Klatt ranks his Top 10 College Football Teams since 2000

[@JoelKlattShow]

What's your favorite College Football Team in Joel Klatt's rankings?

[@DrewsterRacing]

Texas and USC

[@austindog]

05 Texas probably the best team of the 2000’s

[@Ginga]

‘01 Miami. Five of my all-time favourite players in Taylor, Reed, Johnson, Portis and McGahee. Ballers everywhere.

[@okrajoe]

Lost all respect when Klatt left all the Alabama teams out of the Top 4.

[@packersauburneric3625]

I'm actually asking if 2004 auburn would of given USC a game because they had 2 top 5 picks at running back a first round pick QB Ben Grubbs and Marcus McNeil and that mean offensive line and Ratliff at defensive tackle with Carlos Rodgers at corner and they beat the reigning champs that year 2004 lsu with Saban

[@Kfabiano10]

Sean Taylor, who was on track to become one of the best safeties ever, was a freshman and played special teams for the '01 Hurricanes. LOADED!

[@Ginga]

Future top-10 picks Antrel Rolle and Kellen Winslow Jr. were also playing special teams. Willis McGahee almost won the Heisman the next season and was third-string behind Portis and Gore.

[@sirjer73]

As a Cane fan i get sentimental thoughts about that 2000 -2002 teams. Also Vince Wilfork was a back up also.

[@Al-Rudigor]

They were loaded the next year also.

[@someguy9981]

That team was insane

[@Mark-zx2bq]

It's unreal how much talent was on the field in the Texas - USC game...several soon to be HOFers

[@smilerpink]

Joel got the right USC team in 3rd in the 2004. Ironic the ‘05 got all the “best team ever” hype. They were much better on defense in ‘04, many NFL draft picks. Just as good on offense. As a Texas fan, I was very glad to play ‘05 SC rather than ‘04.

[@JasonSmith-pe5py]

Mightve been as much in the 00-02 Miami spring games.

[@JamesSmith-gz1zn]

@@JasonSmith-pe5pyfacts

[@sean78745]

It was at the time where ppl could tackle insanely hard as well. If you go back and watch that game there were some crazy hits. They were trying to decapitate eachother. Best game ever played

[@_MM03]

Very little NFL HOF’s, maybe if any. They were great college talent though

[@okrajoe]

Wait, you deliberately left *all* the Alabama championship teams out of the Top 4!?! All *SIX* of them!

[@AIRWAY26]

Be thankful he put the 2020 team in the top 5 team. that team gets disrespected all the time and joel recognized how good they were despite the casuals crying covid year

[@tyreek.6815]

Who would you replace?

[@misosavvy4140]

@@tyreek.6815all of them

[@konstantinebalika]

One of the best sports Ranking segments I’ve ever watched. Great job Joel

[@allenjackson6269]

Seeing it the other way is wild too. Texas and V.Y. vs 01 MIA would be insane. 04/05 USC vs LSU would be interesting. EA Sports should make these teams available in the new game!

[@puffdutchtwo]

Finally pay Reggie a little

[@sageex3931]

Exactly

[@packersauburneric3625]

I think 2004 auburn with first round pick and former 5 star Jason Campbell at QB and a healthy Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams who were both top 5 picks in 2005 and Ben Grubbs and Marcus McNeil were all pros in the NFL for offensive line Ben obamanu was like Steve Smith for USC and Anthony mix was big recruit and Courtney Taylor was a good college player .....

[@JMPIMP254]

Think about all the horses roaming up north during the crusades!

[@avsalinas979]

I'm surprised he didn't put the 2009 Alabama team in. That was the team that had. Had Julio Jones, Mark Ingram,and Trent Richardson on offense and donta high Tower on Defense.!

[@martinmccormick2166]

If you haven't noticed... Klatt doesn't like Alabama at all and he snubs them every chance he gets. That 2009 Alabama team would have beaten all of these teams including the 2020 Alabama team at 5th.

[@braddavid902]

That had a weakness at qb. McElroy was just a game manager who had great talent around him

[@na4valve]

2011 Bama team was better

[@mbar7777]

@@na4valvenot sure how that team would do in the new era but at the time they played I’d say that was the best bama team. Defense was just incredible

[@Hooch_is_crzy]

@@martinmccormick2166 lol no.

[@CoolHandLuke7]

I'm totally in the bag for that 05 Texas team. It seemed like no matter what the challenge was, Vince could overcome it.

[@Mark-zx2bq]

💯

[@detroithaitianblack5604]

Facts

[@rayjackson629]

Hook’em!

[@SportZFan4Ever]

05 Texas didn't play against 04 USC DEFENSE. Lofa Tatupu, Matt Grootegoed, Mike Patterson, Sean Cody, Omar Nazel, Eric Wright, etc, were All gone from that defense that shut down Adrian Peterson and Jason White.

[@Mark-zx2bq]

@@SportZFan4Ever '04 USC offense didn't play against '05 Texas' defense

[@SidekickZero]

2006 National Championship game with Texas vs USC was the greatest title game ever. I knew USC and Texas would be in this list.

[@MrCallofdutyfanatic1]

2004 USC is what made me fall in love with football at a young age ✌️❤️💛

[@tatertots0046]

As a USC fan, 2005 USC was better than 2004. They were more dominant vs a tougher schedule but they ran in to Texas. 05 Texas and 05 USC are top 4 teams(alongside 19 LSU & 13 FSU)

[@MrCallofdutyfanatic1]

@@tatertots0046 2005 was definitely special. Still hurts to think about the Rose Bowl. Have never re watched the game…. Hurts too much.

[@MuhGlassRibs]

​@@MrCallofdutyfanatic1Pete Caroll botched that game. Dont know why he used Lendale White on that 4th down instead of Reggie Bush who was balling out all game

[@RenR70]

@@tatertots0046No way man, ‘05 defense was down compared to ‘04, (gave up 42 to Fresno St.) if 05 team had 04 defense they’d have 3peated for sure.

[@brendonsheffield6372]

​@@tatertots0046 01 Miami would beat all 4 of them

[@Inboden69]

Whats amazing is after 23years, 3 of the top 4 teams were all within 5yrs of each other. With 2 of them playing each other within a year of the team that made the cutoff. The early 2000s of college football would make a great documentary of how great those teams were and what could have been if the playoffs started in 2000. Of your top 10 teams a number are from 00-08 and the matchups could have been all legendary like the Texas v USC 05 game.

