Joel Klatt Names Rising SEC Program That Could Make the College Football Playoff

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 2:00 PM ET

The 2024 college football season began with several coaches at major programs facing pressure. However, by the end of the season, some of these coaches managed to secure their positions.

One such coach was Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier. After starting his career with two consecutive losing seasons, the 2024 season began on a shaky note. Florida was 4-5 and seemed to be heading toward another disappointing season. However, the team then finished strong, winning four consecutive games, led by true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

This impressive finish caught the attention of Fox Sports' Joel Klatt, who ranked Florida No. 9 on his podcast, "The Joel Klatt Show," among the top 10 teams with the best chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff for the first time in the program's history.

"There's a lot to like about this Florida team," Klatt said. "They could be a top 15 team to start the year. DJ Lagway looks like a potential star."

Lagway had an impressive performance in his true freshman season. He passed for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns, demonstrating his elite potential, which has experts like Klatt believing he could be a future star at the position.

Klatt also discussed the impressive run the Gators made to end the season, winning four consecutive games. He commended Napier for his exceptional leadership, noting that Napier's position was precarious and he was close to losing his job before the team turned things around.

Klatt expressed concern about Florida's schedule, pointing out that Athlon Sports’ Kyle Wood ranks it as the third toughest in the SEC. The Gators face a challenging four-game stretch early in the season, including away games against LSU and Miami, along with home games against Texas and a following away game at Texas A&M.

Klatt believes that if Florida manages to achieve a 9-3 record with this tough schedule, the Gators could potentially qualify for the College Football Playoff for the first time in the program's history.

The Gators will kick off their season against the Long Island Sharks on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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