The playoff chessboard is getting tactical, where every move is calculated and every misstep is costly. But when the stakes are as high as they are for the SEC title game, it’s less chess and more a backyard brawl. Joel Klatt, the sharp-tongued Fox Sports analyst, has added his voice to the fray, calling for underdogs to step up and challenge the dominance of SEC powerhouses. And as the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns prepare for a rematch that could define their seasons, the Fox Sports analyst’s insights are lighting up the conversation with his smart take.

From his The Joel Klatt Show football temple, the great analyst foretells. After the CFP polls, head bulldog Kirby Smart and the gang found themselves ranked 5th, and the Longhorns were 2. Georgia will enter the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as an underdog. Yeah, you heard that right. “We’ve got Georgia as an underdog against Texas at a, at home basically, but I digress”—looks like ranking doesn’t matter for Klatt. In their first clash earlier this season, Georgia flexed its defensive muscles, sacking Texas quarterbacks seven times and racking up 10 tackles for loss. Klatt recalls it vividly. “Georgia’s defensive line totally dominated the offensive line of Texas, which, to be honest, was a bit surprising,” he said on The Joel Klatt Show. “I think Texas has one of the best offensive lines in the country.” Yet, the Bulldogs managed to expose cracks in Texas’s armor, turning those defensive stands into short-field opportunities that ultimately sealed the win.

Since that October matchup, Texas has evolved. Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns have rattled off impressive wins, including a gritty 17-7 victory over Texas A&M. Joel Klatt points to Sarkisian’s ability to adapt as a game-changer. “Steve Sarkisian is way too smart to go in there with the same game plan,” he noted, predicting that Texas will avoid the mistakes that plagued them in Austin. Injuries to key players like star left tackle Kelvin Banks and quarterback Quinn Ewers remain a concern, but the former Buffs QB believes the Longhorns can deliver a more competitive performance.

And look, Georgia’s recent performances have raised eyebrows for all the wrong reasons. The Bulldogs were outclassed by Ole Miss in a shocking blowout loss and barely escaped Georgia Tech in an eight-overtime marathon. Klatt didn’t hold back in his critique. “The last time we saw Georgia, they were giving up a ton of yardage to Georgia Tech’s quarterback,” he said, hinting that Texas could exploit similar vulnerabilities with Arch Manning’s mobility. “The legs of Arch Manning…could be a factor.”

The psychological game also looms large. It will be a sight to watch as a first-time underdog, Kirby Smart and his Dawgs can do in the role, and Joel Klatt didn’t shy away from poking fun. “Kirby is just like a windup doll,” he joked, mimicking Smart’s postgame mantras.

“Nobody believed in us! It’s tough to win in the SEC! Like it’s like clockwork, man. So tune them up, twist them up. Here we go,” he chuckled. But beyond the humor lies a serious question: Can Georgia rise to the occasion, or can the Longhorns’ Texas-sized hunger for redemption prove too much?

Dynasty alert anyone? Joel Klatt predicts for Texas Longhorns

The Fox Sports’ lead analyst and the CU alum is all aboard the Texas Longhorns hype train—and he’s not being shy about it. Not only does he believe Texas has the best uniforms in college football (hard to argue with burnt orange perfection), but he’s also pegging the Longhorns as a team that could dominate the sport for years to come. Speaking on The Hardline on KTCK The Ticket in Dallas, Klatt dropped some big words: “Texas is a legit national championship caliber team.”

But for the guy, it’s not just about this season—it’s about the bigger picture. He sees the Longhorns building the foundation for what could be a dynasty. “I think the future, the next few years, is going to be owned by Texas,” Klatt said, emphasizing their position as the sport’s next powerhouse. He tempered expectations slightly by admitting that national titles aren’t a guarantee, but in his words, “It’s pretty clear Texas is the superpower.”

What’s impressed him most? Texas has fought through challenges to arrive at this moment, proving they’re not just a flash in the pan. As the SEC title game approaches, the stakes couldn’t be higher.