College Football Previews 2025: A Way-Too-Early Top 25
- Om Brown
- 7 days ago
- 15 min read
The 2025 College Football Season begins in exactly 99 days, which also means that there is no better time than now for a new Top 25. Welcome to my first Way-Too-Early ranking for this upcoming fall.
Each ranking includes the team’s 2024 record, conference standing, CFP finish (if they had one), and their final ranking in the last AP poll. In terms of personnel, with the ever-changing landscape of NIL and the portal, I will have each program’s three key losses, three key returners, and their three key transfers/recruits. On top of the key players to go/return, I will tag a guy who I think could be a breakout star in the upcoming year, and yes, they are all offensive players. I love offense. Also included is a team’s biggest test, which is their hardest game in the first 4-6 contests.
(Note: The ranking given for each team's biggest test comes from this Top 25)
1. Texas (13-3, SEC Runner-Up, CFP Semis, AP #4)
Key Losses: QB Quinn Ewers, OT Kelvin Banks Jr, WR Matthew Golden
Key Returners: QB Arch Manning, LB Anthony Hill Jr, DE Collin Simmons
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Kaliq Lockett (5-Star), ATH Michael Terry III (5-Star), S Jonah Williams (5-Star)
Breakout Player: WR Ryan Wingo
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #2 Ohio State
After falling short to the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl, the Longhorns enter the Arch Manning era. Coach Steve Sarkisian is armed with the #1 recruiting class in 2025, and is tasked with rebuilding both the offensive line and the receiving corps. Manning will have to start out hot, as the defense loses 3/4 of their secondary starters along with some beef up front. On offense, keep an eye on RB CJ Baxter. The former 5-Star will return after a brutal knee injury that he suffered last August. If Arch is as advertised, Texas will be back in the Playoff.
Key Losses: RB Quinshon Judkins, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Emeka Egbuka
Key Returners: WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Carnell Tate, S Caleb Downs
Key Transfers/Recruits: QB Tavien St. Clair (5-Star), RB CJ Donaldson (WVU), TE Max Klare (Purdue)
Breakout Player: QB Julian Sayin
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #1 Texas
Ohio State knocked off Notre Dame to win it all, and despite losing many key seniors, they are primed to repeat. Former Alabama 5-Star QB Julian Sayin is expected to take over the reins and will have many weapons at his disposal, like Smith, Tate, and WR Brandon Inniss, who should take a step forward this season. The All-American Downs is back for his junior year, anchoring a defense that lost a lot of talent to the draft. There will be loads of pressure on Sayin to deliver early on.
3. Georgia (11-3, SEC Champions, CFP Quarterfinals, AP #6)
Key Losses: QB Carson Beck, LB Jalon Walker, S Malachi Starks
Key Returners: QB Gunner Stockton, RB Nate Fraizer, TE Oscar Delp
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Zachariah Branch (USC), WR Noah Thomas (Texas A&M), DL Elijah Griffin (5-Star)
Breakout Player: QB Gunner Stockton
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #12 Alabama
After losing just 2 games in a 3-year span, Kirby Smart suffered three defeats in ‘24. The Bulldogs were uncharacteristically sloppy, leading the FBS in drops. Smart reloads the receivers with the speedy Branch and Thomas to give Stockton weapons to get this program back in the national spotlight. Don’t expect Georgia to go anywhere as long as Kirby is at the helm.
4. Oregon (13-1, B10 Champions, CFP Quarterfinals, AP #3)
Key Losses: QB Dillon Gabriel, WR Tez Johnson, RB Jordan James
Key Returners: WR Evan Stewart, RB Noah Whittington, LB Devon Jackson
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Dakorien Moore (5-Star), CB Na’eem Offord (5-Star), CB Brandon Finney (5-Star)
Breakout Player: QB Dante Moore
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #6 Penn State
Oregon suffered a crushing 41-21 loss in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State, and despite losing loads of talent to the draft, Dan Lanning is ready to take the next step. Moore and Offord are both top-3 in the country at their positions, and will make an impact right away. The presumed starter at quarterback, Dante Moore, was a former 5-Star himself, and will take over as a redshirt sophomore after coming over from UCLA last winter. Stewart returning for another season is a huge win for Lanning and the Ducks.