[@uc95nu51]

Those 3 teams you speak of are so high cuz these rankings are coming from a 40 something bahgawd trying to relive his glory days. 20 years from now there will be another 40 something bahgawd saying the best teams were from 2020 to 2025 ish range. Go talk to some 60year old bahgawd and he'll say the early to mid 80's was the best teams in college foozball

[@uc95nu51]

Lemmetelyah something. Imma 39 year old bahgawd and them 2001 Canes will demolish any team you put in from of them. BAHGAWD YOU!!!!!!! Them 2002 Canes were cheated from another title. That ain't no pass interference at the end. It was rigged ahtelyah what.

[@GoHawgs1987]

​@uc95nu51 Agreed. I'm 36 and there's a big nostalgia factor here that I myself recognize.

[@markceci9896]

​@uc95nu51 I agree with you and I'm almost 60. I recognize that football continues to improve, so the recent GA and Bama squads would be really tough. Size, speed and play innovations are best right now.

[@jakeschilling1]

@@uc95nu51 Exactly right he played against a lot of those players, I'm sure that has no bearing to how good he thinks those teams are. Like you said 60 year olds will tell you that some 90's Nebraska team was the best ever. VY is incredible, but the best player I ever saw in person was Cam Newton, and as an LSU fan that pains me to say. Vince was incredible, but his team was much better than Cam's team and Cam did the same types of things. As much as it pains me to say it, I can't argue with Joel's point that the 19 LSU D was the worst group of the bunch, but my very biased eyes would still like to see the games played, because I don't think anyone is shutting down the O.

[@Philosoraptor1129]

2018 Clemson against 2019 LSU would have been a different game. The entire D Line was drafted along with our best corner and lets not forget about renfrow. 4th scoring offense and 1st scoring defense. I would legitimately put that 18 squad up against anyone on this list.

[@royalbluecougs7804]

Suprised to look back and see that 2004 USC played four 1- score games (3 against unranked opponents). In comparison, 2001 Miami had only 1 (against a ranked opponent) and Texas had 2 (both against top 5 teams).

[@SportZFan4Ever]

04 USC had 3 wins vs Top 10. #10 Virginia Tech, #7 Cal, #2 Oklahoma. 🤔

[@ScumLxrd1993]

And hammered the #2 team in the nation 55-19, so what’re you getting at?

[@fcon2002]

What impressed me about that USC team is that Oklahoma came out strong and scored right away and looked great at the beginning of the game. But, then USC started to realize they were way faster. USC started playing their backups in the 4th quarter and still won by 40 pts.

[@MH-0101]

Just FYI, scoring first is quite common in football. First drive is scripted and teams still feeling each other out.

[@fcon2002]

@Drstone-ys6we True, but these things rarely happen in a vacuum. The speed at which the USC defense sliced through the offensive line caused much of that. Jason White was hindered by his past leg injuries and didn't have the mobility to get out of the pocket. I still feel bad for that man because he was thrown into an impossible situation.

[@cartermayfield]

It is difficult to imagine that 2005 Texas team losing to anyone that year. VY wouldn’t let it happen. I think Texas wins that game and loses to the Canes in the natty.

[@kevinchandler179]

My Nittany Lions 🦁 were 1 second from being undefeated in 2005, and a bad call in Ann Arbor?? WE ARE

[@ericgallegos1798]

They were a dropped TD away from losing to a Ohio State backup quarterback that year

[@kevinchandler179]

You need to get your memory better, we dominated defensively in the second Whiteout ever in Happy Valley in 2005? Try again

[@trojanalum2007]

That 2005 Texas team barely beat the ‘05 Trojans that were significantly inferior to the ‘04 version which had Tatupu, Gootegood, Cody, Patterson, Jackson, Poole, Wright. And that’s just defense.

[@eltennis]

The 2019 LSU team wasn't losing to anybody. Burrow was picking apart any defense at will.

[@rbrinks5]

USC-Texas is the greatest game I've ever seen, and Miami 2001 is the best team (by some margin) I've ever seen

[@doomguy2945]

Definitely top 3 all-time. It wasn't just because of the game between USC and Texas, it was the buildup through the season. USC had a 3 point win over ND that year, and Texas had a 3 point win over OSU. The big brands played each other in competitive games and we got a clear champion by the end of the season. Amazing.

[@thomasfrederick71]

The 2019 Bama team lost to that LSU team by one score with an injured Tua playing all game and literally being helped off the field at the end of the game. Idk that thats a good reason to ding the 2020 Bama team.

[@brendondowdy5651]

We have a lot of that recently. Ohio state was clearly better than Georgia until Harrison got hurt last year and still Ohio state should've won but their kicker shanked a fg lol.

[@kizitokatende412]

Yea I get keeping them out of the top 4 but the reasoning is about as sound as Boo Corrigan's reasoning for excluding FSU this year

[@thomasfrederick71]

@@brendondowdy5651 everyone seems to forget that Georgia missed 2 field goals that same game.

[@thomasfrederick71]

@@kizitokatende412 yeah, like just say you think they’re better. That’d be better less arguable reasoning than his multiple degrees of separation. Thats what he did in his miami usc matchup.

[@footballknowitall6185]

You can’t be serious. Just dinged the undefeated 23 seminoles for a hurt QB and took them out of the playoff lol 😂😂😂

[@reidx512]

Joel,, I agree with you. Though I am a graduate of the University of Florida (95)... I love both of the teams you listed.. I remember that Miami and how that stadium rocked... Wow, I was young then, lol... I still like Nebraska, they were special too.

[@randyevans4967]

One thing to consider in the '01 Miami vs the '19 LSU game: that '01 Miami played in a slightly different era in terms of how the game was officiated. Ed Reed wouldn't be able to stay on the field in today's game playing the way he played back then, for example (targeting, etc). Not knocking that one way or the other. Just pointing out a difficulty in translating that hypothetical game.

[@Inboden69]

funny enough a bunch of the teams for his list would have been penalty kings in today's world.

[@Maal7432]

Ed could stay on the field. They throw it more now. Means more picks for him. And teams now would be worse back then. It was more defensive oriented.

