1. Texas
Andy Staples: Of the teams that were elite in 2024 and bringing back a significant talent base in 2025, the Longhorns probably have the best quarterback. Arch Manning is ready to take over. He’ll have to do that behind an offensive line that must replace multiple departed NFL players, but Steve Sarkisian has done an excellent job stocking that position room so far. Plus, the defense has young stars like lineman Colin Simmons and linebacker Anthony Hill around which to build.
2. Oregon
Ari Wasserman: Oregon loses a big crux of its talent from the ultra-loaded roster it possessed this year. Names like quarterback Dillon Gabriel, running back Jordan James, receivers Evan Stewart and Tez Johnson, offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., defensive end Jordan Burch and many others are gone. But Dan Lanning has recruited and hit the portal like a mad man to avoid big drop-offs. Quarterback Dante Moore came to Oregon from UCLA knowing he wasn’t going to start immediately, set on developing. Next year will be the chance for the former five-star quarterback to shine, along with important returnees like receivers Jeremiah McClellan and Justius Lowe and big-time defenders like Matayo Uiagalelei and Peyton Woodyard.
3. Ohio State
Andy: Quarterback is a question mark, but Julian Sayin — a five-star plus recruit who originally signed with Alabama for 2024 but left when Nick Saban retired — seems to be the next in line. We know receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs are back, and they likely will be the best players in the nation at their respective positions in 2025. That’s a great start. But the reason the Buckeyes aren’t No. 1 here is the defense will require a significant infusion of young talent because of so many veteran contributors leaving for the NFL.
4. Penn State
Ari: You could make the strong case that quarterback Drew Allar should hit the NFL Draft this year while the quarterback position isn’t that deep, but he has already decided to return to State College for another year. Expecting a big jump from Penn State’s first legit pro quarterback prospect in years, the Nittany Lions should be a deep and veteran team ready to build off of this year’s impressive run to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
5. Notre Dame
Andy: The significant injuries Notre Dame has overcome this season forced some players to step in earlier than expected, and they’ve been excellent. Freshman Anthonie Knapp took over at left tackle when Charles Jagusah went down in camp. Freshman Leonard Moore had to replace Benjamin Morrison at cornerback and has looked like a veteran. All of Notre Dame’s starting offensive linemen have eligibility remaining. (Though some might be ready for the NFL.) It appears at the moment the Fighting Irish will go with C.J. Carr at quarterback instead of another one-year rental from the transfer portal. Whoever plays QB for Notre Dame will have a good young core of skill players alongside.
6. Georgia
Ari: We may have just gotten our first look at the Gunner Stockton era at Georgia, and though the Bulldogs didn’t light up the scoreboard, you can see a ton of potential in the young quarterback. Kirby Smart has one of the sturdiest programs in college football and could have projected offensive returners like running back Branson Robinson, receiver Dillon Bell and tight end Oscar Delp to lead the new era. Georgia’s defense, backed by a ton of talent like safety KJ Bolden, will still be nasty. Georgia is built to compete for a national title every year.
7. South Carolina
Andy: The Gamecocks are stocked at several key positions. A full offseason for the coaching staff understanding exactly how good quarterback LaNorris Sellers is should allow the offense to be even more dynamic next season. Josiah Thompson came in as a five-star freshman and locked down the left tackle spot. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Dylan Stewart was a revelation coming off the edge. Kyle Kennard is gone, but if the Gamecocks can develop (or rent) another star to come off the edge opposite Stewart, they’ll be a nightmare for opposing QBs.
8. Clemson
Ari: Clemson didn’t have the best season this past year, but Dabo Swinney found a way to get his Tigers to the ACC title and Playoff. It will return many key starters next year, including quarterback Cade Klubnik, he really grew in the back half of the season. Clemson brings back defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. and linebacker Sammy Brown. Oh, and Swinney is hitting the portal now? Clemson is a team to watch.
9. Florida
Andy: This isn’t purely a D.J. Lagway confidence pick, but it mostly is. The Gators simply looked different when Lagway took over as QB1. The offensive line, led by center Jake Slaughter, improved dramatically over 2024, and most of that group is back. Florida still needs to develop receiving targets, whether that’s rising junior Eugene Wilson III or five-star freshman Dallas Wilson or someone else. On defense, the return of defensive tackle Caleb Banks might have been bigger than any portal pickup or freshman signing. To truly be a College Football Playoff contender, the Gators probably will need to find more production off the edge. Losing linebacker Shemar James to the NFL doesn’t hurt as much because freshman Myles Graham has a bright future.
10. Auburn
Ari: Even with a bad turnover problem, Auburn was tough and competitive in just about every game it played. But Hugh Freeze just signed a top-five recruiting class and brought in quarterback Jackson Arnold and receiver Eric Singleton Jr., pairing him up with one of the best young receivers in the country in Cam Coleman. This may be an over-projection, but if things hit right on The Plains — especially with Arnold emerging as a starter — this Tigers team could be really, really dangerous.