5. Notre Dame (14-2, Independent, National Runner-Up, AP #2)
Key Losses: QB Riley Leonard, S Xavier Watts, CB Ben Morrison
Key Returners: RB Jeremiyah Love, RB Jadarian Price, WR Jordan Faison
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Malachi Fields (Virginia), WR Will Pauling (Wisconsin), QB CJ Carr (4-Star)
Breakout Player: RB Jeremiyah Love
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #22 Miami
After falling just short of the natty, Marcus Freeman returns his star RB tandem of Love and Price. The duo will have to get going early, neither Steve Angeli nor CJ Carr will have much experience at QB. A positive for 2025 is that their schedule is not daunting at all, with their hardest game being the Miami and Texas A&M matchupsi early in the year. If they can get past the early season contests, Freeman could have the Irish back in the CFP.
6. Penn State (13-3, B10 Runner-Up, CFP Semis, AP #5)
Key Losses: DE Abdul Carter, TE Tyler Warren, S Jaylen Reed
Key Returners: QB Drew Allar, RB Nick Singleton, RB Kaytron Allen
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Devon Russ (Troy), OT Will Black (4-Star), LB Madden Faraimo (4-Star)
Breakout Player: QB Drew Allar
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #4 Oregon
I am a huge James Franklin critic, and will continue to be one until he wins a big game. His Nittany Lions get a rematch of the Big Ten Title game vs. the Ducks early in the year. Returning Singleton and Allen is huge, as the loss of Warren is a massive blow to the passing game. How good the Nittany Lions will be is up to Drew Allar. The former 5-Star fizzled out in critical moments last year, especially in the Orange Bowl, effectively losing Penn State the game. He has to respond in his senior season.
7. LSU (9-4, SEC #5, AP NR)
Key Losses: WR Kyren Lacy, OT Will Campbell, OT Emery Jones Jr
Key Returners: LB Harold Perkins Jr, QB Garrett Nussmeier, RB Caden Durham
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), WR Barion Brown (Kentucky), CB DJ Pickett (5-Star)
Breakout Player: WR Nic Anderson
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #8 Clemson
LSU started off hot last year, but ended the year unranked after crushing losses to Texas A&M and Alabama. Coach Brian Kelly’s former team, Notre Dame, went all the way to the National Championship. He's under pressure in 2025 to turn it around and make the Playoff with the Tigers, something they haven’t done since 2019. Nussmeier is the best returning QB in the SEC, and gets huge transfer additions in Anderson and Brown. I’m all in on Nuss and the Tigers, but Kelly must coach better in 2025 if they want to go back to the CFP.
8. Clemson (10-4, ACC Champions, CFP First Round, AP #14)
Key Losses: RB Phil Mafah, LB Barrett Carter, S RJ Mickens
Key Returners: QB Cade Klubnik, WR Antonio Williams, WR Bryant Wesco Jr
Key Transfers/Recruits: DT Amare Adams (5-Star), OT Brayden Jacobs (4-Star), RB Gideon Davidson (4-Star)
Breakout Player: WR Bryant Wesco Jr
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #7 LSU
Cade Klubnik was the most improved signal-caller in the country this past year, accounting for a ridiculous 43 total touchdowns. He returns his top targets in Williams and Wesco Jr, both of whom came up big vs. Texas in the first round of the Playoff. If Klubnik can deliver the way he did down the stretch this past year, Clemson could be right back where they were in the mid-to-late 2010s.
