Joel Klatt releases his early 2023 top 10 in college football. Where is Ohio State?

The curtain has fallen on another spectacular college football season, and despite a dud of a College Football Playoff national championship game, it was one to remember and one where Ohio State once again had a shot at claiming the ultimate prize.

While the Buckeyes came up a wee bit short against the Georgia Bulldogs, the expectation in Columbus is that OSU will make another run at it again in 2023. In fact, many of the same teams we’ve been seeing in high-stakes games on our television sets and streaming devices are expected to show up on those same platforms again next year.

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We’ll be making the rounds on preseason expectations for Ohio State, the Big Ten and other teams in the weeks and months ahead, but one analyst we liked to follow consistently in 2022 was Fox College Football’s Joel Klatt. He shared his thoughts on his personal list of top teams weekly, and he was as unbiased as Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh’s press conferences are quirky.

Well, now that the focus is on 2023 in what little offseason there is for college football these days, Klatt shared his very early top 10 for next season. Of course, we are interested in where he has Ohio State.

Here is Klatt’s way-too-early top 10 heading into next year and where the Buckeyes land in his opinion.

NEXT … Teams that almost made the cut

Almost among the top 10

Sept. 24, 2022; Pullman, Washington; Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) audibles against the Washington State Cougars in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

On the Doorstep of the Top 10

Oregon Ducks
Oklahoma Sooners
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
TCU Horned Frogs
Clemson Tigers

NEXT … Klatt’s Top Ten

No. 10 - Washington Huskies

Nov. 19, 2022; Seattle; Washington Huskies running back Richard Newton (6) celebrates with offensive lineman Henry Bainivalu (66, right) after rushing for a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes during the third quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

11-2 (7-2 in Pac-12) – Second in the conference

How 2022 Season Ended

Beat Texas, 27-20, in the Valero Alamo Bowl

No. 9 - Tennessee Volunteers

Nov. 5, 2022; Athens, Georgia; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel leaves the field after the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

11-2 (6-2 in SEC) – Second in the East division

How the Season Ended

Beat Clemson, 31-14, in the Capital One Orange Bowl

 

No. 8 - USC Trojans

Jan. 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley talks to quarterback Caleb Williams (13) during the game against the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

11-3 (8-1 in Pac-12) – Conference champions

How the Season Ended

Lost to Tulane, 31-14, in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

 

No. 7 - Florida State Seminoles

Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

11-3 (5-3 in ACC) – Second in the Atlantic division

How the Season Ended

Beat Oklahoma, 35-32, in the Cheez-It Bowl

No. 6 - LSU Tigers

Josh Williams runs the ball and scores as the LSU Tigers take down Alabama 32-31 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

10-4 (6-2 in SEC) – West division champions

How the Season Ended

Beat Purdue, 63-7, in the Citrus Bowl

No. 5 - Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin yells during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. Syndication The Columbus Dispatch

2022 Record

11-2 (7-2 in Big Ten) – Third in the East division

How the Season Ended

Beat Utah, 35-21, in the Rose Bowl

No. 4 - Alabama Crimson Tide

Oct. 8, 2022; Tuscaloosa; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban reacts during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

11-2 (6-2 in SEC) – Tied for first in the West division

How the Season Ended

Beat Kansas State, 45-20, in the Allstate Sugar Bowl

 

No. 3 - Ohio State Buckeyes

Nov. 19, 2022; College Park, Maryland; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leads his team onto the field before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

11-2 (8-1 in Big Ten) – Second in the East division

How the Season Ended

Lost to Georgia, 42-41, in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

No. 2 - Michigan Wolverines

Nov. 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh yells at his team against Ohio State Buckeyes in the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium. USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

13-1 (9-0 in Big Ten) – Conference champions

How the Season Ended

Lost to TCU, 51-45, in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl

No. 1 - Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia coach Kirby Smart celebrates after winning the NCAA College Football National Championship game between TCU and Georgia on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. Georgia won 65-7. USA TODAY Sports

2022 Record

15-0 (8-0 in SEC) – Conference and national champions

How the Season Ended

Beat TCU, 65-7, in the College Football Playoff national championship game

NEXT … Joel Klatt’s top ten and Twitter thread

Joel Klatt's early college football top ten and Twitter thread

My WAY TOO EARLY 2023 Top 10
1) @GeorgiaFootball
2) @UMichFootball
3) @OhioStateFB
4) @AlabamaFTBL
5) @PennStateFball
6) @LSUfootball
7) @FSUFootball
8) @uscfb
9) @Vol_Football
10) @UW_Football
Almost: @oregonfootball @OU_Football @NDFootball @TCUFootball @ClemsonFB

— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) January 10, 2023

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