College Football Picks 2025: Week Ten

Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati

Current Picks Record: 47-34

Upset: 3-7

Superdogs: 4-3

Locks: 5-5

(#17) Cincinnati Bearcats @ (#24) Utah Utes

Line: Utah -10.5

O/U: 54.5

They still have not received the national attention they deserve, prior to his week, but Cincinnati finds themselves in great position in the Big 12 Title race and as a bonafide CFB Playoff contender. The Bearcats are 7-1 and their lone loss came in the season-opener, against Nebraska at a neutral site. Yet, this week will tell us a lot about just how legit the Bearcats are, as they travel to Salt Lake City to meet up with Utah. Fresh off a blowout win over Colorado, the Utes are hoping for their own resume-boosting victory in front of the home crowd.

This is a genuinely good Cincinnati offense, a unit that is averaging over 38 points per contest, with a nice mix of pass and run. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has really taken off after a couple up-and-down seasons, with over 1,800 yards through the air and 20 touchdowns to just one interception. The stats alone would be impressive, but it's Sorsby's feel for the game that stands out at you when watching this Cincinnati team. He doesn't turn the ball over, he gets the ball out quick and doesn't take sacks, and he plays with the poise of a veteran college football quarterback. He's benefitted from a solid supporting cast that may not have a ton of star power, but is quite solid. Evan Pryor and Tawee Walker have been an excellent 1-2 punch in the backfield alongside Sorsby, while Cyrus Allen and big-play threat Caleb Goodie do damage on the perimeter. With that being said, Pryor has been ruled out for this game, robbing the Bearcats of a key piece who just simply moves the chains. It may not force this team to completely overhaul their gameplan, but Sorsby may be asked to do even more, and Walker is going to have to carry the load even more so than he has through the first nine weeks. Utah's defense does pose an interesting challenge for this Bearcats team. We've just come to expect the Utes and their physical nature to be a differentiator in this conference, and this is a team that does have real athletes in this front seven. Yet, they've been pushed around in both of their losses, albeit to a pair of really good teams in BYU and Texas Tech. It does feel like they own the edge in the trenches in this game, but it felt like that was supposed to be the case in past games, and hasn't always been. Interestingly enough, Utah's pass defense, which was my main concern for the team entering the season, has been arguably their greatest strength. They're fourth in the nation in pass defense yardage allowed, and seem to have the right combination on the back-end to slow down Sorsby and company.

There have been some notable ups-and-downs for this Utah offense over the course of the season, but last week was certainly a highlight. With starting QB Devon Dampier out, the Utes had their most complete offensive game of the season, gaining 587 yards and dropping 53 points on the Colorado Buffaloes. Freshman Byrd Ficklin was a complete surprise, leading the team in passing and rushing despite entering the game with just nine career pass attempts. Dampier is expected to play this Saturday as he was not listed on Utah's injury report, but could that be a negative? It's easy to overreact to one game, and Dampier has still proven his worth, but you do have to wonder how Utah's offense will react to such an impressive performance. With Dampier in, the Utes may take the occasional shot down the field in a way they didn't really with Ficklin, but this is still a run-oriented offense. Dampier's legs are always a factor, and Wayshawn Parker has had an impressive season as their lead back. Don't be surprised if we still do see plenty of Ficklin, who has been used in a lot of packages throughout the fall to this point. What I may be most excited for this Utah team is the battle in the trenches, especially these Ute blockers against Cincinnati's defensive front. Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano are two surefire future NFL tackles, while Dontay Corleone is one of the best interior D-Linemen anywhere in the country, even if he's been held in check for much of this season. This is not going to be one of your old Big 12 games that resembled basketball scores - this has the looks of a physical, low-scoring affair to me.