9. Iowa State (11-3, B12 Runner-Up, AP #15)
Key Losses: WR Jaylin Noel, WR Jayden Higgins, C Jarrod Hufford
Key Returners: QB Rocco Becht, RB Carson Hansen, RB Abu Sama III
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Xavier Townsend (UCF), WR Chase Sowell (E. Carolina), LB Will Hawthorne (4-Star)
Breakout Player: QB Rocco Becht
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #16 Kansas State (Dublin, Ireland)
The Cyclones were a surprise Big 12 runner-up, and they return key starters on offense, including junior quarterback Rocco Becht. The former Big 12 freshman of the year is my dark horse candidate to win the Heisman Trophy in ‘25. He will have to create chemistry with Townsend and Sowell early in the season if Iowa State wants to win their first conference title in program history.
Key Losses: S Nick Emmanwori, DT TJ Sanders, DE Kyle Kennard
Key Returners: QB LaNorris Sellers, WR Mazeo Bennett Jr, OT Josiah Thompson
Key Transfers/Recruits: DT Gabe Brownlow-Dindy (Texas A&M), LB Shawn Murphy (Florida State), Rahsul Faison III (Utah State)
Breakout Player: QB LaNorris Sellers
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #7 LSU
South Carolina was a red hot team at the end of the season, and it was mostly because of the emergence of Sellers. He was a dynamic threat, with 18 passing touchdowns to go with 600+ rushing yards and 7 scores on the ground. However, the defense lost many key players to the draft, and it is crucial that Sellers has a good start to the season while the defense works out its kinks.
Key Losses: CB Jakob Robinson, DE Tyler Batty, DE Isaiah Bagnah
Key Returners: QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, WR Chase Roberts
Key Transfers/Recruits: LB McKay Madsen (4-Star), OT Austin Pay (3-Star), ATH Lamason Waller (3-Star)
Breakout Player: WR Chase Roberts
Biggest Early-Season Test: at Colorado
BYU was the frontrunner for the Big 12 for the majority of 2024 before crumbling late. They decimated Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, and are primed for another terrific season. The offense returning Retzlaff, Martin, and Roberts is key, as the defense will have to replace playmakers up front. If the Cougars can stay healthy and avoid the end of season collapses like they have in recent campaigns, they could very well end up in the CFP.
Key Losses: QB Jalen Milroe, G Tyler Booker, LB Jihad Campbell
Key Returners: RB Jam Miller, WR Ryan Williams, OT Kayden Proctor
Key Transfers/Recruits: QB Keelon Russell (5-Star), G Michael Carroll (5-Star), CB Dijon Lee (5-Star)
Breakout Player: QB Ty Simpson
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #3 Georgia
Alabama had an interesting season to say the least. They beat #1 Georgia in a classic, then lost to the unranked Vanderbilt Commodores, then were throttled LSU before getting destroyed by a struggling Oklahoma team. Former Washington head man, Kalen DeBoer, was under a lot of heat at the end of the season. He brings back his former OC, Ryan Grubb, who developed Michael Penix Jr into a top passer with the Huskies. Former 5-Star QB Ty Simpson, the last great Nick Saban QB, has waited his turn, and is a much better pure-passer than Jalen Milroe. The Crimson Tide ain’t going anywhere.
Key Losses: WR Pat Bryant, WR Zakhari Franklin, DE Dennis Briggs Jr
Key Returners: QB Luke Altmyer, OT JC Davis, RB Aidan Laughery
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Hudson Clement (WVU), WR Justin Bowick (Ball State), DT James Johnson Jr (Wisconsin)
Breakout Player: QB Luke Altmyer
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #25 Indiana
Illinois quietly won 10 games, including the Citrus Bowl against South Carolina. The offensive line will have no turnover, as all five starters are coming back. Altmyer loses his two top targets in Bryant and Franklin, but the Fighting Illini add Clement and Bowick via the portal. Illinois has not had back-to-back winning seasons since 2010 and 2011. Expect that to change in 2025.