[@GH-jb6bq]

The LSU '19 team played every team in the top 5 and beat them by a combined avg of over 20pts. Texas on hte road, Bama on the road, OU, Clemson, neither was close. UGA in the GA dome, won by 27 and UGA only scored 10 on LSU's 'bad defense' (LOL). They played one close game all year, Auburn. Every other game was domination. The miami team was pretty good in '01, but Ed Reed? Did you see what Jacoby Stevens did to opposing receives?

[@Inboden69]

This is prime rose colored glasses, considering the Texas game was a late score to secure it. The bama game was a who had it last game as well. It was a great team but hey on offense and didnt stop many of the offenses they saw. The playoff run was really great but to say they dominated every game past Auburn is someone that is a fan and not looking at the actual playing out of the games. @@GH-jb6bq

[@hamptonsroyce2509]

You probably didn't even see Ed Reed play in college. Reed was a ball hawk, not a reckless hitter

[@footballknowitall6185]

Joel Klatt always gives UT and VY the credit they deserve and I love it. 05 UT is one of the best teams of my life. No if ands or buts about it

[@martinmccormick2166]

That would have gotten beaten by most Alabama national championship teams. Fun fact that 2020 Alabama team was nowhere close to being the top Alabama NC team since 2000

[@Mark-zx2bq]

​@@martinmccormick2166hardly

[@Hooch_is_crzy]

@@martinmccormick2166 that texas team would smoke most of those alabama teams. college football has been a dead sport for a while. its a copy cat sport, the talent is lacking the rules make it soft... that texas team would shut out most of those alabama championship teams.

[@tommyfincher5451]

I actually think the 2022 Georgia team was better than 2021 team. Defense wasn't as dominant, but the offense improved drastically. They went undefeated unlike the 2021 team and Stetson Bennett was playing Heisman level football and beat CJ Stroud in a shootout game. They also have the most dominant win any bowl game ever and it was a national championship game none the less.

[@tazzBDC]

He’s speaking with Big 10 eyes trust me explaining yourself is for not 😂😂😂😂. Totally agree with you though

[@Plants28]

Beating tcu is nothing to brag about and played an osu team with the worst defense and still almost lost. Gerogia teams were both mid. Compared to other natty Champs.

[@MegaMadDog88]

​@tazzBDC Fellas, the other issue is that it's a whole other era now then it was back then. The athletes now are way different than the athletes then. Like how he just discredited the 2019 LSU team like they would just lay down for the 2001 Miami team is a clown take. Back in the early 2000's, they didn't throw the ball like they do now. They ran way more and the athletes weren't as versatile as they are nowadays. Like you had more category type players back then versus an abundance of players that can do a multitude of different things now in today's game. Can you imagine Chase and Jefferson (2 of the best WR's in the NFL right now), C.E.H., Marshall and Moss (underrated and undervalued compared to Chase and Jefferson) and Joe Burrow (one of the best QB's in the NFL right now) just beating up on anyone they wanted to now right? Imagine them taking advantage of the players back then with even more modern schemes and matchups and adjustments. Lastly, to say their defense basically was trash is just not true Joel. I.M.O., to not even put more modern teams in the top 4 is ridiculous and shows his bias for that early 2000's era. It literally seemed like he put a modern team, the 2019 LSU Tigers, in there so he wouldn't get flamed and torched.😂 Like I'm an Alabama fan and watching that game between Coach Saban and Coach O was great! I also think he needs some more modern tweaks to that whole bracket and top 10 too.😂

[@SauceK5]

@@Plants28nah he right that 22 Georgia team had a toughness that they couldn’t lose when ever great teams they play they show up they top 15 all time tho

[@SauceK5]

@@Plants28man 19 lsu was amazing

[@alleydrum]

I’ll always remember the UT/OKState game in Stillwater and I like to credit the OSU press box for the turnaround for UT after the half. They blasted Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan at halftime and brought some magic from Austin.

[@JMPIMP254]

how many apples?

[@adamsanders2270]

I think this is fair. As it stands I see 2000 Oklahoma as a major wildcard: There are so many teams that have more talent and I appreciated you seeing them as higher than many do. That team is my favorite individual team of all time. As a kid from Oklahoma I fell in love watching them play. One thing that strikes me about that team is that the culture was elite. You watch their games and they had their star players on each special team unit. You had to be a star to be on the field and I think that mentality led to their excellent year. I do think many people truly underrate how impressive they were. Offense was truly explosive and defense is one of the best units. They shut down a Florida state team that was defending champs, had a heisman QB, and hadn’t scored less than 24 all year (including against a loaded Miami team). Their run in October is still one of the most impressive months of all time.

[@ezrad3]

OU fan here, so you know this is impartial. The 2005 USC team not making the top 10? I was a little too young to remember actual qualities of the 2001 Canes team but I remember those 2005 teams and Texas 2 and that USC at 3 would have been my list. Just because if the game was one play shorter then that USC team would be your number 2. Great idea, and even better picture of the buffalo. Really enjoyed this segment

[@nicholaswoods4055]

1. 01 Miami 2. 19 LSU 3. 05 Texas 4. Basically any Alabama national championship team 5. 04 USC 6. 08 Florida 7. 13 FSU 8. Idk

[@0rthogonal]

Yeah, the Bama snub from top 4 is hilarious

[@humblejubilee1021]

I’ll put 05 Texas in front of LSU only because Texas defense were better. But I wouldn’t be mad if someone said they are rank 2.

[@LorinMueller]

@@humblejubilee1021 Also 19 Texas played 19 LSU down to the wire. Don't really see them in the Top 4, just very very fortunate.

[@musicbyTaraRose]

04 USC belongs on any top 4 list - I'd put 'em at 1, but to leave them out of the top 4 four is ridiculous...

[@nicholaswoods4055]

@@musicbyTaraRose can’t put them over Texas cause Texas beat that team

[@andy_hay23]

Everyone in Austin is flipping tables right now😂😂

[@user-tz2zz5ij1s]

Things to consider over the past 23 years are rule changes, and overall changes in offenses, which directly changed defenses. As in the type of players and position utilization.

