Ohio State defeated Notre Dame only a few hours ago on January 20, 2025, but it’s never a bad time to look ahead at what’s next. Here’s a way-too-early look at the top 25 teams for the 2025 season.

1. Texas | Last year’s finish: 13-3 (CFP semifinalist)

Texas has something a lot of elite college football teams don’t entering 2025 — a seen commodity at quarterback. It’ll be the Arch Manning era under center at Texas with long-time starter Quinn Ewers off to the NFL. Manning showed flashes of greatness when he filled in in 2024, winning two starts against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State. He finished with 939 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns during his redshirt freshman campaign. 

Manning won’t be alone, as Texas will have plenty of talent. Wide receiver Ryan Wingo was one of the top freshmen at his position and the running back room is deep with players like CJ Baxter scheduled to return. Defensively, linebacker Anthony Hill is a top-five defender in the country and defensive end Colin Simmons looked like the future 2027 No. 1 overall pick in his freshman season. Malik Muhammad, on the outside, can hold his own too.

HEISMAN CONTENDERS: Way-too-early Heisman Trophy contenders for the 2025 season

2. Ohio State | Last year’s finish: 14-2 (National Champion)

The biggest question for the Ohio State offense will be who will be the quarterback. Could it be Class of 2024 five-star quarterback Julian Sayin as a redshirt freshman? Could it be Class of 2025 five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair — an Ohio native — as a true freshman? Someone else? Whoever takes the role will have plenty of help to acclimate under the tutelage of elite offensive minds Ryan Day and Chip Kelly.

There might not be a better player in college football in 2025 than wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He was that good as a true freshman. He won’t be alone in the Ohio State offense as Carnell Tate will take over the WR2 role and Brandon Inniss is primed for a breakout year with a larger role. Adding running back CJ Donaldson will help fill the void left by TreVeyon Henderson, and maybe Quinshon Judkins, who hasn’t declared yet. The interior of the offensive line will have plenty of starters back after a run to the title game too.

On the other side of the ball, the trenches will need a completely new look, but defensive line coach Larry Johnson is one of the best in the nation at developing players. On the back half of the defense Caleb Downs is back, and he might argue against the line I wrote previously because he might be the best player in the nation; he’s definitely the best defensive player entering 2025. Expect former Freshman All-American cornerback Jermaine Matthews to take on a bigger role in the secondary, too, with more playing time opening up.

Oh yeah, this means we’ll get a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup to kick off the season as Texas visits the Buckeyes on August 30, 2025.

CHAMPS: How Ohio State won the 2024 CFP National Championship

3. Penn State | Last year’s finish: 13-3 (CFP semifinalist)

With Texas grabbing the No. 1 spot because of its quarterback, the same logic should apply to Penn State with Drew Allar returning, right? No. Penn State can’t rank above Ohio State until it proves it on the field after losing eight straight games to the Buckeyes.

That said, Penn State returns plenty of key pieces from its College Football Playoff semifinal team. Allar is back and will be gunning for the top quarterback spot in the 2026 NFL draft. The Lawn Boyz are back too as star running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are returning. The offensive line is returning almost all starters, leaving the biggest loss for the Nittany Lions offensively as star tight end Tyler Warren.

Warren’s loss will heighten the need for Penn State to get more from its wide receivers, who were held without a catch in the Orange Bowl.

Defensively, the major loss is likely to be the top-five pick, Abdul Carter, off the edge since safety Kevin Winson Jr. missed most of the season anyway. Carter’s loss won’t be as glaring with Dani Dennis-Sutton returning off the edge and Zane Durant returning at defensive tackle. AJ Harris is back in the secondary and should be one of the better corners in the Big Ten.

Overall, the 2025 Penn State team reminds me a lot of the 2024 Ohio State team, with a lot of continuity returning. 

4. Notre Dame | Last year’s finish: 14-2 (CFP title runner-up)

Notre Dame should have a playoff-or-bust mindset entering 2025 after making the national title game in 2025. The offense has all the pieces for a replacement for Riley Leonard to step in smoothly, whether it be CJ Carr or Steve Angeli.

Running back Jeremiyah Love will enter the year as the top running back in the country and Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse emerged as weapons on the outside during Notre Dame’s playoff run. The offensive line will be experienced with Charles Jagusah, and Anthonie Knapp as possibly the top tackle tandem in the nation if healthy.

The Fighting Irish lose Howard Cross, Jack Kiser, Xavier Watts and RJ Oben, but Notre Dame made the national championship game with a secondary full of underclassmen in 2024. 

With games against Miami and Texas, Notre Dame will be tested early, but Marcus Freeman should have his squad ready.

5. Clemson | Last year’s finish: 10-4 (CFP first round)

This might be the highest you see Clemson in any preseason rankings. Could it be a stretch? Admittedly, yes, but this team won the ACC and made the playoffs last year.

