Sunday, January 26, 2025

2025 College Football Way-Too-Early Top 25

Arch Manning, Texas
 1. Ohio State Buckeyes

Is it boring to pick the reigning National Champion as the No. 1 team heading into 2025? Perhaps, but no other team in the country have what the Buckeyes have - not just the nation's best offensive player, Jeremiah Smith, but the top defensive player in the country in safety Caleb Downs. Filling out the roster around those two shouldn't be any issue in Columbus, who remains a machine in both high school recruiting and the NIL game. There will be a new figurehead offensively, with Will Howard completing his one-year rental season as starting QB but with all due respect to Howard, one-time Alabama transfer Julian Sayin feels like an upgrade at the position. He should be counted on for a monster season right away, throwing to the likes of Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss, a former blue-chip prospect himself who should begin to emerge now that Emeka Egbuka moves on. On the other side of the ball, rumors at the time of publishing are that coordinator Jim Knowles may be moving on to the same position at Penn State in a deal that would make him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the country. Ohio State will have the resources to reel in a big-name replacement, but it will be interesting to see how they rebuild a front seven that will be hit hard by NFL defections. Fortunately, he'll have a bunch of former four and five-star recruits to choose from on the depth chart, and I suspect Ohio State will be active in the spring transfer portal window to plug any remaining holes. The Texas Longhorns await in the season opener on August 30 in Columbus, a game that should set the tenor for the entire season for both teams.

2. Georgia Bulldogs

This always felt like a transition year for Georgia, as they managed the departures of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey offensively, plus several key pieces on the defensive side of the ball. Despite an uncharacteristic three losses and an early College Football Playoff exit, the Bulldogs did still finish as SEC Champs, and one figures they will be back with a vengeance in 2025. Look for Gunner Stockton to take over as starting quarterback now that Carson Beck has taken his talents to Miami, and pair up with rising sophomore Nate Frazier in this Georgia backfield. The Bulldogs will need more from a group of pass-catchers that disappointed all season long, but considering Beck's well-documented struggles, they could all benefit from a new signal-caller getting them the ball. Defensively, coordinator Glenn Schumann is going to have his usual collection of freaks at all three levels. Look for guys who were previously overshadowed to take advantage of newfound opportunities with all the NFL departures, including names like linemen Christen Miller, linebacker C.J. Allen, and defensive back K.J. Bolden. 

3. Texas Longhorns

Two straight appearances in the College Football Playoff semifinals have given Texas the taste of national relevance they have so long craved, but it's clear what the goal is for the program in 2025: a National Title. They'll have to do so without the quarterback that has gotten them to those two consecutive semifinals, Quinn Ewers, although nobody around Austin seems particularly heartbroken about that fact. On the contrary, Longhorn fans are giddy at the chance to finally see Arch Manning running the show after we saw flashes of his playmaking potential throughout this past fall. Manning won't be doing everything alone - Texas could have one of the nation's best running back duos with Quintrevion Wisner and a healthy C.J. Baxter back in the fold. Young playmakers like Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr. figure to be Manning's top weapons at receiver, but I do have concerns about an offensive line that is almost sure to see two linemen drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft this spring in Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cameron Williams. The defense may also have to do some retooling along the line with so many pieces off to the NFL, but the cupboard is far from bare on this side of the ball. Anthony Hill Jr. should be a Butkus Award frontrunner, while Collin Simmons is ready to take over as their most feared edge rusher. Figuring out the secondary will be an offseason priority, as this group took some lumps in 2024 and will now be without reigning Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions

It feels like Penn State proved themselves by winning a pair of Playoff games and giving Notre Dame all they could handle in the Orange Bowl but coming up just short yet again has to serve as a powerful motivator for James Franklin and company. In turn, we've seen a number of Nittany Lions announce they are holding off on the NFL Draft, including the backfield duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, plus quarterback Drew Allar. That gives Penn State quite the base to build off of in 2025, especially on an offensive side of the ball that will be bring back coordinator Andy Kotelnicki for Year Two. Kotelnicki will have a clear goal this fall: identifying some consistent weapons at receiver. With tight end Tyler Warren off to the NFL, this group of receivers will be the offseason focus for the program as they look to topple the likes of Ohio State, Oregon, and Michigan inside the conference. There's expected turnover on defense, with Tom Allen making the jump to Clemson to be their defensive coordinator and Abdul Carter also making an unsurprising decision to go pro. However, the Nittany Lions went out and made arguablyt the top hire of the offseason by reeling in Jim Knowles from the defending National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes. That move, plus the decision from Dani Dennis-Sutton to stay put for one more year, and the returns in the back-seven of Tony Rojas, Dom DeLuca, and Zakee Wheatley, could make this one of the best groups in the country. It's not a perfect comparison, but this Penn State roster does have the feel of Michigan prior to 2023 or Ohio State ahead of this past fall, with a number of veterans holding off on the pros for one final run at a National Title. Those decisions certainly worked out in Ann Arbor and Columbus, but time will tell whether the same can be said in Happy Valley.

5. Clemson Tigers

It took some time for the two to get rolling, but Cade Klubnik and Garrett Riley may head into 2025 as the top QB-offensive coordinator pairing in the country. Klubnik took off in his second full season as starter this past season and decided to hold off on the NFL, giving Clemson their best player at the position since Trevor Lawrence was still in town. If Klubnik's return wasn't enough for Tiger fans to be excited about this passing attack, this receiver corps may just do it. With Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco Jr., and T.J. Moore, the Tigers will rival Ohio State for the best receiver group in the country. Tyler Brown, who was a pleasant surprise in 2023 before dealing with injuries this past fall, is also expected back and gives Riley another weapon to work with offensively. The defense will have a new face calling the shots as Tom Allen takes the reins, but I don't envision from this side of the ball. The front seven has some of the best young defensive talent in America with guys like Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, and Sammy Brown, but it will be up to the secondary to decide the ceiling of this group. If the personnel wasn't enough, Clemson does benefit from an ACC schedule that misses Miami next season, although LSU and South Carolina still offer land mines in the non-conference.

6. Oregon Ducks

A blowout loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl was a frustrating finish to an otherwise impressive campaign from Dan Lanning and the Ducks. This team was the nation's best for about 90% of the season, and they've established themselves as a consistent National Title contender. Both sides of the ball will have significant turnover, but Lanning has so far kept his staff in place, and hit the transfer portal hard. That includes landing Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes, who should put another huge season running behind this offensive line. He'll likely flank Dante Moore in the Duck backfield, as the former UCLA transfer looks ready to take over following the graduation of Dillon Gabriel. Moore does have playing time under his belt going back to 2023 with the Bruins, but there may be some growing pains early as the gunslinger adjusts to the starting role. Fortunately, the return of Evan Stewart on the perimeter provides him with a proven weapon who should be among the best in the Big Ten. Help is on the way through the portal on the defensive side, too, as Bear Alexander should fight for a starting job on the D-Line with heavy losses expected at the position group, while inter-Big Ten transfers like Theran Johnson (Northwestern) and Dillon Thieneman (Purdue) bolster the secondary. Combine those with key holdovers, including a healthy Jahlil Florence at corner, Oregon has more than enough to vie for a National Championship in 2025 - and perhaps finish the job this time around. 

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

They may not have been able to finish the job in the National Championship Game, but 2024 Notre Dame will go down as one of the best stories in recent college football history. To lose a game against Northern Illinois in humiliating fashion, and crawl back to within a touchdown of a National Title? The entire roster and coaching staff deserves all the credit in the world for the adversity they battled throughout the entire fall. They'll certainly be in the hunt again in 2025, even as they say goodbye to some key pieces, notably Riley Leonard at quarterback and defenders like Xavier Watts and Benjamin Morrison. Steve Angeli, who we saw a little bit of in their come-from-behind win over Georgia, is widely expected to be the heir apparent to Leonard at quarterback, and will have a fun receiver group to throw to, led by Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison. Even more important, he'll have the chance to operate behind a strong offensive line, despite a surprising rash of transfers in the early offseason. The defense takes a hit not only personnel-wise, but in the staff, as coordinator Al Golden is expected to be heading to Cincinnati to take over the same position for the Bengals. Despite those losses, the Irish defense has remained one of the most consistent in the country through the Brian Kelly years into the start of the Marcus Freeman era, so I don't envision a major drop-off on that side of the ball. 

