Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Washington Huskies in the 2024 Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game at Caesars Superdome on January 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Credit: John David Mercer – USA TODAY Sports
With just one week left in the offseason, many analysts are turning their attention to the expanded 12-team playoffs, trying to predict the teams, seeds and outcomes.
Fox Sports commentator Joel Klatt took a stab at predicting the bracket. Klatt does a great job breaking down his thoughts on the conference races, championship games, and at-large teams. He explains why the seeding is the way it is and gives his take on each game.
Klatt has Texas as a No. 6 seed in the playoffs. He points out how difficult it will be for the Longhorns to get through their tough schedule intact. Klatt predicts there will be two rematches against regular season opponents in the playoffs, which in itself confirms the difficulty of Texas’ schedule. Here is how Klatt predicts the Longhorns in each round:
SEC Championship Game
In the SEC, Georgia and Texas are my teams, and as of now, with a talented roster, returning quarterback Carson Beck and the best coach in college football in Kirby Smart, Georgia will beat Texas to win the SEC.
Playoff standings
The No. 6 seed is Texas, and I think Texas could win the regular season and Georgia could win the SEC Championship Game and potentially even a win-lose matchup with Georgia.
What I’m saying is, at some point, Texas is going to have some challenges, just like they have in the past. They have to play Michigan, they have to play Oklahoma at Red River, they have to play Texas A&M, they have to host Georgia.
So even if they beat Georgia, tie Georgia and lose in the title game, they’re going to lose somewhere along the way.
Round 1
#6 Texas vs Michigan. It’s a rematch, but in a different location. So I can’t wait to see them in week two, I don’t know what’s going to happen there, but I think Texas will win because they’re under pressure at home and they have a quarterback in Quinn Ewers.
I think Texas will beat Michigan and then face Utah in a 6-3 matchup. Texas will win the first round and advance to the college football quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals
Texas vs. Utah. I love Utah and I’m going to bet on Utah if they can host this game, and I think they can.
Can we get rid of the quarterfinal bowl game? I digress, but the bowl environment. If you look at the Fiesta Bowl, Texas will win. Texas has too much talent.
Semi-finals
Judging by the attendance at Jerry’s World (Cotton Bowl) at AT&T Stadium a few miles north of Austin, I expect Texas to beat Georgia. This will be the third time they’ve met. I’m sure Sark will bring something truly out of this world in terms of game plan to the third matchup. Ewers will be in top form.
Who will compete in the National Championships? Who will win the National Championships? ๐๐ Joel Klatt Predict who will compete and who will take home the trophy! ๐ pic.twitter.com/UiIsTEV1Mh
โ The Joel Klatt Show: CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) August 23, 2024
I remember the Alabama game a few years back and Georgia had a shot at beating Bryce Young’s Alabama team when they weren’t a team that could beat Bryce Young’s Alabama team at the time. That game is going to be epic and I believe Sark will beat Georgia because of where they are and the power he has in a third matchup. And…and…Quinn Ewers will play Ohio State in the National Championship. Yep!
National Championship Match
The No. 1 seed, Ohio State, will play Texas at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Texas gave it their all, so I don’t think they’ll be strong enough. I think Ohio State is the national champion.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt picks Texas to the national title game in his complete playoff predictions