14. SMU (11-3, ACC Runner-Up, CFP First Round, AP #12)
Key Losses: RB Brashard Smith, C Jakai Clark, DE Eli Roberts
Key Returners: QB Kevin Jennings, G Logan Parr, OT Savion Byrd
Key Transfers/Recruits: C Addison Nichols (Arkansas), DE DJ Warner (Kansas), QB Tyler Van Dyke (Wisconsin)
Breakout Player: QB Kevin Jennings
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs Syracuse
In their first year in the ACC, the Mustangs made the conference championship and the first round of the CFP. Though they lost both games, SMU looks to stay at the top of the conference. Jennings struggled mightily in the Playoff game vs. Penn State, but since he became the starter early last season, SMU had one of the better offenses in the country. However, they lose key talent on both sides of the ball, but coach Rhett Lashlee brings in a deep portal class. The question will be if they can mesh early enough to give the Mustangs another shot to win the ACC.
15. Kansas State (9-4, B12 #8, AP NR)
Key Losses: RB DJ Giddens, WR Keagan Johnson, OT Easton Kilty
Key Returners: QB Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards, WR Jayce Brown
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Jerand Bradley (Boston College), WR Jaron Tibbs (Purdue), CB Amarion Fortenberry (S. Alabama)
Breakout Player: RB Dylan Edwards
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #9 Iowa State (Dublin, Ireland)
K-State was in a good spot to win the Big 12, but suffered an end of year collapse that saw them finish 5-4 in conference play. Johnson has shown big play ability, but this is the year for him to lead the Wildcats to the top of the conference. Though Giddens leaves, Edwards and his ridiculous 7.4 yards per carry in 2024 will take over as the bell-cow back. Hopes are high in Manhattan for the ‘25 'Cats Campaign.
16. Arizona State (11-3, B12 Champions, CFP Quarterfinals, AP #7)
Key Losses: RB Cam Skattebo, WR Xavier Guillory, S Shamari Simmons
Key Returners: WR Jordyn Tyson, QB Sam Leavitt, RB Kyson Brown
Key Transfers/Recruits: RB Kanye Udoh (Army), CB Nyland Green (Purdue), CB Adrian Wilson (Wash. State)
Breakout Player: QB Sam Leavitt
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs TCU
ASU came out of nowhere to win the Big 12, and almost upset Texas in the Peach Bowl. Gone is the heart of the team in Cam Skattebo. His loss will be hard to make up, but Brown and transfer Udoh are projected to split carries to try and replace production. Leavitt will have to make a superstar jump if Sparky will do anything substantial in the fall. Coach Kenny Dillingham has proven that he can lead a program out of the dust, but can he keep them at the top of the college football landscape? Only time will tell, but it is imperative that Leavitt doesn’t play like he did in the Peach Bowl should the Sun Devils want to remain the big dogs of the Big 12. An easy early-season schedule should help.
17. Florida (8-5, SEC #10, AP NR)
Key Losses: LB Shamar James, WR Elijhah Badger, WR Chimere Dike
Key Returners: QB DJ Lagway, C Jake Slaughter, OT Austin Barber
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR J.Michael Sturdivant (UCLA), WR Dallas Wilson (4-Star), WR Vernell Brown III (4-Star)
Breakout Player: QB DJ Lagway
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #1 Texas
Florida had an odd 2024. They were decimated by injuries (and sucked), but freshman phenom DJ Lagway was a beast down the stretch, and the Gators pulled out 8 wins. Lagway is one of my Heisman finalists for this next year, and if he plays up to the high standard that many think he can, Florida will be a sneaky team to make the SEC Championship.