8. South Carolina Gamecocks

Georgia and Texas will be the frontrunners and traditional powers like Alabama and LSU will look to get back in the conference title hunt, but if you're looking for an SEC dark horse look no further than South Carolina. Not much was expected of the Gamecocks heading into 2024, but Shane Beamer's crew vastly exceeded expectations, going 9-4 and finding themselves firmly in the Playoff hunt. In fact, they could have easily gone 11-1 in the regular season, if not for tight losses to both LSU and Alabama. Much of the core of that team remains intact, including one of the game's rising stars, quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Sellers took awhile to get going but he was one of the country's best down the stretch and should benefit from a full offseason as the clear No. 1 starter. He'll lose one of his favorite targets in tight end Joshua Simon, but talented receivers like Jared Brown and Nyck Harbor should ensure there's enough playmaking around him to get the job done. Defensively, managing to bring back star freshman end Dylan Stewart, who considered hitting the portal for a huge NIL offer, was the win of the offseason. He'll set the tone up front, but there's a lot to like about what the Gamecocks bring back at linebacker and in the secondary, assuring this group will be awfully nasty once again next fall.

9. Miami Hurricanes

Miami was well-positioned to make their first College Football Playoff appearance this past fall, but a pair of losses in their final three games ended up leaving the Hurricanes out of the 12-team field. That brings an added layer of pressure to the equation for Mario Cristobal as he embarks on Year Four. There's been steady progress each year, but it's clear the program has been circling 2025 as the "breakout" season for some time, and anything short of a Playoff berth will be considered a disappointment. Losing Heisman finalist Cam Ward is certainly significant, as the fearless signal-caller often masked some of Miami's greater issues on offense, but the Hurricanes did get a win in the portal by securing Carson Beck after his surprising decision to move on from Georgia. Beck had a frustrating 2024 campaign, but people seem to forget that he was among the best in college football in '23, and this feels like a great situation for him to return to form. Beck won't have Xavier Restrepo to throw to on the perimeter, but the rest of this Miami offense has ample potential, and the O-Line could be the ACC's best in 2025. On defense, the 'Canes made a splash by stealing Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, who will be tasked with repairing a group that fell apart down the stretch. There will be moving parts for Hetherman to figure out, but the cupboard is far from bare on this side of the ball, with Rueben Bain Jr. terrorizing opposing quarterbacks up front and one of the nation's best young defensive backs in the secondary in O.J. Frederique Jr.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini

No team had a quieter ten-win season than the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2024. They not only capped off an impressive regular season by beating South Carolina in their bowl, but consider the three teams they lost to: Oregon, Penn State, and Minnesota - a National Champion, and another team that went all the way to the Playoff semifinals. Needless to say, the Illini will be looking for a strong encore to such an impressive season, and the prognosis for 2025 is very encouraging. Veteran QB Luke Altmyer is one of the Big Ten's best and has clear command of this offense as he heads into his final season of college football. He'll have to make do without his top two pass-catchers in Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin, but the Illini are projected to bring back their entire running back room and entire starting offensive line, ensuring this will once again be one of the conference's most physical teams. The defense has some really nice pieces, too, with a strong linebacker corps and perhaps one of the Big Ten's best defensive back duos back in the fold in leading tackler Matthew Bailey and Myles Scott. Add in one of the softest schedules in all of the Big Ten, one that misses anyone significant in the non-conference and Penn State and Michigan inside the league, 2025 has all the makings of a special season in Champaign.

