By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
The NFL Draft is behind us. Transfer season is winding down. And spring practices are wrapping up.
It is time to peek ahead to the fall, though there’s still plenty of uncertainty.
We saw the early enrollment of incoming freshmen and winter transfers during the spring, and we’ll likely see additional roster turnover after the spring.
This much is certain: Every team has some noticeable flaws. None looks like a sure thing to go undefeated.
Consequently, ranking teams this time of year is far from a science.
Some are sure to be overranked while others are underestimated, including the four that made the list from the West. And it’s impossible to know which is which.
So enjoy the summer.
The season will start soon enough, highlighted by an August 30th meeting between the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in these rankings. Talk about starting the season with a bang!
Meanwhile, here’s a look at our early preseason 2025 college football Top 25.
1. Texas Longhorns
As I mentioned in the introduction, no team looks flawless this time of year, and the team at the top is no exception.
The Longhorns have some questions at the WR spot and on both lines.
What the Horns do have is Arch Manning under center, and despite his limited play in SEC competition, he looks like the real deal.
Ryan Wingo could emerge as the QB’s top target on the outside. On defense, Anthony Hill has a chance to be a true star at LB.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ryan Day has to reload following last year’s national championship run.
Most notably, the Buckeyes will have a new man taking the snaps.
The starting QB job will be decided this summer after the competition between Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin was put on hold due to injuries keeping the latter (and favorite) out of spring ball.
On defense, Caleb Downs returns to anchor the secondary, and he just might be the best player in the nation.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
The offensive backfield of QB Drew Allar and RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen all return, and that is a pretty good starting spot for James Franklin to work with.
Can the head coach finally win some big games, though? That might still be the biggest question mark in Happy Valley.
Abdul Carter is gone from the defense, but Dani Denis-Sutton will fill that edge spot more than capably.
4. Clemson Tigers
Clemson struggled early but finished the season strong, earning the ACC championship.
A reason for the struggles was an uncharacteristically porous defense ranked ninth in the ACC in yards per play allowed.
Dabo Swinney addressed that in the offseason, bringing in Tom Allen to run the defense.
The offense got steadily better as 2024 progressed in large part to the improvement of QB Cade Klubnik who is poised for a big 2025.
5. Georgia Bulldogs
A sign that you have a program rolling? An 11-3 season is met with disappointment.
For Kirby Smart and the Dawg faithful, the 2024 season had to feel just like that, despite the record a majority of the nation would love. Gunner Stockton will have targets to throw to in transfers Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch.
The defense will be stout as ever. Sure, they lost a lot of talent to the NFL, but they always do.
The anchors on defense will be LB CJ Allen, DB Daylen Everette, and new EDGE Elo Modozie.
6. LSU Tigers
The Tigers have a lot of talent, including Garrett Nussmeier, who might be the best QB in the nation in the upcoming season.
LSU has some key additions on the offensive line as well. Patrick Payton will be an elite pass rusher.
But the Tigers also have Brian Kelly back as head coach, and that might be the problem.
If the head man can’t produce in Baton Rouge this season, he may need to find a new fake accent for 2026.
7. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks must replace several key pieces from last season’s Big Ten Champions.
Dante Moore is set to take over at QB and will have plenty of talented transfers at his disposal. Makhi Hughes comes in from Tulane and will be the feature back.
Defensively, the Ducks have a playmaker in the secondary with the addition of Dillon Thieneman from Purdue.
If Bear Alexander ever reaches his full potential, he will be a beast on the defensive line.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
CJ Carr will step into the starting role at QB.
The redshirt freshman should be eased into things with a stout offensive line in front of him and running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price behind him.
The backs are very talented. On defense, the Irish should be good again. The schedule is never daunting, and this season is no different.
The Irish will need to survive road tests at Miami and A&M, but get Boise State and USC in South Bend.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide
It isn’t easy to replace a legend. Kalen DeBoer is experiencing that in Tuscaloosa.
The Tide lost four games last season, including one at Vandy. Panic has ensued. Jalen Milroe is gone! How does this man still have a job on May 1st!?
DeBoer can coach, and Alabama will be fine. Ryan Williams is still a playmaker on the outside; Ty Simpson can play QB, and more importantly, the head coach can get the most out of his QBs.
The defense has a ton of depth, especially among the front seven. It may not be Nick Saban’s Tide, but ‘Bama will be just fine.
10. Miami Hurricanes
Is Carson Beck healthy? If he is, they earn this lofty top 10 ranking. If he is not, well, they have the talent to be good, but the top 10 is a stretch.
They’ll be good because they can run the ball, and the O-Line is legit. The pass catchers, on the other hand, could be a problem.
The defensive line is young but will benefit from a strong secondary. I’ve bought into the Canes in the preseason each of the last two seasons, and each time they failed to restore The U to former glory. Will 2025 be any different?
Check back in August to see if I have talked myself out of the Hurricanes hype.
11. Florida Gators
Who finished 2024 stronger than the Gators? Well, Ohio and Marshall are each riding seven-game win streaks, so both of them.
But actually, I was thinking, nobody! The Gators have a ton of momentum going into 2025.
DJ Lagway had a great first year in Gainesville and should be healthy and ready for an improved sophomore season. The offense will lean on Jadan Baugh in the run game.
The defense got better as 2024 went on, but still has room to improve. Its foundation is the D-line with Tyreak Sapp and Caleb Banks.
12. Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines closed out 2024 on a tear and even pulled off the upset in Columbus to deny the Buckeyes a chance to play for a Big Ten title.
Michigan’s defense is—and always seems to be—elite.
Last season, poor QB play limited Michigan; this season, that should not be a problem with the addition of Mikey Keene from Fresno State.