18. Louisville (9-4, ACC #5, AP NR)
Key Losses: QB Tyler Shough, WR Ja’Corey Brooks, DE Ashton Gillotte
Key Returners: WR Chris Bell, RB Isaac Brown, LB TJ Quinn
Key Transfers/Recruits: QB Miller Moss (USC), DE Clev Lubin (C. Carolina), LB Darius Thomas (W. Kentucky)
Breakout Player: QB Miller Moss
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #22 Miami
The Cards followed up an ACC Championship berth with a solid 9-4 season. Miller Moss had a great start to the year out in SoCal, but was benched by the end of it. He has NFL talent, but with one more year of eligibility, can he deliver? Sophomore Isaac Brown will be a big part of the offense, returning his dynamic play ability, hoping to build on 11 TDs scored last season. If Moss can play like his early 2024 self, Louisville will turn in another good year.
19. Michigan (8-5, B10 #7, AP NR)
Key Losses: DT Mason Graham, CB Will Johnson, DT Kenneth Grant
Key Returners: DE TJ Guy, LB Ernest Haussman, K Dominic Zvada
Key Transfers/Recruits: QB Bryce Underwood (5-Star), DT Damon Payne Jr (Alabama), OT Andrew Babalola (5-Star)
Breakout Player: RB Justice Haynes
Biggest Early-Season Test: at Nebraska
As bad as people make 2024 Wolverines out to be, it really is a miracle that they won 8 games with their mess of a QB situation. Jack Tuttle retired mid-year, Alex Orji is off to UNLV, and Davis Warren will return, but must first rehab a torn ACL. The contestants for the job now are former 4-Star Jadyn Davis (who didn’t see any action as a true freshman), Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, and of course, the #1 player in the 2025 recruiting class, Bryce Underwood and his $10.5 million NIL deal. 2025 will come down to QB play for second-year coach Sherrone Moore.
Key Losses: QB Jaxson Dart, WR Tre Harris, WR Jordan Watkins
Key Returners: QB Austin Simmons, WR Cayden Lee, LB TJ Dottery
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Deuce Alexander (Wake Forest), WR Caleb Odom (Alabama), WR Caleb Cunningham (5-Star)
Breakout Player: WR Cayden Lee
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #7 LSU
Lane Kiffin and the Rebels bring in the second best transfer class in the country. He will have to replace a lot on offense, especially with Dart, Harris and RB Ulysses Bentley. Stepping up to replace Dart is the southpaw Simmons. He is putting his baseball career on hold to assume the starting role under center in 2025. Ole Miss has the talent, there is no question about that. However, not falling victim to the trap games and the seasonal ranked loss that always stands in the way of their CFP hopes is critical. Is this the year that Kiffin and company finally make it?
Key Losses: QB Cam Ward, WR Xavier Restrepo, OT Jalen Rivers
Key Returners: RB Mark Fletcher Jr, RB Jordan Lyle, OT Markell Bell
Key Transfers/Recruits: QB Carson Beck (Georgia), WR CJ Daniels (LSU), CB Charles Brantley (Michigan State)
Breakout Player: RB Mark Fletcher Jr
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs #5 Notre Dame
Carson Beck got a $4 million paycheck to transfer down to South Beach and join his girlfriend Hanna Cavinder’s Canes. Is he worth it? No. Is he good? Yes, yes he is. Beck struggled with turnovers at times in Athens last fall, but before his season-ending UCL injury in the SEC Championship, he had found a groove. Their season rests on his ability to recover from surgery and live up to his old first round draft hype. Coach Mario Cristobal has another talented roster, but I seriously doubt his coaching can get them to the next level.
22. Boise State (12-2, Mountain West Champions, CFP Quarterfinals, AP #8)
Key Losses: RB Ashton Jeanty, G Ben Dooly, S Seyi Oladipo
Key Returners: QB Maddux Madsen, OT Kage Casey, TE Matt Launer
Key Transfers/Recruits: RB Malik Sherrod (Fresno State), DE Jaden Williams (3-Star), WR Gavin Packer (3-Star)
Breakout Player: QB Maddux Madsen
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #5 Notre Dame
The Broncos have a huge hole to fill after losing the best player in all of the land in Ashton Jeanty. Also, their status as a Group of 5 team hinders their ability to reload their roster. Madsen had a rough Fiesta Bowl in their loss to Penn State, but other than that game, he had a solid 2024 season. Sherrod expects to be the lead back, but coach Spencer Danielson will most likely go with a committee of runners to start the season. Madsen will absolutely have to elevate his game if Boise State wants to lead the G5 again.