The Tigers return quarterback Cade Klubnik, who threw for 3600-plus yards last year, and a talented wide receiver trio of Antonio Williams, T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr. The offense should be explosive and one of the best in the ACC in 2025. 

The defense should be great, starting with the front four. Peter Woods and T.J. Parker are All-ACC level players. The addition of transfer — Dabo finally went into the portal — edge rushers Jeremiah Alexander and Will Heldt bolster an already sturdy front. Cornerback Aveion Terrell could be one of the best in the ACC with another year of development too.

When looking ahead at Clemson’s schedule, the Tigers are in the ACC where they get SMU, Florida State and Syracuse at home. Then in nonconference play, LSU has to come to Death Valley (the other Death Valley to them) as Clemson hosts the Bayou Bengals. Clemson projects as the best team in the ACC in 2025, with a playoff berth, and that means a top-five ranking for the Tigers.

LAST YEAR: Recapping the first year of the 12-team playoff

6. Oregon | Last year’s finish: 13-1 (CFP quarterfinalist)

No team has shown the ability to retool like the Oregon Ducks in recent years. It starts with the quarterback position. Two straight Heisman finalists and now former UCLA starting quarterback Dante Moore is expected to step into the quarterback-friendly offense. Moore will get Evan Stewart back to help him ease into the starting role as well as the addition of Tulane running back Makhi Hughes.

The offensive line may take some time to gel after being one of the best units in the country, but expect big-time transfers like Emmanuel Pregnon (USC), Isaiah World (Nevada) and Alex Harkey (Texas State) to bring veteran leadership up front.

The defense still has Matayo Uiagalelei in the front seven, and the addition of the highly regarded Bear Alexander should keep the line of scrimmage sturdy. A pair of five-star true freshman corners could contribute, and Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman should also help out the secondary.

Oregon will have many plug-and-play players in 2025, but with a manageable schedule, the Ducks should contend for a Big Ten title.

7. Georgia | Last year’s finish: 11-3 (CFP quarterfinalist)

Georgia lost a lot from last year’s SEC Championship team. Linebackers Jalon Walker and Smael Mondon, edge Mykel Williams, defensive linemen Nazir Stackhouse, Chaz Chambliss, Warren Brinson, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and safeties Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson are gone. That’s a lot of production from a very good defense that sometimes carried the Bulldogs to wins.

On the other side of the ball four starting offensive linemen — Tate Ratledge, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson and Xavier Truss — are gone. Starting running back Trevor Etienne and starting wide receivers Arian Smith and Dominic Lovette are also gone.

The most noble loss is quarterback Carson Beck. The leader in the offseason clubhouse to replace him is Gunnar Stockton who started in the playoff and led an overtime SEC title win. Yet, Stockton is no sure thing, especially with all the changing pieces around him.

But this is Georgia after all. A program known for reloading under Kirby Smart and the cupboard isn’t bare. Wide receiver London Humphreys, tight end Oscar Delp, linebacker CJ Allen and freshman phenom safety KJ Bolden will have to be leaders of the new-look Bulldogs. Talented transfer wide receivers Noah Thomas, Micah Bell and Zachariah Branch will be tasked with helping out Stockon, or whoever takes over under center.

Georgia should be retooled enough to contend for an SEC title again, but the Bulldogs do have questions to answer.

8. LSU | Last year’s finish: 9-4 (Texas Bowl win)

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is back and has the talent to be the top quarterback in the country. He’ll also have the weapons with wide receivers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), Destyn Hill (Florida State) and Barrion Brown (Kentucky) and tight end Bauer Sharp (Oklahoma) transferring in to play with an already loaded receiving corps. Caden Durham in the backfield has legit track speed giving LSU a potentially high-scoring offense.

Harold Perkins Jr.’s return at linebacker will bolster the defense along with linebacker Whit Weeks. However, the key to the defense could be the nation’s top transfer portal class members. Edge rusher Patrick Payton (Florida State) and cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson (Florida) should be Day 1 impact players.

9. South Carolina | Last year’s record: 9-4 (Citrus Bowl loss)

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers could be a Heisman trophy contender in 2025 as one of the top dual-threat QBs in the country. Sellers and coach Shane Beamer have the Gamecocks ready for a breakthrough season after closing with six straight wins in the regular season and a near CFP berth. Josiah Thompson will protect Sellers up front after a fantastic freshman season while throwing to the dynamic Nyck Harbor at wide receiver.

While Kyle Kennard’s departure will be felt on defense, defensive end Dylan Stewart looks to build off of a freshman campaign where he showed the skill of a senior off the edge. With secondary players like Jalon Kilgore returning, the Gamecocks are poised for another contending season.

10. Tennessee | Last year’s finish: 10-3 (CFP first round)

Running back Dylan Sampson is gone, but quarterback Nico Iamaleava is back. The heralded signal caller will have to take the next step in his development after losing his star running back and his top three receivers. That may seem like a lot to overcome, but Iamaleava and the offensive mind of Josh Heupel should work out nicely.