11. LSU Tigers

Few coaches will enter 2025 under as much pressure as Brian Kelly at LSU. Sure, there are other coaches who are on hotter seats, but Kelly has not been able to build on his SEC West Title in his debut season quite the way LSU had hoped, and he has not been helped by the instant success of Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. in the pros. Talent is far from the issue in Baton Rouge, and the Tigers have plenty to be excited about as they look ahead to 2025. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is a Heisman favorite and should put up monster numbers in his final season of college football, while Caden Durham could be the playmaker the offense has missed at the tailback position throughout the Kelly years. However, the receiver corps has notable questions as they look towards next season and the O-Line could also be in store for a rebuilding season, with several starters off to the NFL. The defense made major strides in Year One under coordinator Blake Baker, but still feels like a work in-progress. Linebacker Whit Weeks will be the heart-and-soul of this defense and should be a Butkus Award frontrunner, but the Tigers are not going to be able to survive an SEC schedule unless they finally fix their issues in pass defense. The pieces are still here for this team to be a Playoff team and even a National Title contender, but between their flaws and a tricky schedule, 9-10 sort of feels like the ceiling for this team in 2025. Considering Kelly is raking in over $9 million annually, another 9-10-win campaign feels like it could create quite the pressure cooker in Death Valley.

12. BYU Cougars

It was a remarkably fun first season of the new-look Big 12 in 2024, and it's shaping up to be another wild race next fall. Arizona State will be tough to unseat as the reigning conference champion, but BYU has the makings of a team ready to make a jump after a surprising 11-win campaign this past fall. The Cougars return nearly all their key playmakers at the skill positions, including QB Jake Retzlaff, tailback L.J. Martin, and top wide out Chase Roberts. The defense is short on star power, but is set to return four of their top five tacklers, and should be especially strong on the back-end. But, what really sets BYU apart from the other likely Big 12 Title contenders in 2025? Their schedule. They should roll through a soft non-conference schedule and inside the league, aside from road trips to Iowa State and Colorado, one would assume they'll be favored in each of their other seven games. As surprising as 2024 was considering the Cougars were picked near the bottom of the Big 12 in the preseason, 2025 should show that it was no fluke, and head coach Kalani Sitake has this team positioned to contend consistently in the new-look conference.

13. Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State took advantage of the new Big 12 landscape to surpass the 10-win threshold for the first time in program history, an unquestioned success in Matt Campbell's ninth season at the helm. Now, the goal for the Cyclones is not just to maintain that positive momentum but break through and win a conference title, which they haven't done since 1912 as part of what was then the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The pieces of the puzzle are in place for this team to do just that, thanks in large part to an roster that will return QB Rocco Becht, their top two rushers, and several key pieces from a stifling Cyclone defense, including interception machine Jontez Williams. That doesn't mean the team isn't without notable, losses as well, as they said goodbye to their top two receivers in Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, several offensive line starters, and key contributors in their secondary. Fortunately, Campbell and his staff have done a fine job plugging holes through the portal, and there's enough experience on this roster to ensure there isn't a significant drop-off. Perhaps most importantly, this is a program with a clear identity as they approach 2025 - which is somewhat of a rarity in the wacky Big 12. Campbell has now been in place for close to a decade, and has found the right formula to winning in Ames, which should keep them firmly in the hunt next fall.

14. Michigan Wolverines

Beating Ohio State in "The Game" and Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl was quite the way to cap off the 2024 campaign, but the reality is that Michigan was a major disappointment throughout the majority of the season. The roster wasn't in bad shape, as the Wolverines will likely see at least three players drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft this upcoming spring, but quarterback was such an overwhelming weakness that they were about as one-dimensional as they come. A pair of newcomers will battle it out to take over command of the offense, as one of the nation's top recruits, Bryce Underwood, looks to come in and make an immediate splash over veteran Mikey Keene, who is on his third program. Keene feels like a perfect bridge quarterback for Underwood, and there is talent around him, particularly with Donovan McCulley coming in from Indiana at receiver. With that being said, the departures of tight end Colston Loveland and tailback Kaleel Mullings mean this offense will be without two of their only bright spots throughout 2024. The defensive side of the ball is in a state of transition. This was still an elite group this past fall, but now must say goodbye to program staples like Mason Graham and Will Johnson. Fortunately, the linebacker corps will be deep and experienced and there's good news on the back-end, with safety Rod Moore announcing he'll be back for another season.