[@joshhunter1129]

2019 LSU Beat Clemson 42-25 and took a knee at the 5

[@kgrainz6265]

Clemson’s 2019 team was so not as good on defense as the 2018 team

[@hajubabaduba8837]

@@kgrainz6265they were virtually identical statistically

[@MH-0101]

@@hajubabaduba88372019 Clemson didn’t have a single defensive linemen or linebacker make the nfl. I have no idea how they beat Ohio State.

[@hajubabaduba8837]

@@MH-0101 they had 8 defensive players make the nfl. 3 in the front 7.

[@MH-0101]

@@hajubabaduba8837 no they didn’t. They only had one. Here’s the list; DE Xavier Thomas- still in college, DT Tyler Davis- still in college, DT Jordan Willams - Undrafted, DE Logan Rudolph - Undrafted, LB - Isaiah Simmons - round 1, LB Jamie Skalski - Undrafted, LB Chad Smith - Undrafted, CB Derion Kendrick - round 6, CB AJ Terrell - Round 1, S K’von Wallace - Round 4, S Tanner Muse - Round 3. Those were the starters btw.

[@uncletido99]

The 96-97 rose bowl between ASU and Ohio State. One of the best games of all time with so much talent on the field.

[@donjuan914]

Just clicked. Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart USC squad better be on here.

[@donjuan914]

Just came back to confirm that Joel is the Goat 🐐

[@jamesbrothers4222]

IF YOU WANNA GO BACK FURTHER THE 2001 MIAMI AGAINST 1995 NEBRASKA

[@12hairyjohn]

Also, '04 SC still had Norm Chow as OC.

[@WittyAcronym]

Your top 4 is correct, but having the 2019 LSU Tigers behind Texas and USC is pretty insane. The 2001 Canes and the 2019 Tigers are the Top 2 and flip a coin on that one imho. Texas would be 3rd, and USC 4th. USC would not beat Miami or LSU. They would have a good chance against Texas, but I'd pick the Longhorns 6 or 7 times out of 10 against them. Neither of those teams would be Miami or LSU, though.

[@AyeItsTaee]

2018 Clemson not being top 4 is crazy. They beat what everybody thought was the best Alabama team of all time by 28 😭

[@brandonford7148]

As an Alabama fan, that is the single most shocking loss I’ve ever experienced outside of the Kick Six. Fantastic Clemson team.

[@sirjer73]

Didnt Alabama lose like 3 d lineman to the NFL in the first round. Sort of like the Clemson team had lost 3 d lineman the year before and faces that incredible LSU team. It matters when you catch this teams.

[@brandonford7148]

@@sirjer73 I would have to look back and see, but you might be right. Also, Tua had tightrope surgery on his ankle after the SEC Championship. Not an excuse, but it surely affected the outcome against Clemson.

[@jarock89f90]

Alabama's entire starting defense outside of two players was injured and did not play. Thats not an exaggeration. Alabama was also down a starting TE, OLman, and Tua was hobbling from ankle surgery. Its the most injured team Ive ever seen make it to a national championship game.

[@dashawnthomas9333]

Huh!!! That team wasn't a top 10 squad. Gtfoh

[@RadicallyOptimistic]

2020 Bama is easily the GOAT in my eyes. In a year of season long opt-outs and cancelled games, this team played 10 conference games in a top-loaded SEC. They beat A&M and OSU by 28, UGA and ND by 17, and dominated everyone else. Jaylen Waddle opted into the natty even though he wasn’t supposed to play.

[@setalight7290]

Homer

[@CountryBoysWillSurvive]

You notice where you said season long opt outs and cancelled games. Nearly every team had their star players opt out of the season. The only team that had all their players was Bama. Wonder why that was. Maybe because Saban had already paid them before the season started and they had no choice. They done spent that money and had no choice. Kid of odd that they are the only team to have all their players not opt out. The 2020 season in CFB is like the NBA and the Lakers bubble ring. Has an asterisk by it cause they are watered down.

[@terrelward6938]

It's hard to argue with the list. I believe you have the final 4 correct. My one argument is that you can't underestimate the clutch gene of Vince Young. I believe he would will that team to victory over anybody.

[@Z1stCNTRYdgtlBOY]

Very fair point about who they beat with USC vs Miami. Further to that, USC had a faaaaar better follow-up performance. Both continued their win streaks and were supposed to waltz to a repeat (especially Miami), but USC lost in the best game ever played on 4th down to Vince Young, while Miami lost to the cardiac kid Buckeyes who are probably weakest national champs this century (and I'm a die-hard Buckeye). Not only that, but even though Miami lost in double OT, OSU controlled the majority of that game. So ya, as much as my Buckeye blood urges me to loath anything USC, totally agree they'd take that game.

[@flxgld7096]

Miami lost by this make believe PHANTOM CALL to allow the game to goto overtime. The refs beat the Miami lol Not OSU

[@jacksonmillard7598]

Fun exercise! It would be so cool to see some of these teams play each other!

[@Wetrockstah2116]

Im old enough to have witnessed every one of these teams, and he lost me when he said 2004 USC would beat 2001 Miami. That USC team was great yeah, but i would have had them more in the 5-9 range. They wouldn't have beat the 2019 LSU team, so they definitely wouldn't have a chance against that 01 Miami team. Reggie Bush was a phenom, but he wasn't doing much vs that Miami team. And id probably have 2009 or 2011 Alabama in the top 4. 2014 ohio state is a bit slept on IMO, and the 2018 Clemson team too. If that same 2004 USC team played in the cfp era, they wouldn't have beaten alot of those bama teams, or that 2019 LSU.

[@speedkills232002]

Facts 💯

[@sereneandkeen]

1.)19 lsu,2.)01 miami, 3.)05 texas 4.)04 usc 5.)22 Georgia

[@showgamez5257]

01 MIAMI #1

[@sereneandkeen]

@showgamez5257 not even that defense would hold Burrow and those boys down

[@showgamez5257]

lol wake up @@sereneandkeen

[@sereneandkeen]

​​​@@showgamez5257I'm fully awake, lsu played a tougher schedule than that 01 Miami team and beat everyone by an average of twenty something points.