The Pick: Utah, 28 Cincinnati, 20

(#9) Vanderbilt Commodores @ (#20) Texas Longhorns

Line: Texas -3.5

O/U: 46.5

College Football Picks 2025: Week Nine

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Current Picks Record: 42-30

Upset: 3-6

Superdogs: 4-2

Locks: 4-5

(#3) Texas A&M Aggies @ (#20) LSU Tigers

Line: Texas A&M -2.5

O/U: 49.5

Not since the days of the Southwest Conference have the Texas A&M Aggies been ranked as high as No. 3 in the land, but Mike Elko has the program rolling in his second season at the helm. The Aggies are 7-0, with an impressive win over Notre Dame in the non-conference to boot. However, it's the next five games that will really tell us what this team is truly about, with three ranked teams lurking in road games. First up is the reeling LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Texas A&M relied heavily on their ground game throughout the Jimbo Fisher years and into the debut campaign of Elko, but this 2025 edition has shown some real big-play ability. Quarterback Marcel Reed has grown up quickly, leading a balanced and consistent group. Reed's legs have always been there, but his downfield passing has taken off this fall and he's shown a real poise and command of the offense that was there in spurts last season. Of course, it helps that the Aggies hit on two of their receiver targets in the portal in NC State transfer K.C. Concepcion and Mississippi State's Mario Craver. The duo has been the fuel of this passing attack all season - they've combined for 69 receptions and over 1,000 yards, while no other Aggie has over 11 catches on the year. Craver in particular has really come into his own as this team's deep threat, a YAC weapon who has formed quick chemistry with Reed. With that being said, this LSU secondary is not the same group we've become accustomed to in the last couple years. This is a legitimate SEC secondary with true difference-makers for coordinator Blake Baker. It's a unit that includes my midseason Jim Thorpe Award winner, Mansoor Delane, who has become absolutely shutdown over the last few weeks. I have a feeling he'll match up early and often with either Craver or Concepcion, which should give us some awesome tape. In fact, this entire LSU defense has been downright good for much of the season, with the Ole Miss being the primary exception. But even in that game, they surrendered lots of yardage, but were still in the game late by holding the Rebels to just 23 points. This entire defense has really taken off under Baker and should be ready for the balance A&M is able to create. Even with Whit Weeks appearing to be sidelined for this game, this looks to be the greatest defensive challenge A&M Has seen yet this fall.

While the defense has been a strong point, it remains baffling to me just how bad this LSU offense has looked all season long. They brought back a supposed Heisman contender at quarterback in Garrett Nussmeier, a rising sophomore at tailback in Caden Durham, and they spent big money in the portal over the offseason to upgrade the receiver corps. It has simply not come together in any effective way - the Tigers are averaging just 25.9 points per contest. I'm still under the belief that Nussmeier, while inconsistent, is a much better QB than we've seen this season and I see real opportunity for him against this A&M defense. After all, this Aggie defense did give up nearly 300 yards to C.J. Carr and Notre Dame in just his second start of his career earlier this fall, even with the improvements they've made since. It's the complete lack of any type of running game that has been the sore spot for LSU much of this season. Durham has barely been able to get anything going, and none of the other options in the rest of the backfield have fared much better. To be fair, Durham hasn't been 100 percent much of this season, but it does feel like this team has to change up something in a big way if they want to have some semblance of success running the ball. The offensive line has been a primary source of problems after replacing four starters from last season and this A&M front is not an easy matchup to get things rolling again. Play-caller Joe Sloan has tried to disguise the rushing issues with the short passing game, which has been a painful watch. What I'd like to see most from LSU, and what I think we may finally see, is more aggressiveness on this side of the ball. It does feel like Brian Kelly is coaching for his job over the next month-plus now - will we see him act like it? This team has all the talent to be significantly better, and I don't see what they have to lose in this type of game.

The SEC race the final month-and-a-half of the season is going to be a wild one, and I think we're going to see the league really beat itself up. A&M is a very good football team, but I think someone, or potentially multiple teams, catches up to them down the stretch. This is such a difficult conference to stay atop of, and Death Valley is a different beast entirely. While LSU may not be inspiring a ton of confidence lately, I think this team figures things out for the Saturday night upset.

The Pick: LSU, 34 Texas A&M, 28

(#8) Ole Miss Rebels @ (#13) Oklahoma Sooners

Line: Oklahoma -5.5

O/U: 51.5

College Football Midseason Awards 2025

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

It feels only yesterday when Iowa State and Kansas State opened up the 2025 college football campaign in Dublin, Ireland. But with November right around the corner, the reality is that the season is already at its halfway point. There's still so much left to unfold but as we gear up for the season's second half, it feels like the right time to honor the teams and players that have made the first half so special.

Projected National Champion: Ohio State Buckeyes

As boring as it may be to pick the reigning National Champion and nation's current No. 1 team in this spot, Ohio State feels like they've separated themselves from the pack to this point in the fall. Julian Sayin has proven to be an upgrade at the quarterback position, with plenty of help from Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate Jr., but it's the defense that is the greatest change for this Buckeye team. Even if after sending an entire slew of players to the pros last spring, Ohio State has been even better on that side of the ball under the tutelage of first-year coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes have allowed just 41 points over their first seven games, the lowest total from a defense through their first seven in over three decades. It's a trend that bodes well for this team's chances at a potential National Title repeat - the last four teams that have allowed fewer than 50 points during their first seven games of the season have all advanced to the National Championship game. But beyond just the product on the field, Ohio State has one of the easiest paths of any team in contention for a National Title. With Penn State falling apart, the only ranked team the Buckeyes face the rest of the way is the Michigan Wolverines. It's hard to imagine this team not entering the Big Ten Championship Game undefeated and setting themselves up for a bye in the College Football Playoff, which they didn't have last year.

Others in Consideration: Alabama Crimson Tide, Indiana Hoosiers, Texas A&M Aggies, Oregon Ducks, Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes

Projected Playoff Field: 

1 Ohio State Buckeyes -- There's no Indiana or Oregon looming in the regular season this year, meaning Ohio State has a clear path to an undefeated regular season. Even if they slip up along the way, this team has built enough of a resume to still be firmly in the hunt for a bye this year.

2 Alabama Crimson Tide -- Since the season-opening loss to Florida State, Alabama has been on an absolute tear. Both sides of the ball seem to be getting better each and every week, and the Crimson Tide have made it through the most difficult part of their schedule. They are the team to beat in an SEC that has a lot to be figured out the rest of the way.

3 Indiana Hoosiers -- The road win over Oregon in impressive fashion asserted Indiana as a legitimate National Title contender, but now the goal for the Hoosiers is to continue the momentum. Fortunately not a single ranked foe remains on their regular season schedule and all three of their road games are against teams trending downwards. We very well could see a 12-0 Indiana facing a 12-0 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. 

College Football Picks 2025: Week Eight

Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

Current Picks Record: 37-26

Upset: 2-5

Superdogs: 4-2

Locks: 4-4

(#5) Ole Miss Rebels @ (#9) Georgia Bulldogs

Line: Georgia -7.5

O/U: 54.5

While there is still so much left to be figured out in the SEC race, Ole Miss finds themselves in great position as near the home stretch of October. The Rebels are off to a 3-0 start in the league, with an impressive win over LSU. But now is when we learn just how good this team really is, with back-to-back road games against ranked foes, starting with the mighty Georgia Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium.

It's not an exaggeration to say the entire trajectory of the season for Ole Miss changed when Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss took over as starting quarterback. Sophomore Austin Simmons was expected to be the team's breakout star, but injuries forced Chambliss into a larger role, and neither he nor the Rebels have looked back since. He finds himself in the Heisman conversation at the season's midway point, leading an always-explosive Rebel offense. The ability of Chambliss to create with his legs, even more so than Jaxson Dart the last several years, has forced defenses into quite a bind. If they sell out to contain him, there are enough weapons on the perimeter for this offense to win on big plays alone. The personnel around him certainly helps - this may not be the best Ole Miss receiver corps since Lane Kiffin took over, but it certainly feels like the deepest. Harrison Wallace III and Deuce Alexander have been the top pass-catchers, but the emergence of Dae'Quan Wright at tight end, and the abundance of weapons beyond that trio give this offense so much explosiveness and big play potential deep into games. It creates an interesting matchup for a Georgia defense that has been good so far this year, but not quite at the standard we've come to expect from Kirby Smart coached teams. It just doesn't feel like this Bulldog defense has the usual collection of stars we've come to expect, and they've suffered more breakdowns on the back-end than is usual. Yet, my greatest key to the game may come on third down, where Ole Miss is Top 20 in the country, while Georgia has struggled to get off the field. If Georgia can win the most important downs, and limit the magic Chambliss is able to create, they absolutely can win at home. But, Lane and the rest of this Rebels team have been on fire for so much of the season, they have to be relishing the opportunity for another massive victory.

It's been all about balance for the Georgia offense so far this season. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has made some big throws but he hasn't been putting up gaudy stats, instead playing a brand of football that feels reminiscent of the Jake Fromm team back in 2017. That has always been the bread-and-butter for Kirby, setting things up with the run and doing just enough through the air to come out victorious. The thing is, the rush offense has been very unlike Georgia over these last couple years, even if it does appear to be gathering some momentum in recent weeks. Redshirt freshman Chauncey Bowens has taken over as the lead back and given this ground game some much-needed pop, but consistency remains an issue. He looked the part against Alabama, rushing for 119 yards and a score, but has been held in check in recent weeks. Is this the matchup to get him rolling again? Sophomore Nate Frazier, who I had pegged as a breakout candidate, has been quieter than expected early on, managing just 24 yards on ten carries last week in the Auburn win. I'm not even sure the rushing issues are solely to blame on the backs - the offensive line hasn't been quite as good and expected, and it does feel like teams have been willing to stack the box against Stockton. He's going to have to make some big throws in this game, which we've seen do before, with the Tennessee game coming to mind right away. But, can Stockton make those throws more regularly, throughout the contest? If so, this team might just have what they need to open things up and give Ole Miss a defensive challenge they haven't quite had for much of the season.

It has not felt like a vintage Georgia team up to this point in the season - they could easily have three losses at this point. But, as Kirby's teams often do, they have found ways to win games. I sort of feel like that's how this one will play out, too. They've had an entire year to prepare for an Ole Miss team that embarrassed them a season ago, and this Georgia staff is still one of the best in the country. They should have the right defense schemed up to contain Chambliss and if the offense can find some semblance of explosiveness, I like their chances even more.

The Pick: Georgia, 31 Ole Miss, 28

(#11) Tennessee Volunteers @ (#6) Alabama Crimson Tide

Line: Alabama -8.5

College Football Picks 2025: Week Seven

Dante Moore, Oregon

Current Picks Record: 34-20

Upset: 2-4

Superdogs: 4-1

Locks: 4-3

(#7) Indiana Hoosiers @ (#3) Oregon Ducks

Line: Oregon -7.5

O/U: 55.5

Until they're knocked off their pedestal, Ohio State remains the team to beat in the Big Ten. However, both Oregon and Indiana are breathing right down their necks inside the league - and one will assert themselves as the top challenger after this weekend. Oregon's resume took a slight hit with Penn State's shocking loss last weekend, but the Ducks remain formidable. On the other side, Indiana has looked even better than last fall, and would love nothing more than a signature win in Autzen Stadium.

Indiana got a much-needed week off this past Saturday after surviving a scary trip to Iowa City the week prior. There wasn't anything necessarily pretty about the Hoosier win over the Hawkeyes, but they're the type of wins you have to have sometimes in this conference. The offense, especially the passing game, has been playing tremendous ball, thanks in large part to the addition of Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza has been the downfield passer Kurtis Rourke wasn't a year ago, giving this team real verticality in what they can do to opposing defenses. Elijah Sarratt and company have been quite the complements out wide, arguably the best group of pass-catchers Oregon has seen up to this point in the young season. My question is for the Hoosiers comes with their running game, which had a rough outing against Iowa (2.7 YPC) and faces quite the test in Oregon here. Not having a ton of success against Phil Parker's defense is a common concern, but we saw just how effective the Duck front can be when they shut down Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton for much of their matchup with Penn State. Oregon has always had talent, but it feels like this year's defense is playing at an entirely different level with their instincts and how quickly they can swarm to the ball. Mendoza has been a great quarterback to this point in the season, but have we seen him need to carry an offense in a hostile road environment quite like this? The last time he faced the Ducks, his Golden Bears were shredded to the tune of 63-10 in a game in which he was fairly quiet, going 18-34 for 177 yards. Obviously this Indiana is a much different breed than 2023 Cal, but I'd argue this Oregon defense is also at a different level. 

Following last season, it was the expectation that Oregon's offense was going to be led by wide out Evan Stewart, who spurned the NFL for another year in Eugene, and Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes at tailback. This offense has been even better than expected - with neither of those making any sort of impact. Now, to be fair, Stewart has been hurt and may not return at all this fall, while the Hughes situation remains baffling to me. He's barely seen in the field and the expectation now is that he will likely redshirt and play elsewhere in 2026. That hasn't been an issue for Will Stein and the Ducks, who are averaging 47 PPG with a very balanced offense. Quarterback Dante Moore has been tremendous taking control of this offense from veteran Dillon Gabriel, and the rest of the supporting cast is full of playmakers. Freshman receiver Dakorien Moore has been a sensation, tight end Kenyon Sadiq is a matchup problem, and this may be the deepest stable of running backs anywhere in the country. It's become so clear just how much of a machine Dan Lanning and his staff have built here. Their second and third players on the depth chart are so much better than most teams in this league, and in the country. You add it all behind a strong offensive line, it's no surprise Oregon dropped 30 points and 424 yards against the highest paid defensive coordinator in the nation in Happy Valley two weeks ago. But, what separates this offense to me, and what may hurt Indiana the most in having to defend them? How well they take care of the football. Lanning is an aggressive coach, but this offense makes the most of every possession, and their depth allows them fresh legs later into ball games. For an Indiana team that has relied so heavily on earning the turnover advantage during the Curt Cignetti years, if they can't force Moore into a mistake or two, it's going to be difficult to keep up.

Indiana has answered a lot of doubters who thought 2024 was a fluke, and this is most certainly a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. Yet, Oregon just feels like a machine at this point, and you have to play them at home. The Hoosiers will still give a battle, but I think the Ducks pull away in the second half and leave the weekend with a comfortable victory.

The Pick: Oregon, 34 Indiana, 17

(#8) Alabama Crimson Tide @ (#14) Missouri Tigers

College Football Picks 2025: Week Six

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Current Picks Record: 28-17

Upset: 2-3

Superdogs: 3-1

Locks: 3-3

(#3) Miami Hurricanes @ (#18) Florida State Seminoles

Line: Miami -4.5

O/U: 53.5

Miami - Florida State has long been one of the fiercest rivalries in college football, but rarely has it had such implications in recent times. Despite a loss to Virginia last week, Florida State is hoping to continue their turnaround from last season's 2-10 mark and challenge for an ACC Title. Miami may have even loftier goals - such as a National Title. A loss here will not necessarily run either of their chances, but victory would go a long way in furthering their ambitions as we hit the month of October.

It's been all about the rushing attack for Florida State early on in the season, as Gus Malzahn has engineered the nation's second best rushing offense to this point in the fall. The Seminoles are currently averaging over 336 yards per game on the ground, thanks to dual threat QB Tommy Castellanos and a deep backfield that includes Gavin Sawchuk, Ousmane Kromah, and Samuel Singleton Jr. It's so effective because it doesn't rely on just one piece - Malzahn is a magician at scheming up complex packages that get his guys into space. There's also the chance the Seminoles could be getting an important piece back to this backfield, as Roydell Williams has a chance to return this week after missing their last three games. He went down with injury in the opener against Alabama, but is the most experienced rusher on this roster. This Florida State rushing attack does set up an interesting battle with this Miami Hurricane defense. With coordinator Corey Hetherman, this side of the ball for Miami may be among the most improved units in the entire country. The front seven in particular sets the tone, with Rueben Bain Jr. the alpha in the room. Bain shouldn't be expected to contribute too much as a run defender, but his constant pressure as an edge rusher has given this Hurricane defense a real edge to it all season long. If the Florida State offensive line isn't up for the challenge and Miami can control the line as they have so far this season, you can imagine this team building an early lead and playing ball control the remainder of the game. We are going to need to see Castellanos throw the ball, which he hasn't necessarily needed to for much of the early season. This Miami defense is a whole different challenge than Alabama was - they're healthier, better coached, and relentless. This is going to need to be a vintage Gus coaching performance if Florida State is to put points on the board.

For the Miami offense, it's been all about balance over the course of the first five games of their season. Quarterback Carson Beck may not be Cam Ward, but he hasn't needed to be, instead providing the Hurricanes a competent, reliable signal-caller to run the show. He's benefitted from some really nice talent around him, with Mark Fletcher Jr. rumbling on the ground, while true freshman sensation Malachi Toney and transfer C.J. Daniels make things happen on the perimeter. What really sets Miami apart, however, is the offensive line. This is a peak Mario Cristobal offensive line, one loaded with future NFL talent, depth, and overwhelming ferocity. They have looked the part so far this fall, even against tough competition like Notre Dame and Florida, so they should not be surprised by this Florida State front. And, it's hard to know how good the Seminole defense really is, anyways. They played great football against Alabama and against mediocre competition over the next few weeks, but then allowed 440 yards and 46 points to Virginia last Friday. The Hurricanes aren't as explosive as an offense as the one on the other sideline, but I'm not sure they need to be. As long as Beck continues to take care of the ball and make the right decisions, this can be a very methodical and productive group. Their ability to control the trenches puts them at an immediate advantage over just about everyone on their schedule.

Heading into Doak Campbell Stadium will of course be a significant challenge for this Miami team, but one they should be prepared for. This team has the pieces to take the Seminole crowd out of the game early on, and then play a ball control game the rest of the way with the way they control the lines of scrimmage. As long as Cristobal doesn't make any wacky late-game decisions, an unfortunate tendency of his, I like Miami's chances to keep their perfect record intact.

The Pick: Miami, 27 Florida State, 20

(#16) Vanderbilt Commodores @ (#10) Alabama Crimson Tide