Klatt Picks No. 13 LSU, No. 20 SMU and No. 24 Houston for 2026 CFP

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 5

Three teams outside the preseason top 12 — LSU, SMU and Houston — will make the 2026 College Football Playoff, Joel Klatt predicted after the USA Today Coaches Poll release.
No. 13 LSU is Klatt’s strongest buy, driven by new coach Lane Kiffin, coordinators Charlie Weis Jr. and Blake Baker, and a reported $40 million roster led by the nation’s top transfer class.
No. 20 SMU gets the nod because veteran quarterback Kevin Jennings and both coordinators return, while the Mustangs avoid Miami and Clemson in the regular-season ACC schedule.
No. 24 Houston, which ranks 17th nationally in returning production, also benefits from a manageable Big 12 path that skips BYU and both Arizona schools while catching Texas Tech early.
The picks frame all three as likely to outperform their Coaches Poll slots and turn favorable roster continuity and schedules into playoff bids by December.