[@showgamez5257]

doesn't mean anything plus The LSU team didn't have any elite defenders so Miami wins easily@@sereneandkeen

[@DaDankStrafe]

I've had this debate before. 2020 Alabama is criminally underrated in these types of debates. They went 13-0 against all power 5 teams + Notre Dame. They played 1 game that was even with 14 points - #7 Florida was a 6-point game but most of the game was a semi-blowout. 2020 averaged more points per game, and gave up significantly fewer points per game than 2019 LSU, while playing a significantly harder schedule. The only reason the LSU team stands out more is because that LSU team is much more of an anomaly for LSU because they are great much more seldom than Alabama. It's just facts.

[@SportZFan4Ever]

2004 USC is the ONLY National Champion Team to go wire-to-wire #1 since 2000. Meaning they were #1 every week from start to finish. They were on a 21 game win streak too when they demolished Oklahoma. Florida State was the last team to go wire-to-wire #1 before that and it was in the 90's.

[@MH-0101]

They were also the only team to be ineligible in this discussion due to cheating and having their title vacated.

[@RenR70]

@@MH-0101Wasn’t cheating that factored in the field, Reggie Bush was getting benefits outside of football, which is against the rules. (everybody was, he just got caught)

[@MH-0101]

@@RenR70 they cheated to get Reggie Bush on the field. By definition they cheated on the field. And they got caught. And it was deemed an unfair advantage. And they had their title vacated. Tell your tin foil hat self whatever makes you feel better.

[@Hooch_is_crzy]

@@MH-0101 and now, its not cheating...

[@MH-0101]

@@Hooch_is_crzy um okay? lol.

[@raystudevent7446]

Thanks Joel I am sad because my girlfriend is fighting the spreading of her stage 4 cancer but you help me with shows like this. Love you bro

[@Jaxon5209]

Joel puts the 2020 Alabama team at 5 then immediately says the 2019 Alabama team was but leaves them off the list completely.

[@okrajoe]

Who leaves out all 6 Bama #1 teams.

[@josephbennett728]

Bama haters

[@mbar7777]

He prefaced the segment saying that there are non champions who have arguments but they just went with the champions

[@arightscepter]

Even as Duck for some decades, I always was a fan of USC. As a pre-teen I recall being a big fan of a Trojan named Chandler, a receiver. Maybe maturing by noticing, hey this passing catching stuff is really great :) I loved watching Reggie and Matt. Crazy great. Whenever Texas is mentioned the first thing I think is of Vince Young beating the Trojans with that touchdown run. Reason being I guess is that my Daughter (in Law) was at USC and on the marching band for that game and this really mattered to her. :) Loved this video.

[@DontbeahaterbeaHatton]

That '04 usc team was really good and if Tatupou had stayed for '05, and Reggie is on the field for that 4th down on offense, they win. And I'm a sc fan but that '01 Miami team was insane. I think Miami beats them by 7 or less.

[@Hooch_is_crzy]

Ken Dorsey wouldnt be up to the task imo, he is gonna be a lot like Jason White. That defense in 04 was really underrated.

[@caseykayl9110]

This was going so well until that final call. Give me that '01 Miami team all day. Great episode though, Sko Buffs!

[@joelledbetter2926]

That 2000 ou team had amazing defense that better and better each game

[@danielgerding8683]

I love you Joel, you're so no bias and give great nuanced opinions. I'm so glad 05 Texas made your playoff and 05 Tecas vs 04 USC would have been so epic and Texas probably would have lost a close one.

[@joshmartonosi5624]

I'm not the expert that Joe is, but it seems incorrect to not have one of the Alabama teams, which have appeared to me to best some of the best teams of all time.

[@lenoirfaineant8499]

LSU's defense by the time they got to the playoffs was good. It was bad early on and Dave Arranda had to rework it which took awhile. The LSU team that steamrolled everyone late in the year through the playoffs, with modern offense, would win this hypothetical playoff.

[@CollegeSportsSuperfan]

That 2019 LSU team clearly was the best of all time. Look at the roster of both offensive and defensive players. Plus they beat a top 10 Texas team on the road, a top 10 Alabama team on the road, destroyed #4 Georgia, #4 Oklahoma, and #3 Clemson. Half of the teams they beat as they went 15-0 were ranked teams and 5 of those were in the top ten!

[@dout9929]

Yep 2019 LSU best team of all time.. boomer

[@brocky]

facts

[@marcestes40]

No one beats that Miami team, period point blank!! And I am a Michigan fan unconditionally

[@dominiclowe3640]

Ohio state did

[@marcestes40]

@@dominiclowe3640 not that team, they beat the next years version

[@tonywalker2238]

@@dominiclowe3640with help from officials,keep a 100

[@takeittothebank8]

2016 Bama outside of the top 10 is crazy

[@AIRWAY26]

we choked agaisnt a clearly inferrior clemson team

[@CRMdrifter]

Gotta love historical content from Joel

[@rolltide103188]

I think the 2011 Alabama team gets constantly overlooked. That defense was absolutely nasty with Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, CJ Mosley, Donta Hightower, Courtney Upshaw, and multiple other NFL guys. Sure their offense was nothing to ride home about but that team held everyone they played under 21 points.

[@chadcarlisle3123]

Yes I try to tell ppl that no one but maybe that 01 Miami team would beat the 2011 Bama team if bama makes their FGs.

[@EulogyfortheAngels]

They didn't play any good QBs that year.

[@jarock89f90]

2020 Alabama was the best team of all time. Its not even close. Klatt is an Alabama hater so not including 2020 Alabama in his list at all just shows it. That team offensively smokes anyone on this list including 2019 LSU. Najee Harris, Devonte Smith, Jaylen Waddle, that OLine was insane, and the defense held Ohio St to 24 points. I think 2020 Bama is the shoe in tbh

[@lueezy5528]

@@jarock89f90😂😂😂

[@hajubabaduba8837]

@@jarock89f90he just hates the SEC because of the network he works at.

[@beauburgess9705]

For Alabama to only have one team this list is silly

[@GrayGamer]

2019 Alabama was Saban’s most talented team. Tua played through an injury and almost beat 2019 LSU.

[@luis_zz8852]

18 and 19 were both really talented teams for Saban.

[@wolfdude3650]

They did not almost beat 2019 LSU! Stop it. Lol

[@GrayGamer]

@@wolfdude3650 it was a one score game I believe 46-41.