Andy Staples: Of the teams that were elite in 2024 and bringing back a significant talent base in 2025, the Longhorns probably have the best quarterback. Arch Manning is ready to take over. He’ll have to do that behind an offensive line that must replace multiple departed NFL players, but Steve Sarkisian has done an excellent job stocking that position room so far. Plus, the defense has young stars like lineman Colin Simmons and linebacker Anthony Hill around which to build.
2. Oregon
Ari Wasserman: Oregon loses a big crux of its talent from the ultra-loaded roster it possessed this year. Names like quarterback Dillon Gabriel, running back Jordan James, receivers Evan Stewart and Tez Johnson, offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., defensive end Jordan Burch and many others are gone. But Dan Lanning has recruited and hit the portal like a mad man to avoid big drop-offs. Quarterback Dante Moore came to Oregon from UCLA knowing he wasn’t going to start immediately, set on developing. Next year will be the chance for the former five-star quarterback to shine, along with important returnees like receivers Jeremiah McClellan and Justius Lowe and big-time defenders like Matayo Uiagalelei and Peyton Woodyard.
3. Ohio State
Andy: Quarterback is a question mark, but Julian Sayin — a five-star plus recruit who originally signed with Alabama for 2024 but left when Nick Saban retired — seems to be the next in line. We know receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs are back, and they likely will be the best players in the nation at their respective positions in 2025. That’s a great start. But the reason the Buckeyes aren’t No. 1 here is the defense will require a significant infusion of young talent because of so many veteran contributors leaving for the NFL.
4. Penn State
Ari: You could make the strong case that quarterback Drew Allar should hit the NFL Draft this year while the quarterback position isn’t that deep, but he has already decided to return to State College for another year. Expecting a big jump from Penn State’s first legit pro quarterback prospect in years, the Nittany Lions should be a deep and veteran team ready to build off of this year’s impressive run to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
5. Notre Dame
Andy: The significant injuries Notre Dame has overcome this season forced some players to step in earlier than expected, and they’ve been excellent. Freshman Anthonie Knapp took over at left tackle when Charles Jagusah went down in camp. Freshman Leonard Moore had to replace Benjamin Morrison at cornerback and has looked like a veteran. All of Notre Dame’s starting offensive linemen have eligibility remaining. (Though some might be ready for the NFL.) It appears at the moment the Fighting Irish will go with C.J. Carr at quarterback instead of another one-year rental from the transfer portal. Whoever plays QB for Notre Dame will have a good young core of skill players alongside.
6. Georgia
Ari: We may have just gotten our first look at the Gunner Stockton era at Georgia, and though the Bulldogs didn’t light up the scoreboard, you can see a ton of potential in the young quarterback. Kirby Smart has one of the sturdiest programs in college football and could have projected offensive returners like running back Branson Robinson, receiver Dillon Bell and tight end Oscar Delp to lead the new era. Georgia’s defense, backed by a ton of talent like safety KJ Bolden, will still be nasty. Georgia is built to compete for a national title every year.
7. South Carolina
Andy: The Gamecocks are stocked at several key positions. A full offseason for the coaching staff understanding exactly how good quarterback LaNorris Sellers is should allow the offense to be even more dynamic next season. Josiah Thompson came in as a five-star freshman and locked down the left tackle spot. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Dylan Stewart was a revelation coming off the edge. Kyle Kennard is gone, but if the Gamecocks can develop (or rent) another star to come off the edge opposite Stewart, they’ll be a nightmare for opposing QBs.
8. Clemson
Ari: Clemson didn’t have the best season this past year, but Dabo Swinney found a way to get his Tigers to the ACC title and Playoff. It will return many key starters next year, including quarterback Cade Klubnik, he really grew in the back half of the season. Clemson brings back defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. and linebacker Sammy Brown. Oh, and Swinney is hitting the portal now? Clemson is a team to watch.
9. Florida
Andy: This isn’t purely a D.J. Lagway confidence pick, but it mostly is. The Gators simply looked different when Lagway took over as QB1. The offensive line, led by center Jake Slaughter, improved dramatically over 2024, and most of that group is back. Florida still needs to develop receiving targets, whether that’s rising junior Eugene Wilson III or five-star freshman Dallas Wilson or someone else. On defense, the return of defensive tackle Caleb Banks might have been bigger than any portal pickup or freshman signing. To truly be a College Football Playoff contender, the Gators probably will need to find more production off the edge. Losing linebacker Shemar James to the NFL doesn’t hurt as much because freshman Myles Graham has a bright future.
10. Auburn
Ari: Even with a bad turnover problem, Auburn was tough and competitive in just about every game it played. But Hugh Freeze just signed a top-five recruiting class and brought in quarterback Jackson Arnold and receiver Eric Singleton Jr., pairing him up with one of the best young receivers in the country in Cam Coleman. This may be an over-projection, but if things hit right on The Plains — especially with Arnold emerging as a starter — this Tigers team could be really, really dangerous.