15. Tennessee Volunteers

In retrospect, Tennessee's ugly loss in the College Football Playoff first round to Ohio State doesn't look bad at all, and the Vols can feel good about a 10-3 season. But, it was surprising to see a Tennessee offense that was well-known across the country for its high-flying, scoring ways sputter for a big chunk of 2024. Tailback Dylan Sampson was one of the few consistent weapons on the offense, and his departure leaves a major hole. Peyton Lewis flashed enough as a true freshman to think he could be the heir apparent to Sampson in the backfield, but the greater question is around QB Nico Iamaleava. He's one of the most purely talented quarterbacks in the country, but he didn't quite have the monster first season as starter most were expecting. What version we see of him in 2025 could decide whether Tennessee is in the National Title hunt, or merely situated in the middle-of-the-pack in an ultra-competitive SEC. The good news for the Volunteers is that, despite their offensive woes, the defense took major leaps this past season. Coordinator Tim Banks will miss the big name up front, likely first-rounder James Pearce Jr., but has plenty of talent likely back in the fold in Knoxville at all three levels. He should ensure this team has a high enough floor in 2025 that no matter what we get out of Nico, the Volunteers should be in the Playoff conversation.

16. Boise State Broncos

Ashton Jeanty was one of the stories of the 2024 college football season, putting together a performance that will go down in the history books as one of the greatest ever. While it's a shame he wasn't able to bring home the Heisman Trophy, he'll make do with being a high NFL Draft selection, potentially even going higher than Bijan Robinson, who went eighth overall back in 2023. Boise State will in turn be in store for an adjustment as they say goodbye to Jeanty, but the roster is in very good shape. Quarterback Maddux Madsen is rock-solid and could emerge as one of the best in the Mountain West in 2025, especially with one of the nation's best tight ends to throw to in Matt Lauter. Nobody is going to completely replace Jeanty of course, but the Broncos are hopeful Fresno State transfer Malik Sherrod can still provide them with a difference-maker at the position. He was quiet in 2024, but ran for 966 yards in 2023, and brings an interesting element to this offense as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. There's good news on the defensive side of things, too, as the Broncos bring back their top returning tackler, safety Ty Benefield, and top pass rusher, Jayden Virgin-Morgan. Sure, this team may not be quite as exciting without Jeanty and there's a fair chance they lose more than one game in the regular season, but Boise remains about as consistent as they come. They should be in the mix for the College Football Playoff once again in 2025.

17. Arizona State Sun Devils

Speaking of teams losing superstar running backs, Arizona State is going to have to make do without their fearless rusher, Cam Skattebo. Skattebo wasn't quite the big play threat Jeanty was, but you won't find a harder, more physical runner at this level - and his 21 touchdowns speak for themselves. He truly was the heart-and-soul of this Arizona State team, and there will be an adjustment period as they look to defend their Big 12 Title. That's not to say the Sun Devils are poised to return to irrelevance, as one of the best young coaches in the game, Kenny Dillingham, still has a lot set to return. Don't be surprised if this offense becomes one that airs it out more in 2025, as QB Sam Leavitt is back after a very impressive first season as starter, as his favorite target, Jordan Tyson. The defense is in very good shape, as well, returning the majority of the group that helped this team win a conference title. Safeties Xavion Alford and Myles Rowser could end up being one of the top duos in the Big 12, while Dillingham and staff shored up the cornerback position with the addition of former Georgia and Purdue transfer Nyland Green.

