The college football season is nearly here, and anticipation is at an all-time high as teams prepare to chase the ultimate prize: a national championship. Klatt’s projected field returning from last year includes Ohio State, Texas, Boise State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Georgia, Oregon, and Clemson.
Joel Klatt Predicts 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket and National Champion originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The college football season is nearly here, and anticipation is at an all-time high as teams prepare to chase the ultimate prize: a national championship.
However, reality quickly sets in—only 12 teams will earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, and Fox Sports analyst and former quarterback Joel Klatt believes he already knows which squads will make the cut this season.
Klatt’s projected field returning from last year includes Ohio State, Texas, Boise State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Georgia, Oregon, and Clemson. He rounds out the 12-team field with Alabama, LSU, Kansas State, and Michigan as the newcomers who didn't make the field last year.
For the semifinals, Klatt predicts Penn State will face Ohio State, with the Buckeyes advancing to a second consecutive national championship game. On the other side, Clemson will match up with Texas, with Dabo Swinney’s Tigers defeating Arch Manning and the Longhorns to secure a spot in the title game.
Ultimately, Klatt boldly forecasts that Clemson, led by quarterback Cade Klubnik, will claim the 2025 national championship—returning to the top of college football and winning their first title since 2018.
NEW: College Football Playoff Prediction via @joelklatt🏆https://t.co/MexwKtkPDhpic.twitter.com/9j70D2lGhW
— On3 (@On3sports) August 18, 2025
As shown in Klatt’s bracket, the four first-round byes go to Penn State, Ohio State, Texas, and Clemson, with all but the Buckeyes capturing their conference championships. This is part of the new College Football Playoff rules for 2025, which allow a top-four seed with a bye to advance without needing to win a conference title.
Last year, the system’s flaws were on full display when Boise State and Arizona State earned first-round byes by winning their conferences, despite weaker schedules, fewer notable wins, and overall less impressive resumes than some teams that had to play in the opening round.
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY SportsScott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Early in the 2025 season, both Ohio State and Clemson will face significant tests. The Buckeyes open on Aug. 30 against Texas, while Clemson begins the year against LSU—two star-studded matchups to kick off the campaign.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
