Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt released his All-21st Century College Football team on July 13. Zero Ohio State Buckeyes made the cut. The backlash was immediate.
Klatt’s 23-man roster, spanning 14 position groups, includes Vince Young as the greatest 21st-century quarterback. He beat out Heisman winners Joe Burrow, Tim Tebow, and Cam Newton. Other selections like Adrian Peterson, Ndamukong Suh, and Calvin Johnson lend the list credibility. But the omission of any Buckeye has ignited a firestorm.
Ohio State has three national championships this century. It has produced multiple Heisman winners—Troy Smith and Eddie George (whose career straddles the century)—and NFL stars like the Bosa brothers, Ezekiel Elliott, and Justin Fields. The Columbus Dispatch broke the story, calling the snub a “scandal.”
The quarterback debate is central. Klatt chose Vince Young for his national title game heroics and unique dual-threat dominance. Compare Young’s resume to Burrow’s 2019 LSU season, Tebow’s Florida dynasty, and Newton’s Auburn MVP campaign. Klatt’s reasoning fuels the Ohio State frustration.
Fan reactions flooded X (Twitter), Reddit, and message boards. Ohio State supporters called the list “disrespectful.” Texas fans defended Young. Viral hashtags and memes emerged, dividing fanbases along regional and conference lines.
Is this a calculated hot take to drive engagement, or a genuine oversight? Klatt, a former Colorado QB, may harbor biases against the Big Ten. The snub affects Fox Sports’ relationship with Ohio State fans heading into the 2026 season.
Here is a counter-list of Buckeyes who deserved spots:
| Position | Player | Accolades |
|---|---|---|
| DE | Joey Bosa | 2x All-American, Big Ten DPOY |
| RB | Ezekiel Elliott | 2x All-American, CFP MVP |
| QB | Justin Fields | Heisman finalist, 67 total TDs in 2020 |
| DB | Marshon Lattimore | Jim Thorpe Award winner |
| WR | Michael Thomas (college) | 2x All-Big Ten, 113 receptions in 2015 |
The snub will be referenced all season, especially if Ohio State wins another title. Share your all-century team picks. Engage with the debate on Fox Sports and social media.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Why are Ohio State fans outraged over Joel Klatt’s All-21st Century team?
- A: Ohio State fans are outraged because no Buckeyes were selected despite the program winning three national championships and producing multiple Heisman winners and NFL stars this century, making the omission seem like a disrespectful snub.
- Q: Who did Joel Klatt pick as the greatest 21st-century quarterback?
- A: Joel Klatt selected Vince Young as the greatest 21st-century quarterback, citing his national title game heroics and unique dual-threat dominance, beating out Heisman winners Joe Burrow, Tim Tebow, and Cam Newton.
- Q: Is the Buckeyes snub a calculated move for engagement?
- A: The snub may be a calculated hot take to drive engagement, but it could also reflect genuine oversight or bias from Klatt, a former Colorado QB, against the Big Ten. The controversy has certainly divided fans and sparked viral discussions.
Extended Reading
For full context, see the Columbus Dispatch article on the snub (link ), Yahoo Sports’ coverage of the Vince Young pick (link ), and On3’s summary of Klatt’s full team (link ).