[@SparksofHell]

That kick vs auburn though….😂

[@JamesKelley-fx3zp]

Veteran linebacker Joshua McMillon was first with a season ending right knee injury suffered in fall camp. Next up was five-star recruit and the self-proclaimed future 2019 Heisman winner Trey Sanders. Sanders suffered a season ending foot injury that required surgery. By the end of fall camp, right before the opening game, the last of the preseason blows came with the other veteran linebacker, Dylan Moses. Moses tore his ACL during practice and would miss the entire 2019 season. - October 2019: Tagovailoa suffers another right ankle injury, this time a high ankle sprain during a win over Tennessee. He again opts to undergo a tightrope procedure for a quick recovery. He misses one game (a win over Arkansas) before returning to start in Alabama's loss to LSU. If Tua were healthy, the 46-41 loss would have tilted the other way. - If someone claims 2019 LSU as top team, then healthy 2019 Bama is better.

[@TheDirtyGoatee]

I’m 3:30 in and I can tell you two things for certain. You went back to 2000 so the 01 Canes could be included. Secondly, they’re the best of all time. Period.

[@MichaelJohnson-ss7qf]

@joel I think you’re sleeping on our defense for the 2019 LSU team. Now I will admit that we did start off slow but after we played Ole Miss that year and allowed them to put 30 plus points on us we started locking teams down. Even Alabama with as tough as they were could not move the ball on us that 1st half. They really didn’t get into a rhythm until late in the second half and by that time it didn’t matter. That being said I don’t think we probably would have beat Miami with as balanced as they were on both sides of the ball

[@claytonstrickland8336]

2019 LSU beats any of those teams. The defense was top flight by the end of the year and there offense could not be stopped.

[@johnkeilloh2682]

Difficult to see anyone scoring 40+ points on LSU because you know they’re scoring 40+

[@treydezellem27]

I’m good with this. Great question and episode!

[@Nomansland407]

Miami would beat that usc team by 40

[@maxsthoughts6204]

Not having 2014 Ohio State on here is crazy. I would easily put them ahead of 2021 Georgia. Also 2013 Florida State is very underrated

[@tyreek.6815]

Y’all keep saying leaving X team out is crazy… but who are you taking out? It can’t be the USC and Texas. Bc those were the greatest teams in a Natty. Which team are you replacing?

[@drewsnetwork3204]

More videos like this please! Especally during the offseason.

[@davidcole2337]

So Alabama has had 6 National Championship and not a single one makes your Top 4. Sorry that Team that beat Notre Dame in National Championship should have been in top 4. Joel Klatt shows his bias against Alabama with not including 1 of them and only including 1 in the Top 10? Just Wow..

[@JB-tp6uj]

The number of national championships has no bearing on any singular Alabama team. That’s an argument for the best program this century, which is easily Alabama. Not including them doesn’t show bias. It just means he doesn’t believe any singular Alabama team was good enough to make the top 4. And I agree…none were better than the top 4.

[@bradl345]

lets not forget Miami 2000 and 2002 teams.

[@bryandolan8888]

By the Ohio State 2019 team getting "weird calls", you mean robbed?? Still have no idea how that Justyn Ross play was ruled an incomplete pass. That would have been a fumble return for a TD, most likely Ohio State pulling away for a victory. And don't even get me started on the Shaun Wade targeting call on 3rd down.

[@AmanKhan-lb4eq]

Hold that L Ocryo State fan

[@bryandolan8888]

@@AmanKhan-lb4eq Difficult to win with blatantly awful calls like that.

[@kgrainz6265]

Ohio state would’ve gotten smoked in the championship game anyway

[@randyrager1310]

​@@AmanKhan-lb4eq Can't make a statement about the actual football team so they try to come up with different ways to pronounce "Ohio" 😂😂😂 hey bud did you make it out of middle school or are you just bad at insults?

[@todddavis7438]

I love this, Joel. Thanks!

[@gilga1995]

Klatt forgot to mention the x-factor in the century championship game....Miami TE's (Shockey and Winslow JR) vs USC linebackers...gonna convert alot of 3rd downs.

[@JohnCole-lp1yy]

I'm a diehard OU that lived in So Cal at that time and I'm here to tell everybody I agree with Joel Klatt all the way on this list. I've been saying this for years now

[@rudyguili4782]

2021 Georgia got blown out in their home state, come on Joel

[@SauceK5]

But came back and embarrassed Michigan and beat bama don’t care about injuries

[@luberdoo1950]

Say, it ain't so, Joel! There were 2 HT winners playing in the same backfield and have often been considered the greatest backfield in college football history. "Glenn "Mr. Outside" Davis, high school super-athlete from Southern California who began rewriting the Army offensive record book in 1943. The next year, Felix "Doc" Blanchard, or "Mr. Inside," left the University of North Carolina after being rejected for a Navy officer program and headed to West Point, becoming part of possibly the greatest backfield tandem in college football." They went undefeated from '44-'46, winning 32 straight. They played in the backfield those 3 years. Davis won the HT in '45 and Blanchard in '44.

[@Tkingfsu]

2013 FSU at 9 😂 please, that entire team was full of NFL starters.

[@fdapocalypse]

Klatt is a well known FSU hater but knew he couldn’t leave them off this list bc the anti fsu bias would have been too strong so he stuck them in the back of the list at #9. 2013 fsu should be top five on this list with 2001 Miami and 2019 lsu + two others.

[@cjdayne3033]

I knew the 04 Trojans was gonna be in the final, however 01 Miami is going to win against anyone

[@michaelkirshner3099]

This man takes it as his personal mission to snub that 2019 LSU team

[@Itachi-xi9sl]

How snub? They made the cfp and lost to the team everyone considers the greatest team of this century

[@michaelkirshner3099]

@@Itachi-xi9sl 2019 LSU is routinely talked about as a top 3 of all time, and he seems to have them power ranked as 4th best in the last 25 years. Not to mention he spent all of like 30 seconds on their matchup in this video

[@KINGPOOPS]

Klatt and disrespecting FSU, name a more iconic duo

[@brandonshannon6864]

The final two would be a great match-up I don't think anyone would beat that Cane's team. People forget about how good Ken Dorsey was as a college QB! Sidenote: I would have love to see a Cam Newton's Auburn Tigers vs Vince Young's Texas Longhorns Final.

