Now that the college football season has ended we have to wait until the end of August to watch our favorite teams play again for the 2025 season. However it’s never too early to talk about how we think our squads will fare in the upcoming season.
With the new era of a real transfer portal and NIL, everyone will lose a lot of good players and pick up some as well. That’s just the way it is now and the way it will be going forward.
Scheduling will also play a factor in our rankings.
Now let’s talk about the top 25 rankings going into the 2025 CFB season beginning with numbers 1-5.
Projected 2025 Rankings (Top 5)
1. Texas Longhorns
The Arch Manning era finally and officially begins in Austin. After serving as Quinn Ewers backup for the last two seasons, Manning takes over as the unquestioned starter and likely one of the early favorites for the Heisman Trophy.
The biggest losses for the Longhorns will be upfront on the offensive line. Fortunately, Manning is a lot more mobile than Ewers which will help when the pressure comes.
Defensively, the Longhorns will be strong again. They will need to be as the schedule is daunting starting with the opener at the defending college football national champion Ohio State. Additional road games at Florida, who played very well down the stretch last season, at Georgia and at Texas A&M, who should be even better next year and Texas will have all they can handle.
Expecting them to go undefeated is a tall task but right now they look like the best CFB team in the country.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
The champs do lose a lot on both sides of the ball. This includes their top back, number two receiver and best defensive player in Jack Sawyer. And their starting quarterback Will Howard. Former five star quarterback Julian Sayin transferred in last
Stud receiver Jeremiah Smith returns but the backfield loses a lot of experience. Losing Sawyer on the defensive end hurts as he was not only their best defensive player but also their spiritual leader. Now we found out that defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has bolted to Penn State of all places.
The Buckeyes will be good but might be better late in the season after all the change in Columbus. Look for Texas to get revenge in the opener and for the Buckeyes to be in the thick of the college football playoff hunt by season’s end.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Head coach Marcus Freeman has this program on very solid ground. They do lose quarterback Riley Leonard and their best defensive player in Xavier Watts but the cupboard is hardly bare in South Bend.
The Irish are another team that will face early challenges and could stumble early. They open at Miami, although it remains to be seen how good the ‘Canes will be after the departure of Cam Ward. This used to be one of the best rivalries in the sport and we’ll see if the opener provides any drama.
After a bye week Notre Dame welcomes Texas A&M, who will have revenge on their minds. After the first two games, the schedule looks pretty manageable as we can’t count USC as a tough game when it’s in South Bend and the Trojans defense remains suspect. The Irish will be in the hunt for the CFB natty all season long.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions
Hiring away defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State was quite a coup. He will need to be good with Abdul Carter and Jaylen Reed gone.
On offense the Lions bring back their top two backs and quarterback Drew Allar. Whether having Allar back is a good thing will be determined. Allar loses his safety valve and All American tight end Tyler Warren. He will be missed.
Running back Nicholas Singleton was a monster in the CFP semifinal game against Notre Dame and look for him to pick up right where he left off.
The schedule is no picnic. After a few easy ones early, the Nittany Lions have home games against Oregon, Indiana and Nebraska who should be improved. They also have tough road games at Iowa and at Ohio State where it seems they never win. This team could get over the hump or they could fall back this season. Either way they’re still a playoff team.
5. Georgia Bulldogs
Last season, the Dawgs didn’t look to be as dominant as in recent years past but they still went 10-3. Quarterback Carson Beck is gone with Gunner Stockton the presumed starter. They lose their top back in Trevor Etienne. The tight ends will be better a year after adjusting to the loss of Brock Bowers to the NFL.
Georgia is always good on defense and the team in 2025 will be no different. They will also be highly motivated after getting bounced in the the College Football Playoff quarterfinals last season.
The schedule isn’t easy but looks manageable enough to get the Dawgs back in the playoff. They have a September road game at Tennessee, who is very good, but can’t seem to beat Georgia. Then after a bye week, they get Alabama in Athens. The improved Florida Gators could get them this year and Texas comes calling late in the season thinking about revenge and with an advantage at quarterback. The Dawgs will be good the question is how good?
There’s a look at an early prediction of our top five teams heading into next CFB season. We’re pumped already.
Main Image: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