18. Florida Gators

Billy Napier survived into Year Four in Gainesville for one big reason: quarterback D.J. Lagway. The former five-star prospect took over command of the Gator offense after the season-ending injury to Graham Mertz, and proceed to look the part, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. As he takes over full-time, it feels like Lagway is on the cusp of superstardom. That is, if he can clean up some of the understandable mistakes he made as a true freshman, including the nine interceptions. In addition him, I'm equally as excited about his backfield mate, another player who had an impressive freshman campaign and looks ready to show out on the national stage, Jadan Baugh. Baugh ran for 673 himself, including a staggering five touchdowns against Kentucky. He forms quite the 1-2 punch with Lagway, giving Florida one of the best young cores in the SEC. Now, can the rest of this roster deliver wins? The offensive line should be strong, and the receiver group is talented, with Eugene Wilson III leading the way, and further help coming in through the portal and high school ranks. However, I do still have concerns about a defense that is without a clear leader as things stand in late January. Coordinator Austin Armstrong left for Houston, and co-coordinator Ron Roberts may be on the way out as well, leaving this team with significant questions on this side of the ball as they look ahead towards a crucial 2025 for Napier.

19. Indiana Hoosiers

Two things can be true at once - Indiana benefitted tremendously from one of the weakest schedules in power conference football, and they were clearly deserving of their spot in the College Football Playoff field. In fact, their only two defeats on the season came to the two teams that ended up playing each other in the National Championship Game. As the Hoosiers look ahead towards 2025, they won't be able to benefit quite as much from a soft schedule, but they're still in position to be a real threat inside the Big Ten. Losing QB Kurtis Rourke and tailback Justice Ellison stings, but Indiana will make do with a supremely talented receiver corps that has every big name back, likely a major reason why they won out with the one of the top quarterbacks in the portal, Cal's Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza will have the luxury of not only throwing to Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt, but operating behind what should be one of the more experienced offensive lines in the conference. On defense, I really like some of the pieces Indiana has returning. Up front, Mikhail Kamara is one of the best defensive linemen anywhere in the country, and linebacker Aiden Fisher is the type of throwback linebacker that has long defined the Big Ten as a conference. I actually think this Indiana roster may be better in 2025 than it was this past fall but between a tougher schedule and the fact the Hoosiers are going from underdogs to favorites, a slight stepback feels highly likely.

20. Alabama Crimson Tide

It feels weird, and almost wrong, to be putting the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide this far down in these rankings. But the fact of the matter is this team is coming off a rather disappointing 9-4 season, and has serious question marks on both sides of the ball. On offense, Jalen Milroe is moving on at quarterback, leaving Kalen DeBoer likely deciding between two holdovers, Ty Simpson and Austin Mack, and the highly touted, but completely inexperienced, freshman Keelon Russell. There is talent at the other skill positions, notably one of the nation's most exciting playmakers in Ryan Williams at receiver, but the Tide need more consistency from an offensive line that struggled in 2024. Kadyn Proctor will be in the mix to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the rest of the unit has to elevate their play for this team to be a real factor in the SEC once more. On defense, Kane Wommack has to plug holes at every level, as they say goodbye to difference-makers like Jihaad Campbell and Malachi Moore. Fortunately, Deontae Lawson made the surprising decision to hold off on the NFL, giving them a proven defender in the heart of the defense. The secondary could still be in fine shape, as I'm very high on young corner Zabien Brown, but much like the offense, the line has been a major problem. DeBoer may benefit from another full offseason to get the right personnel in the door here in Tuscaloosa and really shape this roster after taking over for Nick Saban later in the cycle than a typical coaching change. But, this roster doesn't stand out at you the way Saban-coached teams used to. They're still going to be a tough out, but another year without the Playoff, given this schedule, is a real possibility.

21. Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State appeared well-positioned to win the Big 12 and contend for the College Football Playoff last season but instead watched as league newcomer Arizona State stole the show. Chris Kleiman's group should be back with a vengeance, as they return plenty on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Avery Johnson should continue to develop after a strong first full season as starter and combined with tailback Dylan Edwards, the Wildcats should feature one of the best rushing attacks in all of the land. At receiver, Jayce Brown has emerged as one of the best in the conference, and Kleiman and staff further bolstered this group through the portal. That should make this Kansas State team significantly more explosive than we've come to expect of Kleiman-coached teams, a welcome change for the program. Even so, the Wildcats should still be awfully stout on defense, thanks in large part to the returns of safety V.J. Payne and Austin Romaine, who were 1-2 on the team in tackles in 2024. The departures of Brendan Mott and Austin Moore, two program staples, will leave a significant leadership gap that K-State will need to address if they want to take back the league.

