Analyzing Joel Klatt's criticism of the Ohio State football program

College football analyst Joel Klatt shared his thoughts on Ohio State after their dominant 49-14 win over Marshall. Interestingly, while Klatt ranked Ohio State second out of the three teams he’s observed in person this season (Texas, Alabama, and Ohio State), and even placed them second in his overall national rankings.

However, during Saturday's game, his commentary was often more critical than complimentary. This creates a bit of a paradox, especially considering some of his recent defense of Michigan amid their sign-stealing scandal.

Klatt’s critique of Ohio State raised several eyebrows, especially when compared to his relatively positive stance on Michigan’s off-field issues. He seemed intent on poking holes in Ohio State’s performance, despite the Buckeyes' clear dominance over Marshall. Was it a perfect game by Ohio State? No. Was criticism deserved at times? Of course! But Joel's lack of complementary analysis and how he kept harping on issues with Ohio State was over the top and strange.

One of the more puzzling moments came when Klatt criticized Ohio State's star freshman wide receiver, Jeremiah Smith, questioning his effort on a pass thrown by quarterback Will Howard that was intercepted. Despite Smith’s stellar play in the season, this isolated critique felt oddly timed and exaggerated, especially since the cornerback made a great play on the ball and deserved praise more so than Jeremiah Smith deserved his effort to be questioned.

Klatt also seemed to downplay an obvious penalty against Marshall's punting formation. His defense of Marshall, almost advocating for no penalty to be called, stood in sharp contrast to the clear violation, which would have given Marshall a better chance to capitalize on Brandon Inniss' muffed punt. It appeared as though Klatt wanted the turnover to stand, which would have added to his narrative of questioning Ohio State's superiority.

Ohio State's defense was another area Klatt scrutinized heavily. He highlighted the lack of pass rush and noted that Marshall's quarterback, Stone Earl, was able to escape the pocket on several occasions. Though these are valid concerns, Klatt’s tone seemed aimed at raising doubts about Ohio State’s defensive capabilities, perhaps more than the situation warranted. Given Ohio State’s 49-14 blowout victory, his harsh assessment of the Buckeyes’ defense seemed out of place.

But here is possibly the weirdest part: In his ranking analysis, Klatt placed Texas ahead of Ohio State, noting his belief in Texas' quarterbacks, Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, and their superior offensive line.

While he acknowledged Ohio State’s depth of talent and overall team strength, particularly praising the Buckeyes’ running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, Klatt still expressed concerns over quarterback Will Howard's consistency and the right side of Ohio State's offensive line. His assertion that Howard’s underthrown pass leading to an interception was a significant issue seemed to magnify a minor mistake in an otherwise decisive win.

Klatt’s ranking of Ohio State as second in the nation, despite all these concerns, adds an element of contradiction to his analysis. It felt like he spent much of the broadcast encouraging viewers to question the Buckeyes’ validity as a top-tier team, yet ultimately placed them just behind Texas in his national rankings. This dissonance has not gone unnoticed by Ohio State football fans, who may find it odd that Klatt’s tone was so critical in the broadcast but more favorable when it came to his rankings.

Additionally, the timing of Klatt's critique adds further complexity. As a staunch defender of Michigan amidst their sign-stealing scandal, his frequent criticisms of Ohio State, Michigan’s biggest rival, could be viewed with skepticism. While Klatt’s job is to provide objective analysis, his recent defense of Michigan coupled with his overly harsh treatment of Ohio State, may lead some to question whether his rivalry allegiances play a role in shaping his commentary.

In conclusion, Joel Klatt’s broadcast comments on Ohio State were a mixed bag. While he did acknowledge the team’s elite talent and ranked them second in his overall rankings, his broadcast was filled with criticisms that seemed out of sync with the team’s dominant performance.

Whether Klatt’s negative remarks were an attempt to balance his rankings or were influenced by recent events with Michigan remains a topic of debate among fans. Nonetheless, his comments have certainly added to the ongoing narrative surrounding Ohio State’s standing among college football’s elite programs.