13. Illinois Fighting Illini
Okay, maybe the Illini were nearly as hot as the Gators? (See No. 11.)
Bret Bielema’s crew returns 18 starters from last season’s 10-win team, including QB Luke Altmyer.
The offensive line is experienced, and the back half of the defense is loaded.
The difference between being a potential playoff team will be their play at WR and along the defensive front, where they have some needs to fill.
14. South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks finished 2024 with a flurry, making an unexpected late playoff push.
Entering 2025, South Carolina should expect to be in that sort of playoff fight.
LaNorris Sellers was sharp under center last season and will be loaded with weapons to work with in 2025.
The offense will be potent; the issue could be if the defense has enough to keep opponents off the board.
15. Kansas State Wildcats
Offensively, the Wildcats have Dylan Edwards at RB, and Jayce Brown has the potential to be one of the best WRs in the Big 12.
The issue on that side of the ball entering the summer is whether Avery Johnson can give them more consistency at the QB position. If the answer is yes, then the Wildcats will be very good.
Defensively, both of their leading tacklers from 2024 return in LB Austin Romaine and DB VJ Payne. Now they just need Payne to make fewer tackles at the backend of the defense.
16. BYU Cougars
Jake Ratzlaff has control of the best offense in the Big 12. The Cougars have a ton of depth on that side of the ball, with several guys who can make plays.
Ratzlaff is one of those playmakers, and he’s smart with the football.
The defensive front could have some issues early on, but the back half of the defense could be the strength of the team.
Transfers on both sides of the line will be relied upon to produce.
17. Tennessee Volunteers
Was any team in the news more often this spring than the Volunteers?
The Nico Iamaleava saga is behind them, and the Vols should be happy about that. They lost a talented QB, but having that saga in the past is good for all parties involved. Joey Aguilar is experienced and will take over the QB reigns.
However, UT has a lot to retool on offense in the backfield and along the offensive line.
While the offense has holes to fill, the defense should be stout. Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander could be one of the best LB tandems in the nation, and Jermod McCoy should be back from his knee injury to anchor the secondary.
18. Arizona State Sun Devils
Kenny Dillingham’s squad is not going to sneak up on anyone this season.
The Sun Devils lost Cam Skattebo, but they bring back a load of offensive firepower.
With Sam Levitt in command of the offense and Jordan Tyson back at WR, ASU’s offense will put up points.
On defense, look for CJ Fife to have an All-Big 12 type season on the defensive line. Xavion Alford will be a playmaker in the backend of the defense.
19. Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones won a program-record 11 games in 2024 and could be even better this season.
The Big 12 could be wide open at the top, as evidenced by these rankings, with four schools within a five-slot range.
So why not ISU? Rocco Becht is back at QB. The Cyclones have done a nice job of bringing in transfers to shore up the WR room, and the offense should continue to hum.
Last year, they were last in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed per game; they need to get much better against the run in 2025, or else that will be the reason why not.
20. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin needs to find Jaxson Dart’s replacement at QB, and that role will most likely fall to Austin Simmons.
The sophomore should be ready to lead the offense in the fall and showed flashes of brilliance in spot duty last year. His poise on full display stepping in for Dart against Georgia in the fourth quarter of a tight game.
There is going to be some rebuilding all over the offense.
The defense will no doubt see improvement as the season progresses, as the Rebels normally do on that side of the ball.
21. Indiana Hoosiers
The Cinderella run to the playoffs for the Hoosiers in 2024 was a magical one as the program experienced success unmatched in its history.
Now, sustaining things is the key. While a full-on repeat and 11-win season may not be in order, this is a program with some staying power.
The defense is fast, and the line could be scary good this season. D’Angelo Ponds could emerge as an All-American corner.
Kurtis Rourke is gone at QB, but Fernando Mendoza enters from Cal, and he might be an improvement. The ground game is efficient, and the RB room is stacked.
22. UNLV Rebels
Dan Mullen is now in charge of the Rebels, and it looks like we will not see a drop-off from the last two years, at least not in 2025.
UNLV has been successful in the portal this offseason and could be poised for a playoff bid as the best team among the Group of Five.
Alex Orji enters from Michigan to control the offense. He can get it done with his legs, but he needs to be a better passer than he showed in Ann Arbor.
The defense was picking up steam in 2024 and, despite some key losses, should continue the upward trajectory.
23. Louisville Cardinals
Jeff Brohm is reloading on offense with Louisville. Miller Moss is at QB and has talented receivers to throw to in Chris Bell and Cullin Lacy.
Isaac Brown is a dynamic RB who can bust a big one every time he totes the rock. The OL is experienced, and the Cardinals should have the best offensive unit in the ACC.
Now, will the defense be good enough to take the next step?
The linebackers are good, but let’s just say the offense will do the heavy lifting for U of L. Passing defense, both in coverage and pressure, could keep the Cards out of the ACC title game.
24. TCU Horned Frogs
TCU is intriguing to me.
Josh Hoover has the potential to have a breakout year at QB, but the defense will determine if they climb back into the national spotlight or not.
Devean Deal and Kaleb Elarms-Orr are studs at LB. Jamel Johnson will anchor the back end of the defense.
Andy Avalos is entering Year Two as DC, and if the unit can progress, a surprise playoff run could again be in the cards for TCU.
25. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
In the regular season finale, Georgia Tech took Georgia to eight overtimes, and in that loss, we saw what Haynes King could do.
He might be the most underrated QB in the nation, and he knows how to win games and get it done in the clutch.
Jamal Haynes will carry the load for the offense, and they will both operate behind an excellent line.
The schedule is favorable, and Tech could be a surprise team in 2025.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
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