The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast

Top 5 Games that will decide the Big Ten, Schedule Lottery Winners & Losers + Dabo vs Tampering

10 snips
Feb 2, 2026
A breakdown of the Big Ten schedule release and which teams won or lost the conference’s schedule lottery. A ranking of the five most consequential games that will shape the conference race. Analysis of major coordinator hires at Ohio State and USC and what those moves could mean. A heated look at tampering in the transfer era and calls for tougher enforcement.
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INSIGHT

Schedule Lottery Drives Season Outcomes

  • Big conference schedules act like a lottery because they are large and randomly balanced.
  • Joel Klatt argues scheduling parity would preserve parity and fan engagement across programs.
ADVICE

Slot Schedules By Last Year’s Finish

  • Consider slating conference schedules based on prior-year finish to create parity.
  • Give weaker teams easier schedules and top teams tougher ones to balance competition.
INSIGHT

Two Offseason Days Matter Most

  • Two offseason days most affect season outcomes: transfer portal close and conference schedule release.
  • Klatt says those days shape roster and opponent landscape more than anything else.
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