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 Post-Spring Top 25 for the 2026 Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:33
FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his Top 25 teams in College Football following the end of Spring Practice. He reveals which team he has at #1 heading into next season while debating how to stac…
Joel Klatt’s Final 2026 Mock Draft [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:37
Just days before the NFL Draft begins on Thursday, Joel Klatt reveals his final Mock Draft of the season. He reveals a surprise team selecting Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love inside the Top 10 and has Ohio State Safety Cale…
Joel Klatt ranks his Top 50 Prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:16
FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his top 50 prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. How high does Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza land on the list as an overall prospect? He also discusses his evaluatio…
Joel Klatt’s 2026 Mock Draft 2.0 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:10
Following the NFL Combine and a wild Free Agency period, Joel Klatt is back for his 2nd Mock Draft of the season as prospects make their moves up and down the board and teams have a clearer view of their Draft needs. Kla…
Joel Klatt’s Top 10 Offensive Players in the 2026 NFL Draft [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:18
FOX Sports’ lead College Football analyst Joel Klatt begins his NFL Draft rankings by looking at the offensive side of the ball and laying out his Top 10 prospects. Is the presumptive #1 pick, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza…