See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: David Pollack & Joel Klatt Preview WEEK 5 in College Football | Oregon-Penn State | Alabama-Georgia

Date: September 25, 2025
Guests: Joel Klatt

Episode Overview

In this episode, David Pollack is joined by Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt to break down the biggest stories and matchups for Week 5 in college football. The conversation spans in-depth analysis of top teams' playoff outlooks, pivotal player injuries, and the most compelling games of the upcoming weekend—including Oregon–Penn State and Alabama–Georgia. The episode delivers candid insights into national championship contenders, questions about programs like Oklahoma and Penn State, and quick hits on coach changes and under-the-radar games. The tone is honest, knowledgeable, and entertaining, with plenty of back-and-forth and light-hearted moments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Impact of John Mateer’s Injury on Oklahoma

[02:30 – 11:09]

• David opens by highlighting the major injury to Oklahoma QB John Mateer, who broke his thumb early against Auburn yet still delivered a clutch performance.
  • "He still goes 24-of-36, 271 [yards]. A touchdown, doesn’t turn the football over, leads the team in rushing." (David, 03:48)
• The panel discusses how Oklahoma can cope, especially with an “easier” stretch ahead—a bye and Kent State—before the crucial Red River game vs. Texas.
  • "If there ever was good timing for this...you would want it right now..." (Guest Analyst, 04:56)
• The significance of injuries in College Football Playoff selection is covered:
  • "If you lose to Texas, Mateer wasn’t there. Sorry, man, can’t hold that loss against me. It’s just a thing to consider." (David, 06:17)
• Michael Hawkins Jr. is poised to step in; his running ability and past seasoning are noted as positives.
• The stretch run is daunting: "Ole Miss at home, at Tennessee, at Alabama, Mizzou at home and LSU at home." (Guest Analyst, 09:17)
• Playoff implication: If Oklahoma beats Michigan but loses to Texas without Mateer, the injury caveat could help their case.
  • "You're 9-3 with a Texas loss with no Mateer is going to be better than anybody else's 10-2." (Guest Analyst, 09:47)

2. Coach Firings and Changes

[15:04 – 19:42]

• Oklahoma State fires Mike Gundy; Virginia Tech and Stanford also make coaching changes early in the season.
• The panel expects a "mass coach exodus" with increased money from NIL and program investments.
  • "Now that the knowns are a little more known, you’re going to see a lot of it." (Guest Analyst, 17:49)
• Virginia Tech is discussed as an attractive job with $50M in new investment and potential to lure Shane Beamer.
  • "No money, no success. Like, you have to have money in this sport." (David, 18:28)

3. Parity & The Changing College Football Landscape

[21:53 – 23:04]

• Joel Klatt reflects on a season of parity:
  • "We've got real parity in the sport. For the first time that I can ever remember, I legitimately look at the top 12-13 teams and I'm like, any one of them can beat any other team any given Saturday." (Joel Klatt, 22:03)
• The era of preordained Bama/Clemson/Georgia dominance appears to be over.
  • "For so many years...it was like, Oh, well, it’s Bama and Clemson or Bama and Georgia..." (Joel Klatt, 22:30)

4. Big Ten Contenders: Deeper Than Usual

[23:04 – 24:59]

• Klatt identifies 4-5 Big Ten teams as legit national title threats: Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, and possibly USC.
  • Note: Indiana and USC highlighted as "underrated and scary"—USC especially noted as top in the country in yards/play and sacks.
  • "USC...could surprise some people. They've got Illinois this weekend. They've got Michigan coming up. They've got Notre Dame..." (Joel Klatt, 24:30)

5. Quarterback Analysis: Arch Manning & Drew Aller

[25:58 – 32:04]

• Arch Manning’s adjustment curve:
  • "We pictured Arch running into the season as a Heisman front runner. And he just needed to learn how to crawl first..." (Joel Klatt, 28:42)
  • Emphasis on Manning’s footwork, timing, and the need for patience with young quarterbacks, especially those with a famous name.
• Drew Aller & Penn State:
  • David and Joel express disappointment, noting a lack of big-play passing and concern over Penn State’s 14 straight regular-season losses to top 10 teams.
  • "You realize the last big game we saw Penn State play was that national semifinal. They had zero catches from their wide receivers." (Joel Klatt, 33:16)

6. Oregon–Penn State Preview & National Title Case

[34:30 – 37:19]

• Oregon’s ability to “walk into” the Big Ten and dominate is discussed.
• Dante Moore’s emergence at Oregon is praised; run defense is cited as a possible Achilles' heel.
  • "Dante Moore is a sensational player...he is absolutely one of the top three guys for the Heisman Trophy as we speak." (Joel Klatt, 35:37)
• Pressure is “all on Penn State,” given their experience and expectations.