22. UNLV Rebels

Likely the greatest threat to Boise State in the race for the Group of Five Playoff spot will come inside the conference from UNLV, who has a new head man in place in Dan Mullen. Mullen will look to continue the positive momentum from 2024, when the Rebels went 11-3. There are some big names moving on, namely quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, top receiver Ricky White III, and their best two defensive players in Jackson Woodard and Jalen Catalon. Even so, Mullen will have plenty to work with on both sides of the ball. Jai'den Thomas, their leading rusher from this past fall, will be expected to be featured more heavily in this offense, and is likely to pair with Michigan transfer Alex Orji in the backfield. Orji had his fair share of struggles with the Wolverines, but he provides Mullen an intriguing athlete to build his offense around. We may expect to see a slight dropoff on defense, as Woodard was one of the most impactful defenders anywhere in the country. However, Mullen managed to retain most of this defensive staff, which will build continuity, and the Rebels are hopeful Charles Correa, who briefly entered the portal before announcing his return, can fill the massive shoes left by Woodard at inside linebacker.

23. USC Trojans

A 7-6 record was a disappointing finish for USC in their first year in the Big Ten, but you also have to take into account how many close losses the Trojans suffered. Games against Michigan, Minnesota, and Maryland could have all swung the other way and if so, we're looking at USC a lot differently as they prepare for 2025. Lincoln Riley has to find a way to have this team more effectively close out games, and more familiarity with the Big Ten seems like it should help. Just as important, there's a solid nucleus of returnees on this roster, even with a couple notable transfers leaving. Quarterback Jayden Maiava looks to be the clear-cut guy now that Miller Moss has transferred to Louisville, and the rising junior looks like a real breakout candidate. He won't have Zachariah Branch on the perimeter after he transferred out, but the duo of Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane should be quite strong, giving the Trojans all the makings of a fun, explosive offense. The defensive rebuild continues, and significant turnover up front could be a problem as the program looks to survive their league schedule. However, Riley and staff have recruited well, and it's possible guys like true freshman Jahkeem Stewart, one of the nation's top defensive ends in the 2025 Class, could make an immediate impact.

24. Texas Tech Red Raiders

It feels like BYU, Arizona State, Iowa State, and Kansas State represent the top tier of the Big 12 looking ahead to 2025, but there does appear to be a gap after those four teams. Somebody else could certainly ascend the rankings and make some noise, and Texas Tech feels like a good bet. The Red Raiders went 8-5 overall and 6-3 inside the league a year ago, have an experienced coach (Joey McGuire), veteran quarterback (Behren Morton) and one of the best transfer portal hauls in the Big 12. Morton in particular is a guy who could become a household name after throwing for 3,335 yards and 27 touchdowns last fall, even with the turnover the Red Raiders have at the other skill positions. Texas Tech will look a lot differently in the trenches this year, a team that's finally built to withstand a Big 12 that has gotten much more physical as it has evolved in recent years. Illinois State transfer Hunter Zambrano is one of the nation's most underrated additions on the O-Line, and guys like Lee Hunter and Romello Height will bolster a front seven that has long been a weakness for the program.

25. SMU Mustangs

Life in the ACC started off pretty good for SMU, who finished as the conference runner-up and made a surprising College Football Playoff appearance. Rhett Lashlee has done a good enough building things in Dallas that they shouldn't be a one-hit wonder, although the offense loses a lot at the skill positions. Fortunately, quarterback Kevin Jennings is back after wrestling the job away from the now-departed Preston Stone midseason, and he'll be working behind a very strong Mustang O-Line. Defensively, SMU has some notable turnover in their front seven that could hurt them, but the secondary should be good enough to mask some of their weaknesses. Plus, Lashlee and his staff have been very active in the portal, signing several players who may start right away on defense. Overcoming the likes of Clemson and Miami inside the ACC will be tricky in 2025, especially with a schedule that gets more difficult, but the Mustangs should still be firmly in the hunt. 

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