The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast John Mateer Injury Impact, Ranking Top Teams into Tiers & Matt Leinart on USC’s ceiling
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Sep 24, 2025 Former Heisman winner Matt Leinart, now a college football analyst, joins to discuss USC's perfect season start and their potential playoff journey. He shares insights on quarterback Jayden Maiava's critical role in the offense and the improved team dynamics. Leinart also weighs in on Oklahoma's struggles after losing QB John Mateer to injury and how it shifts the Heisman race landscape. The conversation dives deep into team tiers and expectations, particularly in the Big Ten and SEC, providing a comprehensive look at the current college football climate.
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Oklahoma Hinges On Mateer’s Return
- Joel Klatt argues Oklahoma's season depends heavily on John Mateer and his returning availability after hand surgery.
- Without Mateer the Sooners face serious offensive limitations and unlikely wins over top opponents.
Use Tiers To Evaluate Conferences
- Klatt defines a three-tier conference framework to evaluate true favorites, contenders, and teams 'in the mix.'
- Use tiers to separate elite contenders from merely ranked teams when assessing conference chances.
Big Ten: Two Favorites, Several Dark Horses
- Klatt places Ohio State and Oregon as Big Ten favorites while Penn State and Indiana are contenders.
- He highlights Washington and USC as 'in the mix' teams that are underrated nationally.