[@JamesKelley-fx3zp]

Cam's Auburn Team is the one that taught Saban to not take his foot off the gas. Bama had Auburn down 24-0 in the 3rd quarter and let off the gas. Auburn did as they should and grabbed the momentum, winning 27-24. Good team, but Bama was better until they prematurely went into coasting mode. I wouldn't classify that Auburn team as one of the best this century

[@brandonshannon6864]

@@JamesKelley-fx3zp LMBO. All the stuff you wrote has nothing to do with a matchup I would love to see. LMBO!!!I Specifically why I said side note Take care guy.

[@SportZFan4Ever]

2004 USC Defense was blueprint for the 2013 Seahawks Defense. They were FAST.

[@musicbyTaraRose]

Cam Newton's Auburn team needed some very questionable calls to beat Oregon in the NCG by 3, VY's Texas team would have rolled them...

[@brandonshannon6864]

@@musicbyTaraRose 😂😂😂 Vice Texas team need a 4th down conversion and some questionable calls of their own to beat that Trojans team. 😂😂😂. Also I didn’t say Auburn could replace any of the teams Joel mentioned in personally want to see the matchup as Young and Newton was great individual players and I would love to see their teams go at it. Yall reading is fundamental.

[@D3zii1]

Okay Klatt you might be the only podcaster when it comes to best teams that I agree with on the top 4

[@novicegamerhb5208]

And that’s why you bring in what these guys did in the pros. You’ll have a better understanding.

[@batmancanfly1086]

I really think that ‘13 fsu team should be top 4, they’re not as flashy or culturally important as these other teams, but strictly talking football they are one of the 4 best teams this century

[@tatertots0046]

For sure. They get knocked because Jalen Ramsey was their only elite NFL player which is irrelevant

[@joshuaalexander8327]

Actually #5 sounds right for FSU can't make top 4 for nothing 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Mark-zx2bq]

😂

[@nowayjose1313]

​@@joshuaalexander8327As an FSU fan, that comment is too soon. The 2013 FSU team was highly elite. Almost every starter went to the NFL. Joel just mentioned that this is the team that won by the highest average (still can't get in the top 5 even with style points) and overcame an Auburn team that was stealing their signs durinng the championship game. There wasn't a game that was in doubt for FSU that year.

[@joshuaalexander8327]

@@nowayjose1313 I'm a canes fan just having fun with it next year if you run the table you won't have that problem

[@GH-jb6bq]

No one ever remembers that LSU's defense lost it's Thorpe Safety due to an injury for several games, lost it's two defensive tackles and it's 1s round pick edge rusher and Patrick Queen began the season as a backup. When that team had it's players on the field it shut down UGA to 10, shut down OU in the playoff and outscored Clemson 35-8 after the 1st qtr. To say they didn't have a top defense statistically is true since the middle five games they had backups playing. But analysts never know that.

[@SauceK5]

Georgia offense was horrible in 19 17 to South Carolina it did shutdown Clemson and ou

[@packersauburneric3625]

I'm actually asking if 2004 auburn would of given USC a game because they had 2 top 5 picks at running back a first round pick QB Ben Grubbs and Marcus McNeil and that mean offensive line and Ratliff at defensive tackle with Carlos Rodgers at corner and they beat the reigning champs that year 2004 lsu with Saban

[@pkpledn6]

They played in 2003 and USC beat them 23-0 at Auburn

[@SportZFan4Ever]

2004 Auburn was the same team USC Shutout in Jordan Hare 23-0 the year before.

[@packersauburneric3625]

@@SportZFan4Ever no we had Jason Campbell with his 4th Different offensive coordinator and both Ronnie and Cadillac were top 5 picks and we didn't have Marcus McNeil playing yet and Ben Grubbs who were first team all pros and Jay Ratliff on defense with Carlos Rodgers and junior rose green

[@SportZFan4Ever]

@@packersauburneric3625 ok and Matt Leinart's first game ever was vs #6 Auburn in 2003. Reggie Bush and Lendale White were back ups behind Hershell Dennis in the 2003 game too. Dwayne Jarrett Wasn't at USC yet. 04 USC was a far better team than the one that Shutout Auburn 23-0 the year before. Not to mention USC had a Beast defense. Front 4 was called Wild Bunch pt. 2 coached by Ed Orgeron. All American Linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Matt Grootegoed. Offense Coached by Norm Chow and Lane Kiffin. I don't think people and the media wanted to see that match up again.

[@boddaboom77]

​@SportZFan4Ever but, they weren't the same team.

[@Razor857]

USC did NOT split the National Championship in ‘03. They got #1 in the AP poll. You cannot crown USC when they didn’t play in the Natty game. It was the BCS era where champions were crowned on the field. USC didn’t make the field.

[@jordanmcelroy5861]

Hands down the best episode ever on the Joel klatt show 😂

[@academyofchampions1]

Joel Klatt for president!!!!

[@chiefs816kc]

Haven't watched the video yet but here are my rankings. #1 '19 LSU, #2 '01 Canes, #3 '20 Bama, #4 '09 Bama

[@footballknowitall6185]

09 bama 😂😂😂

[@greyhigg7300]

lol that lsu team is so overrated

[@RenR70]

SEC bias is strong with this list.

[@hamptonsroyce2509]

I would probably go with ‘01 Miami, but I can't deny the greatness of ‘04 USC. Miami might’ve had more talent, but as a team, USC was a juggernaut

[@ryanwillings6392]

Klatt personalized it and disrespected Bama. Color me surprised. What a shocker! 😂

[@Melquiades_]

Man I would pay serious money to see that playoff. I think the 2015 Ohio St team deserves to be mentioned with the teams that didn’t win a natty but are still in this conversation. That team was absolutely loaded with 1st round picks and never trailed in a game yet didn’t make the playoffs bc of last minute field goal by Michigan St.

[@josephdickinson5183]

That was 2013. 2014 we did win the national championship and that team should have been playoff team.

[@Melquiades_]

@@josephdickinson5183 nah my guy, I’m talking about our team the year after we won the National Championship (2015). That was Urban’s most talented team and the first ever consensus number 1 preseason team. The 2013 team was a special group but not as talented a roster as 2015

[@josephdickinson5183]

@@Melquiades_ yeah we had a problem with who should have been our qb that year and we took to long to figure it out.