Replacing James Pearce Jr. on defense won’t be easy, but the back seven of Tennessee’s defense should improve with another year. Look for guys like cornerback Jermod McCoy and linebacker Arion Carter to take on big roles.

STREAKING: College football’s longest active regular-season win streaks

The top 15

11. Miami (FL) | Last year’s record: 10-3 (Pop-Tarts Bowl loss)
12. Alabama | Last year’s record: 9-4 (ReliaQuest Bowl loss)
13. Illinois | Last year’s record: 10-3 (Citrus Bowl win)
14. Arizona State | Last year’s record: 11-3 (CFP quarterfinalist)
15. Kansas State | Last year’s record: 9-4 (Rate Bowl win)

Miami misses the top 10 in these way-too-early rankings. The Hurricanes added Carson Beck from the transfer portal to replace Cam Ward, but the elbow injury he suffered in the SEC Championship game still looms. Even if Beck leads the offense to similar heights, the defense remains the biggest question mark. Miami needs more than just star defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. to step up and make plays after a porous showing last fall.

Alabama opens at No. 12 in year two of the Kalen DeBoer era. Jalen Milroe is gone, and it’s fittingly way too early to know who will take over as quarterback. Ty Simpson, Austin Mack or top recruit Keelon Russell could take the reins. Whoever wins the job will get to throw to Ryan Williams and crew. Despite the questions offensively, a veteran defense with Domani Jackson, Keon Sabb and LT Overton should keep the Crimson Tide as contenders in 2025.

The surprise here is Illinois. I think the Fighting Illini can be this year’s Indiana. The toughest games Illinois has will be at Indiana and at home against USC and Ohio State. With Luke Altmeyer back at quarterback, the Illini could finish with just one to two losses after a 10-win campaign in 2024.

The Big 12 also joins the party in the top 15. Arizona State should enter as the top team with quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson returning, even without Cam Skattebo. The Sun Devils also have a lot of defenders back from their playoff run like Xavion Alford. Kansas State follows suit as Avery Johnson enters year two as the starting quarterback. Johnson and Dylan Edwards could form the top QB-RB duo in the nation when it’s all said and done.

IMPACT OF RANKINGS: How the AP preseason poll predicts the College Football Playoff

The top 20

16. Florida | Last year’s record: 8-5 (Gasparilla Bowl win)
17. Ole Miss | Last year’s record: 10-3 (Gator Bowl win)
18. BYU | Last year’s record: 11-2 (Alamo Bowl win)
19. Indiana | Last year’s record: 11-2 (CFP first round)
20. SMU | Last year’s record: 11-3 (CFP first round)

A pair of SEC teams are next, starting with the Florida Gators at No. 16. With one of the most difficult schedules in America, Florida won its final four games to close 2024, and quarterback DJ Lagway looks like a star at the position. Elsewhere in the conference, Ole Miss has won 10-plus games in each of the last two seasons. It’ll be harder to do so without Jaxson Dart and more in 2025, but the No. 2 transfer portal class should restock the cupboard.

BYU comes in at No. 18 with quarterback Jake Retzlaff and running back LJ Martin returning. Last year’s top-scoring defense in the Big 12 should be good once again as linebackers Jack Kelly, Isaiah Glasker and more return to the unit.

Two of 2024’s surprise playoff teams find themselves in the top 20. Indiana caught many by surprise last year, and while the Hoosiers lost quarterback Kurtis Rourke, Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza is coming in to keep the Curt Cignetti train rolling in year two. SMU made the playoffs in its first year in the ACC, and a full offseason with Kevin Jennings at the helm should have hopes high in Dallas.

The rest of the top 25

21. Texas A&M | Last year’s record: 8-5 (Las Vegas Bowl loss)
22. Iowa State | Last year’s record: 11-3 (Pop-Tarts Bowl win)
23. Michigan | Last year record: 8-5 (ReliaQuest Bowl win)
24. Vanderbilt | Last year’s record: 7-6 (Birmingham Bowl win)
25. Navy | Last year’s record: 10-3 (Armed Force Bowl win)

Texas A&M will fully embrace Marcel Reed at quarterback in year two under coach Mike Elko. Expect NC State transfer wide receiver Kevin Concepcion to help the Aggies stay in SEC contention. Iowa State played in the Big 12 title game last year and will contend again with quarterback Rocco Becht and running backs Carson Hansen and Abu Sama in the backfield.

Michigan is the biggest question mark in these rankings. Is five-star incoming freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood the answer? If so, the Wolverines will build on late-season momentum in coach Sherrone Moore’s first year.

Vanderbilt gets a spot in the top 25 with quarterback Diego Pavia returning while the final top 25 spot goes to Navy. The Midshipmen return quarterback Blake Horvath and should be the favorite in the American and one of the non-ACC, Big 12, Big Ten or SEC playoff spots.

Just missed: Georgia Tech, Iowa, Kansas, Louisville, Missouri