Joel Klatt names SEC championship favorite after Week 1

The Fox Sports analyst crowns LSU as SEC’s early favorite after Week 1

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt has LSU as the SEC's early frontrunners to compete for the SEC championship. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Joel Klatt wasted little time identifying a frontrunner in the Southeastern Conference following the opening weekend of college football. On his podcast, The Joel Klatt Show, the Fox Sports analyst singled out LSU as the team best positioned to win the league title.

Klatt pointed to LSU’s balanced roster, the presence of an experienced quarterback, and the coaching direction of Brian Kelly as reasons for his belief. He also noted that LSU’s Week 1 win prevented what could have been a disastrous perception for the SEC if its top teams had stumbled.

In a slate where Alabama, Texas, and Georgia all carried heavy expectations, it was LSU that delivered the conference’s most significant victory. The Tigers’ 17-10 road win at Clemson not only gave Kelly a defining regular-season triumph but also shifted early-season momentum toward Baton Rouge.

LSU Emerges As SEC’s Most Complete Team

Klatt praised LSU’s ability to play a mistake-free game in one of the toughest road environments in the sport. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier completed 28 of 38 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown, while avoiding turnovers. Running back Caden Durham added 74 rushing yards, providing enough balance to keep Clemson’s defense honest.

The offensive line, considered a preseason concern, stood strong against Clemson’s front. The Tigers allowed just one sack and cleared the way for more than 100 rushing yards. That showing against one of the best defensive lines in the ACC gave Klatt confidence in LSU’s long-term viability.

LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier passed for 232 yards and a touchdown on 28-for-38 passing in a win against Clemson. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Defensively, LSU flustered Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik. Mansoor Delane’s interception, Harold Perkins’ late pressure, and the steady play of PJ Woodland and West Weeks highlighted a collective effort. Holding Clemson to 10 points in Memorial Stadium underscored the growth of defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s unit.

By comparison, Alabama struggled at times in its opener, and Georgia showed early uncertainty in reloading from its recent national championship runs. That left LSU as the most convincing SEC team after Week 1, at least in Klatt’s eyes.

Brian Kelly’s Breakthrough Victory Adds Weight To LSU’s Case

For Kelly, Saturday’s win was more than just ending a frustrating Week 1 drought that dated back to 2019. It was the culmination of an offseason spent addressing deficiencies on both sides of the ball. LSU’s secondary, fortified by transfers, locked down Clemson’s receivers. There was a lot of offseason talk about Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore, yet the duo was mostly held in check. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ offensive execution revealed a new level of maturity.

The turning point came late in the third quarter when a potential touchdown to Barion Brown was overturned on review, followed by a missed field goal. Instead of folding in the face of adversity, LSU regrouped. Nussmeier responded with an 11-play drive capped by a fade pass to Trey’dez Green for the game-winning touchdown.

LSU Tigers coach Brian Kelly is likely feeling a sense of relief after a signature win against Clemson on Saturday. | Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

That resilience separated this LSU team from previous iterations. The Tigers carried themselves with a sharper focus, embodied in their “1-0” mindset. Kelly has emphasized taking each game in isolation, and against Clemson, his team proved it can handle setbacks without unraveling.

The win carries significance beyond the scoreboard. LSU demonstrated a formula that could hold up throughout SEC play: a quarterback who protects the ball, a defense that makes timely stops, and a roster capable of competing at every position group.

LSU now turns its attention to Louisiana Tech in Week 2, with a chance to build on the foundation it laid in Death Valley East. Klatt’s endorsement only amplifies the spotlight, but LSU’s performance suggests the Tigers might be ready for it.