7. SEC Showdowns: LSU-Ole Miss, Alabama-Georgia

[37:19 – 44:00]

• LSU-Ole Miss:
  • Klatt sees Ole Miss as overrated, LSU as more solid than people think.
    • "Ole Miss is not as good as they were a year ago. I think LSU is better..." (Joel Klatt, 38:00)
  • Ole Miss's run defense is poor (121st in FBS), which could help LSU get their offense rolling again.
• Alabama–Georgia:
  • Kirby Smart's Georgia dominance at home is underlined. Bama’s road struggles and injuries are highlighted as crucial factors.
    • "Bama under Kalyn DeBoer is really bad on the road: 2-4 and looked terrible in some of those." (Joel Klatt, 40:57)
  • Gunner Stockton’s late-game heroics for Georgia credited to team chemistry and resilience.

8. Underrated Matchup: Washington vs. Ohio State

[44:09 – 45:44]

• Both praise Washington as hugely underrated, noting their offensive prowess and home win streak.
  • "Washington...they've scored on 17 straight drives. No one knows that. Why? Because they don't watch football on the West Coast." (Joel Klatt, 44:16)
  • Damond Williams (QB), Jonah Coleman (RB), Denzel Boston (WR) are called potentially the best trio in college football.

9. Joel Klatt’s Career Path – Memorable Story

[45:58 – 49:48]

• Klatt shares his unlikely journey into sports broadcasting, aided by faith and his wife’s encouragement.
  • "Sometimes it takes someone believing in you before you believe in you." (David, 48:01)
• Humorous anecdote about covering a radio remote from a Taco Bell kitchen “for a show no one listened to” as a contrast to current national exposure.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Oklahoma’s Playoff Path:

  • "If you lose to Texas, Mateer wasn’t there. Sorry, man, can’t hold that loss against me." (David, 06:17)

• On Parity in 2025:

  • "For the first time that I can ever remember, I legitimately look at the top 12-13 teams and I'm like, any one of them can beat any other team any given Saturday." (Joel Klatt, 22:03)

• On Learning as a Young QB:

  • "Crawl, walk, run. He's still learning to crawl and then he can walk and then maybe someday he can run." (Joel Klatt, 29:32)

• On Penn State’s Big Game Disappointments:

  • "To see them beat a top 10 team, you got to go back to 2016. It's been 14 straight regular season losses versus top 10 opponents for Penn State and James Franklin." (Joel Klatt, 32:42)

• On Oregon’s Heisman Hopeful:

  • "Dante Moore is a sensational player...he is absolutely one of the top three guys for the Heisman Trophy as we speak." (Joel Klatt, 35:37)

• On Bama’s Road Woes:

  • "Bama under Kalyn DeBoer is really bad on the road: 2-4 and looked terrible in some of those." (Joel Klatt, 40:57)

• On Gunner Stockton:

  • "He has no... He's the antithesis of wanting hype, wanting flash, wanting people. Like, he just wants to blend in with his 1983 Ford truck that doesn't have air conditioning." (David, 43:02)

• On Underrated Washington:

  • "Washington...they've scored on 17 straight drives...one of the single most underrated teams in the country because apparently no one watched them." (Joel Klatt, 44:16)

• On Career Gratitude:

  • "When I get to sit there and listen to the national anthem...I think about being on my hands and knees in that Taco Bell kitchen floor. And I'm grateful." (Joel Klatt, 49:24)

Important Timestamps

• 02:30 — John Mateer’s injury and Oklahoma’s playoff hopes
• 15:04 — Oklahoma State fires Mike Gundy, coach carousel chatter
• 21:53 — Joel Klatt on the new wave of college football parity
• 23:28 — Big Ten national title contenders discussion
• 28:42 — Arch Manning’s adjustment and learning curve at Texas
• 32:04 — Drew Aller, Penn State’s passing struggles, big game weight
• 34:30 — Oregon–Penn State: stakes, pressure, national implications
• 37:19 — SEC matchups: LSU-Ole Miss, Alabama–Georgia breakdown
• 44:09 — Washington–Ohio State preview; Washington’s national disrespect
• 45:58 — Joel Klatt shares his broadcasting journey and Taco Bell story

Tone and Style Highlights

• Friendly, candid, and occasionally self-deprecating exchange (e.g., Klatt acknowledging his preseason mis-pick of Clemson).
• Sharp, analytical football insight but with humor and storytelling.
• Both hosts and guests keep the analysis relatable and grounded, celebrating “other fanbases” and sharing motivational anecdotes.

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers a comprehensive college football Week 5 preview with sharp analysis, behind-the-scenes context, and engaging personal stories. Listeners get real X’s-and-O’s breakdowns, postseason scenarios, and a veteran’s perspective on what makes this season so wide open and exciting. If you want to know which teams are for real, who’s flying under the radar, and why coaching exits might skyrocket this year, this hour is a must-listen.