Joel Klatt predicts Texas could have the best defense in college football

Ohio State and Texas will meet in one of the most anticipated openers in college football history. Last year’s national champion will be pitted against one of this year’s favorites, led by arguably the most recognizable quarterback in the game.

But it’s the other side of the ball that has FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt intrigued. It’s not Arch Manning and the Texas offense that could be the deciding factor in the game, so much as the Texas defense.

“I’ve been saying this all offseason long, I think Texas’ defense could be the best defense in college football,” Klatt said on The Joel Klatt Show. “They’ve got three preseason All-Americans on that defense. They were excellent a year ago. They’re going to be outstanding this year.”

Led by linebacker Anthony Hill and edge rusher Colin Simmons in the front seven and veteran safety Michael Taaffe in the back end, Texas has answers at every level. Enough for a Buckeyes offense that remains loaded with talent?

Just look at least year’s meeting for proof positive of that, Klatt said. He explained.

“Think about what they were able to do through schematics and talent last year in the semifinal,” Klatt said. “They held Jeremiah Smith to one catch for three yards. He was going off. I mean he destroyed Tennessee, they destroyed Oregon. The offense was clicking on all cylinders.

“I’ve gone back in preparation and watched that game a few different times this offseason on the coaches film. Ohio State did very little offensively after the first possession, when they went down and scored a touchdown. They had the screen pass from TreVeyon Henderson inside of 30 seconds before the half. And outside of that, guys, they didn’t do much that night against that Texas defense.”

All in all, Klatt sees the Texas defense making life extremely difficult on Ohio State. Not impossible, but a huge uphill climb.

“Now you don’t have Henderson. You don’t have (Quinshon) Judkins,” Klatt said. “You don’t have Emeka Egbuka, and more importantly, the quarterback Julian Sayin is going to be starting his very first game. I think that that’s going to be incredibly difficult.”