[@Melquiades_]

@@josephdickinson5183 I completely agree

[@Melquiades_]

@@josephdickinson5183 also felt coming of the playoffs the year before, it was clear Zeke was the best player in the country IMO, and we should have rode #15 more throughout the year. After the Michigan St game we started running our offense through Zeke and that’s when we became unstoppable those last few games feeding Zeke

[@thesecondhalfshow9903]

It’s hard to compare across eras but there’s no doubt in my mind 2019 LSU would win this hypothetical playoffs. By the numbers their defense should prevent them from being the #1 seed, but a lot of Miamis defensive dominance comes from playing a full schedule of QBs that simply don’t measure up to todays game. So much has changed from what top tier QB play in the early 2000s and top tier QB play looks like today that I am really not sure how much that 2001 Miami defense could limit points against LSU. I mean offensively it would be the greatest they had ever seen my a multiple of 3-4x. Yes an excellent defense, but if played under todays rule set I’m not sure how many penalties they would get (not saying that’s fair to take into account but one way or another it should be). 2001 Miami would score…. A lot. But let’s not act like Ken Dorsey would be the best QB that LSU team faced. The run game would put up numbers though but I still think LSU wins. I think the 04-05 argument is mostly bias, both teams were excellent don’t get me wrong but neither would make my top 4.

[@adrianbundy3249]

They had lights out defense that probably would have broken to a high powered LSU offense, but I don't think that LSU defense is going to keep from being consistently ground down. And with that LSU offense on breaks, that all-star Miami defense had some key players who I think would have reliably given a takeaway or two from LSU, and that is enough for me to think Miami wins it.

[@leohmusic8676]

Was with you right to the end. What do you mean by 04-05 dont make your top 4? Like 04 usc and 05 texas? I know eras this and modern offense that but like what? Whos better?

[@thesecondhalfshow9903]

@@leohmusic8676 both great teams, I would probably put them in the 5-8 range don't get me wrong. I personally have a higher regard for 2018 Clemson than Joel does here, maybe that is my recency bias though. I also think 2021 Georgia is a top 4 team, I know they lost a game and maybe I would keep Texas over them but idk. That 04 USC team was not that consistent, they had several one score games against mediocre teams. Texas definitely could be my 4 spot, I think in some ways that title game was so epic they got overrated is all. I think arguments could be made for 2020 Alabama and 2013 Florida state. Id say there was a dry spell between that 06/07 season and 2016/2017 season with only 2013 Florida state being a real standout, lots of great Alabama teams but none that rise to the historical level of this debate

[@dannyd8625]

I'm inclined to agree with ya. The game is always evolving. Every 10 years or so ya can just look back and see that the top teams are better. Sort of like in sports where events are timed, so no dispute- athletes are just better. A 20 year difference and it's really noticeable. No 90s teams would beat the top teams of today. Even if Michigan (the team I root for) loses vs Bama, this team would still beat the 97 team. The size, speed, etc of the players today would be too much of an advantage. The 97 Michigan team would be ranked about 7th in 2023. I get this is a 2000 and after list. I just wanted to point out my own team so it didn't come off as I was dogging anyone.

[@Bama251.]

Idk LSU almost lost to Bama with a limping Tua. Definitely think LSU deserves top 10, but not beating Miami.

[@shadbever2149]

Pretty much agree, but Joel you forgot to mention USC also had my boy Clay Matthews (Claymaker)on that team as well!!

[@jplaya2023]

01 Miami was up 34-0 at half. They clearly dialed back otherwise they would've scored 60+. USC was a great.college team. That miami team would win 1 or 2 games in the nfl. Thats the difference

[@Hooch_is_crzy]

that USC team would have as well.. 7 first round picks vs 11. Both teams had NFL Speed and NFL size. Ken Dorsey vs Matt Leinart is relevant, Matt is and was better than him. The backfield is insane in that matchup. Miami has a slight edge in talent on defense, and USC has an advantage in scheme. Honestly its the best game that could take place from college teams. There is not a clear cut edge for either team.

[@Primecheese]

Respect for mentioning the 2019 Buckeyes

[@istaphobe]

‘05 Texas would’ve beat anyone. They’re the best team of this century. VY simply wouldn’t let them lose no matter the opponent. Jamal Charles was on that team too.

[@MH-0101]

The best teams I’ve ever seen (since 2003); 2013 FSU, 2019 LSU, 2019 Ohio State, 2005 Texas, 2018 Clemson. That’s it. That’s the list.

[@kennethestes1828]

No one beats the 2004 USC Trojans. I think people forget how good that defense was.

[@whatlol_e]

ironic with the state of usc now

[@dragonboy141]

You clearly never watched 01 Miami’s defense. Reed, Vilma Taylor, Williams, Buchanan, Mcdougal. Too stacked. Also way too dam fast for SC to deal with.

[@MuhGlassRibs]

​@dragonboy141 they had better nfl talent but usc had a great all around defense

[@Mark-zx2bq]

Um, '05 Texas comes to mind

[@Mike-r6y4x]

They weren’t even the best team in football in 2004 lol. Auburn was the best team in 04 and I’m a bama fan so that kills me to say that.

[@ethonfelton805]

So the school with 6 national championships and more nfl picks than anyone else is only on here once.

[@thedeceasedband]

It's absolutely criminal that the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes didn't make this list at all.

[@HollaMac5D]

Fr it was the very 1st CFP's Ohio State was a 4 seed who whooped Bama ( the 1 seed ) then dogged walked the Duck's..... they was the very first college football playoff Championship and they did it by beating the 1 and 2 seed! C'mon Joel get ur stuff together my guy

[@patrickkuhn3277]

Are you all saying this as Ohio State fans? Who would you remove from his top 10?

[@rizinstarz]

True but I’d pick the 2015 Ohio St over 2014 even without the title.

[@shawnboston3060]

With the 3rd string QB

[@martinmccormick2166]

@@HollaMac5D They only beat Bama because Kiffin stopped running Henry, Nobody could stop Henry in the first half and he had like 3 carries in the second. Bama beat Bama that game and voided a huge lead from the domination of the 1st half that they put on OSU.

[@deanhovey8348]

Awesome !

[@jaylanwesley3955]

It’s foolish to say that 2019 alabama was better than 2020 bama. Yes 2019 alabama was more talented. More talent does not always mean you are a better TEAM.