Klatt: Texas Tech, Ole Miss could be this year's 2025 Indiana

On his latest podcast episode Wednesday morning, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt dissected "10 burning questions" ahead of the 2026 college football season. He emphatically answered that college football is better than ever, citing the wide-open national championship race and the 12-team College Football Playoff field as a major reason.

Klatt suggested Texas Tech and Ole Miss could be this season's version of the 2025 Indiana Hoosiers, who emerged from nowhere to win the national title. For Texas Tech, after going 8-5, 7-6 and 8-5 in coach Joey McGuire's first three seasons, the Red Raiders broke out with 12 wins last year, their first CFP berth and a program-record No. 7 final AP ranking. The program is also considered to have among the strongest NIL backing in the sport, suggesting the rise is sustainable.

Although big-ticket transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby won't play due to his gambling scandal, junior Will Hammond takes over at quarterback after serving as a backup for two years with 1,151 passing yards, 9 TDs and 5 INTs, plus 348 rushing yards and 7 TDs, and has recovered from a torn ACL. Texas Tech also returns a loaded running back group in Cameron Dickey, J'Koby Williams and Quinten Joyner. However, the team must replace its top two receivers, star linebacker and Heisman contender Jacob Rodriguez, and a dominant defensive line led by edge rusher David Bailey, the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Klatt drew a parallel to Indiana's path, noting Texas Tech beat teams it should and lost only to Oregon 23-0 in the playoff. The Red Raiders open at No. 12 in the AP poll.

Ole Miss went 13-2 and reached the CFP semifinals in their best season since the 1960s, finishing No. 3 in the final AP poll. That came despite former coach Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU before the playoffs. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was elevated to head coach and led the Rebels to two playoff wins before a 31-27 loss to Miami in the semifinals.

Star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is back after successful appeals to restore his eligibility. He had a breakout season from a little-known Division II transfer to SEC star, passing for 3,937 yards, 22 TDs and 3 INTs with 527 rushing yards and 8 scores. Running back Kewan Lacy also returns after rumbling for 1,567 yards and 24 TDs. "Ole Miss, everyone's overlooking them this season because Lane left. What if they galvanize around Pete Golding with their great quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and they move forward and win the SEC?" Klatt said. "Maybe they just run roughshod over college football, and they become this year's 2025 Indiana." Ole Miss opens ranked No. 9.