23. Texas A&M (8-5, SEC #7, AP NR)
Key Losses: DE Nic Scourton, DT Shamar Turner, DE Shamar Stewart
Key Returners: QB Marcel Reed, RB Le’Veon Moss, RB Rueben Owens
Key Transfers/Recruits: WR Kevin Concepcion (NC State), WR Mario Craver (Miss. State), OT Lamont Rodgers (5-Star)
Breakout Player: QB Marcel Reed
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #5 Notre Dame
A&M had a shot to make the CFP in their final game, a win-and-you're-in to get to the SEC Championship, but suffered an embarrassing loss to their big brother, Texas, before dropping the Las Vegas Bowl to USC. The defense loses a lot of manpower up front, but the offense bolstered their passing attack with two 4-star transfer receivers in Concepcion and Craver. Dual threat QB Reed will start the season as QB1, and has plenty of talent, but struggled at times in big moments such as the Texas game. The Aggies have talent, but do they have enough to boost themselves into the upper echelon of the SEC?
Key Losses: QB Kurtis Rourke, RB Justice Ellison, TE Zach Horton
Key Returners: WR Elijah Sarratt, WR Omar Cooper Jr, OT Carter Smith
Key Transfers/Recruits: QB Fernando Mendoza (Cal), RB, Lee Beebe Jr (UAB), WR Makai Jackson (App. State)
Breakout Player: QB Fernando Mendoza
Biggest Early-Season Test: at #4 Oregon
I was a lot lower on the Hoosiers than most. They played a schedule full of bad teams and were embarrassed by Ohio State and Notre Dame when the lights were brightest. Coach Curt Cignetti won Coach of the Year in a remarkable turnaround in year 1, but I’m not sold on Indiana. The key for them will be quarterback. Last season, Rourke was able to guide the offense efficiently and make big plays when needed. The intriguing Cal transfer Mendoza has loads of NFL potential, but hasn’t fully put it all together in a season. If Indiana wants to show the country that 2024 wasn’t a fluke, Mendoza will have to be consistent.
25. Oklahoma (6-7, SEC #13, AP NR)
Key Losses: WR Nic Anderson, QB Jackson Arnold, LB Danny Stutsman
Key Returners: S Robert Spears-Jennings, S Peyton Bowen, WR Deion Burks
Key Transfers/Recruits: QB John Mateer (Wash. State), RB Jaydn Ott (Cal), OT Michael Fasusi (5-Star)
Breakout Player: QB John Mateer
Biggest Early-Season Test: vs. #1 Texas (Red River Rivalry)
The Sooners struggled mightily in their first season in the SEC. Part of that was due to injury, but the other big storyline was the benching of former 5-Star QB Jackson Arnold, who returned later in the year. Arnold is off to Auburn now, and coach Brent Venables brought in former Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle. Arbuckle, also the QB coach, got a big transfer portal win in his former signal-caller at Wazzu, John Mateer. The exciting gunslinger put up nearly 4,000 total yards with a whopping 44 total TDs. If most of his success can translate vs. better opponents, OU could have another first-round field general.
Just missed: Missouri, Nebraska, Auburn, Duke, Syracuse, Tennessee and Colorado
The teams that just missed out on the top-25 are either teams that lost a lot of players after a good 2024, or teams that are potentially on the come-up for 2025. While this was a hard list to make, many of these rankings will most likely be wrong by October, since college football is full of chaos nowadays. Either way, this was a fun piece to make, and stay on the lookout for my conference previews in the summer!
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