Joel Klatt Names 'Clear No. 1' College Football Team Heading Into the 2026 Season

The 2026 college football season is less than a month away from getting underway. The Big Ten is looking to add its fourth straight national championship, continuing its dominance over the sport.

Race for College Football's Champion Begins

Up to this point, there have been three straight Big Ten national champions, with three different teams taking home the crown. The Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers each have taken home the crown. So, now the question is whether one of those teams can win a second one or if another team can rise to the top.

Some of the favorites to take it home outside of those teams are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Oregon Ducks, Miami Hurricanes, Texas Longhorns and the Georgia Bulldogs. The USA Today Coaches Poll has the Buckeyes as the best team entering the season. ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) also has Ohio State at the top, slightly over the Longhorns.

Joel Klatt Names Oregon No. 1 Team Entering 2026 Season

Fox Sports' Joel Klatt released his preseason top 25 on "The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast." He disagreed with both of those rankings, instead putting the Ducks as the top team in college football, saying it wasn't a tough decision.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) passes the ball. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"There is a clear number one," Klatt said. "And I honestly don't understand why this is not more unanimous. If you actually evaluate rosters out there and what's coming back. Everyone else out there has a question. Everybody.... Guess who doesn't have questions? Not one. Oregon. Oregon is No. 1 in the country, and quite frankly, it's not close."

Oregon Has Fewer Questions Than Its Biggest Contenders

There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about Dan Lanning's team. One of the biggest reasons is that they return one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Dante Moore threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season in his first year starting for Oregon.

Moore's return gives Oregon continuity at the most important position on the field. After gaining valuable experience in his first season as a starter, the former five-star quarterback now enters 2026 with a full year of starting experience under his belt.

That is a major reason Klatt believes Oregon has fewer questions than the other teams competing for the national championship. While Ohio State, Texas and other contenders have plenty of talent, Klatt believes Oregon's combination of returning production and roster stability separates the Ducks from the field.

If Moore takes another step forward and Oregon's returning talent performs as expected, the Ducks will have a strong case to back up Klatt's lofty preseason expectations.

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