Joel Klatt Predicts South Florida as Dark Horse in 12-Team College Football Playoff Field

FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has identified Michigan and Washington as potential dark horses for the College Football Playoff, noting both teams could be 9-2 going into their final rivalry games, which if won, would position them strongly for playoff inclusion. Klatt also predicts a surprise team from the American Conference, with South Florida favored to win the conference championship over Tulane and secure the Group of Five's automatic CFP bid despite recent losses. Klatt advocates for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal games to be held on campus rather than neutral sites, arguing this would reward top teams with true home-field advantage and enhance fan experience and fairness. He has released a new 12-team playoff prediction featuring Ohio State as the top seed and includes matchups such as Miami vs. South Florida and Notre Dame vs. Georgia, with South Florida making the playoff despite their current unranked status. The field also reflects a mix of conference champions and at-large bids, with the Big Ten and SEC dominating the top seeds. Klatt’s projections highlight the evolving nature of the expanded playoff format and the competitive race developing across multiple conferences.