like USC still looking to make it back to the top of the sport. He also brings in teams from the Big 12 that will have a path to the Playoff like BYU and Arizona and an ACC team that could sneak their way into a win-and-in ACC Championship Game appearance. Chapters 🏈 0:00-3:25 1st time cfp teams in the 12 team format  3:26-7:18 Number 10  7:19-10:32 Number 9  10:33-13:44 Number 8  13:45-16:02 Number 7 1:03-18:34 Number 6 18:35-22:39 Number 5 22:40-27:10 Number 4  27:11-30:09 Number 3 30:10-32:24 Number 2 32:25-38:12 Number 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a certain clarity that comes from someone who’s been in the huddle, studied the tape, and understands the game from the inside out. That’s what you’ll find on The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast. Hosted by FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt, this isn’t just another collection of hot takes. Instead, Joel brings a perspective forged from his own playing days, combined with meticulous film study and a level of preparation that cuts through the weekly noise. Every episode feels like a substantive conversation, whether he’s unpacking the intricacies of key weekend matchups, offering a reasoned take on the latest playoff rankings, or addressing the pressing questions from fans. The discussion always circles back to the stories that define the season, from coaching decisions to emerging rivalries. For anyone who wants analysis that’s both deeply informed and consistently fair, this podcast provides a reliable weekly touchstone. It’s the kind of thorough breakdown that makes the complex landscape of college football a little more comprehensible and a lot more engaging.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Joel Klatt’s All-21st Century Team for College Football [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:42
Fox Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt picks the best players since 2000 to make his All-21st Century team in College Football. How do you choose between QB’s like Joe Burrow, Cam Newton, Vince Young, Tim T…
10 Games that will shape the 2026 College Football Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:26
Fox Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reveals the 10 games that will shape the 2026 College Football Season. From huge early season Big Ten-SEC matchups between Michigan and Oklahoma and Ohio State at Texa…
Joel Klatt’s Favorite Over/Under Win Total Bets for the 2026 Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:38
Fox Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt reveals his favorite Over/Under Win Total bets for this season and kicks things off by discussing Ohio State and Texas and why he believes their early season matchup w…
Is a 24-Team College Football Playoff inevitable now? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:53
With momentum building within the sport for the 24-team Playoff, Fox Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt breaks down why things have shifted toward the expanded format. Klatt explains what changes drove the…
Biggest Questions facing Klatt’s Top 12 teams for 2026 Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:47
Fox Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt dives into the biggest questions facing his Top 12 teams from his Post-Spring Top 25. He breaks down how Michigan’s new OC Jason Beck could tap into a new area of Bryc…